Canadian Snorkel

[caspirin]

There was a NOS pen (Sentinel) and pencil (Clipper) on ebay but the minimum bid was $149.99. They were complete with price tags and the pen was never inked with a band noting the nib size.

 

The seller claimed they were bluish-gray (Periwinkle?) but it is always impossible to tell for sure from the photos. First, would you find two different models (Sentinel & Clipper) sold together when new? Second, both were made in Canada...does that effect the value?

 

By the way, there were no takers.

 

Thanks

Jim

[hcsk8ter]

Think I saw the auction. From experience, you'll find that just because two items are in the same box it doesn't necessarily mean they're a set. Soemtime people think they'll get a better price making something a set. Get the Paul Erano book on Fountain Pens. It does a good job wih identification. You can get snorkel sets for alot lower than that. Regarding the Canadian snorkel, doesn't make it more valuable. Most valuable snorkel, I've seen is a snorkel demonstrator, just went on ebay over $300. Hope this helps.

 

 

Edited March 2, 2008 by hcsk8ter

[caspirin]

Think I saw the auction. From experience, you'll find that just because two items are in the same box it doesn't necessarily mean they're a set. Soemtime people think they'll get a better price making something a set. Get the Paul Erano book on Fountain Pens. It does a good job wih identification. You can get snorkel sets for alot lower than that. Regarding the Canadian snorkel, doesn't make it more valuable. Most valuable snorkel, I've seen is a snorkel demonstrator, just went on ebay over $300. Hope this helps.

 

 

Thanks for the tip on the book, I will look for it.

When one area of a product comes into question, like mixing a "set" I immediately question the validity of whatever else is presented.

 

Jim

[finalidid]

I've often wondered about production standards "overseas" (if you count the St. Lawrence Seaway as a "sea"). I'd bet that some Canadian pens are of higher quality than their American counterparts, while some are of lower, and some are just different but as good -- with a different material in a given tassie or collector or something.

 

Like Canadian-made Parker Vacumatics, I dunno, I've never bought one. I guess (bleep) guy would be able to tell you the specifics; all I remember is that some certain styles were still being made in Canada for a few years after they had been discontinued in the USA. Does this affect "value"? Well, it would mean that something which was "rare" because it was done and dusted in the USA, could still be found because it still came from an alternate source, so it might actually be a bit misleading if the info weren't available on the up-and-up. I could see a disreputable dealer saying something like "No American Vacs were available in year X, so this one is VERY rare," when in fact there were plenty of Canadian Vacs made in that year. So on.

 

I don't like buying Canadian-made merely because I have a personal animosity toward that country in general. I lived there and tried to make a career of academia in Canada during the 1990s, but had not been apprised (when I chose to move to the institution in that country) that my citizenship of the USA would simply make it impossible for me to get a fair consideration for any position for which I was qualified. There's a lurking, secretive anti-American resentment which brings itself out in weird ways. "Visa student" means "any foreign student studying in Canada except the students from the USA" at the U of Toronto School of Graduate Studies, for instance. It goes from there. So, I don't buy Canadian because they bug me ...

 

[Roger W.]

I've never found the country of original to matter one jot to the quality of a snorkel. There is a school of thought that the foreign (non US) models are inferior, there should also be a vein that the foriegn models are less common and therefore more desireable. It has been my experience that it does not matter though, there is a cerain novelty for me if it is non US production.

 

Mixing sets is common and does not make it a set. If it were truly a perewinkle the price was in line with the colors rarity.

 

Roger W.

[Ernst Bitterman]

I also can't find any functional difference between the US and Canadian models-- just the imprints and point markings ("14K-585" on some of them!). I suspect that any "rarity" of non-US product which drives up perceved value will be balanced by the a likewise-perceived sense that if it's not made at the home factory, it can't be as good.

 

So, I don't buy Canadian because they bug me ...

 

Fair enough. There's a lot of things about our boisterous neighbours which bug us, too. Maybe we need a higher fence?

 

Mixing sets is common and does not make it a set.

 

I bought a "set" composed of a vacuum-fill and a touchdown of the same trim-style (the TD was a Valiant), which the seller described as a "his and hers" affair. I really liked the box they came in.

Edited March 2, 2008 by Ernst Bitterman

[david i]

If the set truly is periwinkle it is a very good price.

 

Can be hard to tell in pics from those who don't know.

 

If common gray, you likely can do better buying from any of the major retailers who indeed provide warranties with their pens.

 

Here are the three blues with Periwinkle on the bottom

 

david

 

http://removed.xyz/penteech/sheaffersnorkel3blues33.jpg

[caspirin]

If the set truly is periwinkle it is a very good price.

 

Can be hard to tell in pics from those who don't know.

 

If common gray, you likely can do better buying from any of the major retailers who indeed provide warranties with their pens.

 

Here are the three blues with Periwinkle on the bottom

 

david

 

http://vacumania.com/penteech/sheaffersnorkel3blues33.jpg

 

 

David,

Based upon your pics. the pen on ebay was probably grey.

Thanks

Jim

[Bill Smith]

I don't think the Canadian made sheaffers, Parkers or Watemans have an extra premium on them. Well Canuk Parker Vacs are valued for their nibs that seem to be a little bit sweeter.

 

Cliff, too bad about your experiences in the 1990s at UofT. I think your main problem was you were looking for teaching gig at the wrong point in time, your chances today would be much better due to the massive retire off of professors. Richard Florida got a gig at UofT and he is American. Prior to 1996 it was a real (bleep) looking for work in Toronto/Southern Ontario regardless you were in academia or in the private sector because of the lingering recession of the early 1990s.

 

 

[SMG]

I don't like buying Canadian-made merely because I have a personal animosity toward that country in general. I lived there and tried to make a career of academia in Canada during the 1990s, but had not been apprised (when I chose to move to the institution in that country) that my citizenship of the USA would simply make it impossible for me to get a fair consideration for any position for which I was qualified. There's a lurking, secretive anti-American resentment which brings itself out in weird ways. "Visa student" means "any foreign student studying in Canada except the students from the USA" at the U of Toronto School of Graduate Studies, for instance. It goes from there. So, I don't buy Canadian because they bug me ...

Funny, alot of Canadians feel the same way about Yanks.

 

Cheers,

Sean

[david i]

I don't like buying Canadian-made merely because I have a personal animosity toward that country in general. I lived there and tried to make a career of academia in Canada during the 1990s, but had not been apprised (when I chose to move to the institution in that country) that my citizenship of the USA would simply make it impossible for me to get a fair consideration for any position for which I was qualified. There's a lurking, secretive anti-American resentment which brings itself out in weird ways. "Visa student" means "any foreign student studying in Canada except the students from the USA" at the U of Toronto School of Graduate Studies, for instance. It goes from there. So, I don't buy Canadian because they bug me ...

Funny, alot of Canadians feel the same way about Yanks.

 

Cheers,

Sean

 

 

But they're the best team in history

 

d

 

[SMG]

[finalidid]

Yeah, but most of the Yanks who've lived in Canada return home, while most of the Canadians who've lived in the USA don't. Odd that, how it works out. Then again, things were different a generation ago, when Canada was kind enough (and sensible enough) to allow amnesty to USA's draft refugees. There's plenty which Canada does (and did) right, by the perspective of comparison to the USA. It's just the one thing -- secretly hating USA's citizens in a bigoted way that deliberately interferes with careers in a government-mandated set of quotas that they don't divulge -- that got me. At least the USA's quotas are public.

 

I'd never go back. I've lived in both, know plenty about the advantages and disadvantages of both, and can categorically say that sanity and decency of life are only available in one. That's why there's a mild (though not earth-shaking) exodus or brain-drain southbound. Maybe the pendulum will swing the other way again at some other point in time.

 

And, by the way, calling someone from New Orleans a "Yank" is offensive. Like me calling someone from Montreal a Newfie.

 

Edited March 3, 2008 by finalidid

[caspirin]

Yeah, but most of the Yanks who've lived in Canada return home, while most of the Canadians who've lived in the USA don't. Odd that, how it works out. Then again, things were different a generation ago, when Canada was kind enough (and sensible enough) to allow amnesty to USA's draft refugees. There's plenty which Canada does (and did) right, by the perspective of comparison to the USA. It's just the one thing -- secretly hating USA's citizens in a bigoted way that deliberately interferes with careers in a government-mandated set of quotas that they don't divulge -- that got me. At least the USA's quotas are public.

 

I'd never go back. I've lived in both, know plenty about the advantages and disadvantages of both, and can categorically say that sanity and decency of life are only available in one. That's why there's a mild (though not earth-shaking) exodus or brain-drain southbound. Maybe the pendulum will swing the other way again at some other point in time.

 

And, by the way, calling someone from New Orleans a "Yank" is offensive. Like me calling someone from Montreal a Newfie.

 

Well,

 

My favorite pastime is curling (Bowling Green Curling Club) and my favorite spectator sport is hockey not to mention Molsons, so I can't knock the Canuks, eh? Just raised too close to the border.

Jim

[SMG]

Wow, so we are your kindly neighbours who will accept your draft dodgers and that makes us ok. Then you personally are slighted because you cannot teach up here, when not even a Canadian grown, educated, trained, taxpaying teacher could get a job, and we suck. Quota my arse, no one was hiring teachers in the 90's same as no one in Canada was hiring nurses in the 90's. Thus Canadians went south, literally.

 

I will not argue one Country is better than another, as is your want apparently. Honestly I don't think there is a clear cut winner in this contest of yours.

 

What I do know though, is that painting all Canadians with the same brush as the few that you really had issue with, is about as Offensive as calling you a Yank. Which for the record, I did not and have not. It was a catch all statement much like Canuk is for us.

 

This is supposed to be about pens. If you want to have a political discussion move it to the Chatter forum.

 

 

[caspirin]

 

My only problem with Canadiens is that they consistently kick my ass in curling. I will refrain from using the "C" word.

Yes, let's get back to pens.

Jim

[SMG]

My only problem with Canadiens is that they consistently kick my ass in curling. I will refrain from using the "C" word.

Yes, let's get back to pens.

Jim

Nah, we don't get upset at being called Canuk at all, it's a kind of badge of honor. Crazy Canuk is something we all have heard at one time or another.

 

Snorkels are cool pens, a major PITA to repair but cool nontheless.

 

Cheers,

Sean

[finalidid]

Yeah, should be about pens. Sorry, got off on a tangent there ...

[Bill Smith]

And, by the way, calling someone from New Orleans a "Yank" is offensive. Like me calling someone from Montreal a Newfie.- Cliff

 

I know, its like calling a Scotsman an Englishman.

 

[Ernst Bitterman]

I apply this perjorative to Americans, Britons of all flavours and even my fellow Canadians:

 

Human!

 

Least attractive of primates! Developer of overly complex pen-fillers to compensate for a lack of prehensile tail! Nyaa!