Are fountain pens a good investment

[Bo Bo Olson]

I was talking to Mr David A Parisi, a man who repairs pens, and is into mechanical pencils, who said, pens are not a good thing to invest in....(neither are stamps or coins).

Buy what you like, because you like it.

 

Some one was against piston fillers... I don't know why. I like them.

 

I don't have a MB, so I don't have built in problems.

 

 

I have some 5 or six piston pens from 1950's that are still working. I have the same amount needing new corks and the like amount needing piston repair too. Those are all old pens, 1929-50's.

An engine rebuild is expected, on antiques.

 

 

If you buy cheap and old on the bay, yes, there will be broken pistons, due to some idiot forcing one; not flushing it properly and so on.

 

A piston filler needs to be re'corked every 30-50 years. Just like sac pens need new sac's.

 

Broken pistons can be repaired by professionals.

 

Yes I have some broken pistons, I knew they were broken when I bought them cheap on the Bay.

The cost of repair is part of buying, when the seller plays dumb.

If you want the pen, you buy the repair.

[BrandonA]

Another topic that ought to be summarized and pinned.

 

Kind of like all the "why didn't I win this auction" posts that happen every week.

 

Or the "what is the best pen for $xxx.xx money?" threads which happen daily.

[linearM]

I started this post just to see what kind of responses I'd get. I thought perhaps someone would say that pens were an investment. I would say that 99% if not 100% of the respondents said that pens were not a good investment.

 

I assume then that pens costing $250,000 and somewhat less (Joon's pen catalog) are most likely considered jewelry or at least conspicuous consumption.

 

The limited edition pens are primarily for people who simply like to have something unique to collect and like fountain pens.

 

Personally I enjoy the expressiveness of the pen line, especially vintage pens with their stubs, cursive, and flex nibs. Perhaps the most valuable thing I've found in getting involved with fountain pens are the people I've met. I've managed to make some good friends snail-mailing and postcard sending and just casual PMing with people I find who have a shared interest. Perhaps that is the biggest return on an investment for the purchase of a fountain pen.

[Rena]

Perhaps the most valuable thing I've found in getting involved with fountain pens are the people I've met. I've managed to make some good friends snail-mailing and postcard sending and just casual PMing with people I find who have a shared interest. Perhaps that is the biggest return on an investment for the purchase of a fountain pen.

 

 

Beautiful.

[79spitfire]

Perhaps the most valuable thing I've found in getting involved with fountain pens are the people I've met. I've managed to make some good friends snail-mailing and postcard sending and just casual PMing with people I find who have a shared interest. Perhaps that is the biggest return on an investment for the purchase of a fountain pen.

 

 

Beautiful.

 

I think you have hit the best "investment" reason... Squarely "on the head" as it were...