Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 27

Thread: At last I am sumgai!

  1. #1
    Senior Member carlos.q's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    On a hill in Puerto Rico
    Posts
    1,698
    Thanks
    2,215
    Thanked 1,818 Times in 797 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default At last I am sumgai!

    You read about it all the time. Some guy finds a very nice or rare pen for a few dollars at a flea market or garage sale and buys it just before you arrive. Usually sumgai is somebody else. Except this time it was my turn.

    A couple of weeks ago I went to an antique fair that is celebrated yearly in the southern part of the island. While looking at some old things stuffed in a curio I saw a gold colored pen stuck in a corner. I asked the owner to see it and, upon inspection, I realized I had a Parker 51 Signet on my hands. "How much?" I calmly asked the gentleman. "Ten dollars" he answered, and before I could say anything he added, "After all I have to recoup my investment". While thinking, "How much did this guy pay for the pen that he can make a profit selling for this price?" I took out my wallet and paid the ten dollars.

    Parker 51 Signet.jpg
    My ten dollar investment.

    A quick flush was all that was needed to get this beauty working again. The pen has a very tasteful inscription that tells me this pen belonged to a doctor during the late 50's or early 60's. How many prescriptions did he fill with this pen?

    I left the fair extremely happy thinking "At last I am sumgai!". Or maybe the real sumgai was the seller? Well anyway I thought I should share my story and ask you all:

    Have you ever been sumgai? Tell us your story. Show us your pictures!

  2. The Following 22 Users Say Thank You to carlos.q For This Useful Post:

    + Show/Hide list of the thanked

    Ahriman4891 (September 15th, 2019), amk (October 29th, 2019), AzJon (September 16th, 2019), azkid (September 15th, 2019), BayesianPrior (September 15th, 2019), catbert (September 15th, 2019), Chrissy (September 15th, 2019), countrydirt (September 15th, 2019), Dreck (November 4th, 2019), empliau (September 15th, 2019), jar (September 15th, 2019), jbb (September 16th, 2019), Jon Szanto (September 15th, 2019), Kaputnik (September 15th, 2019), Lady Onogaro (September 16th, 2019), Marsilius (September 16th, 2019), penwash (September 15th, 2019), Pterodactylus (September 15th, 2019), Sailor Kenshin (September 16th, 2019), Scrawler (September 15th, 2019), silverlifter (September 15th, 2019), SIR (September 16th, 2019)

  3. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2019
    Posts
    256
    Thanks
    51
    Thanked 244 Times in 116 Posts
    Rep Power
    6

    Default Re: At last I am sumgai!

    We're not worthy!
    We're not worthy!

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to Sandy For This Useful Post:

    carlos.q (September 16th, 2019)

  5. #3
    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Carlisle, Pennsylvania USA
    Posts
    4,909
    Thanks
    1,396
    Thanked 6,390 Times in 2,505 Posts
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Re: At last I am sumgai!

    Excellent!

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to FredRydr For This Useful Post:

    carlos.q (September 16th, 2019)

  7. #4
    Senior Member Deb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Highlands of Scotland
    Posts
    1,747
    Thanks
    2,353
    Thanked 1,927 Times in 842 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: At last I am sumgai!

    That's a great purchase and the personalisation makes it even better!
    Regards,
    Deb
    My Blog

  8. The Following User Says Thank You to Deb For This Useful Post:

    carlos.q (September 16th, 2019)

  9. #5
    Senior Member Kaputnik's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    By the long tidal river.
    Posts
    1,043
    Thanks
    2,713
    Thanked 2,570 Times in 695 Posts
    Rep Power
    14

    Default Re: At last I am sumgai!

    Quote Originally Posted by carlos.q View Post
    ...I realized I had a Parker 51 Signet on my hands. "How much?" I calmly asked the gentleman. "Ten dollars" he answered, and before I could say anything he added, "After all I have to recoup my investment". While thinking, "How much did this guy pay for the pen that he can make a profit selling for this price?" I took out my wallet and paid the ten dollars...
    I don't have much of a poker face, but luckily, my "I can't believe you want so little" expression looks pretty much like the "I can't believe you want so much" one. Anyway, congratulations.
    "If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly."
    G.K. Chesterton

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to Kaputnik For This Useful Post:

    carlos.q (September 16th, 2019)

  11. #6
    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    11,406
    Thanks
    6,879
    Thanked 10,367 Times in 3,978 Posts
    Rep Power
    24

    Default Re: At last I am sumgai!

    You're definitely sumgai with that excellent deal. Well done.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to Chrissy For This Useful Post:

    carlos.q (September 16th, 2019)

  13. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    1,075
    Thanks
    365
    Thanked 455 Times in 259 Posts
    Rep Power
    10

    Default Re: At last I am sumgai!

    For the benefit of Parker ingenues like me, can you quantify your sumgainess? What would be a fair price for this pen between knowledgeable collectors? I don't mean to put you on the spot - even a ballpark indication would be useful

  14. #8
    Senior Member carlos.q's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    On a hill in Puerto Rico
    Posts
    1,698
    Thanks
    2,215
    Thanked 1,818 Times in 797 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: At last I am sumgai!

    Quote Originally Posted by BayesianPrior View Post
    For the benefit of Parker ingenues like me, can you quantify your sumgainess? What would be a fair price for this pen between knowledgeable collectors? I don't mean to put you on the spot - even a ballpark indication would be useful
    I bought my first (and until now my only) Parker 51 Signet about two years ago from a reputable restorer and I paid $250.00. From what I have seen recently the prices for these pens seem to be higher.

  15. The Following User Says Thank You to carlos.q For This Useful Post:

    BayesianPrior (September 19th, 2019)

  16. #9
    Senior Member jar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Deep South Texas
    Posts
    4,045
    Thanks
    479
    Thanked 3,712 Times in 1,610 Posts
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Re: At last I am sumgai!

    Shame on you. I would have refused to buy it at $10.00; that was really taking advantage of the poor guy. It was worth at least $12.50.

  17. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to jar For This Useful Post:

    AzJon (September 16th, 2019), carlos.q (September 16th, 2019), Kaputnik (September 15th, 2019), TAYLORPUPPY (October 28th, 2019)

  18. #10
    Senior Member carlos.q's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    On a hill in Puerto Rico
    Posts
    1,698
    Thanks
    2,215
    Thanked 1,818 Times in 797 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: At last I am sumgai!

    Quote Originally Posted by jar View Post
    Shame on you. I would have refused to buy it at $10.00; that was really taking advantage of the poor guy. It was worth at least $12.50.

  19. The Following User Says Thank You to carlos.q For This Useful Post:

    TAYLORPUPPY (October 28th, 2019)

  20. #11
    Senior Member azkid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Colorado, USA
    Posts
    2,016
    Thanks
    3,725
    Thanked 1,703 Times in 822 Posts
    Rep Power
    9

    Default Re: At last I am sumgai!

    Wow. Nice one, "sumgai" lol.

    How would you like to double your money?? (kidding)

  21. The Following User Says Thank You to azkid For This Useful Post:

    carlos.q (September 16th, 2019)

  22. #12
    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    6,617
    Thanks
    7,796
    Thanked 11,042 Times in 4,011 Posts
    Rep Power
    22

    Default Re: At last I am sumgai!

    Fabulous!
    "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

  23. The Following User Says Thank You to Jon Szanto For This Useful Post:

    carlos.q (September 16th, 2019)

  24. #13
    Senior Member penwash's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2015
    Location
    Dallas, as in the 80's TV Series
    Posts
    3,662
    Thanks
    3,364
    Thanked 6,703 Times in 1,972 Posts
    Rep Power
    14

    Default Re: At last I am sumgai!

    A very nice score!!

    Happy for ya!
    - Will
    Unique and restored vintage pens: Redeem Pens

  25. The Following User Says Thank You to penwash For This Useful Post:

    carlos.q (September 16th, 2019)

  26. #14
    Senior Member Lady Onogaro's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Lafayette, LA
    Posts
    2,197
    Thanks
    5,214
    Thanked 1,578 Times in 943 Posts
    Rep Power
    13

    Default Re: At last I am sumgai!

    Wow! The gods of luck were really with you!
    Lady Onogaro

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

  27. The Following User Says Thank You to Lady Onogaro For This Useful Post:

    carlos.q (September 16th, 2019)

  28. #15
    Senior Member AzJon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    Flagstaff
    Posts
    764
    Thanks
    1,204
    Thanked 826 Times in 352 Posts
    Rep Power
    9

    Default Re: At last I am sumgai!

    Whoa!

  29. The Following User Says Thank You to AzJon For This Useful Post:

    carlos.q (September 16th, 2019)

  30. #16
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2019
    Posts
    256
    Thanks
    51
    Thanked 244 Times in 116 Posts
    Rep Power
    6

    Default Re: At last I am sumgai!

    Na, you've got the wrong idea.

    At $10, the guy was insulting you.

    You should have offered him $5 - and then settled for around $7-8.

    I guarantee, he'd be smiling thinking he'd beat you - and you'd be smiling thinking you'd beaten him.

    Honour would have been satisfied on both sides.

  31. #17
    Senior Member carlos.q's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    On a hill in Puerto Rico
    Posts
    1,698
    Thanks
    2,215
    Thanked 1,818 Times in 797 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: At last I am sumgai!

    Quote Originally Posted by Sandy View Post
    Na, you've got the wrong idea.

    At $10, the guy was insulting you.

    You should have offered him $5 - and then settled for around $7-8.

    I guarantee, he'd be smiling thinking he'd beat you - and you'd be smiling thinking you'd beaten him.

    Honour would have been satisfied on both sides.
    I believe he was very happy he sold that old clunker for $10.00 and, of course, I am even happier...

  32. #18
    Senior Member jbb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Posts
    843
    Thanks
    359
    Thanked 754 Times in 307 Posts
    Rep Power
    11

    Default Re: At last I am sumgai!

    Yay!!! I'm happy for you!!! What a wonderful find!!!
    JBBPensPaper an Etsy store

  33. The Following User Says Thank You to jbb For This Useful Post:

    carlos.q (September 16th, 2019)

  34. #19
    Senior Member Wahl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Spain
    Posts
    1,442
    Thanks
    48
    Thanked 343 Times in 249 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: At last I am sumgai!

    You´re lucky Carlos, congratulations !

  35. The Following User Says Thank You to Wahl For This Useful Post:

    carlos.q (September 17th, 2019)

  36. #20
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Posts
    100
    Thanks
    51
    Thanked 11 Times in 10 Posts
    Rep Power
    5

    Default Re: At last I am sumgai!

    Congratulations on that great find!

    Sent from my LG-H910 using Tapatalk

  37. The Following User Says Thank You to MTHall720 For This Useful Post:

    carlos.q (September 17th, 2019)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •