Flea Markets, Garage Sales, Etc....

[AV8R210]

In a town I lived in many years, a gentleman placed a local newspaper classified ad every Sunday in the "Wanted To Buy" column. It more or less said: "I collect old Lionel and American Flyer electric trains. Call 555-1212." It ran every Sunday for years. When Craigs List and weekly printed shopper classifieds came upon the scene, the ad was in those as well. I suspect he would not have continued to run the ads if they did not occassionally produce results.

 

While I have not done this on this side of the Pacific, I wonder what the results might be if you placed an "I collect old fountain pens" in the Brisbane equivalent of Craigs List? You could set up a unique email address for the responses.

 

The idea is to have pens come to you rather than you hunting them in the wild.

 

Just a random thought.

 

If you do it and it works, I want one! A 20's MB or a 30's Pelikan will do nicely, thank you.

[Paul Raposo]

While I have not done this on this side of the Pacific, I wonder what the results might be if you placed an "I collect old fountain pens" in the Brisbane equivalent of Craigs List? You could set up a unique email address for the responses.

 

I tried this on Kijiji up here in Ontario, Canada. Posted three ads in different cities, which were close enough to drive to. I received 3 replies to the ads, and all three were PayPal scams. When the ads were about to expire, I canceled them.

 

I've been debating whether I should run an ad in the local free newspaper that's popular with the city seniors. It's a $200 ad, but if I can find a few good items, it would be worth the cost.

[inkstainedruth]

 

Also, if there was some sort of reliable source for old vintage fountain pens at great prices, a) do you really think anyone would tell you? and do you really think that the entirety of FPN wouldn't buy them up in a hearbeat?

Ha! That just happened to me last week in an antiques store out in Ohio. They had a bottle of vintage Quink Permanent Red, but it was only about 1/4-1/3 full. I asked if they had any pens and the two guys in there muttered stuff about they got them in occasionally, but the last one -- "a gold pen" was all they could tell me -- had been bought by "this tall guy"....

Sigh. Sumgai'd again....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[mrchan]

 

The other advice added to some excellent suggestions previously given is to simply check out dealers, flee markets, long time independent drug stores, old independent jewelry stores. get into the habit of traveling off the beaten track, and even in the regular antique store ASK where else they may have some old pens, pencils, inkwell etc.

 

Old independent drug stores and jewelry stores eh? That is a fascinating idea. I shall begin my quest this weekend and keep you guys updated! Thanks!

[sumgaikid]

I must be the odd duck--most of my fishing finds come from fleabay.

The few antique stores down here in the Bay Area don't carry the

types of finds that I used to see a few years ago,and the few mom-

and-pop antique stores that were around then have gone by the

wayside. One of the other posters mentioned Renniger's(haven't

been there in a few years). I know of the dealer he talked about

that priced his pens with ridiculous prices--he used to sell on flea-

bay. I wish I could say that there were places around this area that

might have pen finds,but from what I can see,they're long gone.

 

 

John

[AV8R210]

Finding a great old fountain pen in the wild for a great price is a thrill (I found two NOS Parker 45 Flighters last month at a flea market in a small town in Ontario). But I think it also needs to be said that for those of us who are new to the hobby, and who have not yet mastered pen restoration, there is a lot to be said for buying a fully reconditioned or restored fountain pen from someone with a good reputation in the fountain pen collecting community.

[logantrky]

I've had great luck at antique stores. I recently bought 2 NOS Montblanc 146s and a 144 for $120. The lady I bought them from got them from an elderly widow who was giving away a lot of her husband's old belongings. I tried to offer more, but she said she just wanted them to go to someone who "knew how to use them."

 

I also bought two Parker 51 double jewel FPs a couple years ago with heirloom caps. I got them for… $10! I've since sold them but I was shocked to learn their value after getting them home and cleaning them up.

[Niberator]

Estate sales and antique shops are where I find most pens. I check all the local shops regularly and I won't pay a lot for my pens. I do wonder though, about the pens I don't buy. Just because I won't pay $75 for those Conklins at a shop, doesn't mean some other FPNer wouldn't grab them in a heartbeat. I know of 4 Esterbrook Js for sale locally, all priced under $15. I just don't need any more Esterbrook Js! Maybe there should be some type of pen alert thread where people can post what's available in their area... Or Maybe not!

[amk]

I do car boots in France - they're different from the UK as each village generally has one big sale a year, often closing off the main street for it and sometimes with a funfair as well (sometimes, even better, with moules frites on the snack stand!)

 

Within my region I know there are some that are rubbish, some that are mainly professionals selling antiques at reasonable but not bargain prices, and some that turn up real beauties. I generally get a chance to buy Waterman Kultur and Expert, and Rotring Artpens, but once or twice I get a real gem. Waterman safety, or ripple ebonites from the 1920s, or a Tintenkuli in its original packaging.

 

We were walking back to the car at one (Breval, a lovely sale held in a forested park) and I decided just to take one more look at a stall where I'd already seen (and passed on) two Edacoto mechanical pencils. Big box of ordinary pencils - had a rummage - saw a little symbol peeking at me - lapis lazuli Osmia Supra.

 

"How much?"

 

"Everything in that box is a euro."

 

"OK." - And I almost ran away, thinking dear God, let me get round the corner before that guy realises what he's done!

 

I think that, a Parker 75 prince de galles, and gold and silver plate Waterman CFs, and Waterman 92 red and bronze pencil, is probably my FP luck maxed out for this year... but we have Maintenon and Chartres coming, and those are always big.Last year got me a Parker 51 at Chartres, for 3 euros... Rambouillet and Montfort l'Amaury are also good hunting grounds, slightly nearer Paris and with more of an antiques bias.

 

As other posters have said, though, you do have to put time and effort in. Most Sundays and some Saturdays over the summer and autumn I invest in the hunt - often drawing a complete blank.

 

In the UK, I find little old junk shops and house clearance shops can be good hunting grounds - if they hang on to pens - less so antique shops. Sometimes, if you tell them you're interested in pens and leave a number, they will keep an eye out, though usually it's not their thing.

 

I haven't done the Paris flea markets recently - I'll post if I do. Don't remember seeing anything much in the way of pens last time I was there (about four years back).

[Tom Aquinas]

I always get insanely jealous when I hear stories of people buying fountain pens for next to nothing, having found it at a flea market, garage sales, some random shops etc.

 

I am starting this thread for those who want to contribute some secret spots to other FPN brothers and sisters of where you can occasionally find or have found interestingly cheap/vintage fountain pens in the past.

 

Before I go any further I have to say that, I haven't found any where I live in Brisbane, Australia, though whether it is NOT for the lack of trying I can tell you that.

 

So, wherever you are from, and have one or two of those little secret spots that you'd like to share, please feel free to do so!

Just haunt every second hand shop or charity shop you see. Bargains are out there, and you live in one of my regular hunting grounds. last year I found a Shaeffer snorkel ...$A3.50. Just keep your eyes peeled when you find something it will be nice. You will see other things as well as pens , for instance I also found Zeiss 8x30 prismatic binoculars with Zeiss leather case for for $A10.00 and a Parker 51 For $A10.00 in one shop alone.

[Geordielass]

Don't know if this is the case elsewhere in the world, but in the UK small provincial auction houses that do house clearances can occasionally be a good place to look for any not-particularly-fashionable collectables (often they post their catalogue online a few days before the actual auction so you can check if it is worth you turning up/bidding online) though you will almost certainly have to buy them as part of a mixed lot (at best that's a decent fountain pen with a couple of Parker Jotter ballpoints, maybe a cheap Shaeffer and a couple of unnamed things that you may end up binning) but often you will get it for a song and you must know someone who would be happy to get a free ballpoint that's a damn sight better than a cheap bic biro!

 

I'm trying to resist getting into buying old pens, because I know I'd end up impulse buying things I really can't afford (having gone along to get one of the above-mentioned mixed lots) but I do know people who collect other things and have, for instance, got good pieces of jewellery mixed in with a lot of horrible cheap plasticky costume stuff for next to nothing.

Edited September 6, 2013 by Geordielass

[mrchan]

So, just an update, I went to an antique shop today called Paddington's Antiques with around 52 antique shops in 1 place in Brisbane.

 

Found:

1. Parker 75 cisele sterling on its own, no significant scratches other than on the end of the pen, the nib looked to be a nice factory stub. But the sale price was quite unrealistic, being 220 AUD..So I decided there wasn't any point in getting that one.

 

2. A full set of Sheaffer Targa 1005 gold electroplated, 1 FP, 1 BP, 1 Slim BP, 1 MP, looks to be in an inked mint condition with a nice red box with complete instructions. Owner asked for 400 for it after max bargaining. Didn't think it was worth that much considering how you can get a nice near mint Sheaffer targa FP on eBay for 50 - 100 AUD easily, and I didn't think the other pens would fetch that much money anyway even as a full set.

 

3. Another Parker 75 cisele sterling, this time with FP, BP, and MP. Owner was the same guy as the sheaffer. Wanted 600 for the whole set. I mean come on, I thought that was a bit dumb considering how online you can't even fetch 220 for the FP, much less the other 2..So no..Declined as well

 

That was fun however, I did enjoy browsing through it all. Quite a fun experience all in all. Planning to go to another 3 large antique places tomorrow (Saturday). Should be good fun.

 

Cheers

Edited September 6, 2013 by mrchan

[akustyk]

Remember the places that sold fountain pens in the 40s-60s and look there.

 

Find an old family owned (not chain) drugstore, hardware, jewelery, clothing, even places like feed and seed if in small towns. Stop in, look for the oldest person there and politely ask if they might still have some in the back. As recently as a year or so ago I was driving through one of the small towns off the big roads here in Texas and stopped for some BBQ. Across the square was an old drugstore and when I asked at the pharmacy counter they first said "No", then "Wait a sec... there's these." and out came an old cigar box with about a dozen pens a Balance and 5-30 Flat top, a Lucky Curve Duofold Junior, a few Esterbrooks and a couple Wearevers still in the blister packs. I asked "How Much" and the gentleman said "Just take them and give them a good home." Best part was they still had a soda and lunch counter so instead of BBQ I had one of their real chocolate milk shakes and the days special, meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, greens and cornbread. Now that cost me $4.50.

 

That is a cool story. I wish it happens to me one day

[ISW_Kaputnik]

The town where I live is noted for its large number of antique stores. I have not had the patience to make the rounds of all of them, but have been to quite a few; they tend to have a boutiquey atmosphere, the prices seem high, and I haven't found anything that seemed worth haggling for. No doubt if I were patient enough to keep going back, be sure to ask what they have that's not on the shelves yet, get to know some of the shop owners, I'd improve my chances of finding something. Or I might just waste a lot of time.

 

We have a flea market in town every Saturday, and there are others around. I did pass up one decent chance for an Esterbrook J because I wanted to haggle the seller down further than she'd go, but I've got others. Apart from that, the few fountain pens I've seen have not interested me enough even to ask the price. A few Wearevers, some Sheaffers missing both caps and nibs, that sort of thing.

 

Most of my vintage pens are from eBay, a couple from Peyton Street pens, and even a couple from Richard Binder's monthly tray. The eBay ones included some real bargains, the ones from the professionals were at least well restored.

 

Maybe some day I'll come up with a real find at a yard sale, or pop into an antique shop that I haven't tried yet and get a pleasant surprise. Some people enjoy poking around in little shops all day, and they have a better chance of success than I do. The tedium of the hunt just isn't worth it for me.

[mrchan]

I actually wonder what the attraction to esterbrooks are, I just find them so boring and stale. Maybe I just need to get one and find out what the hype is about.

[sumgaikid]

I actually wonder what the attraction to esterbrooks are, I just find them so boring and stale. Maybe I just need to get one and find out what the hype is about.

 

 

I have to agree with your estimation of Esties. The enjoyment of using a

fountain pen that I wanted to buy and use is the total combination of looks,

weight and how easily the nib glides across the paper.

 

 

John

[ISW_Kaputnik]

Oh, I like my Esterbrooks quite a lot, but I got them on eBay. The celluloid patterns on my Dollar Pen, LJ, Js, and SJs are attractive to me. The easy swappability of the nibs means that you don't have to pass up a pen that you like just because it doesn't have the right nib. I very much like writing with the 9788, 2442, and 9668. Also, like many simple lever fillers, the Esterbrooks are easy to restore.

 

It's just that, since I already had several, I was more interested in seeing how little I could pay for another than I was in actually getting it. The seller's price was reasonable, and I hope she sold it to somebody who appreciated it.

[AV8R210]

Why Esterbrooks? I know one possible reason. Many of us kids who went to elementary school in the United States in the 1950s or early 1960s had to purchase or were given an Esterbrook as part of their third grade cursive handwriting / penmanship class. Mine was green. When I joined this board last month, one of my goals was to get a green Esterbrook J. That led to getting the other flavors of Esties, like root beer and cherry. I like the 9968 broad nib, but it is never going to be a MB. Still, having that bright green link to my paleolithic past is kinda fun.

[amk]

Return to 'normal' fountain pen finding luck yesterday - a Unic black pen with gold nib, and two nice 1920s or 1930s pencils (red mottled ebonite and pearly white/green which may be casein) for five euros, and a Reform calligraphy set with two pistonfillers (fine and 1.1mm nibs) and a bottle of ink for another five euros. And a Parker Mixy felt tip for free when I bought a couple of Duralex glasses and the vendor hadn't got change for my one euro piece. ;-)

 

Okay, it's not that Big Red or Montblanc Oscar Wilde I dream of ... but not bad. Got a fun little Venetian glass dip pen, too - not a glass nib, but a steel nib on a glass pen, which is weird.

 

So you see, even if you don't find the most amazing fountain pens for a huge discount, car boots and village fetes can deliver quite a lot of fun. It's a rare day that produces nothing at all. Incidentally the food was excellent - croissant and strong coffee for breakfast, and baguette 'pizzas' for lunch. We were too late for the moules frites though :-(

[Sailor Kenshin]

I tried this on Kijiji up here in Ontario, Canada. Posted three ads in different cities, which were close enough to drive to. I received 3 replies to the ads, and all three were PayPal scams. When the ads were about to expire, I canceled them.

 

I've been debating whether I should run an ad in the local free newspaper that's popular with the city seniors. It's a $200 ad, but if I can find a few good items, it would be worth the cost.

If you do run the ad I would love to know the results.