Who Loves Desk Pens?

[nxn96]

I think deskpens are a somewhat under-appreciated area of vintage pen collecting, and can offer a lot of value for the money- if you don't mind the fact that your pen might be somewhat "landlocked" (but there are ways around that too).

 

I've gotten some very nice pens for not too much money by going the deskpen route. Two that come to mind are a Parker 51 Aerometric deskpen on an onyx base that I got from eBay for about $23 shipped and a Sheaffer Imperial deskpen with a 14k inlaid nib, also on an onyx base for about $20 shipped off of eBay; both within the last year. With just a little cleanup to the metal trim on the bases, and the usual soak/flush I would do with any eBay purchase, I ended up with two near-mint pens. I realize, compared to some of the sumgai deals others report here, these might not be the most impressive prices paid, but I was happy. Related to this, it's been my experience that vintage deskpens tend to get less use than do their pocket counterparts, which also adds to the value equation.

 

One of the ways I've gotten around the "landlocked" issue with my Parker 51 deskpens is by acquiring a couple of spare barrels (Aerometric)/blindcaps (Vacumatic) and caps here and there that I can use to "convert" my deskpens for pocket use.

 

As to the original poster's question in terms of what to look for next, one suggestion I would have is the Parker deskpens on a Whitefriars controlled bubble glass base that Parker UK used to sell. They're pretty nice looking (well, I think so) and actually make nice display pieces (I use some as bookends at home) in addition to their functionality. They're not so easy to find here in the US, and sometimes the cost + shipping from the UK (where most are found) can make them a bit pricey (but well within your $300!), but they are a nice twist on the deskpen concept.

[dparker999]

I have a beautiful Omas piston filler desk set with a St. Gobain crystal base. Lost the pen for a few years and I thought it was ruined but I found an exact replacement in a Seattle pen shop when I was just browsing around. The gentlemen gave me a good deal on the pen so my desk set is now restored to new. BTW, approximately 6 months after buying the pen replacement, the original showed up in some misc packing!

 

IMHO, the Delta Dolce Vita desk set is just stunning! I love the pen and the desk set is a great way to show it off. I've got plenty of pens for traveling so that is not a concern but I have only 1 desk for the pen set.

[jbb]

I'm all about fixing up desk pens this week. Here's another with tape & stamp dispensers. I had to replace the trumpet and fixed up a desk pen with a nice, flexy 14K nib.

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8093/8538879069_f032c9fe58_o.jpg

[ac12]

I unfortunately love desk pens.

Why unfortunately? The base takes up a LOT of space, thus making the storage/display a lot more space consuming than clip pens.

 

But for ease of use, I just reach for it and grab it, very convenient. As long as you work in one place.

I have a 2-pen Parker 51 set on my desk; one is a F tip and the other a M tip.

 

I am partial to Parker P45 and P51. But I have a really nice writing Sheaffer cartrdige desk pen, and am restoring a couple more Sheaffer desk pens. So I will try different pens, if it interests me.

 

I have yet to setup and use a lever fill desk pen. But it is only a matter of time until I find one that I like.

 

The Pilot desk pens are interesting, but curiously, they do not make a base for the desk pen.

[Keyless Works]

I would love a P51 desk set.

[loudkenny]

I have a 1940's blue diamond silver pearl Vac desk pen with a nice semiflexy nib.

 

However, the original white marble base has some issues so I don't use it as much as I would like to.

 

Ken

Edited September 24, 2013 by loudkenny

[ac12]

KW,

 

Parker 51 desk sets come up on eBay quite often. Actually so often that I have to sit on my hands to keep from bidding on them.

IMHO the base is as important as the pen, since there are so many different styles (glass, wood, metal, marble) and even for marble so many different colors and patterns.

 

Caution #1, if the pen is a vac filler, you have to assume that the vac diaphram needs to be replaced, since the pen is so old. 2 of the 3 vacs that I bought have broken diaphrams. A broken diaphram will need a trip to the pen technician to repair.

 

Caution #2, because of the design of the 51, the nibs are not marked, so unless the seller knows the pen, you take pot luck of what size nib you will get. Odds are you will get a Medium tip, but you could get XtraFine, Fine or Broad. You can get used replacement nibs and have a pen tech change the nib for you.

 

Warning #1. Cleaning a used P51 is PiA, and if the prior owner used RED ink it is a ROYAL PIA to clean. The red ink just does not want to let go of the innards of the pen. I've spend over a week cleaning a used P51 of the old ink, repeated soak and drain cycles. If you have to send it to a pen tech to repair the vac diaphram or change the nib, have HIM clean the pen when he takes it apart.

 

Warning #2: Be very careful of what ink you load into a P51, as in warning #1, if you change inks, cleaning out the old ink from a P51 is a PiA. This is why I use a P45 for different colors, as it is MUCH easier to clean the old ink out.

 

Since you are in SF, come to the Pen Posse meets in Millbrae.

Edited September 24, 2013 by ac12

[ac12]

Ha spoke too soon.

There are just a handful of P51 desk sets on eBay right now.

There are a LOT more Sheaffer desk sets.

Edited September 25, 2013 by ac12

[lovemy51]

I have a few.

2 esterbrooks (only one in the original 8ball base).

1 P21

1 esterbrook hockey puck dipless

1 no-name desk base I bought in a 2nd hand store that now holds a Platinum desk pen (or maybe Sailor... can't remember cos' I have both, but one is w/o a base)

1 marble base papermate BP

 

will take pics later.

[Tdot]

I think the Esterbrook's are great because they are so simple, especially the 444 models. Here's my Sheaffer with a green marble base.

 

http://episodefive.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/sheaffer46.jpg?w=590&h=442

[lovemy51]

here we are (sorry for the bad photo):

 

http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n419/peterpaul_rguez/P9240228_zps6546c879.jpg

[ac12]

@L51

Nice collection

I gotta get one of those Esterbrook half ball sets.

My brother let his son throw away my mother's when they were cleaning out my parents home.

I specifically told him to save it for me.

It was a good thing that I grabbed all my mother's fountain pens, or the dang kids would have thrown those "antiques" in the garbage.

[lovemy51]

thx, ac12! they are nice. I think I like the 444 dipless more...

 

the best thing about it was the price. I don't think I paid more than $20 for any of the sets -the cheapest being the Carter's with the paper tray that came with a grey esterbrook (9XXX nib). that was only $5 American. if you are in SF, you might remember the SF antique mall on bayshore blvd... it's where I bought it.

[JotterAddict62]

Here is a P51 Desk set I recently picked up. [ Without the pen. ] I added the P51 pen

to it. Estate auction purchase $5.00.

 

Photo of Arrow Park in Janesville WI

[ac12]

@L51

Don't know the SF antique mall, but maybe I should try to check them out.

 

@Jotter

Is the picture inside the base or just attached to the bottom of the base, so that a user could change it out for a pix of their own?

[JotterAddict62]

Ac12 : The photo of Arrow Park is embeded in the middle. Just have to keep it out

of direct sunlight.

[kkshadow]

Desksets - like a moth to a flame. Don't know what my attraction is, but it's there. Mostly Sheaffer dry-proofs, I just like 'em.

[ac12]

I'm more interested in Parkers, but I have more Sheaffer sets. How did that happen?

 

I don't know enough about the various vintage pens, but I am interested in getting some of those for the variety. But almost certain they will need to be restored. The ink sac would be solid if not crumbled.

[JotterAddict62]

I just stick to Parkers, always learning about the pens. Need to reseach more on

servicing the FP's that I have and get supplies and tools needed to fix them up. A nice winter

project when the yardwork is done for the season. I posed this question at an auction last month.

In a 50 mile radius of Janesville WI., how many former Parker employees and Parker collectors

are in the area, and what is out there waiting to be had. One man I talked to that day his wife

worked at Parker and he said that she kept bringing stuff home all the time. I wonder if that

would the same for the other big 3 Sheaffer,Esterbrook and Watermans in their former hometown

base?

 

Ken

[Willowandme]

I love them. I have an esterbrook 444 dip less and just got this esterbrook desk pen. Haven't had time to photograph it so this is a link to the eBay listing. http://www.ebay.com/itm/190908331301?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649. I liked it because it's a different style than the normal round ones, also it's in a different color than black and the pen and base colors match. It writes really nice once I took out the 1555 nib that was damaged and put in a 2556.