The original Sheaffer Crest snorkel filling pen was introduced in 1952:
Forty years later a gold filled 'tribute pen' the Sheaffer Crest 590 was released at a whopping $265:
At first sight the pens are pretty much identical, although the darker colour of the 23Ct. gold on the later pen is evident when compaed to the 14Ct. original. The nibs are also slightly different, the earlier pen is 14Ct. with a platinum mask wheeas the later pen has a plain 18Ct.Gold nib.
The positioning of the threads is also different, and the older pen has a grooved section. The main difference between the two pens is not evident visually. The original pen is a Snorkel filler while the later on uses the now ubiquitous cartridge/converter arrangement.
Very often a 're-imagined' pen is a disappointment when compsred to the pen that inspired it, the 'new' Parker 51 springs to mind. Sheaffer, howeer, have done a remarkable job with the new Crest, it has not declined in quality and the gold content of this pen has increased.
It probably cannot be disputed that the cartridge/converter syatem is more convenient and better suited to a modern lifestyle than the Snorkel arrangement but the complicated and quirky filler of the older pen has a certain charm and the 'ritual' of fillng the pen has some appeal to the enthusiast.
In purely pragmatic terms the modern sheaffer Crest has the edge, but considering the age and charm of the original I think I would declare any competition a draw, beauty is, after all, in the eyes of the beholder.
