Sheaffer · 1952–1959 · Snorkel and Touchdown
Gold-filled cap, 14K two-tone Triumph point
The Crest name goes back to 1937, when Sheaffer made its first pen with a metal cap on a plastic body. By the Snorkel years it meant a gold-filled cap engraved with grouped vertical lines, worn over a plastic barrel and a 14K two-tone Triumph point. That put it a step above the Sentinel, which has the same nib under a stainless steel cap, and below the Signature, the Autograph, the all gold-filled Triumph and the solid gold Masterpiece. Sheaffer's service manuals call it the Crest Deluxe, and some early examples carry labels with that name. Barrels came in black, burgundy, pastel gray, aqua, pastel green, buckskin tan and fern green. Inside it's the same Snorkel filler as every other model, so you fill through a tube without dunking the point. Pick a Crest if you want a gold cap and a gold nib on a pen you'll actually fill and use. Snorkel caps and barrels swap between models, so make sure the nib belongs.
Most Snorkels need a new sac, O-ring and seals by now, and the filler won't work if any seal leaks. Gold-filled caps wear through at the lip and clip and pick up dents. Because caps and barrels interchange, you'll see Crest caps on lesser pens and the reverse.
Buying guide
Only four Snorkel Crests are for sale, so the $180–250 delivered band isn't much of a market read. Our pick is the cheapest, a 1950s White Dot Crest with a 14K nib at $82 delivered, more than $130 under the next one. The other three ask $213–280 delivered, two ship from Japan, and none says the Snorkel's been resealed, so price in new seals and ask for a water test. Check the gold-filled cap lip and clip for brassy wear and dents in the photos, and make sure the nib is two-tone gold, since a plain silver one means a swapped part.
$82.00est. delivered
The cheapest Crest by more than $130, a 1950s White Dot pen with a 14K nib at $82 delivered. Nothing says it's been resealed, so ask for a water test and close-ups of the cap lip, where gold-filled caps wear through.
Vintage 50s Sheaffer Crest White Dot Snorkel Fountain Pen 14k Gold Nib
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$82.00est. delivered
$74.00 + $8.00 shipping
Buy It Now$74.00
Good buy
1950s White Dot Crest, 14K nib.
Seller: treasurehunters47
99.9% positive
Used$213.00est. delivered
$198.00 + $15.00 shipping
Buy It Now$198.00
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
Black with a 14K Triumph nib. No word on the seals.
Seller: markw8965
99.6% positive
Used$239.99delivered
$239.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$239.99
Our take
Two-tone 14K nib. Ships free from Japan.
Seller: info_tanikawa
98.7% positive
Used$280.00est. delivered
$240.00 + $40.00 shipping
Buy It Now$240.00
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
Ships from Japan with $40 shipping, about $30 over the band top.
Seller: jp_sales3
99.6% 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
Sheaffer · 1952–1959
Snorkel and TouchdownPalladium silver Triumph point, plastic cap
Post-war golden age
$75–$170 typical ask
Sheaffer · 1959–1968
Snorkel and TouchdownPlastic cap, gold-filled band, 14K inlaid nib
Post-war golden age
$260–$320 typical ask
Sheaffer · 1949
Snorkel and Touchdown1949 only, Touchdown filler
Post-war golden age
$85–$210 typical ask
Sheaffer · 1929–1942
Button and lever fillerStriated Marine Green, lever filler, 1937
Pre-war and wartime
$110–$190 typical ask
Sheaffer · 1976–1998
Cartridge and converterMatte black, gold-plated trim, Classic size
Modern
$110–$200 typical ask