Flea Markets, Garage Sales, Etc....

[risingsun]

Local antique fair on the town square today. Brought home a beautiful 1951 Parker "51" Special with a bent 14k gold nib ($5), a Parker 45 that was a mess except for a perfect 14k gold accountant size nib/hood/feed ($5), a new in box Esterbrook 9550 nib ($2), a green marble Waterman Phileas in decent, but not great shape and some plating loss on the nib ($12), a blue lapis lacquer Waterman Expert II in nicer shape, but still with a few dings and nicks on the barrel ($12), and a used leather 2-pen case in good condition ($1). All in all, a good haul that has kept me busy tinkering this afternoon. Already fully tore down the "51", reassembled and inked it...

[loudkenny]

I also love the hunt too. I especially love estate sales in old neighborhoods and flea markets twenty miles from nowhere, and finding a nice Parker or Sheaffer can make my whole day.

 

That being said... wanna drive a pen collector totally insane?

 

Have an estate sale in a very old money neighborhood of a large city, and advertise it as 'family lived here for over 100 years'.

 

Have everything usually found in office desk drawers put in big plastic bags marked $1.00 a bag, like they just emptied each drawer into its own bag and labeled it.

 

In the bottom of the pile of bags put a bag containing (among other stuff) one very nice 1940's Parker 51 14K gold cap. Not the whole pen, just the cap.

 

Wait, and watch some poor sucker (me) spend over three hours in the house just looking for the rest of the pen.

 

Wife thought I would finally have to leave in a straitjacket... and no I didn't find the rest of the pen.

 

ken

Edited September 23, 2013 by loudkenny

[sumgaikid]

This weekends find. A Sheaffer Balance (lever fill). Gray greens with red vein. Not sure what the proper name of this is. I haven't seen this color before. It looks great with a bit of brassing in one spot on the cap ring. nib looks great. Needs cleaning and a new sac. The cap does not screw down nice and tight as it should. At this time I am a bit confused why since I have checked with my loop and see no cracks at all in the cap. Due to the cap issue ...the vendor at the flea market sold it to me for $10.00 USD. He said if it fit properly he would have to have had $20.00. He has a few more pens he will bring next month when comes back to town. His son was collecting and he had picked up a few at estate and yard sales for him but his son has decided to do other things now so he said he would bring them for me to see.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/uploads/imgs/fpn_1379904287__sb.jpg

 

I also met a elder gentleman who was set up selling Military Collectables. I have also collected W.W. II Militaria since the 1990s so I was looking at his items in his booth. We chatted for a moment and I asked if he happened to have any fountain pens. He said " why yes, I used them all the time up until the 1970's. I have a cigar box full of them." I told him I was a collector and pulled out a Parker 51 from my shirt to show him and said "see, here is a Parker I use daily". He smiled as he took the pen and said "Oh yes, a Parker 51. I have a red one like this. Used it when I was in sales. A real work horse of a pen." I asked if he would be interested in selling them and he replied "I am 80 years old and yes, I would sell them. If I can find the box I will bring them tomorrow." I went the following day very excited, imagining the box packed with Parkers, Sheaffers, and other goodies but was disappointed to see he had not found them. He said he has allot of cigar boxes around with stuff packed away but he knows it is a Windsor Brand box and he and his wife will search more for it. I left him my card and he said he would call once he found the box. Looking back, I should have got his contact info. just in case he looses the card or just to follow up with him. I hope to hear back from him. Wish me luck.

 

I have made many trips to this flea mkt. and have came back with nothing but this weekend paid off I think.

 

Oh, did I mention before....I love the hunt.

 

 

I think the name for the Sheaffer color is red-veined grey pearl. The grey tends

to fade into a dull greenish color.

 

 

John

[kmart_security]

 

 

I think the name for the Sheaffer color is red-veined grey pearl. The grey tends

to fade into a dull greenish color.

 

 

John

Just waiting for that call is torture enough. It would destroy my sleep thoughts and daily activities haha. Hope it all works out and if it does post some pictures you!

[amk]

Wow! glad to hear other people having great finds too.

 

I quite often find Parker 51's for a few euros - I think their understated nature makes people assume they're just another cheap pen, like a Platignum for instance, so they don't look closely - whereas showier pens like Conway Stewarts tend to be marked up for prettiness. But nice Sheaffer Balances cheap - that takes good fortune: the god of fountain pens (or at least a fountain pen guardian angel) was with vonfraker for sure!

[aalmcc4]

This past Sunday, I stopped by an antique mall that is only open on Sundays. I picked up an Esterbrook Grey SJ and a Scheaffer Cadet for $15 for both of them. I never get deals like that. The dealer had a bunch of others such as 2 Waterman Crusaders (? I think ?) I know nothing about them so I passed. There were some Scheaffer Vacum fillers too, but my 12 year old son was begging me to leave. 12 year old boys and piles of "junk " at antique shops don't mix, especially on Sundays during football season. I thought my $15 was well spent.

 

And yesterday I had the chance to check out some antique shops in a town about 150 miles from my home. I was there on business and founds ome nice ones. Another Esterbrook J, a Scheaffer Admiral Touchdown with a Feathertouch two tone nib and a Scheaffer snorkel. Not sure of the model of the Snorkel, but it had a 14k gold open nib. Got all 3 for $80. There also was an Eversharp Skyliner, but the cap wouldn't stay put. It kept spinning in the threads. I passed on it.

 

I'm happy. My only worry is that I may tap out all my local sources. What happens then?

Edited September 24, 2013 by aalmcc4

[amk]

Tapping out your local sources.... they quite often refresh themselves.

 

I went into one shop where the chap knows me quite well. Any pens? Nope. Haven't seen any for a little while, still, stop by when you're passing, they do come in sometimes.

 

A week later, going home, passed the shop, was about to go on knowing he didn't have any pens, when I thought to myself "Let's just see... you never know".

 

He'd just bought an entire collection. From memory: P65 insignia (I think), Duette, three Conway Stewarts including a pristine grey hatch, Waterman 92V, Typhoo Tea red ripple in its box, Parker Canadian red Duofold, a green/brown hatch Valentine, a Swan self-filler in a nice greenish marble.

 

Had to go to the ATM rather fast :-)

 

So don't give up hope. You never know which will be the lucky day or when your fountain pen angel will be hovering over your shoulder!

[kmart_security]

With collecting fountain pens / looking for them you have to speak with the people too. When I went around town today I realized that this is a smaller town and there isn't going to be a huge amount of pens or chances for me to get one. So speaking with each store or garage sales owner is important in getting out what you are looking for.

This is probably obvious information for most of you but I realized today that I'm going to have to speak with them and see if maybe they actually have pen merchandise inside their homes that they didn't think twice of.

[loudkenny]

I'm happy. My only worry is that I may tap out all my local sources. What happens then?

 

You start going to flea markets and estate sales... just like the rest of us. After all, that's where the antique dealers get their pens from.

 

When I go to garage sales, I always ask the sellers if they have any fountain pens. Nine times out of ten I get funny looks, but every once in a while I'll get lucky.

 

I have found that the odds of having pens are better if the sale is in an older neighborhood, the sellers are older than I am (48), are artistic (selling sketch books, paints or other artsy stuff) or there are no baby clothes or other toys there. I don't even bother to stop anymore if I see baby clothes.

 

Nowadays for some reason almost every sale is listed as an estate sale, not a simple garage sale. This really bothers me, because it's not fun to drive an hour one way looking for an estate sale only to find a yard full of onesies and Beanie babies.

 

ken

Edited September 26, 2013 by loudkenny

[JotterAddict62]

Back in Aug. I went to a flea market I picked up a Duofold desk base for $3 a nice Parker

T ball metal sign dated 4/61 [i think I paid $55 ] and a few jotters. the last thing I bought

was a small bag of pens. I saw a Jotter 45 ballpoint without the clip in the bag $8.

When I got home I notice the Norma 4 color pencil in it that was marked sterling silver.

I knew what it was when I bought the bag, I had a chrome one before. Spent $95

for the day and sold the Norma pencil for $60 on Ebay. Always keep looking in the

most unlikely places.

[honza]

You start going to flea markets and estate sales... just like the rest of us.

 

Just like the lucky rest of you In my country there are no estate and garage sales to speak of, and even many big cities have no regular flea markets (and these are mainly for clothes and kid's stuff). Antique dealers (and the parody on EBay we have) are the main vectors here, so the sumgai deals are less likely. I sometimes have a feeling that old pens just get thrown out with the rest of the desk drawer contents I should probably try asking relatives, friends etc. more.

[jar]

 

I should probably try asking relatives, friends etc. more.

 

Absolutely. The pens are out there and the most likely place to find them would be people who used them. Ask yourself "Who likely owned and used fountain pens. Who will I see today that likely used fountain pens?" and then tell them about your interest.

[amk]

This weekend ... nothing vintage. And it rained.

 

But I did find a Waterman Kultur I hadn't got... and it came with a whole load of Montblanc, Pelikan, Waterman and Rotring (fountain pen not drawing) ink, paper, and a couple of nibs, for 1.50. I'd mentioned to the seller I was starting a calligraphy course next week and she threw all the extras in for free! Not a sumgai - but pretty nice all the same.

[JotterAddict62]

I just stopped at the last big flea market of the year in Elkhorn WI. could not fine a Parker FP anywhere.

Saw a few Esterbrooks J and Evershape skylines for $20 -$40. I am not sure if that's a good price for

them as I collect Parkers.I know the pens will need servicing. I do branch out, but I need more Information about them before I buy. If I see one for a $1 then i'll buy. I have all winter to research.

[WirsPlm]

I just stopped at the last big flea market of the year in Elkhorn WI. could not fine a Parker FP anywhere.

Saw a few Esterbrooks J and Evershape skylines for $20 -$40. I am not sure if that's a good price for

them as I collect Parkers.I know the pens will need servicing. I do branch out, but I need more Information about them before I buy. If I see one for a $1 then i'll buy. I have all winter to research.

For Esterbrooks, you don't need to pay more than $10 for a pen that needs servicing (at least, that's my limit on eBay). Sometimes pens go higher, but not a lot, maybe $15 if it's a super rare color or someone really wants the pen badly. Fully restored pens go for $30 and up, so there's no need to pay that much for one that needs work.

[JotterAddict62]

Going hunting on Nov 2nd an all day event and ending with a live concert .Going to some shops I have never been to and a few others that I have stopped by a couple of times. Be very very quiet I'm hunting pens..

[hariharan]

My first flea market find was recent , when i went to Barcelona for a conference. At the end of Le Rambla street in city centre, there is the statue of Colombus close to sea and there is a flea market over there. Few stores has some boxes of fountain pens. I got a "waterman Goutte"-made in france- with 18k gold nib for 15 euros. But it came with no cart/converter and am searching CF carts now for this slim waterman pen:).

 

The pen i bought is in this link.

[PenBuyer1796]

Continuation of the below thread;

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/228584-best-garageyardboot-sale-find/page-2

 

Best finds to date;

 

Parker Duofold Sr. in RHR for $35

Sheaffer Balance Standard in Carmine for $25

 

Just this weekend (even better...);

 

Watman #7 w/ Purple nib for $45

Sheaffer Balance Pencil in Marine Green for $12

[penrivers]

Once a Korean girl in charge of the store in Laredo Tex. sent me to a shoe box filled with 20 Pilot Birdies new, charged to a dollar each , stupidly I only got six

can you belive it ?. In Del Rio Texas there is a extensive flea market where I get old typewriters, Iron cast pots and panhandleds, and old good used trademarks hand knifes like Case or Little trees, you must visit it in the morning, sincerily I have never asked for fountain pens but the next time I will do it. its not so far from Sabinas maybe 120 miles. Laredo is far and insecure (Laredo México).

[sidthecat]

My husband was born in Del Rio, Texas...I was going to say that the only rule is persistence. I collected a nice little cache of Vacumatics in the 80s and recently sold the lot. Tastes change, and instead of antique shows, one now has the Internet.