"51" desk set

[Farace]

In the quest to buy things that I hopefully can sell for more later, in an effort to make this hobby (maybe) pay for itself, today I picked up a "51" desk set, new in box. It has an onyx base with two rectangular goldtone Magnetix bases with dimples for the trumpets. Unengraved goldtone front name plate. Two boxes inside each have one of the pens, one F and one M, both pens still with a cardboard collar on them, both still with the sticker designating the nib size. One is datecoded 1949, the other 1950. Inside the pens are "51" Special aerometric fillers. There is no evidence that ink has been anywhere near either pen; the nibs and sacs are both clean.

 

The set cost $75, and my thinking was that eBay would reward me for posting this set for auction. Doing a little post-purchase research, I'm worried I may have been a bit too optimistic (although you never can tell with eBay). So I have a couple of questions: 1) How likely is it that it will end up being worth my while posting the auction? 2) The metal Magnetix bases and the name plate have come loose from the onyx. What is the best adhesive for this purpose? I'm tempted to use something resilient, like contact cement. The original adhesive looks to be red, FWIW.

 

I love the Magnetix base, but frankly I'd prefer a single-pen version if one was made. If this looks like it will fizzle at auction, though, I'm going to ink up these suckers and use them.

 

I'll try to post photos once the camera charges up.

 

[Shangas]

1. Don't sell something so beautiful. (It sounds beautiful. I shall wait to see if it LOOKS beautiful).

2. I think you're taking your chances with eBay. '51's are popular, no-doubt, so it may do very well. Or it may flop. Who knows?

 

Can't wait for photos!!

[Nick A]

I think you probably paid too much for an "investment" or a "flip".

Desk sets are gaining popularity, though.

Do the pens have gold or octanium nibs? I know they are Specials, but they are found with gold nibs.

As you found out after buying the set, doing the research and knowing what you are buying goes a long way towards "flipping" any type of collectible.

Personally, I would not have paid more than $20 for the set you purchased, but I'm a cheapskate.

 

 

[Farace]

Hmm. Maybe I'll post it next week with a reserve. That'll give me time to take better pictures, too. Anyway, here are the photos. Apologies for the poor set-up. If I've got these uploaded in the right order, the photos are 1) Box top; 2) open box; 3) pen boxes open, pens with cardboard collars; 4) pens, showing stickers; 5) assembled set from rear (and with wires and lamp poles, etc.); 6) set from top.

[Jimmy James]

I think you're probably setting yourself up for failure if you post that with a reserve. I can't see anybody bidding on it. Then again, I hate reserve auctions something fierce. I'd far rather know minimum bid is $x. Maybe that's just me, though.

[Farace]

Do the pens have gold or octanium nibs? I know they are Specials, but they are found with gold nibs.

 

Well, they don't look gold, so octanium they must be.

 

As you found out after buying the set, doing the research and knowing what you are buying goes a long way towards "flipping" any type of collectible.

 

Sometimes a little knowledge is worse than none. No knowledge would have said, "no way a pen set is worth $75." A little knowledge sticks its head in and says, "I've seen single "51" pens go for more than that." Enough knowledge might have told me it would be a wash. I had a little knowledge.

 

Personally, I would not have paid more than $20 for the set you purchased, but I'm a cheapskate.

 

Ouch!

 

[Farace]

I think you're probably setting yourself up for failure if you post that with a reserve. I can't see anybody bidding on it. Then again, I hate reserve auctions something fierce. I'd far rather know minimum bid is $x. Maybe that's just me, though.

 

Maybe so, but if I'm going to fail, I'd rather fail, be out the listing fee, and still have the set than fail and have to ship it to someone at a substantial loss. It's been discussed to death elsewhere, but my observation with eBay auctions has been that starting with a very low opening bid generates a lot of bidding interest (if there's any to be had) even with a reserve. I saw a very similar used set go for $50 (after I bought this, of course), so who knows? All I can do is try, and then chalk up the result to experience.

 

[CaseyK]

Just FYI, the magnetix function was invented by Lazlo Maholy Nagy, who was a teacher at the Bahaus school in Germany until he fled because of the Jewish persecutions. He ended up in the US and founded the American Bahaus school and did some design work for Parker.

 

I hope someone is still awake after that bit of trivia,

[Farace]

Just FYI, the magnetix function was invented by Lazlo Maholy Nagy, who was a teacher at the Bahaus school in Germany until he fled because of the Jewish persecutions. He ended up in the US and founded the American Bahaus school and did some design work for Parker.

 

I hope someone is still awake after that bit of trivia,

 

I learned that earlier this year when I was checking on the published claim (wrong, apparently) I had read that Moholy-Nagy had designed the "51" itself. Somewhere on FPN is a thread where people (gently) set me straight. I do very much enjoy his Bauhaus work, as well as that of Schlemmer, Kandinsky, Albers, and several other Bauhaus artists.