Sheaffer · 1929–1942 · Button and lever filler
Striated Marine Green, lever filler, 1937
In 1929 Sheaffer gave the fountain pen a new shape. The Balance tapered at both ends like a torpedo, and its weight sat toward the nib so it wouldn't tip back in your hand. Cheaper copies followed for a decade. This page covers a 1937 Lifetime Balance in Marine Green, the striated green Sheaffer brought in that year, which is a different pattern from the Marine Green of 1930 to 1935. Lifetime pens carry the White Dot just above the clip, and Sheaffer sold them with either a lever filler or its Vacuum-Fil plunger at the same price. We're covering the lever version, which by this time had a clear Visulated section so you can see the ink. Sheaffer didn't give the Balance model names until 1938, so a 1937 pen is known by its size and catalog number. The line ended in 1942 when the Triumph pens arrived. It's a lovely pen to write with, and the lever version is the simpler of the two to restore.
An original 1930s sac will have hardened or split, so expect a lever filler to need a new sac unless the seller says it's been done. Celluloid can crack at the cap lip and threads. The Vacuum-Fil twin is harder and costlier to restore, so check which filler you're getting.
Buying guide
Our pick is lee4la's slender black Balance, titled restored and working with a 14K fine nib, at $116 delivered. There are 36 for sale and most complete pens ask $110–190 delivered, with restored ones from $104 and four pens at $339–359, two of them Marine Green. We left out titles that say Vac-Fil, Statesman or 1940s Vigilant, but only four of the rest name the lever filler this page covers, so look for a lever on the side of the barrel in the photos, since a Vac-Fil has none and costs more to restore. Unless the title says restored, budget for a new sac, and check the cap lip and threads for cracks.
$32.95est. delivered
The lowest price on a complete Balance at about $33 delivered, a full-size pen with 2 bids and six days left at capture. The hump clip points to a year before 1937 and the title doesn't name the filler, so we'd stop well under $104 delivered, where the cheapest restored Balance sits.
VINTAGE LONG 1930s SHEAFFER LIFETIME BALANCE HUMP CLIP FULL SIZE FOUNTAIN PEN
$116.00est. delivered
Titled restored and works, with a 14K fine nib, at $116 delivered, near the bottom of the $110–190 band. Ask what was replaced and when, and look for the lever in the photos, since the title doesn't name the filler.
Sheaffer White Dot Slender Balance Black Barrel 14K Fine Nib Restored Works
$103.60est. delivered
Titled restored, a grey Balance with a 14K nib at $104 delivered, the cheapest restored pen here. Ask whether that meant a new sac, and check the barrel for a lever, since the title doesn't say which filler it has.
Vintage Sheaffer Balance Lifetime Fountain Pen, grey w/ 14k gold nib, restored
$58.98est. delivered
Titled for repair, an Oversize White Dot Balance in Jade with a 14K nib, at about $59 delivered with no bids yet. It's also titled engraved, so look for a name on the barrel, which lowers the value, and budget for a new sac at least.
Sheaffer Balance Oversize Lifetime 14K Gold Nib White Dot Jade Engraved REPAIR!
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 5, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 5, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$32.95est. delivered
$26.00 + $6.95 shipping
Auction · 2 bids · ends in 6d 5h
Good buy
Hump clip, so earlier than 1937. Filler not stated.
Seller: tbickiii
99.8% positive
Serviced$116.00est. delivered
$110.00 + $6.00 shipping
Buy It Now$110.00
Good buy
Slender black, titled restored and works. 14K fine nib.
Seller: lee4la
100% positive
Serviced$103.60est. delivered
$94.95 + $8.65 shipping
Buy It Now$94.95
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Grey, titled restored. Filler not stated.
Seller: ibuyo60
100% positive
For parts$58.98est. delivered
$49.99 + $8.99 shipping
Auction · no bids yet · ends in 3d 1h
Project piece
Titled for repair. Oversize Jade, engraved.
Seller: dbqbqualityantiques
100% positive
Used$86.99est. delivered
$81.00 + $5.99 shipping
Buy It Now$81.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Green striped, titled lever filler. No word on the sac.
Seller: gardenercountessa
100% positive
Serviced$188.15est. delivered
$150.00 + $38.15 shipping
Buy It Now$150.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled lever filler and restored. Ships from Argentina with $38 shipping.
Seller: brownfoxpens
100% positive
Used$148.65est. delivered
$134.00 + $14.65 shipping
Buy It Now$134.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Seller shows zero feedback. Titled c1936, standard size.
Seller: 3flsh.pa.8x6nds
No feedback yet
Used$359.42est. delivered
$350.00 + $9.42 shipping
Buy It Now$350.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Grey pearl, about $170 over the band top.
Seller: airlineinternational
100% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 5, 2026.
See every listing on eBay ↗eBay searchA pen that’s sat in a drawer for decades wants a flush before it sees ink. A bulb syringe, pen flush and a bottle of well-behaved ink cover most of it. This searches Amazon for the usual kit.
Search pen care kits ↗Amazon search
Parker · 1921–1936
Button and lever fillerPermanite flat-top, late 1920s
Pre-war and wartime
$270–$490 typical ask
Sheaffer · 1952–1959
Snorkel and TouchdownPalladium silver Triumph point, plastic cap
Post-war golden age
$75–$170 typical ask
Sheaffer · 1952–1959
Snorkel and TouchdownGold-filled cap, 14K two-tone Triumph point
Post-war golden age
$180–$250 typical ask
Sheaffer · 1959–1968
Snorkel and TouchdownPlastic cap, gold-filled band, 14K inlaid nib
Post-war golden age
$260–$320 typical ask
Sheaffer · 1976–1998
Cartridge and converterMatte black, gold-plated trim, Classic size
Modern
$110–$200 typical ask
Sheaffer · 1949
Snorkel and Touchdown1949 only, Touchdown filler
Post-war golden age
$85–$210 typical ask