Best Garage/yard/boot Sale Find?

[Paul Raposo]

Hey all.

 

Garage sale season is pretty much over around where I live, and once again all I did was waste time, and gas. So out of curiosity, what was your best, or favorite garage/yard/boot sale find this year?

Edited August 26, 2012 by Paul Raposo

[risingsun]

Bought a felt tipped Parker 75 Cisele years ago for a dime. Sold it on the bay for almost $130. Few of my yard sale finds rival that one, and the story is told frequently. The best FP I have found in a yard sale is only a nice Esterbrook LJ for a buck. Didn't restore it until just last month when it started to call to me.

[tmcneil82]

I'm still batting 0 for finding pens at yard sales. I think its a myth, at least around here.

[Paul Raposo]

Bought a felt tipped Parker 75 Cisele years ago for a dime. Sold it on the bay for almost $130. Few of my yard sale finds rival that one, and the story is told frequently. The best FP I have found in a yard sale is only a nice Esterbrook LJ for a buck. Didn't restore it until just last month when it started to call to me.

 

A dime? Ten measly cents? You sir are my hero I always expect to find some great Canadian made pens around here, but in three years, I've found nothing.

[Paul Raposo]

I'm still batting 0 for finding pens at yard sales. I think its a myth, at least around here.

 

Yeah, that's how I'm feeling too. I think ebay, and Kijiji have ruined good finds in the wild. Even people who know nothing about a particular item can Google its history, and list it online.

 

Maybe next year.

Edited August 26, 2012 by Paul Raposo

[Tommy]

With garage sales, the key is to be selective. You have to look at the ads and go to the ones that sound promising. Otherwise, you will waste your time.

 

Obviously, if they list "old fountain pens", you want to go to that one, and be there before they open, so Sumgai doesn't snag your pens. But you usually have to read between the lines to snoop out pens. You want to go to any sale that list things like old books, stationary, paper, office supplies, or anything that sounds remotely related to pens, or someone who would of used nice old pens.

 

If they advertise "baby clothes" or "jet ski", don't bother going. Those people aren't old enough to even know what a fountain pen is.

 

Estate sales are generally better than garage sales, because they are usually selling the entire contents of an older person's home. Again, be there early.

 

This year I've found a few nice ones at garage and estate sales. A "51", an Eversharp Skyline, a MB 146, a couple of desk pens. Also found a 149 at the flea market this year.

 

But my best find was a few years ago at a garage sale. A mint "51" set, Nassau green, with Heritage (windowpane) caps and solid 14k trim.

 

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/3097/nassaup51006.jpg

 

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

So don't give up. They're out there. It just takes persistence, and sometimes a little luck.

 

Tom

[tmcneil82]

Holy (bleep) Tom, your my hero! And we are selective with which we go too. Normally we stick to the antiques / collectibles ones, but 99% of the time that means "Star Wars Collectible" cups from way back in 1992.

[Ron Z]

Yeh, but it was a felt tip pen, not a real pen (real pens have nibs). Still, nicely done.

 

Mine was a red Duofold Sr. for $1.50. I still have it. I also bought the black Esterbrook next to it for $1.50.

[inkstainedruth]

Never had much luck with garage sales for anything (pens included), other than the odd bud vase.

I did well with some dining room furniture at an on-site estate auction a few years ago, in an upscale suburb, and at one across time from me a bit before that I got a practically new Cusinart for $30 (but I wasn't looking for pens back then...).

Went to an estate auction a couple of months ago because they actually had a few pens, but they were all in such lousy condition that I left during the preview. Pretty much a complete waste of time and gas. :bonk:

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[amk]

I've been lucky this season at French car boots:

 

Edacoto black button fill, but with a Waterman ideal gold nib, 3.50 euros. (In a jar with a lot of real junk, and a rather nice lime green wearever, all priced at 3.50 a pen - I got the good two and left the junk! People who price highly 'because it's old' sometimes lose more than they make by doing so, I reckon.)

 

Parker 51, Mark 1 aerometric, black, but with a Parker 45 cap unfortunately - 3 euros.

 

Sheaffer palladium Triumph rollerball, 3 euros

 

Caran d'Ache ecridor chevron ballpen with a Waterman no-name ballpoint, 4 euros.

 

No Mont Blanc 149 for 40 centimes, but I live in hope :-)

[Tdot]

I tend to avoid garage sales, but there were a couple that were fundraisers for the local animal shelter that had some nice donations. I threw some money away for the sake of the homeless pets, but I think this wood box is pretty cool.

 

http://episodefive.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/mexbox.jpg?w=590&h=442

 

It's about 4"x8", felt lined, has a hinged glass lid that is etched with the words "SECRETARIA DE MARINA – ARMADA DE MEXICO" circling the Mexican eagle/snake emblem clutching two boat anchors.

 

No idea of it's original purpose, but it's on my desk now holding 3 Fischer Bullet space pens, a Parker Centennial, a Pelikan 400 and 800, and a Sheaffer Targa.

[minimax447]

Never a pen but some 20 years ago, I found a fine Longines watch for £1 which has been with me ever since. I had it running again 20 minutes after I got home. It started me on watchmaking as a hobby I have enjoyed ever since.

[mmahany]

My best 3 in order in no particular order:

-Parker 51 Demi bought at a garage sale for 25 cents

-Mont Blanc Stainless Steel Solitaire Fountain Pen and Mont Blanc Le Grand 161 Ballpoint-Bought the pair for $25

-Mont Blanc 164 classique- bought on ebay for $18 but was listed as "Eddie Bauer wood box with pen."

 

Not pen related:

When I was in college, I bought a box full of old coins for $20. There turned out to be 2 ounces of gold, 10 silver eagles, and about 10-12 proof sets in it. I sold the gold for $1850 about 5 years ago and still have the rest.

Edited September 12, 2012 by mmahany

[MxMJ]

I love estate sales and flea markets. I've picked up loads of pens (mostly Sheaffers and Esterbrooks) but my best finds are:

 

• 
   
  
• Lavender Esterbrook Purse Pen for $1 at an estate sale
  
• a Parker 51 Demi Vac for $4.50 at an estate sale
  
• 2 parker 51 Vacs for $5 each from a flea market
  
• 4 Lamy 2000's (regular BP, multi-pen, Pencil, and the 30th anniversary BP) for $1 each
  
• a Mont Blanc crystal/brass inkwell for $10
  

 

edit: just remembered, also got a Mandarin Yellow Parker Lady Duofold for $20, it had some issues but I still made out well on that.

Edited September 12, 2012 by MxMJ

[Miketsheehan]

60s Montblanc 149

[georges zaslavsky]

nothing

[risingsun]

Went out to some yard/estate sales this morning and brought home a dark blue Sheaffer Imperial III (or Target) circa early 1960's with a 14k two-tone Triumph nib for only 25 cents. The nib was a bit curled up at the tip (from a drop I presume) but I gave some careful attention to it and it straightened out nicely. I re-sac'd it, greased the original o-ring which appeared to be pretty good still, and it's writing again! I need to give it a little polishing to improve its appearance just a tad. The only other flaw is a slightly loose clip. Not sure how to address that without an inner cap puller. Good day!

 

Edited September 15, 2012 by risingsun

[Tommy]

Nice find for a quarter! Sorry, I can't help with the clip. But I think most of those conical nibs had a slight upturn on the end. They were made that way.

[GSteer]

The nib was a bit curled up at the tip (from a drop I presume) but I gave some careful attention to it and it straightened out nicely.

 

I thought those Sheaffer nibs were meant to be curled up in their normal state? At least the few I've seen were all similar.

[risingsun]

Yes, I have since seen it written that some point up, some are straight, and even a few turn down. This seemed a little too exaggerated upward to be normal, but the weird thing it that the tines were perfectly aligned, when turned up, so it is possible that it was actually made that way. It looks a lot more "normal" now and flow is on the wet side with a dip test. I ordered some o-rings so I can replace that on this pen, as I think it's leaking just enough to not allow a good strong fill. Thanks, guys.