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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 bought two pens in 2009 while working in Syria. They have no markings on them other than a logo on the clip that is a Capital "R" with a single dot above it. The pens were displayed in boxes of 10 with Chinese writing on them. Does anyone know anything about the brand. The fit and finish is far above the typical lower end Chinese pen. One of the pens is awfully similar a Parker Vector; with the same feeling plastic and metal. The nib is a buttery smooth IPG and the clip design is different. The second one is a clone of a Waterman? with a nib that looks like those used in French Reynolds pens from the 80's and a transparent acrylic feed. I will post pictures when I sort out how to link to other websites...