$5000 Cash To Spend - Which Pen?

[jenna]

I would be terrified to own a $5000 pen. All that money on something that could be lost, stolen and never fully enjoyed. I adore looking at amazing/rare/obscenely ornamental pens all day, but a few custom Edisons collected over a few years would probably make me happy as a clam.

 

Plus, isn't there something nice about earning your own lovely, usable pen?

[Salerno_AFG]

I would probably get the Visconti Amerigo Vespucci pen:

http://www.airlineintl.com/files/16/products16852.jpg

 

and a Homo Sapiens with the extra.

 

Then I would take out a loan for an extra 5k because I really wanted the submarine pen too. Don't think that would go over too well at home though.

 

 

Im not sure what I like more, the pen or the display? :clap1:

[Salerno_AFG]

In all of this discussion, none of the pens mentioned are vintage. Weird?

 

 

You bring up a great point which will require more research. I think pens "back in the day" were more utilitarian than today whereas a fountain pen these days is percieved more as a statement and/or luxury item. Im racking my brain for a vintage pen (I define vintage prior to 1950) that is ornamental? Can anyone show some examples along with the going rate to purchase said pen?

[xHaishou]

fdv four seasons? Jk, i'm not terribly fond of them.

I would get a montegrappa Queen of Hearts or a bespoke pen

[AltecGreen]

You bring up a great point which will require more research. I think pens "back in the day" were more utilitarian than today whereas a fountain pen these days is percieved more as a statement and/or luxury item. Im racking my brain for a vintage pen (I define vintage prior to 1950) that is ornamental? Can anyone show some examples along with the going rate to purchase said pen?

 

 

 

 

Overlay pens. Solid gold pens (see Parker Imperial Coronet). A lot of the Italian safeties have very ornate gold work.

 

 

 

Look here at the Parker 38 and the Parker 47.

 

As I said above, most vintage Maki-e pens are quite ornate and very expensive. You can see some examples at David Ushkow's site.

 

 

 

If you want to see some expensive pens in the vintage world. Go to gopens.com and look through their catalogs. Each catalog begins with a selection of 'Exceptional Pens'. Here's the link to catalog 61that had some rather rare pens. The Parker Ribbon pen and the Aztec are rather ornate.

Edited January 23, 2013 by AltecGreen

[Nonsensical]

I wouldn't be able to bring myself to spend $5000 on a pen...but I'd probably get a nice Nakaya if I suddenly won $5000 or something like that. Japanese designs...simple and beautiful. Not too shiny or heavy either.

[Les49]

I would take a different approach. I would get a rotation of pens - with a selection of nibs and filling systems. Then I'd add a display case, ink and stationary - a complete collection. Then in the future you could always sell one pen and replace it with something else as your tastes change. Seems like a great idea to get a quality collection started at one time. You can always add & subtract as the mood strikes you. I suspect most on these boards spend about $5,000 over time so the $ amount doesn't sound extravagant to me - not for 4-6 quality pens, ink, display & stationary.

Edited January 23, 2013 by Les49

[AltecGreen]

I suspect most on these boards spend about $5,000 over time ........

 

It's just that some measure that time in minutes.

[CoolFool]

I would be terrified to own a $5000 pen. All that money on something that could be lost, stolen and never fully enjoyed. I adore looking at amazing/rare/obscenely ornamental pens all day, but a few custom Edisons collected over a few years would probably make me happy as a clam.

 

Plus, isn't there something nice about earning your own lovely, usable pen?

 

Absolutely.

[Salerno_AFG]

I stand corrected, thanks to AltecGreen for the example below.

 

http://www.vintagepens.com/images/cat/7728sub.jpg

 

DATE: c. 1908 Parker 38 in box: legendary black hard rubber eyedropper-filler with overlay of gold filled snakes with green rhinestone eyes; 13.45 cm long, #3 Lucky Curve nib, VV clip with 1907 patent date, no Parker imprints on overlay or hard rubber -- very similar to a Heath-marked snake sold by us some fifteen years ago (Heath made high-end overlays for Parker, Waterman, Conklin, Moore, and others; many Parker overlay pen designs are seen from time to time in unmarked versions bearing Heath nibs). Vintage Pens

Edited January 23, 2013 by Salerno_AFG

[yolrgrand]

In all of this discussion, none of the pens mentioned are vintage. Weird?

Slight correction: the Montblanc 139 I suggested most definitely qualifies as vintage. IMHO

[AlejoPlay]

In all of this discussion, none of the pens mentioned are vintage. Weird?

 

I'd probably want (if we're going vintage) some German piston fillers with soft semi-flex nibs. Probably a Montblanc and/or a Pelikan. I have a cheapie Geha I don't use nearly enough because that thing is a firehose! ;-)

[79spitfire]

Now that you mention it, I could go for a Parker Aztec, but I'd likely just buy a stand for it and sit and stare at it all day long....

[AltecGreen]

Now that you mention it, I could go for a Parker Aztec, but I'd likely just buy a stand for it and sit and stare at it all day long....

If you angled the pen just right, it will stare back at you.

[raigne]

If I'm limited to only one very expensive pen, it would be a Nakaya. I would spend a lot of time waffling over WHICH Nakaya to get, however.

[muskokabrian]

Why would anyone spend $5000 on a fountain pen? That is just nouveau riche gauche, like lighting cigars with $100 bills.

 

Not at all. Lighting the bill destroys it. This is collecting. It's more akin to buying coins. Like coins people may specialize in certain types, particular series, new classics, limited editions or they may collect vintage pens of specific years.

 

At times there has been great appreciation of pen prices so it could be an investment. It may even be a particularly lucrative one.

[Salerno_AFG]

Its definately a long hold investment plan!!!

Edited January 24, 2013 by Salerno_AFG

[79spitfire]

Now that you mention it, I could go for a Parker Aztec, but I'd likely just buy a stand for it and sit and stare at it all day long....

If you angled the pen just right, it will stare back at you.

I know, pretty cool huh?

 

You might be able to afford a Parker 51 ballpoint....

[Scrawler]

Now that you mention it, I could go for a Parker Aztec, but I'd likely just buy a stand for it and sit and stare at it all day long....

If you angled the pen just right, it will stare back at you.

I know, pretty cool huh?

 

You might be able to afford a Parker 51 ballpoint....

Hey, I have just found one of those BPs in my junk box along with one of the first Jotters and an early Papermate. Must be time to retire. To think that box of bits was scheduled for the landfill.

[Salerno_AFG]

Now that you mention it, I could go for a Parker Aztec, but I'd likely just buy a stand for it and sit and stare at it all day long....

If you angled the pen just right, it will stare back at you.

I know, pretty cool huh?

 

You might be able to afford a Parker 51 ballpoint....

Hey, I have just found one of those BPs in my junk box along with one of the first Jotters and an early Papermate. Must be time to retire. To think that box of bits was scheduled for the landfill.

 

 

Crazy!!!! Wonder what the purpose was?