~SHEAFFER~ MINT VALIANT PISTON Sacless Fountain Pen NR!

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Sheaffer White Dot"Valiant" Military Clip Mint Condition Lifetime Nib No Scrapes, dents, or cracks Sheaffer introduced the plunger fill Vacuum Filling system in 1934, initially on second brands including the "Vacuum-Fil" pen and the WASP line. This sacless filling system used a long syringe-like plunger rod tightly fitted into a cylindrical ink chamber that on the downstroke creates a vacuum inside the ink chamber that draws ink into the pen through the feed. Sheaffer adapted this filling system to the Balance line in 1935 and advertised this system side by side with the proven lever filler. This type of filler was not unique, with Conklin, Wahl Eversharp and numerous second tier manufacturers using similar plunger systems in their pens. The Vacuum Filler is actually counterintuitive in its operation. Many people are familiar with how a syringe works. Pull out the plunger and the liquid is drawn into the chamber, push the plunger in and the liquid comes out. Simple enough. The problem is in what to do about the plunger sticking out of the end of the barrel while using the pen. It makes putting the pen in the pocket a bit cumbersome as well. When the plunger in the Vacuum Fill pen is pushed back into the barrel, this action pushes the air inside the ink chamber out, creating a vacuum that rapidly draws ink through the feed into the ink chamber in the barrel. The vacuum is released to do this job at the end of the downstroke when the rubber plunger piston strikes a deflector at the end of the section, giving a distinct snap feeling and creating a gap for the ink to rush into. A properly working Vacuum Filler will have very smooth and low effort plunger action and will fill nearly full in a single strokeVacuum Fillers are very simple to use, and a restored pen will hold a huge amount of ink. Early models typically have "full length visibility" barrels, allowing for a quick assessment of the ink level in the pen. Shortly after the introduction of the Triumph line in 1942, Sheaffer stopped making windowed barrel pens, favoring Visulated sections. A properly serviced Vacuum Filler pen is a quick and easy filler. The pen needs the entire feed immersed in the ink in order to effectively use the vacuum to draw only ink into the pen. If not completely in the ink, air will rush in with the ink and the pen will not completely fill. Good working Vacuum Fillers can fill better than 80% full. Regardless of the illustration in the instructions and Sheaffer's advertisements, I strongly recommend using two hands to downstroke the plunger. You really don't want a lap full of ink if you manage to turn the bottle over because the plunger sticks a little. Vacuum Fillers flush very thoroughly, but care is needed to avoid damaging the pen and its seals. In a filled pen the plunger has to move through the liquid to extend. The liquid has to go somew, and forcing it can create pressure that will push it through the base of the filler unit and cause leaking out of the barrel end of the pen. Light pressure, slow pulling, and a slight rocking motion will allow the plunger to correctly release liquid through the section which will keep the pen operating well and without barrel end leaks. Vacuum Fillers are great pens for those who want large capacity and properly restored pens are very efficient and do not deserve their finicky reputation. The requirements of the United States Army r... read more

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