Restoration Journal
Notes on individual restorations, model identification, and what actually goes into bringing a vintage pen back to reliable use.
October 14, 2026
Sheaffer Balance Sovereign Lifetime — A Welcome Change of Pace
A Golden Brown Striated Sheaffer Balance Sovereign Lifetime returns to service after a refreshingly straightforward restoration and a little nib tuning.
October 12, 2026
Restoring a 1947 Parker Vacumatic Junior
A 1947 Parker Vacumatic Junior in Azure Pearl gets a new diaphragm, a stubborn pellet removed, and its original gold nib back into writing condition.
October 9, 2026
Restoring a 1942 Parker Duofold Junior — The Pen That Changed Everything
My first Parker Vacumatic restoration revealed extraordinary barrel transparency, a beautifully preserved 1942 imprint, and a gold nib that delivered the finest writing experience I've encountered.
October 6, 2026
Restoring a Green Eversharp Skyline Set
A green Eversharp Skyline restoration revealed an unusual surprise beneath the derby: a perfectly defined transparent section of celluloid, likely left by a long-ago attempt to lubricate the cap threads.
October 2, 2026
Restoring an Official Gregg Shorthand Fountain Pen
A straightforward restoration of a 1930s Gregg shorthand pen where the most interesting part wasn't the repair—it was the colorful enamel Gregg emblem hiding in plain sight on the cap top.
September 25, 2026
Restoring a Sheaffer Balance 500
A Sheaffer Balance 500 in Golden Brown Striated celluloid came to the bench with deep scratches, a worn ink sac, tarnished trim, and years of dried ink hiding its two-tone Feather Touch nib. The restoration became an exercise in knowing how far to go—bringing the pen back without erasing every trace of the life it had before.
September 16, 2026
A Light Touch | Parker Sonnet Laque Moonbeam Rollerball
September 11, 2026
1939 Parker Streamlined Lady Duofold Button Fill
A 1939 Parker Streamline Lady Duofold with its original button-filling mechanism still intact. This restoration focused on preserving the original pressure bar, replacing the ink sac, and returning an 87-year-old pen to reliable use.
September 11, 2026
Diamond Point "Challenger"
A late-1930s Diamond Point “Challenger” brought back to life with a new pressure bar, ink sac, and careful cleaning. The worn trim tells its age, but the green marbled body still absolutely shines.
September 3, 2026
Green Esterbrook J with 1555 Gregg Nib
A classic green Esterbrook J, restored and returned to service with its original 1555 Gregg nib. A simple working pen with a lot of character left in it.
August 31, 2026
1939 Pepsi Cola Advertising Pen
A late-1930s Pepsi-Cola advertising fountain pen brought back to working order with a careful, preservation-first restoration. The original lettering survived beautifully, the filling system was rebuilt, and one unusually clear ink window made this pen especially memorable.
