Should I Buy A Desk Set?

[pgmrdan]

I have been thinking about a desk set. I saw a Sheaffer set yesterday. The fountain pen has a Sheaffer cartridge in it and had what looked to me to be a Targa style nib but I'm new at this stuff. The ballpoint looked okay. The base was a rectangular slab of polished black stone looking stuff and I didn't see any scuffs or marks on it.

 

What would something like that be worth?

 

Any gotchas on buying something like that?

 

Thanks.

[Amberjack]

As long as the pens write well and the base and pen holders are in good shape you should be good. Most desk sets allow the pen holders to rotate a bit; make sure that if they're supposed to move that they do and still hold the pen firmly without drooping. Check the pens as you would in buying a...well, pen. Ink up the nib if they'll let you and write with it. You are buying it for the fountain pen, right?

 

I have a Parker 21 set from the 50s that I use every day. Immensely handy to have a fountain pen at the ready when I need to take notes, write a letter, etc. Spend a day at your desk with a screwtop pen and you'll see what I mean. I do use my non-desk pens quite a bit but usually on the go. At your desk the desk pen is the way to go in my opinion.

 

By the way, pictures are required if you purchase that Sheaffer. ;-)

 

-Jack

[SteveE]

If you're trying to decide whether to buy a desk set at all, here is my take on the subject.

 

I would only buy a desk set for one of two reasons. If I wanted it for a display case, by all means I would buy it. If I was actually planning to use it, I would also buy it.

 

That said, the desk pens I have spend all of their time in storage because my office and home desks are not conducive to desk pens. I do not use them often enough to avoid having the ink dry out, so I spend more time cleaning the pens (and re-sacking them) than I do using them.

 

If you're trying to decide whether or not to buy this specific desk set, I think Amberjack nailed it.

Edited November 25, 2014 by SteveE

[bsenn]

I recently started using a Parker 51 Special desk set at work. It is very handy to grab if you are not going to be writing long enough to make it worthwhile to uncap a normal fountain pen, such as to write a post-it or check off something on a to-do list. I wish I had started using a desk set long ago, as I have had several just sitting on a display shelf at home.

 

I am now working on a couple Esterbrook sets and a Sheaffer set so I can rotate the one at work and also have one set up at home.

 

For the one at which you are looking - a Sheaffer cartridge pen should be relatively trouble-free. Unless it is horribly expensive there is not much risk in trying it.

 

Brian

[pgmrdan]

The set is in an antique mall (basically, a glorified flea market) and I can't really try them out. I can look at them though.

 

I question that the set is worth $50 but again, what do I know? If the set were $20 I'd have no problem taking a chance on it. What do you think?

[bsenn]

$50 is steep unless you love the base. Ebay might be a better choice, Esterbrooks can be had more cheaply.

 

I did recently pay $45 at an antique shop for a Sheaffer desk set, but it had a clock on it. Its one of those clocks which is right twice a day, but it looks great.

 

Brian

[rwilsonedn]

A few things to think about here.

First, do you actually write while sitting at your desk? If not, a desk set is going to dry out regularly, and just be an annoyance.

Second, when you are writing at your desk, are you writing one long thing, like an essay or journal page, or are you making short notes and signing stuff? If the latter, a desk set is perfect. If the former, not so much--but see the third item.

Third, some people who write at the same desk often find the long tail and unique balance of a desk pen particularly pleasing. That's an argument in favor no matter how you felt about the second question.

Fourth (if you are still on board) really good vintage desk pens tend to sell at a discount to their pocket versions, so you can find wonderful pens and nibs for great deals. (That would discourage me from spending a lot of money on one in an antique mall, though. Check eBay first.)

Finally, if you aspire to calligraphy, or just to fine writing, you might hesitate. Odds are you will end up using dip pens, and your beautiful desk fountain pen will languish in a drawer. But if learning copperplate sounds like a fussy waste of energy, don't worry--you will love the desk fountain pen all the longer.

ron

[lmarine0510]

I love my desk set. As was said earlier, it is convenient to have a pen ready at hand whenever quick writing is needed. Also, the 40's-50's noir styling of the tapered desk pens is quite visually appealing. I find that the tapered end makes pens balance quite nicely, as well. Here's a picture of a Sheaffer Snorkel Statesman set that I recently bought and restored. (forgive me for http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k457/lmarine0510/C85BAC3D-AB99-4A27-B9B5-7D2907872B00_zps5nckpqih.jpgthe ink rag and bottle in the background.) http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k457/lmarine0510/6491A89F-1FE7-4A21-A73B-0DFE3BD0EDB9_zpsomtxt9r3.jpg

[Ernst Bitterman]

I really like having desk pens at hand (an Esterbrook DipLess for red, a rotating series of something else for blue, currently a TD-filling Imperial-type Sheaffer), but the recommendation above about using them is spot-on. These things occupy my desk at work. If they were at home, they'd languish, although if I had more free writing time I'd probably devote one to that; excellent balance, no messing around with a cap when the session ends.

 

$50 for that particular breed of Sheaffer set is pretty steep, though.

[Woodnut]

If you're going to keep it on your desk, why not try a twin-nib pen, with a different color of ink for each nib? I've purchased two from FPN member Mesu during the past year -- one of her own design (which I reviewed here at FPN a little over a year ago), and one, called a stick pen, produced by Ratnam. Both are Indian-made ebonite eyedroppers.

[ac12]

As was said, you need the desk space to put it, if you are going to use it.

I find mind very useful, just grab and write. No hassles with the cap.

 

If to collect/dispaly different point of view.

Then it depends if it would fit your collection goals.

As for the price, it totally depends on what the brand and model of the pen is.

$50 for a Parker 21 or Esterbrook black 8-ball, is high. But for an old Parker or Sheaffer, it might be a deal.

Take a good look at it, to get the model, if it is imprinted, and take a picture.

[Amberjack]

Agreed, try ebay or keep searching at the antique malls. I found my Parker 21 set for $8 at such a place so the deals are out there.

 

-Jack

[balson]

I love my sheaffer desk set. Unfortunately the trumpet was destroyed when i sat on it. i personally would recommend the later non threaded sheaffer desk pens. the ability to just pull the pen out and jot a thought down and then toss it back in is priceless. it cuts the amount of time from thought to paper in half. so if you like to pause, or juggle between tasks, while you are writing something its incredibly useful.

 

$50 sounds steep though for a cartridge fill pen. i payed $18 for the stand and the steel nib dolphin style cartridge pen. the other pen is an amazing touchdown filler, i have no idea the model name though. i found in a junk lot, but i have seen them since in the $20-25. it is also worth noting i have never been able to get that cartridge pen to work. ink does not come out of it at all no matter how much i ultrasonic it or soak it.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I-9BZVEI_NU/VHY98BXK-TI/AAAAAAAABY8/-WHMg3bQYKo/s1600/broken%2Bdesk%2Bset.jpg

 

(on a side note, if anyone knows where i can find a spare trumpet for this please pm me)