Last May 2013, Sheaffer recently celebrated 100 years as a successful pen brand worldwide. The Manila celebration was held last May 29th, at the Yuchengco Museum, in Makati. Walter A. Sheaffer originally built the company in 1913, in Fort Madison, Iowa. While Sheaffer had been selling in the Philippines in the early 1990s, they pulled out and recently relaunched themselves a few years ago, in cooperation with the country’s foremost bookstore chain, National Bookstore. They invited members of our fountain pen group, Fountain Pen Network – Philippines, most of whom are loyal customers.
The event was hosted by media personality RJ Ledesma. We were greeted by BIC Asia Regional Manager Alejandro Rodriguez Tabo, with gracious remarks from National Bookstore’s doyenne Mrs. Socorro Ramos. There were on-the-spot games with the audience, where my friend Raffy won some gift certificates for having brought the oldest vintage Sheaffer pen in the room (a 1920s black-and-pearl flat top lever-filler).
Among the items being featured that evening were the new Taranis, a hooded-nib fountain pen designed by US architect Charles Debbas, and the Sagaris, a fountain pen inspired by the earlier Sheaffer Triumph (1990s, a tribute in turn to the much earlier 1970s Imperials). There were also three very special pens, collector’s limited editions:
The sterling silver commemorative pen has an 18k inlaid nib and is one of only 516 made. The 18k gold commemorative pen is one of only 45 that exist. It also has an 18k inlaid nib, and comes with a commemorative ink (although I was not able to ask what color it was).
The third commemorative pen was a sterling silver Legacy Heritage, with a palladium-coated 18k inlaid nib. It is only one of 1,913 ever made.
Towards the end of the evening, there was a raffle, at which my friends Carlos and Allan won the top two prizes. Carlos won a Sheaffer Valor in brown marble, while Allan won the grand prize, a Sheaffer Legacy Heritage.
We all went home with a Sheaffer Sagaris rollerball, stamped with Sheaffer’s centennial logo.
It was an enjoyable night, after which FPN-P members continued with another pen meet at a nearby ramen restaurant.
Many thanks to Robby da Silva, National Bookstore’s Sheaffer manager, for the kind invitation!
