Product Description
Type Snorkel filling system fountain pen
Product Name PFM III demonstrator. These were not sold to the public, they were used to demostrate the snorkel filling system
Manufacturer and Year Sheaffer, made in USA -- 1960s. (The nib was made in Australia)
Length 5-1/4"
Filling System The PFM III uses a snorkel filling system. The snorkel works in combination with the Touchdown filling system. Unscrew the knob to extend the snorkel, pull out the piston, immerse the tip of the snorkel in ink, and push the piston down. Wait 10 seconds to allow the bladder to expand and pull the ink in. Then screw the knob to retract the snorkel. No need to wipe ink off of anything. The filling system works well with excellent suction.
Color Clear demonstrator with gold plated trim. The demonstrators were made for pen dealers to show off the inner workings of the pen, and are rare.
Nib Medium 14k Inlaid Nib. It writes well and and very smoothly. The nib unit was made in Australia.
Condition Very nice condition. The pen has just the slightest bit of haziness due to age, but is still very clear. There are a few marks on the barrel and cap. The cap also has a small 1/4" crack on the back, which is visible in the photos below, as well as a rough corner on the top. The lower part of the cap originally was painted black, probably to obscure the ugly glue used for the inner cap, but almost all of the paint has been polished off except for a patch under the clip. The trim is in good condition as is the imprint. No cracks, chips, or major scratches. It's working very well.
