One Red Fountain Pen

[olivier78860]

Call me whistleblower or anything, but I had expressed my doubts about this project, saying that at a point or another, you'd have problems jumping a gap. It seems that the time has come.

Well all in all, you've started with a 0-value pen and ended up with some cool stuff. So why complaining ? It's not like you can start with some 2$ pen and end up with a M1000. Be happy with what you achieved already, it means there are lots or pidgeons already

[Maja]

Call me whistleblower or anything, but I had expressed my doubts about this project, saying that at a point or another, you'd have problems jumping a gap. It seems that the time has come.

Well all in all, you've started with a 0-value pen and ended up with some cool stuff. So why complaining ? It's not like you can start with some 2$ pen and end up with a M1000. Be happy with what you achieved already, it means there are lots or pidgeons already

 

It is pretty amazing that Jon managed to get what he currently has now (a modern Conklin Nozac w/Cursive Italic nib + an Edison Beaumont w/Broad nib), after starting off with a Wing Sung fountain pen...so kudos for getting this far, Jon! .

 

I do think, however, that the achievement of the goal relies (to a large extent) on traders that are willing to give up more expensive items in order to "help" the tradee accomplish his/her ultimate goal....meaning that it's now a waiting game for that final trader to come along. I don't know if spitting up the trade would be a good idea, unless you could trade the Edison for something like an M800...

[JonB55198]

Call me whistleblower or anything, but I had expressed my doubts about this project, saying that at a point or another, you'd have problems jumping a gap. It seems that the time has come.

Well all in all, you've started with a 0-value pen and ended up with some cool stuff. So why complaining ? It's not like you can start with some 2$ pen and end up with a M1000. Be happy with what you achieved already, it means there are lots or pidgeons already

 

It is pretty amazing that Jon managed to get what he currently has now (a modern Conklin Nozac w/Cursive Italic nib + an Edison Beaumont w/Broad nib), after starting off with a Wing Sung fountain pen...so kudos for getting this far, Jon! .

 

I do think, however, that the achievement of the goal relies (to a large extent) on traders that are willing to give up more expensive items in order to "help" the tradee accomplish his/her ultimate goal....meaning that it's now a waiting game for that final trader to come along. I don't know if spitting up the trade would be a good idea, unless you could trade the Edison for something like an M800...

 

I totally agree here. I am happy with the progress that I have made. But, I'm not going to stop. Once I set a goal, I need to see it come to fruition. Stopping now would mean complete failure. I have confidence that there is a possibility that others here will like the two pens I have and trade for something better. If anyone wants to trade for either of the pens alone, I might consider that too

[Maja]

I totally agree here. I am happy with the progress that I have made. But, I'm not going to stop. Once I set a goal, I need to see it come to fruition. Stopping now would mean complete failure. I have confidence that there is a possibility that others here will like the two pens I have and trade for something better. If anyone wants to trade for either of the pens alone, I might consider that too

 

Hi Jon!

Just noticed that your "Signature" (the stuff below each of your posts) says "WTT : Conklin Nozac Cursive Italic & Edison Beaumont Broad for Pelikan M1000 or Similar"

 

What does the "or Similar" mean?? :hmm1:

[JonB55198]

I totally agree here. I am happy with the progress that I have made. But, I'm not going to stop. Once I set a goal, I need to see it come to fruition. Stopping now would mean complete failure. I have confidence that there is a possibility that others here will like the two pens I have and trade for something better. If anyone wants to trade for either of the pens alone, I might consider that too

 

Hi Jon!

Just noticed that your "Signature" (the stuff below each of your posts) says "WTT : Conklin Nozac Cursive Italic & Edison Beaumont Broad for Pelikan M1000 or Similar"

 

What does the "or Similar" mean?? :hmm1:

 

"or Similar" means if you have something cool to offer, I'd definitely consider trading. I don't need to get to the M1000 in this step. But, I'd like to trade for a single large pen. Then I can trade that for an M1000 or something closer. Do you have anything that might be interesting?

[Maja]

"or Similar" means if you have something cool to offer, I'd definitely consider trading. I don't need to get to the M1000 in this step. But, I'd like to trade for a single large pen. Then I can trade that for an M1000 or something closer. Do you have anything that might be interesting?

 

Nothing suitable---sorry! I was just curious what you meant

Best of luck with your goal!

[JonB55198]

"or Similar" means if you have something cool to offer, I'd definitely consider trading. I don't need to get to the M1000 in this step. But, I'd like to trade for a single large pen. Then I can trade that for an M1000 or something closer. Do you have anything that might be interesting?

 

Nothing suitable---sorry! I was just curious what you meant

Best of luck with your goal!

 

Thanks

[adamselene]

Has everyone read the "one red paperclip" story online?

 

The key factor was that people engaged in trades for the publicity value of being involved in the odyssey.

 

That probably doesn't apply to John's situation. However, the fulsome good will that abounds on FPN certainly does.

 

If there was a benefit to a good charity, I am sure the goal would be reached quickly.

 

* * *

 

In a way, we are all probably at least contemplate "the trading up" paradigm. But it probably is not by successive trades of a single pen. More like combining trades or sales of various pens to get to a higher cost pen we covet/

 

I have never sold a pen though. I do imagine that I could sell or trade various pens that I have gotten at good prices, to enable me to buy a more desirable pens. But the actuality is, if I have gotten a good price for a pen, I enjoy the pen more than I would enjoy selling it for a profit.

 

This is definitely not a big deal for me. but I bring it up to illustrate the issues involved.

 

It is interesting to speculate what this task would have been like if it had been done without any publicity, and only been made public after it had been a fait accompli.

 

 

.

[Maja]

Has everyone read the "one red paperclip" story online?

 

The key factor was that people engaged in trades for the publicity value of being involved in the odyssey.

 

That probably doesn't apply to John's situation. However, the fulsome good will that abounds on FPN certainly does.

 

If there was a benefit to a good charity, I am sure the goal would be reached quickly.

 

* * *

 

In a way, we are all probably at least contemplate "the trading up" paradigm. But it probably is not by successive trades of a single pen. More like combining trades or sales of various pens to get to a higher cost pen we covet/

 

I have never sold a pen though. I do imagine that I could sell or trade various pens that I have gotten at good prices, to enable me to buy a more desirable pens. But the actuality is, if I have gotten a good price for a pen, I enjoy the pen more than I would enjoy selling it for a profit.

 

This is definitely not a big deal for me. but I bring it up to illustrate the issues involved.

 

It is interesting to speculate what this task would have been like if it had been done without any publicity, and only been made public after it had been a fait accompli.

 

 

.

 

You bring up some interesting points, esp. about enjoying pens that you bought for a bargain. That's something that often goes through my mind when I use a "sumgai" pen!

 

(for those of you who are not familiar with the term sumgai, it's listed on this reference page: http://richardspens.com/?page=ref/glossary/S.htm)

[maxh]

While surely part of the success of this (and its paperclip inspiration) is the publicity, I do not believe that explains everything. The value of any given item is in some sense subjective. Although two pens may sell at approximately the same price, a person can still prefer one over the other. If two people assess relative value oppositely, they both come off believing they got the better end of the trade, even if they got the pen of slightly lower price. Through repeated use of this, one can move from a very low value item to a very high value item. Indeed, the publicity is a component of this; a pen's value may increase to some by having been a part of the trading-up game.

[Avetikus]

The key factor was that people engaged in trades for the publicity value of being involved in the odyssey.

 

That probably doesn't apply to John's situation. However, the fulsome good will that abounds on FPN certainly does.

 

If there was a benefit to a good charity, I am sure the goal would be reached quickly.

 

You may have the key right here.

 

If John says he will auction the pen off and send the proceeds to the Red Cross, Our Lady of Perpetual Responsibility Church, or [insert charity here], why, I'd bet he'd get a bit more action in the trades department.

 

Then again, this journey wasn't started with that stated aim, and changing now might not be what he has in mind.

[Miles S]

Fascinating read and fun to follow the progress. If I may suggest, since it looks like there are no takers for the pair of pens you have now, why not upgrade each one individually, then offer the new upgraded pair and see who bites. This may increase your chances of finding a good step up in pen value and could potentially break the dam that's currently slowing your progress towards the goal.

 

Good luck, stay positive, and please keep us updated.

[squeakyao]

Wow, this is a really cool idea! Hoping that you'll get to your goal soon

And thank you for all the reviews you did, they were really interesting.

[JonB55198]

Fascinating read and fun to follow the progress. If I may suggest, since it looks like there are no takers for the pair of pens you have now, why not upgrade each one individually, then offer the new upgraded pair and see who bites. This may increase your chances of finding a good step up in pen value and could potentially break the dam that's currently slowing your progress towards the goal.

 

Good luck, stay positive, and please keep us updated.

 

This is a great idea and I am definitely willing to do this. If anyone wants to trade for either of the pens, drop a message here in the forum and I will PM you. Thanks.

[JonB55198]

Hi everyone,

 

I've been busy and away from the hobby for a while. Just checking in to see how everyone is. Also, I wanted to say, that the two pens (the modern conklin nozac and edison beaumont) are still up for trade. Anyone have anything interesting to trade for these?

 

-Jon

[JonB55198]

wow no action on these pens... very sad to see this come to a momentary halt. But I'm going to keep waiting patiently

[imadeadend]

I must say I'm impressed! To see this become possible... It makes me want to try the exact same thing! However I wouldn't have a goal, I would probably select one pen to be my "trade" pen, and if I trade it, then the received pen will be my new trade pen. I would never sell it, but simply trade it as I got sick of it with no true end goal. The result would be a pen that I would never get sick of, and that's the one I would keep.

 

Quite an interesting read, and kudos on the excellent trades!

[HLK]

Pretty cool concept, I am rooting for you!.

[JonB55198]

I've been away from the hobby during the warmer months. But, I think I'm going to try to rekindle this by posting a WTT ad in the classifieds and see if anyone would like to trade

[JonB55198]

I must say I'm impressed! To see this become possible... It makes me want to try the exact same thing! However I wouldn't have a goal, I would probably select one pen to be my "trade" pen, and if I trade it, then the received pen will be my new trade pen. I would never sell it, but simply trade it as I got sick of it with no true end goal. The result would be a pen that I would never get sick of, and that's the one I would keep.

 

Quite an interesting read, and kudos on the excellent trades!

 

That is an interesting concept. I haven't gotten to my M1000 yet. But when I do, I doubt I will become bored with it very quickly if at all. If I did, maybe I would consider trading it for another pen to explore the fountain pen world even more