Are These Lots Of Pens Worth It?

[Mysterious Mose]

Browsing on eBay, I came across several lots of pens, selling for about 10 GBP each plus postage across the pond. Each lot has about half-a-dozen to a dozen fountain pens, mostly of unknown brands. These lots are all listed by the same seller, who has several hundred pen listings. I believe the seller is reputable. He was recommended by FPN.

 

I have never worked with vintage pens, except once - an Osmiroid nib was stuck and I paid someone to loosen it. I thought it might be fun to play around with these pens. Maybe even write with some of them. However, the seller is somewhat vague about the pens' condition. His responses to my inquiries are:

 

Lot 1: all no-names

"Most of them doesn't need other than inks, refills and cartrigdes,

I think you can increase your skills on nib grinding if you like to do so, simply because they will be sold cheaply than they usually do,"

"Lot is offered unrestored and I don t have time for it really, they will work I assume, they use international cartridges,"

 

(I don't have any interest in nib-grinding.)

 

Lot 3:

"4 pieces of whatevers, 2 fountain pen for parts, one parker vector fountain pen, 1 parker 15 ballpoint pen, 1 camel pencil, 3 manuscript calligraphy fountain pens, 3 platignum calligraphy fountain pens, one wooden fountain pen, one blue laque fountain pen, one chrome fountain pen,

All need just cartridges, not checked the working condition by the way."

 

Lot 5:

"1 sheaffer school pen, 3 parker vector rollerballs, queensway fountain pen in burgundy, nova fountain pen in gray marble, platignum cadet in black, one biro pen, scripto ballpoint, vintage mini orance pencil working, 4 fountain pen for parts, 5 pieces of whatevers.

Almost all need restoration."

 

I'm troubled that the seller doesn't have time to determine more about these pens.

 

Can I expect any sense of satisfaction with these pens? Might any of them be a surprise find or even a bargain?

[I-am-not-really-here]

In a word, no. You defined a red flag, and it has been triggered. Save yourself some grief and move along.

[MBDostoevsky]

Basic rule of buying on eBay... when in doubt, don't buy

[Monophoto]

No

 

Pens sold in bulk are typically throwaway-quality school pens.

[PAKMAN]

Agree, I wouldn't bite myself!

[KingsCountyWriter]

No

 

Pens sold in bulk are typically throwaway-quality school pens.

I agree with everyone, except that I have purchased about a half dozen lots of pens from Yahoo Auction that were excellent buys. Most were Pilots or Pilots and Platinum mixes and after a good soaking, I'd say of the 30 or so pens, 28 of them are in excellent shape and write perfectly. All the pens had 14k or 18k nibs.

 

In other words, it depends on what you're looking at. Don't discount lots because there are multiple items being auctioned. But do read carefully, and if you have doubts, go with it.

[MBDostoevsky]

No

 

Pens sold in bulk are typically throwaway-quality school pens.

 

I wish I had read this before.... i bought a lot of Sheaffer Fountain pens at around 400 GBP only to be shocked to see that all were pathetic school pens with only one Connoisseur as a reprieve...

[carola]

 

I wish I had read this before.... i bought a lot of Sheaffer Fountain pens at around 400 GBP only to be shocked to see that all were pathetic school pens with only one Connoisseur as a reprieve...

Ouch!

[sandy101]

A number of job lots like this appear on e-bay.

 

I think these pens come from house clearances. The seller has bundled a bunch of pens they've found together.

 

These pens are as is. I have looked at bundles like this - some of the pens do not have nibs, any sacs are probably long gone and some of the nibs are railroaded from use as school pens and many of the nibs are gold plate.

 

I decided I did not have the time, tools or patience for these bundles. I'm not a patient tinkerer of pens.

 

You make find a Parker 51, 61 or 45 in the pile - but the condition is questionable - and many Osmeroids and Platignum pens will have had the use and abuse of a school child - as they were quite commonly used in school. There's also a slew of cheap and cheerful Italian school pens that will almost look like a Pelikan in a poor photo.

 

I don't think anyone is trying to scam anyone - they all start at 99p and the seller does say "as is". In the seller's opinion the pens are junk which have minimal value.

 

Look at the pictures carefully - make sure the pens you want have nibs, the nibs look like they are in good condition and that there's no massive cracks. It is worthwhile looking at the sellers other items, as they usually fish out the MBs, Pelikans and P51s to sell separately. Don't pay too much as the cost of replacement parts may exceed the cost of the whole bundle.