I was on a job site today with my boss doing some soil investigation regarding septic system designs when I came upon "that guy". It was a good time at any rate. After finding that there is groundwater about 6" from the surface we knew we wouldnt be long.

That was when my boss got his truck (06 Silverado Ext. Cab Z71) buried to the frame in mud and muck (remeber that water is only 6" down into the dirt, its messy). I luckily had my truck (95 S-10 4x4) on site as well as this was our last task for the day and we would be parting ways when we were done. After pushing to no avail I fetched my truck whilst my boss located his tow strap (I'm guessing this wasnt the first time he got stuck). Staying on the high side of the field we hooked up the strap and I was able to pull his truck out. This my friends is how we have a good time in Upstate NY (I enjoy the redneck style of life but also value the finer things as well, I like to call myself a Metro-Rednexual).

Once all vehicles were mobile we retreated to the clients garage to consult. Our client is an older fellow who enjoys antique clock repair. While discussing his subdivision redesign to accommodate his soils situation I happened to spot a jar with various objects in it. Seeing that one object was a red pen I moved in. I pretended to be looking at the subdivision map we had layed out on the bench but really I was inspecting the writing instrument in the jar. I immediately recognized the hex shape at the top of the clip. As we were wrapping up I had to ask.

I asked, "Is that a Waterman's Ideal No. 92?"
He replied, "A What?"
I said, "The red pen..."
He alerted me that it was some fountain pen that had a gold tip, and asked if I was a pen collector. Obviously I said yes (I guess I am more of an accumulator but he doesn't need to know that...)
"There's another gold one in there too, pull that one out. Take them with you, I don't want them."

SO! I am know the owner of:
1) a Waterman's Ideal No. 92 (I think) in red with green stripes. Incredible gold nib, decent amount of flex. However, the lever is seized up solid and the sac is undoubtedly junk.
2) a Morrison Ring Top 14k Gold plated body, BHR end and section. Again, gold nib, not much flex.

There it is. After all my times of reading stories like this and wondering, why not me? It happened. Thanks for listening!

I have a large and sometimes weird collection of 'stuffs'. I make it a point to 'gift' things to folks who have an interest and I no longer have a use for the item. I will give a vintage pen (usually restored) after a young person shows a real interest in fountain pens. I normally will give them a Pilot Varsity ans ask they return it when empty. If they ask the right questions, they get a real pen and a bottle of ink.

I make and give good knives to those who show the proper care of knives. I have given away rare flint-locks to a builder of real replica arms. I have gifted hat making gear to young hat maker.

I think I get the most pleasure of gifting a good woodworking tool. As I started woodworking professionally over 30 years ago, and kept a sharp eye for good old tools, I accumulated a bunch. When I see an armature or young professional woodworker with real dedication, I make sure they get an old hand plane of good chisel as a 'thank you' for carrying on the tradition of hand woodworking. Sometimes they have come by to ask 'how' something not found in production cabinet work is done. The brightness in the eyes they figured out the 'why' a process is done in the old methods is plenty payment for a tool I might never get time to restore and probably have a duplicate.

I have yet to see evidence one can take their toys with them after they pass this life.

Ron

akosiba--Me being terribly new to this hobby, fill me in, if you can, on the value of these pens, and not just monetarily. Do they have some sort of historical or collector's significance? My thing is, the stories behind things are nearly as valuable and interesting to me, as the items themselves. Oh, by the way, congrats on "finding" them.

I thought you were going to say that you found pens in the mud.

The story was better the way it happened. I need to hang out in more garages.

A cool story. And you said you were never cool in school...
I was close to get one of Parkers that way. I told a friend about my FP addiction and he said: ""Oh we had a Parker at home, nobody was using it, I have to check if it's still there." Obviously wasn't, or maybe he realized that there is some value in it, because I never got it...
Anyway, congratulation on your new pens.

Congratulations! Good eye!

Lisa

Well, I am not sure what they are worth. I am pretty sure that the Waterman 92 is very common. The Morrison I am not sure about. Neither one fills, the levers are set up so they both need to be restored. I would like to have the Waterman restored and use it. Anyone know the value of these, both monetary and collectability?

A Waterman, eh? Lucky bastard. I suppose you'll have to get it restored first, before you sell it, though...or give it away...or keep it. I wish people were giving ME pens they didn't want!

They're worth... more than free. Even free + resacking! Revel in it! Don't minimize!