In Need Of Expertise About Various Pens

[MyriamV]

A friend of ours who deals in antiques and knows I'm into fountain pens gave me a bag filled with about ten pens in it. She told me to see if I'm interested in them and to make her an offer if I am. Most of the pens are in bad shape, but since I'm learning the ropes, I figured I'd take pictures anyways and ask for some feedback. I've never heard of some of the brands, don't even know if they're sought after or not. I'm well aware that given their bad shape, these probably won't be worth anything except maybe to help me learn more.

 

I do have to issue a warning though. You will see pictures of a Parker and of a Waterman. These two pens are the worse of the lot. I still can't believe that nobody took care of them. Broke my heart when I realized what they are.

 

I'd like to know how desirable the following pens are, what would their respective value would be if they were in good shape (a ballpark figure will do), are any of these worth something for parts. Here we go.

 

Cap: There seems to be an inscription on the clip but I can't make it out.

Barrel: No inscription.

Nib: Select-O-Point, A, Iridium tip, Firm fine, Made in U.S.A.

The feed is broken. However, I wonder about the thing sticking out of the section grip at the end where the sac should be. What is that?

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a522/TigerLady143/FPN%20Photos/fbc5ba1c65b26bf0a11abd3f7f73484a_zpsb44e0569.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a522/TigerLady143/FPN%20Photos/ec62e13b25b8ac367b2c7a50ff1a9902_zps6e38acf6.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a522/TigerLady143/FPN%20Photos/22b6cf69162c7a80e2d869666c7a7147_zpseee6795f.jpg

 

Cap: Wearever inscribed on the clip; tip of cap pretty worn off.

Barrel: No inscription.

Nib: Stainless, U.S.A.

The lever works smoothly. I haven't tested it with water though to see if the sac is intact.

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a522/TigerLady143/FPN%20Photos/fb33fb2eaf7af2b3568574b9e021a02f_zps4cf62921.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a522/TigerLady143/FPN%20Photos/22d73c857a86735a6672047d5c518cd3_zps093b4db9.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a522/TigerLady143/FPN%20Photos/6d0659106405d0a868807929db43a456_zps789c0889.jpg

 

Cap: Sheaffer's inscribed on the clip.

Barrel: No inscription.

Nib: Sheaffer's, F, Made in U.S.A.

This is most likely another mass-produced/blister-pack pen like the Scool Pen. Am I right? Does it have a name?

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a522/TigerLady143/FPN%20Photos/1b84bc60ef41dcd9fd36ebf05547c0d6_zps80957656.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a522/TigerLady143/FPN%20Photos/2ad3a5d3b37a73c3aa262471ef99800e_zps4eb1ee92.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a522/TigerLady143/FPN%20Photos/c21573392a811f3e9cccbe27a719adb6_zps4d730f45.jpg

 

Cap: Missing.

Barrel: No inscription.

Nib: E.Faber, Medium, Made in U.S.A.

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a522/TigerLady143/FPN%20Photos/1f84f44bcacc92e6287c11bfa85c7def_zps4616997a.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a522/TigerLady143/FPN%20Photos/71c6f0d4470a763fac859ab9ed6b516d_zps11ec33ab.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a522/TigerLady143/FPN%20Photos/52120d69ad3e5e1ef7d21a89cff8da81_zpsf0c1be20.jpg

 

Cap: Missing.

Barrel: Inscriptions have been intentionally erased (whoever did that did a very ugly job), deformed towards the tip, deformed towards the grip section as well (bulging like it was forced over something too big), grip section show marks from what I guess are pliers.

Nib: Parkette, Made in U.S.A.; slightly bent at the tip, recoverable? Good practice piece for nib work?

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a522/TigerLady143/FPN%20Photos/933134c75a4993aae38517afeaf34b92_zpsa97fbe5a.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a522/TigerLady143/FPN%20Photos/d8437a564bcdea1a1a2a97da70d3c72f_zps43b133c5.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a522/TigerLady143/FPN%20Photos/43ec1e86319ea1d43d3c8e1b22854ef5_zpsb5d51306.jpg

 

The next pen really made me sad when I saw what it is... it has a flex nib too... *sigh*

Cap: Broken clip, scratched beyond repair (deep grooves).

Barrel: Waterman's, Reg.U.S. IDEAL Pat.Off, Commando, Made in U.S.A.; the lever is stuck in I don't know what kind of gunk and will not move.

Nib: Waterman's, Ideal, 14 kt

Can the nib and feed be taken out without damaging them?

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a522/TigerLady143/FPN%20Photos/15a6c26cf5554d412391165ba7d15062_zps9706bcb7.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a522/TigerLady143/FPN%20Photos/dcd8690f52dc162d4daaedf7f8081d3c_zpsa71bd7fd.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a522/TigerLady143/FPN%20Photos/d96c1733c85c67577876bcec444abc41_zps898c1782.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a522/TigerLady143/FPN%20Photos/55b8de58c4c0e5ef33fba0b5bf127e3d_zpsbb5fc42f.jpg

 

The last one isn't a fountain pen, but I thought some of you might know what it's worth. On top of the barrel it says Slim-Jim by Eversharp, Made in U.S.A. I took the picture with the tip out, but the retractable mechanism works.

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a522/TigerLady143/FPN%20Photos/53091e331e454508b6fcd5e13d8632c4_zps0012061b.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a522/TigerLady143/FPN%20Photos/45b68658660abc6e36e89fbd41aca247_zps7b6941ab.jpg

[Penne Stilografiche]

I would value the group at $50 or less, most of them were 3rd tier pens at the time they were manufactured. The best pens in the group are the Waterman Commando and the Parkette, which both have 14k gold nibs.

[jar]

I'd put a value on the batch at about $10-15.00. Any value there is in you gaining experience.

[Florida Blue]

Yeah, I will have to agree with Jar that those pens really only have value as parts rather than whole pens. That being said your Commando is really neat. It's not a common pen, especially with the end still attached. They often crumbled off.

 

You could post your pictures on the Waterman forum maybe they could help you.

[MyriamV]

Thank you for the help putting a value on the lot. Parts is pretty much what I was thinking these would be good for. I'm also glad to see my hunch wasn't too far off on the price.

 

I'll post the Commando in the Waterman forum. I'm afraid only the nib and feed are still good in that one though.

[Penne Stilografiche]

I'd put a value on the batch at about $10-15.00. Any value there is in you gaining experience.

The gold nibs in the Commando and the Parkette should have a scrap value of at least $15-$20.

[elysee]

I must admit that I would not spend my money on any of them, not even for parts or scrap.

[OldGriz]

I would value the group at $50 or less, most of them were 3rd tier pens at the time they were manufactured. The best pens in the group are the Waterman Commando and the Parkette, which both have 14k gold nibs.

 

Remind me to send you my next batch of pens in this condition... the 14 k nibs on those pens do not make them all that valuable, especially with one of them being bent

AT BEST, I would offer about $10-15 for the lot.... only 1 IMO are worth restoring, the Wearever.... The Sheaffer is a basic school pen that just need a good flushing and a new cartridge.....

[DanF]

You may eventually be able to find other pens to put those gold nibs in.

 

Dan

[MyriamV]

I'm not sure either about $10-$15 for the gold nibs. If you take a close look at the one on the Parkette, there's not a touch of gold showing on the nib. Wen I look at it, it looks like someone scraped it to clean it, removing all the gold. All I see is a steel colored nib. And as Tom noted, the tip is bent. The gold being gone, I wonder though if the nib could be straightened out. Might be a good piece to practice on.

 

Tom, I don't know anything about the Wearever pens. Do you have any resource to share so I can learn more about them? Someone else just gave me a bunch of fountain pens in bad shape and two of them are Wearever pens with a transparent feed. I accepted them since I figure free pens in bad shape are the best pens to learn repairs with.

 

Dan: I hadn't thought of that. I was however thinking about making a pen to use the Waterman nib since it's a flex nib (for some reason, I like flex nibs even though I'm not that good at writing with them yet).

Edited August 14, 2013 by MyriamV

[MyriamV]

In case any of you is interested, I was able to acquire this lot of pens for $10. Off I go to start cleaning them and learn more about fountain pens!

[jar]

In case any of you is interested, I was able to acquire this lot of pens for $10. Off I go to start cleaning them and learn more about fountain pens!

 

Great. You have some real projects there. The Sheaffer cartridge pen is the second generation of the "School Pen" and likely needs only an overnight soak of nib and section and stick a new Sheaffer cartridge in it.

[Paddler]

On the first pen, the little thing sticking out of the section in back, I think is to drain the feed back into the sac by capillarity when the pen is up-ended. The end of the thing is supposed to touch the inside of the sac. Parker used a similar device in their "Lucky Curve" pens. Eversharp used a piece of plastic ribbon for the same function in some of their "Skyline" pens. If the thing is hollow, it could be a breather of some kind (or part of one).

 

I agree that the whole lot probably has only educational value. I used to buy pens like this at flea markets and make them work again. It is a lot of fun if you like to restore old things.

[MyriamV]

Great. You have some real projects there. The Sheaffer cartridge pen is the second generation of the "School Pen" and likely needs only an overnight soak of nib and section and stick a new Sheaffer cartridge in it.

Thanks for the info, jar. I didn't know they had more than one generation. Yup, so far all the school pens I've encountered clean right up with a soaking.

 

On the first pen, the little thing sticking out of the section in back, I think is to drain the feed back into the sac by capillarity when the pen is up-ended. The end of the thing is supposed to touch the inside of the sac. Parker used a similar device in their "Lucky Curve" pens. Eversharp used a piece of plastic ribbon for the same function in some of their "Skyline" pens. If the thing is hollow, it could be a breather of some kind (or part of one).

 

I agree that the whole lot probably has only educational value. I used to buy pens like this at flea markets and make them work again. It is a lot of fun if you like to restore old things.

Thanks for the info, Paddler. The little piece is flat and the way it curves, it would indeed touch the inside of the sac. Educational value is exactly how I view this lot of pens. A chance for me to learn without fearing too much about making things worse.

[rwilsonedn]

You have some great pens there on which to learn about basic pen refurbishing. None of them is complex or particularly delicate. I would save the Waterman Commando, though, until you are comfortable with your new skills. It will never again be a beautiful pen, but it has the potential to once again be an excellent writer with a delightful semi-flex nib.

ron

[Sailor Kenshin]

Great. You have some real projects there. The Sheaffer cartridge pen is the second generation of the "School Pen" and likely needs only an overnight soak of nib and section and stick a new Sheaffer cartridge in it.

And you will love it. In spite of their humble origins, these Sheaffer school pens are great, tough little writers.

[pencils+pens]

The translucent red Sheaffer was known as the Cartridge Pen. Someone else identified it as the second generation (1964-1974). Cleaned up it would sell for about $9-$10 on eBay, S&H extra.