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Thread: Gondor asks for aid ...

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    Default Gondor asks for aid ...

    I have no right to ask this, but I don't have any other option.

    In the last 3 years (since getting back into fountain pens) I have acquired many different vintage pens which subsequently got sold, or more often just given away to other members here or at the other place. The recipients know who they are. A lot of the pens I've bought have been low quality anyway, mainly because I don't really know what I am looking at. However, since I returned to fountain pen use I've had a longing to own (or at least try) a genuinely flexible vintage nib.

    There are problems with this, and is why I am here cap in hand.

    1. Reputable eBay sellers often have a "following" usually comprised of people for whom (it seems) bidding up prices is not an issue. This leads to some very high prices that I feel are not a true representation of value beyond that small group.

    2. Specialist online sellers set prices at or beyond what I see on eBay - and this is often reflected in very slow sales at those sites. Perhaps they can afford to wait?

    3. From what people have told me, pen show prices are far more reasonable: even though vintage flex is going to cost a premium, it is not apparently anywhere near as high as 1 and 2 above.

    4. There is no sensible way to try before buying as I live on a remote island.

    5. There are a number of bridges I would like to repair, if people will at least afford me the chance to do so.




    What I would like is to be able to reach out someone in the community who I can trust as a finder or as a facilitator. Preferably someone who frequents big pen shows. I don't know anyone who fits this description, and so I hope someone will take pity and at least start a conversation with me.

    It would be nice to find something in reasonable condition, and this search is really about the nib and not a museum grade pen. I don't have a lot of money, so i couldn't pay anyone for this kindness - though I may be able to gift one of my few remaining pens.

    An alternative is if anyone is willing to risk sending a flexible vintage pen to me so I can at least experience what they are like. I would be willing to pay insured shipping both ways for such privilege. I'm not a heavy handed user.


    Anyway, that's my only remaining pen-related quest. Please consider it, and please let me know of any difficulties that may make this endeavour impossible to prosecute.

    Thank you for your time if you have read this far.

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    Senior Member Wile E Coyote's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gondor asks for aid ...

    Quote Originally Posted by Empty_of_Clouds View Post
    1. Reputable eBay sellers often have a "following" usually comprised of people for whom (it seems) bidding up prices is not an issue. This leads to some very high prices that I feel are not a true representation of value beyond that small group.
    You wouldn't be implying that there may be disingenuous bidding occurring on Ebay?

    Quote Originally Posted by Empty_of_Clouds View Post
    2. Specialist online sellers set prices at or beyond what I see on eBay - and this is often reflected in very slow sales at those sites. Perhaps they can afford to wait?
    Why, yes, they can afford to wait. You may also try offering them what you feel is a fair price. They may be at the end of their waiting period.

    Quote Originally Posted by Empty_of_Clouds View Post
    3. From what people have told me, pen show prices are far more reasonable: even though vintage flex is going to cost a premium, it is not apparently anywhere near as high as 1 and 2 above.
    You may be able to find a bargain once in a while at a show. But remember, the majority of the people in "2" are selling at the shows and my comment there also applies at the shows.

    Quote Originally Posted by Empty_of_Clouds View Post
    4. There is no sensible way to try before buying as I live on a remote island.
    Be more sensible and move to a less remote island where pen shows are plentiful, if fountain pen cost is a priority. Though it may be more economical to stay where you are and pay a premium for pens.

    Quote Originally Posted by Empty_of_Clouds View Post
    5. There are a number of bridges I would like to repair, if people will at least afford me the chance to do so.
    How many bridges and what exactly is wrong with the bridges?

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    Senior Member SIR's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gondor asks for aid ...


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    Default Re: Gondor asks for aid ...

    Quote Originally Posted by Wile E Coyote View Post

    You wouldn't be implying that there may be disingenuous bidding occurring on Ebay?

    No, only that the "followers" of these sellers seem keen to jump into the auctions at the start and bid up furiously.

    Quote Originally Posted by Empty_of_Clouds View Post
    2. Specialist online sellers set prices at or beyond what I see on eBay - and this is often reflected in very slow sales at those sites. Perhaps they can afford to wait?
    Why, yes, they can afford to wait. You may also try offering them what you feel is a fair price. They may be at the end of their waiting period.

    I've tried that, to no avail. Those that I've asked are rigid on price.

    Quote Originally Posted by Empty_of_Clouds View Post
    3. From what people have told me, pen show prices are far more reasonable: even though vintage flex is going to cost a premium, it is not apparently anywhere near as high as 1 and 2 above.
    You may be able to find a bargain once in a while at a show. But remember, the majority of the people in "2" are selling at the shows and my comment there also applies at the shows.

    As noted, I'm not looking for a bargain, just a fair deal. And tales of pen shows by people who've been to them suggest such fair deals can still be made at the shows.

    Quote Originally Posted by Empty_of_Clouds View Post
    4. There is no sensible way to try before buying as I live on a remote island.
    Be more sensible and move to a less remote island where pen shows are plentiful, if fountain pen cost is a priority. Though it may be more economical to stay where you are and pay a premium for pens.

    I'm not going to emigrate just to ease my pen situation! I expect to pay a premium from here, but there are premiums and then there are premiums.

    Quote Originally Posted by Empty_of_Clouds View Post
    5. There are a number of bridges I would like to repair, if people will at least afford me the chance to do so.
    How many bridges and what exactly is wrong with the bridges?


    Oh, lots. Burned them through poor judgement and impetuosity, but I cannot mend them without help.
    penamie.co.uk has some nice pens but they fall into that category of seller that is asking too much for my tastes.
    Last edited by Empty_of_Clouds; March 19th, 2018 at 12:04 PM.

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    Default Re: Gondor asks for aid ...

    I saw some very nice restored pens with flex at Danny Fudge's table (The Write Pen) at the Arkansas Pen Show. You might ask him what he's got left.
    Lady Onogaro

    "Be yourself--everybody else is already taken." --Oscar Wilde

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    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gondor asks for aid ...

    Here's my biggest question: how on Earth would any of us be able to pick out a vintage flex nib that we would be dead certain you would like? If there is an area of the pen world that is more intrinsically linked to personal touch and feel, I can't think of one. Every single flexible nibbed pen that I have ever purchased - except for the couple I have tried in person at a pen show - has been a gamble. How could it be otherwise? There are absolutely no guaranteed ways to describe a nib so that a person would know, in advance, how it would respond in their hand.

    How would you respond to this?
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

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    Default Re: Gondor asks for aid ...

    It is a fair question Mr Szanto, and not one with a perfect or singular answer. The most softly flexible nib I've tried is a Pilot #10 FA, which lacks thin-ness on the unflexed stroke, and the snap back is a bit too slow. Outside of dip pens the other flexible pen I have is a Waterman's 52 with a #2 nib. That one requires too much pressure to be comfortable over time.

    So I guess I am looking for something that is extra fine, near paint-brush like. Not the best description. I need to think on how to describe my expectations.

    Thank you for responding, same goes for anyone engaging in this thread.

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    Senior Member carlos.q's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gondor asks for aid ...

    Take a look at this pen offered on that other site. The seller offers a video to show the pen's flex:
    http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/fo...inson-product/

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    Default Re: Gondor asks for aid ...

    That's the kind of thing! Finer hair-lines would be nice, but it looks near enough. Oh... I'm banned from the other place. I forgot.

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    Default Re: Gondor asks for aid ...

    Dip. Pen.

    Minimal gamble. Maximum likelihood of providing the writing experience you want.

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    Default Re: Gondor asks for aid ...

    Quote Originally Posted by carlos.q View Post
    Take a look at this pen offered on that other site. The seller offers a video to show the pen's flex:
    http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/fo...inson-product/
    Nib looks pushed beyond normal.

    Continue and it will deform or crack or both.

    Good luck.

    To the OP. Dip pens are a few $US, get a few and start there.

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    Default Re: Gondor asks for aid ...

    Sorry, I should have been clearer. I am looking for a fountain pen. I have dip pens but they are not exactly portable.

    Point taken (hah) on the 'pushed beyond normal'. See, I have no way of telling this myself. Push a dip pen like that and... well, nothing really, it just keeps going.

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    Default Re: Gondor asks for aid ...

    Buying (especially flex) pen was always a gamble for me (bought almost all my pens on eBay).
    There is no real way to check their properties out in advance.
    You can try to interpret the available information, try taking advantage of your experience.
    Almost every time sellers over advertise the flexibility as flex sells (those who are aware of the flex nimbus).
    Videos are a hint but nothing more, many torture the nibs to the limit or beyond as flex sells and you can‘t really see how much they are pushed (again flex sells, and you can squeeze out some line variation out of many pens).

    At the end it‘s still a gamble, it‘s like opening a Kinder Surprise Egg when you receive it.
    Only after you used it yourself you see if you like it or not.

    But this was always part of the fun and the thrill of the pen hunt.
    Sometimes you get a lemon, sometimes you get pens which are somehow ok, and sometimes you hunt really good ones.

    But there is no guarantee, such hunts are only suitable if you like gambles and you can afford getting sometimes a lemon.
    If you don’t like such games I guess you have to travel to pen shows or sellers, try the things out in advance (and of course pay many times a premium as these guys most of the time know what they sell).

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    Default Re: Gondor asks for aid ...

    Okay, okay.

    I withdraw the request for aid.

    I apologise for asking.

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    Senior Member Pterodactylus's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gondor asks for aid ...

    Quote Originally Posted by Empty_of_Clouds View Post
    Okay, okay.

    I withdraw the request for aid.

    I apologise for asking.
    Do you feel offended?

    There is nothing wrong with your request and nothing to apologize.

    The search for really good pens is not easy.
    Did you already looked at modern flex (thinking about FPR) and EMF modifying it?
    One of my favorite pens is a crappy Serwex MB with EMF Modified FPR nib.

    A couple of month ago I bought a FPR Himalaya with their current Flex nib (looks slightly different than my old one)
    I didn´t modified it yet but plan to do so next time.
    I will post a review, as FPGeeks need also an EMF thread (on my list to create since 2 years).

    I also modified a Pelikan M200 steel nib (to add some flex) a couple of months ago, but I’m not 100% satisfied with the grind yet so I posted nothing yet (but modifying that nib is much more difficult than on a FPR nib).


    Show_response_845 by Ptero Pterodactylus, auf Flickr

    (Waterman BCHR 12 1/2 ..... Diamine Ancient Copper)
    (Serwex MB flex EMF ..... ESS Registrars Blue-Black)

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    Default Re: Gondor asks for aid ...

    Of course I'm not offended.

    Just realised that the request was unrealistic.

    It's not important.

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    Senior Member carlos.q's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gondor asks for aid ...

    How about a modern pen?

    https://youtu.be/9BV_9LZrjdw

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    Senior Member dfo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gondor asks for aid ...

    It is a valid request. Living in a remote location does not allow you the option to try pens in person. I live in a remote part of the US—in the Rocky Mountains—and I have never been to a pen show. Every vintage pen I have purchased via Ebay have had some problems that required some work on my part.

    Jon raises a valid problem. A pen that a person might buy for you may not fit your tastes or could break down after some use. That is always a gamble, but it may be one that you are willing to take.

    You might narrow your request to a certain brand and style of pen. You would still be taking a gamble, but someone might be able to help you.

    Rohan answers your call.
    "Love is the final fight."

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    Default Re: Gondor asks for aid ...

    I have a somewhat unrelated question. What is Gondor in this case? I thought Gondor was a kingdom in middle earth.

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    Default Re: Gondor asks for aid ...

    Just a meme association.

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