Do I Open?

[Manalto]

Feeling nostalgic for a Papermate ballpoint (teal) I had back when it was new, (and one I uncharacteristically held on to for a long time) I hunted down this NOS one:

 

Knowing now that I prefer a pen with a bit of girth, I opted for the regular (rather than the much more common slim) grip and compromised on the color.

When placing the order I thought, "I'll just open it and use it. Simple."

The newest patent date on the package is 1971, so realizing that it's possibly more than 50 years old gave me pause. Now I wonder, "Should I open it? Am I compromising its value? Is there much value to compromise? Do I slice it open carefully, save the packaging and also enjoy the pen?"

Your thoughts?

[pen lady]

Keep this one and buy another similar one that's not "mint-in-box" that you can use.

[Manalto]

52 minutes ago, pen lady said:

Keep this one and buy another...

 

What was I thinking? Of course!

Thank you for your enabling words.

[inkstainedruth]

I dunno.  The only pens I have which I don't use are vintage ones which haven't gotten checked out/repaired yet.

And that includes a couple of pens that still had the nib stickers on them -- and yes, I've used those pens and didn't think twice about it.

YMMV of course....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Manalto]

1 hour ago, inkstainedruth said:

I dunno.  The only pens I have which I don't use are vintage ones which haven't gotten checked out/repaired yet.

And that includes a couple of pens that still had the nib stickers on them -- and yes, I've used those pens and didn't think twice about it.

YMMV of course....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Also, I guess I got a deal because the used ones that I'm finding are double the price of the new one I bought.

Update: I sliced it open. It'll be a nice pen to carry around and can keep my Parker 51 company.

[inkstainedruth]

Sounds like you scored then!  Even better!

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Black Spot]

That pen waited patiently for 50 years to be called upon to do its job. 

 

[inkstainedruth]

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

but now I need to know... did the 50 year old refill write?...

or had it dried out?

[meiers]

Good choice. I would have opened it right away. I too am wondering, is the refill working?

[Estycollector]

Perhaps you have this pen because someone put it in a junk drawer and after they died, their relatives sold it. 

[Black Spot]

Did the pen work ? The people want to know.

[meiers]

Yes! please!

[Manalto]

On 5/21/2025 at 1:55 PM, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

but now I need to know... did the 50 year old refill write?...

or had it dried out?

 

Sorry for the delayed response. 

 

There was a little (plastic?) seal at the tip of the ballpoint, and once that was removed, it wrote like a champion. Smooth and fluid, just as I recall. I ordered some Schneider ballpoint refills which arrived today. Haven't yet confirmed that they're the right fit, but multiple sources say they should be.

[meiers]

Wonderful. 

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

10 hours ago, Manalto said:

 

Sorry for the delayed response. 

 

There was a little (plastic?) seal at the tip of the ballpoint, and once that was removed, it wrote like a champion. Smooth and fluid, just as I recall. I ordered some Schneider ballpoint refills which arrived today. Haven't yet confirmed that they're the right fit, but multiple sources say they should be.

Sweet!

[Black Spot]

they don't make them like they used to.

[meiers]

16 hours ago, Manalto said:

There was a little (plastic?) seal at the tip of the ballpoint, and once that was removed, it wrote like a champion. Smooth and fluid, just as I recall…

I remember those seals.