Thoughts on possible pens for 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.

I would also add single malts to this list

One may start opening samples from his collection before its value has grown

[inkstainedruth]

The ONLY pen I have that might be considered an "investment" is my Parker 41 -- found it in a shoebox full of mostly ballpoints at an estate sale, and got it appraised at a thing like Antiques Road Show (but local) the next day.  Paid 50¢ for it and it's probably worth about $50. (the appraisal value was $37-$150 -- but I'm taking the higher end value with a grain of salt the size of Lot's wife, because it wasn't NOS, stickered, part of a set, a more unusual nib or color, doesn't have a fancy cap -- just a plain one -- or had the original box and/or paperwork.  

So for me?  The pen is worth 50¢.  And is a nice writer, but doesn't go into rotation much because of course 41s are made of the same grade of plastic as for Parker 21s.  And the comment "Wow -- that's really CLEAN!" from Richard Binder at a pen show (which of course makes the pen priceless... ).

Oh, there's also the Cross Verve, which I paid a buck for (plus 7% sales tax) at a local thrift store specializing in arts and crafts supplies, and then someone in my local pen club gave me a converter for, since he had a spare screw-in style Cross converter).  Could not BELIEVE the price being asked for one almost identical to mine on the Bay of Evil (well, actually, given what a slimeball company that particular seller is, I COULD believe it -- what I couldn't believe is why ANYONE would pay that much money for a Verve... ).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Bo Bo Olson]

7 hours ago, TheRedBeard said:

would also add single malts to this list

One may start opening samples from his collection before its value has grown

Corona, prevents friends from showing up, and one never opens a bottle of the good stuff alone....and  the good stuff should be shared.

There's quite good economical stuff, for Alone At Home.

 

But an empty pen has value, not an empty bottle.

[Mrsnuffles]

Absolutely, Google this: TYO: 7846

[jchch1950]

You can make money in trading fountain pens ,but not investing in fountain pens. Some limited editions pens, after 10 or more years, go up in price but is something that you have to value against shares, gold or property.

[TheRedBeard]

9 hours ago, Bo Bo Olson said:

Corona, prevents friends from showing up, and one never opens a bottle of the good stuff alone....and  the good stuff should be shared.

There's quite good economical stuff, for Alone At Home.

 

But an empty pen has value, not an empty bottle.

Absolutely agree

 

[bogiesan]

On 2/15/2021 at 10:28 AM, TheRedBeard said:

 

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

 

 

 

Well, depends on two things: Whether you understand that the difference between speculation and investment is your amount of risk tolerance and whether you are buying gold bullion (speculating) or gold futures (investing). For most gold owners, their bullion is likely just a place to stash some of their money in, as you call it, a highly liquid form that, when traded in small quantities, is not easily tracked by government agencies. Gold bullion is subject to theft. Gold futures are subject to wide swings in price.

 

If you bought your gold bullion before 2002 (,US$300/ounce), your stash has indeed risen in value considerably (today's closing US$1800). If you bought gold on August 8, 2020 (US$2060), you have lost 14-15% in value. Gold bullion might come back up ... might not. The price per ounce of international gold marketplace is determined by a long list of truly weird factors.  

 

I would not be looking for any investment or medical advice on this forum but it is clear we should have bought all of the Game Stop Limited Edition gold plated Mont Blanc fountain pens in both Ferrari red and dark lilac versions with the 24k nibs and matching key fobs that we could have afforded a few weeks ago. 

[sandy101]

The only pen in my collection that has increased in value has been my MB William Shakespeare, and a Parker 51 which I got for less than £5.

 

When I am a world famous author, I expect my pens to increase in value by a large amount. 

 

 

 

[Bo Bo Olson]

Right, we will engrave all of them that can be....and sell them for 10% less than they are worth.

One Engraved pen, to go with an autographed book.....well I do want to sell more than 70 books.

[Uncial]

Sometimes I scout ebay and see a pen I own for sale and think, wowzers. But then I remember that ebay is at best really and truly horrifically overpriced and at worst full of shill bids and other chicanery.

[inkstainedruth]

True, Uncial, but I've also gotten (and seen other people get) good deals on eBay.  Sometimes I get lucky, and sometimes I don't, and sometimes I get sniped with seconds to go.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[ridiculopathy]

It’s more reliable to invest in yourself and become a famous writer so that any pen you touch increases in value 😜

[Mrsnuffles]

"When I write a line that sings itself, I pay myself a hundred times." -Cyrano de Bergerac (film adaptation from 1950).

 

Surely the biggest payoff in pens comes from the writing? As for making money, purchasing stock in a pen company like Pilot would probably be the safest approach.

[james3paris]

On 2/15/2021 at 12:11 PM, Wahl said:

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

 

So, talk about an investment !

At 30% of market value, the dealer buying is making the money. 

[Zhooom]

There's an obvious solution here guys, I can't believe nobody else has pointed it out.

 

Gold maintains value, pens don't ... unless of course, we're talking about a gold pen!

 

Not gold plated or rolled gold/gold filled pen of course - seek out and buy pens made of solid gold!  Just don't pay more than the gold metal is worth obviously.  Maybe you could talk a manufacturer into making one for free as a publicity stunt  assuming you pay for the raw materials.  Hey, you never know.  I'm not sure I'd want to write with a pen weighing a couple pounds personally but to each their own.  🙂

 

[james3paris]

On 2/14/2021 at 2:43 PM, Bo Bo Olson said:

 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.
 

He did not know what he was looking at.   You did.  Right place, right time.  

[82Greg]

Highly recommend stocks (preferably in a low-cost index fund) as an investment before you consider pens. (And before you invest, you should eliminate debt.)

[MHBru]

this is a hobby not a retirement plan... 

[torstar]

Some MB LEs have turned out to be very profitable, others not so much.

 

A few sell for up to 3x the purchase price, but that's not really an investment opportunity.

 

 

 

 

[Sybarite]

On 2/16/2021 at 6:25 AM, TheRedBeard said:

+1

Absolutely agree

Yep, I,too, absolutely agree. I've pondered this question for years and have come to the conclusion that financially, the investment return is pathetic, but the emotional return enormous. I don’t have a huge collection; only about 25 or so fountain pens, but I can remember when and where I acquired each one and most have huge sentimental value and bring back fond memories. Also, I have a “pen of the week”, taking one of my collection from its case, inking it and having it on my desk for the week and using it every day. I love the feel of each one and the memories flow like the ink. I'm 68 and still have the Parker 65 Consort I saved up my pocket money for when I was a teenager, still in its box. I love my Waterman Le Man 100 I bought in London in 1985 when I visited a friend for our last Christmas together ( I live in New Zealand) and, in fact, that is my “POTW” this week (Probably the smoothest nib and nicest balance in my collection).
I'll probably sell some of them before I get too old but won’t expect to make a financial profit, just take the memories to my grave. I’ll leave certain pens to my wife, daughter and possibly grand daughter. I hope they appreciate them more than a random eBay buyer. 
I also value the craftsmanship of a previous age and encourage my grand daughter when she shows fascination with the pens on my desk. From an early age she was spellbound with my Mont Blanc 149 75 year Diamond S/E. That's for her (box, CD and original packaging all intact)
So, as an investment, the return can be huge. You just need to know how to define return and where to find it!