Thoughts on possible pens for investment ?

[cougarking]

While I don’t buy pens for an investment, I was wondering which pens people think may turn out to be a 

good investment?

 

The only pen I have that appears to be worth more than I paid is montblanc Johnathan Swift!

[Runnin_Ute]

I would say none.  Buying pens on a "speculative" basis counting on the fact that they will appreciate in value is a fool's errand. Generally speaking doing this with items like pens, watches and the like will make one disappointed. Can you maybe make a few bucks here and there? Probably. But you won't be able to pay for a child's education, or retire or anything big. Not unless you are extremely fortunate.

[Karmachanic]

You could start with the Solid White Gold  Black Widow 88 Skeleton going for £35,000 on the Bay. 🤪

[I-am-not-really-here]

First, let go of the concept that return on investment is measured in currency. Then, the answer is simple - all pens.  Pick the ones that give you the greatest joy.

[corniche]

Hi CougarKing,

 

As said, its not likely. In fact, as a long-term investment, you'll probably LOSE money.

 

The only exception I can think of is PERHAPS,... RECENT limited editions.

 

For example, if you were lucky enough to get some Lamy Dk. Lilac ink... or the VERY FIRST Duragraph limited edition with the the introduction of the Duraflex nib - and then turned around and resold them shortly after all the mainstream dealers were sold out - you can make a few bucks - but as Running Ute said, you're not going to retire on it. 

 

OR, getting lucky at old warehouse liquidations and the like. I sometimes dream theres an old warehouse out there filled with unclaimed Lesney Matchbox toys or Mandarin Yellow Duofolds.  ALL MINT IN THE BOX.

 

But don't hold your butt waiting for that one to happen.   (And if it did; it would only serve to drop their value anyways).

 

 

- Sean 

[zaddick]

Pens are generally terrible investments and depreciate in real value when thinking of resale. You can make money buying and selling pens, but it requires some luck, a lot of networking, a lot of time, and gathering a lot of knowledge. I'm thinking of used pen dealers who make enough to do it full time.

 

If you buy smart you can sell for a small profit pretty quick, but this is not a consistent strategy unless you have a lot of capital to invest. 

[Wahl]

Not a good idea, buy gold instead.

[silverlifter]

19 hours ago, cougarking said:

While I don’t buy pens for an investment, I was wondering which pens people think may turn out to be a 

good investment?

 

Conids... scarcity + demand = kerching! 😛

[Estycollector]

So, learn to restore. You might be able to make some moola. 

[zaddick]

1 hour ago, silverlifter said:

 

Conids... scarcity + demand = kerching! 😛

Until they start making them again. 

[silverlifter]

39 minutes ago, zaddick said:

Until they start making them again. 

 

Assuming they do, of course...

[como]

What's the best way to make a small fortune in the pen market? Start with a big one. 😀 

[Bo Bo Olson]

I want to sell a used pen. Swear it's never touched ink....ya?

 

On sale, 1/3 off, I got a NOS six year old MB Virginia Woolf in my B&M, that after only 4-5 years I could have sold NOS un-inked for the old new price, of E-750.

 

I have a used  '52-54 only MB 234 1/2 Deluxe with a semi-flex KOB nib....was part of a live auction lot including a Pelikan 400nn & matching BP&MP, for E170. (I was so ignorant, a noobie, I'd not yet got Andreaus Lambrou's fountain pen book. 100% to have. Knowing only the 146-9, thought it ugly, not knowing it was a refined version of the 139...which I at the time didn't even know ever existed.

Shortly after a decade ago I found out the old MB was worth $200.

I've seen it offered for $500 and someone was pig calling, 'Here Idiot, Here Idiot, for $900.....if you want I'll sell it to you for that and take care of insurance and postage for free.

 

Tom at Penboard.de offers one for E400.....which seems to be a fair price for a pen I didn't really want. Wanting the 400nn in the live lot.

It is my best balanced, ins pite of being a bit back weighted due to the brass guts....is a tad thicker than normal standard sized pens....has a great nib.

As a 20 pen noobie, I did a balance test....winner the MB, second was a thin medium-large Geha 725, third a standard sized silver P-75, which is light for metal, and 4th was that 400nn, that was in the same lot as the MB.

 

I've seen a Montgrappa two handed bling contraption with teak temple, fail twice at a live auction first for @ $4000, second time fail for $2,500. It defiantly wasn't a one hand 'writing instrument'. Something to put in your 301 ft yacht to sign for it.

 

I'm sure the MB LE Brandburg Tor pen from @ 1990, is worth more then the E17-19,000 I saw a decade ago.

If ever written with, would lose a lot of value.

 

Buy gold....if you go to a live auction you can get jewelry at gold price with preciousness stones in it. Stones are free unless 1/3 C or bigger. You have more chance to beat inflation that way. And you can always get the gold price if you have to sell.....and it can be worn by your or your wife until then.

 

A pen should be written with. Once written with it is no longer NOS....just a used pen.....not as valuable as put in a nitrogen chamber.

Don't put it in a bank vault, there folks that use to be here who had them fall apart in the bank vault.....could have been vintage celluloid or something.

These pens are worth more than I paid for them....all total. This was a live auction, with only one bidder against me.....a dealer, because I won....had it been a collector. I wouldn't have won.

If I sold the green one I'd get my money back....but it was the green one I all over.

The very first time I saw a Toledo, a man more famous for collecting mechanical pencils that the fountain pen repair he did, told me, don't buy a pen thinking to make money off of it. I've read that advice 100-200 times since.

 

Hell, by the time you want or need to sell it, it could be in a depression.

A bit more than a decade ago, I found I had an inherited pen worth a 'fortune' of $250 (That I was going to sell for $5 at a flea market...that was the day I became a 'noobie' & collector. ) ....my bought in @ 1971 for $22 silver dollar money,  P-75 was then worth $225***.....in the middle of the last depression I saw P-75's going for $75. I had one, and didn't need two.

*** Silver dollars was worth a hell of a lot more in 2008 than in 1971.....dam I should have bought sacks of the things....and cheap gold coins actually.....but there was great beer and wild women and song cost a fortune then......but nowhere near as much as now.

 

[N1003U]

56 minutes ago, como said:

What's the best way to make a small fortune in the pen market? Start with a big one. 😀 

This.

[Karmachanic]

Might have more luck with Beanie Babies

[Arkanabar]

NEVER buy ANY collectible -- pens, cars, art, beanie babies, pocket knives, bottle caps, antiques, watches, straight razors, pogs, anything else -- with the intention of making money.  The only return you'll get on your investment is the pleasure of having and using the thing.  For me and my pens, that's been more than enough.

[TSherbs]

19 hours ago, como said:

What's the best way to make a small fortune in the pen market? Start with a big one. 😀 

 

love this

[Wahl]

Actually vintage pen collections are being sold for 30% of "supposed value" or less.

 

So, talk about an investment !

[TheRedBeard]

4 hours ago, Arkanabar said:

NEVER buy ANY collectible -- pens, cars, art, beanie babies, pocket knives, bottle caps, antiques, watches, straight razors, pogs, anything else -- with the intention of making money.  The only return you'll get on your investment is the pleasure of having and using the thing.  For me and my pens, that's been more than enough.

+1

Absolutely agree :)

[TheRedBeard]

On 2/14/2021 at 5:05 PM, Wahl said:

Not a good idea, buy gold instead.

 

Right advice: gold is always safe and very liquid asset...