What we do when we don't have a Pen Posse

[Empty_of_Clouds]

Todd is Farmboy.

Yeah, I already knew that bit.

Some of the pens will get sold, some turned into parts, some kept. It's pretty much the full range of possibility.

Does that mean there might be some hope for me to source a second-hand cap jewel for my 51 aero? Just kidding, there is no hope for the likes of me.

[Jon Szanto]

It doesn't always require connections just a bit of diligence and money to strike when the opportunity arrives.

Not to mention a very, very deep grasp of the pens themselves, and the market. There is very little to keep a neophyte from getting taken to the cleaners on large-scale buys, and I know I've heard those very stories from you guys. Using Todd as just one example, I have no doubt that he could look at enormous collections of pens and have some pretty solid idea of values, both for purchase and intrinsic (or sale) value. Me? Not so much. It's pretty foolish for me to expect to walk up to dealers and start talking buying pens in lots.

But there's still time. I'm not dead yet!

[AltecGreen]

Some of the pens will get sold, some turned into parts, some kept. It's pretty much the full range of possibility.

Does that mean there might be some hope for me to source a second-hand cap jewel for my 51 aero? Just kidding, there is no hope for the likes of me.

The parts are out there. You can just ping Rob Lott of Fivestar pens and ask as an example.

But buying a single replacement part is paying full retail for the part plus shipping. It is often the case that the parts are worth more than the whole pen just like a car. This is certainly true in the case of a 51.

[AltecGreen]

It doesn't always require connections just a bit of diligence and money to strike when the opportunity arrives.

Not to mention a very, very deep grasp of the pens themselves, and the market. There is very little to keep a neophyte from getting taken to the cleaners on large-scale buys, and I know I've heard those very stories from you guys. Using Todd as just one example, I have no doubt that he could look at enormous collections of pens and have some pretty solid idea of values, both for purchase and intrinsic (or sale) value. Me? Not so much. It's pretty foolish for me to expect to walk up to dealers and start talking buying pens in lots.

But there's still time. I'm not dead yet!

That is certainly true and we have seen people taken to the cleaners in that regard. If you are going to buy vintage pens, you have to educate yourself. I don't think it matters whether you buy one or a whole collection. You can be taken to the cleaners either way.
Learning the prices and value is a matter of dedication. It takes effort and a bit of time.

[Empty_of_Clouds]

The parts are out there. You can just ping Rob Lott of Fivestar pens and ask as an example.

But buying a single replacement part is paying full retail for the part plus shipping. It is often the case that the parts are worth more than the whole pen just like a car. This is certainly true in the case of a 51.

Never heard of Rob Lott or Fivestar - remember I am in the back of beyond here, without any local resources.

A single cap jewel - a reproduction would be fine as long as it fits. It's not as if I am reaching for originality. How much should it be? Shipping is the cost of a letter, not a package. I've have a bunch of dip nibs sent in a letter from the US for a couple of bucks, so asking $23 for shipping is... well, you can imagine the words I would like to use.

[da vinci]

Thank you for posting the great pictures of this wonderful collection. I enjoyed viewing your posts very much

[sloegin]

Tell me about the wood trays.

[Laura N]

No eggshell vac?

[ethernautrix]

It doesn't always require connections just a bit of diligence and money to strike when the opportunity arrives.

Not to mention a very, very deep grasp of the pens themselves, and the market. There is very little to keep a neophyte from getting taken to the cleaners on large-scale buys, and I know I've heard those very stories from you guys. Using Todd as just one example, I have no doubt that he could look at enormous collections of pens and have some pretty solid idea of values, both for purchase and intrinsic (or sale) value. Me? Not so much. It's pretty foolish for me to expect to walk up to dealers and start talking buying pens in lots.

But there's still time. I'm not dead yet!

That is certainly true and we have seen people taken to the cleaners in that regard. If you are going to buy vintage pens, you have to educate yourself. I don't think it matters whether you buy one or a whole collection. You can be taken to the cleaners either way.
Learning the prices and value is a matter of dedication. It takes effort and a bit of time.

Exactly. The harder you work (the more you know), the luckier you are.

[AltecGreen]

Tell me about the wood trays.

Custom made by the person who sold Todd that collection.

[AltecGreen]

Thank you for posting the great pictures of this wonderful collection. I enjoyed viewing your posts very much

It was actually multiple collections.

[AltecGreen]

The parts are out there. You can just ping Rob Lott of Fivestar pens and ask as an example.

But buying a single replacement part is paying full retail for the part plus shipping. It is often the case that the parts are worth more than the whole pen just like a car. This is certainly true in the case of a 51.

Never heard of Rob Lott or Fivestar - remember I am in the back of beyond here, without any local resources.

A single cap jewel - a reproduction would be fine as long as it fits. It's not as if I am reaching for originality. How much should it be? Shipping is the cost of a letter, not a package. I've have a bunch of dip nibs sent in a letter from the US for a couple of bucks, so asking $23 for shipping is... well, you can imagine the words I would like to use.

fivestarpens.com (ask for what you don't see on the website)

A more common strategy is to buy a junker and harvest the parts. Shipping is probably going to be your biggest hurdle since the cost won't be to your liking. Like buying pens, it would be more cost effective to buy a small lot of replacement jewels since the shipping cost won't be the same for a small bag of jewels versus a single jewel. This makes the cost per jewel more manageable. But if you only need/want just one, then you'll have to pay the price.

[terim]

We've recently been putting this flyer in with all orders we ship, and we've gotten some good leads. My hope is that the flyer will surface when someone is ready to start liquidating.

In order to be effective, you need to buy everything and not cherry-pick. It helps when you have a need for the spare parts which a collection purchase inevitably throws off.



TERI