Classic Pens CP4 Limited Edition 1997
by Jim Mamoulides, February 13, 2003

A Collector Driven Company

Classic Pens Sheaffer CP4 Washington 1997

Classic Pens Limited is one of a number of new pen companies founded in the last 25 year by collectors to sell or manufacture pens. The company was founded in 1987 by Andreas Lambrou and Keith G. Brown and is best known in the pen community for creating a series of sterling silver guilloché engraved limited edition fountain pens based on classic models by different first line pen manufacturers. Andreas Lambrou is probably best known for his huge, wonderful pen-tome, Fountain Pens of the World, a comprehensive and well illustrated history of fountain pens by region, country and manufacturer, published by Classic Pens in 1995.

Classic Pens Sheaffer CP4 Washington and Richmond Pens (From the Brochure)

The first pens were released in 1990 as the Classic Pens CP1, a 250 pen edition based on the Sheaffer Targa. The second edition, based on the Sheaffer Crest, was the CP2 Pushkin, a 500 pen edition released in 1993. In 1995 the company released a 500 pen set, the CP3 Iliad and Odyssey, based on the Aurora 88.

Gilding The Legacy

Classic Pens Sheaffer CP4 Washington 1997 (Center)
Flanked By Sheaffer Legacy II Linear Matte (Top) and PFM V Black c1959-1968 (Bottom)

The Classic Pens CP4 was introduced as part of a matched set of 1,865 pens in each of the two designs, the Washington and the Richmond, and are based on the sterling silver Sheaffer Legacy. The Legacy was introduced in 1995 and draws heavily on the design of the 1959-1968 landmark Sheaffer PFM, or Pen For Men. The pen has the same profile and nib as the PFM, but is an all-metal base, rather than the all-plastic or plastic barrel and metal cap PFM, and is heavier as a result. The Legacy uses a unique cartridge / converter system that incorporates a removable Touchdown unit, instead of a Snorkel system, as in the PFM.

Interestingly, with the two CP4 pens, there are four Legacy sterling silver pens: the original Legacy, with its linear dashed line engraved pattern, and a relatively rare "plain" version, which was not intended as a regular model, but is essentially the "blank" for the other three pens. A complete Legacy sterling collection would need all four pens.

Classic Pens Sheaffer CP4 Washington 1997

Guilloché engraving has appeared on fountain pens almost from their introduction. Complex patterns have appeared on metals, hard rubber, plastics, and even lacquer. Some of the most elaborate designs are found on the Wahl pens of the 1920s, with dozens of designs. The CP4's complex engraving is done on a c1928 circular engraving machine from Murelli company museum in France. The Richmond pen is done in a flowing moiré pattern, while the Washington adds a diamond mesh overlay to it, creating the pattern, named "vague".

A Bit Of History

Classic Pens Sheaffer CP4 Washington Display Case (From the Brochure)

As with the previous Iliad and Odyssey pens, the CP4 series carries a theme, honoring the capitols of the American Civil War. The pens are packaged in hand-crafted presentation cases, with a map fitted into the lid and the accompanying booklet gives a brief history of the war and the history of the Sheaffer pens the CP4 draws from. The CP4 has a wide cap band that is laser engraved with the CP4 and Lambrou & Brown logos, as well as the edition number.

The original retail on this pen was US $1,250.00 each, or US $2,500.00 for the set.

Performance

The CP4 is unlike any other Legacy, including the standard sterling model. It has the same heft and certainly writes the same, but when held, the pattern tickles the fingers with its many elements. It's very textured, but not sharp, like cut glass. A very well finished pen.

Polished, the pen is quite bright, and catches light in breaks and sparkles. It is quite eye catching. The pen presents itself visually with a lot of visual feminine delicacy, but with a solid, heavy, masculine feel. A first rate pen.

Classic Pens Sheaffer CP4 Washington 1997

Unlike many other limited edition pens, the CP4 is not huge, being 5 3/8 inches long capped and 5 7/8 inches posted. It posts deeply, but with the design, I don't recommend posting this pen. The cap will stay put, should you decide to risk posting it. The cap snaps crisply onto the section, very securely. Some early Legacy pens that use the three prong grip on the section had problems with the cap not being snug. That's not a problem on this pen. The clip is mounted high on the cap, and the pen will sit fairly low in a long pocket. Being very heavy, you'll need to wear a heavy or starched shirt, or this pen will bend your pocket!

The Touchdown cartridge / converter is an interesting compromise. Cartridges work the same way they do in cheap US $5.00 Sheaffer Cartridge Pen, which is to say, unscrew the barrel, drop the Skrip cartridge in it, and screw the barrel back on. Probably the simplest cartridge system ever made. The converter is unique. To make the pen work both ways, Sheaffer designed a removable sac holder that presses onto the end of the section. Installed, it looks like a gold plated sac holder from a large early Touchdown pen. Screw the barrel back on, unscrew the plunger, pump two times, count to ten, wipe, and you're ready to go.

Unlike earlier sealed Touchdown pens, the Legacy requires two downstrokes, probably as the seal with the section is not as solid as in a closed system. The only gripe I have with the Legacy is the plunger cap is a round cone, lacking the grips found on the PFM and Imperial pens. With the smooth sterling cap, it's sometimes quite difficult to unscrew the plunger! A bad design, with form not following function well. This hiccup continues with the current Legacy II.

Classic Pens Sheaffer CP4 Washington Nib

The pen is fitted with the classic Sheaffer inlaid 18 karat nib, which in this pen is a medium. It's a very smooth and wet writer, with definite softness, though no real flex.

This is a unique, yet very practical limited edition that could serve as a daily user. I would use it with great care, as dings and scratches would ruin the beautiful engraved patterns. The design evokes art more than power, so it would leave a different impression than many other LEs. Surprisingly, a number of these pens turn up from time to time at very significant discounts off retail, so if you want one, patience may be a real virtue. It's an excellent, wet writing, formal, yet arty pen that can go to work or the parlor.

Acknowledgement

Brochure scans in this article are copyright 1997 Classic Pens Limited.

Comments on this article may be sent to the author, Jim Mamoulides
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