$900 Snorkel W/ Music Nib?

[KBeezie]

Way off topic here, but I'd like to provide some clarification for those who have not gone through the college financial aid experience. He is not using scholarship money to buy a pen. Not possible. Scholarship money goes directly from the school to the student's bill. You can't take the cash. And scholarship money and financial aid are two different animals. Kid can have a $ 2 million trust fund and get a scholarship -- because he's a great student, or a minority, or a great trumpet player, or from a farm town in Nebraska -- whatever makes the school think that it's worth offering a cash incentive to get the kid to come and improve the student body. Being on a scholarship tells you nothing about financial circumstances, and has zero to do with money going to someone more needy.

Well there's also Pel grant if you're not accepting the loan which provides the remainder of the funds (by the schools' discretion) to your bank or account that's not consumed by the tuition. But usually that won't be much more than 600-1000 left over after the second semester if you're only taking about 2-3 classes in a semester (and depending if it's community college, or some state university).

 

I mean you *could* use money from a student loan and just start buying stuff, but then you're having to work a lot during the semester just to make up the money the school isn't receiving (and later to pay back the high interest loan). Course it's also so easy for someone fresh out of high school to get a credit card now too... and learn the fun ways to ruin one's credit.

 

It's his money, Just not the first thing that comes to mind if I wanted to blow a grand.

[OcalaFlGuy]

It's pretty astounding how adamant some people get about how They Think Someone ELSE should (or shouldn't) spend Their Own money.

 

The words Mind your own beeswax come to mind.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

 

 

[saskia_madding]

There's nothing wrong with having an opinion on how people should or should not do something, and there's nothing wrong with voicing that *respectfully*. But there is also nothing wrong with that person completely ignoring your opinion and doing what they want (as long as what they want isn't hurting anyone).

 

I'm putting on my mod hat here - this thread is getting dangerously close to all kinds of bad things. People calling people pretentious snobs, people who aren't mods trying to moderate other people by telling them to essentially shut the heck up, that kind of thing. I'm happy to leave this thread open, but people, let's please try to tread BACK into a safe zone. Thanks!

[Happy Harry]

I'm actually glad it went to someone who will really appreciate owning his "grail" pen, the price in that context isn't such an issue.

[saskia_madding]

Happy Harry - once again, I'm wishing FPN had a like button! I totally agree.

[Elle_]

It is pretty gross to see adults so jealous over a college student's purchase they are willing to slander him. The guy who bought the pen said he used scholarship money. This should not need to be said, but if it is unclear, scholarships are normally something you earn through academic (or other) achievement, given without any regard for need. He said he was able to spend scholarship money on the pen because he used money he had banked from his summer job to pay for living expenses. Suggesting he should have declined the scholarship, because he already had his living expenses covered from money he had earned, is like saying a professional with money in the bank should give up his job for soemone less qualified but with more limited resources. That's just not how it works.

 

And the comment that he was somehow irresponsible for buying the pen, because he is 18 and just got credit cards this year, is flat out misleading. He stated in the reddit that he paid cash for the pen and pays his credit cards off immediately, so they are totally irrelevant to the price he paid. Yes, it was a lot of money for a pen, but college students spend money on dumb stuff sometimes. This will at least hold most of its value. There's a lot of petty cattiness on this, and it is not flattering. He shouldn't be subjected to this reaction just because he was able to buy something a lot of people on here wanted but couldn't or wouldnt buy themselves.

[Omnias]

It is pretty gross to see adults so jealous over a college student's purchase they are willing to slander him. The guy who bought the pen said he used scholarship money. This should not need to be said, but if it is unclear, scholarships are normally something you earn through academic (or other) achievement, given without any regard for need. He said he was able to spend scholarship money on the pen because he used money he had banked from his summer job to pay for living expenses. Suggesting he should have declined the scholarship, because he already had his living expenses covered from money he had earned, is like saying a professional with money in the bank should give up his job for soemone less qualified but with more limited resources. That's just not how it works.

And the comment that he was somehow irresponsible for buying the pen, because he is 18 and just got credit cards this year, is flat out misleading. He stated in the reddit that he paid cash for the pen and pays his credit cards off immediately, so they are totally irrelevant to the price he paid. Yes, it was a lot of money for a pen, but college students spend money on dumb stuff sometimes. This will at least hold most of its value. There's a lot of petty cattiness on this, and it is not flattering. He shouldn't be subjected to this reaction just because he was able to buy something a lot of people on here wanted but couldn't or wouldnt buy themselves.

I thought it said the opposite, where living expenses were covered by scholarship and saved money was used for the pen. Either way, its not like people on this forum don't have their own pens they will splurge on such as a Montblanc or LE Pelikan. Someone was going to pay up for the pen by the looks of the bid history. Edited November 27, 2014 by Omnias

[greensparcs]

As an older college kid (31 hey I got a late start because of military ) I am happy to see someone young that values fountain pens to this extent no less! I have not spent more than 130 bucks on a pen but thats because I am fiscally incapable at the moment. Had I the ability to I would love to check off one of my grail pens regardless of the price if I could manage it. I lucked out and got one of my sheaffer grail pens for 20 bucks and repaired it myself no less. Here it is writing an SOP for a biomanufacturing class.

What should be appreciated is this pen will be used and cherished by someone and that IS the only thing that matters. He will have to put in the work and time to pay off his card and he felt it worth it. The only issue I have is with the seller and their use of saturation and postproduction editing. THAT annoys me to no end and I will never buy from them because of that.

[Happy Harry]

As an older college kid (31 hey I got a late start because of military ) I am happy to see someone young that values fountain pens to this extent no less! I have not spent more than 130 bucks on a pen but thats because I am fiscally incapable at the moment. Had I the ability to I would love to check off one of my grail pens regardless of the price if I could manage it. I lucked out and got one of my sheaffer grail pens for 20 bucks and repaired it myself no less. Here it is writing an SOP for a biomanufacturing class. snorkel.jpg

What should be appreciated is this pen will be used and cherished by someone and that IS the only thing that matters. He will have to put in the work and time to pay off his card and he felt it worth it. The only issue I have is with the seller and their use of saturation and postproduction editing. THAT annoys me to no end and I will never buy from them because of that.

 

These are excellent pens to use, and definitely justifying "grail pen" status !! My carry pen, though a later Imperial, is also a gold plated pen and it's served me for many years.

[Giacomo]

That particular music nib has an interesting story, which I find somewhat sad but which speaks to the business skills of its latest seller.

 

The nib originally belonged to the percussionist and librarian of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Elmer Gesner. He received the pen in 1964, probably as a retirement gift. He had joined the orchestra in 1916 with his brother Clarence (clarinetist and stage manager) and I believe he was born in or about 1890 and died in 1981. Whatever happened to his pen in the intervening years, it sold last month on eBay for $171.40:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SHEAFFERS-FOUNTAIN-PEN-GOLD-TONE-SET-14KT-NIB-1950-039-ERA-WITH-CASE-/311162556176

 

Our business-savvy seller took it apart so he could sell separately the music nib and Mr. Gesner's pen without the original nib, for $132.50 and needless to say without mention of the transplant:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-GOLD-FILLED-SHEAFFER-TRIUMPH-SNORKEL-FOUNTAIN-PEN-PENCIL-RESTORED-/321599112371

By the way, this pen looks remarkably like greensparc's (even more so with the replacement nib).

 

At least the music nib seems to have found a loving owner, even if it has lost its long-standing connection to the St. Louis Symphony.

Edited December 7, 2014 by Giacomo

[MAGGIEMINPIN]

Hi, I understand that there are two different ideologies on how a pen should be restored. Some will say the pen should simply be restored to work the way it should and be left the way it was found with all of it's natural wear and battle scars. I understand that and I get it. However , most of my customers want a pen to work and look as good as possible. In regards to the above comment. That pen set was purchase with the sole intent as being used for parts. Yes the nib is where the value of that pen was. However I also needed a good cap and a good blind cap. In all actuality with this set being monogramed in 1964, tells me that the set was probably put together sometime after it was purchased. As most of you Sheaffer Snorkel enthusiasts know, these pens were made from the early 50's to the late 50's and the gold filled Triumph pen came with a Triumph nib. Had it been a factory installation, it would have been more than likely a Triumph music nib instead of an open nib. Having said that even the feed that came with that music nib was incorrect as well. As most restorers know good pen parts can be hard to come by, but are essential in restoring a pen properly. If you restore pens you know you can't save them all. As far Mr Gesner's pen connection to the St Louis Symphony it still exists the only difference is that it's working and being used now.

[kirchh]

Hi, I understand that there are two different ideologies on how a pen should be restored. Some will say the pen should simply be restored to work the way it should and be left the way it was found with all of it's natural wear and battle scars. I understand that and I get it. However , most of my customers want a pen to work and look as good as possible. In regards to the above comment. That pen set was purchase with the sole intent as being used for parts. Yes the nib is where the value of that pen was. However I also needed a good cap and a good blind cap. In all actuality with this set being monogramed in 1964, tells me that the set was probably put together sometime after it was purchased. As most of you Sheaffer Snorkel enthusiasts know, these pens were made from the early 50's to the late 50's and the gold filled Triumph pen came with a Triumph nib. Had it been a factory installation, it would have been more than likely a Triumph music nib instead of an open nib. Having said that even the feed that came with that music nib was incorrect as well. As most restorers know good pen parts can be hard to come by, but are essential in restoring a pen properly. If you restore pens you know you can't save them all. As far Mr Gesner's pen connection to the St Louis Symphony it still exists the only difference is that it's working and being used now.

I think the point that is being completely missed is that the pen belonged to a musician, and it was equipped with a music nib, likely to be used to write music.

 

That's the difference.

--Daniel

[jochums]

I think the point that is being completely missed is that the pen belonged to a musician, and it was equipped with a music nib, likely to be used to write music.

 

That's the difference.

--Daniel

Yah, I found this '53 Telecaster at a garage sale for $1,000.00. Someone had replaced the pickup in it with one from some other model and for some reason it was missing part of the saddle like the dude who owned it before only played it with 5 strings. It also had a sticker on it that said "Micawber" for some reason

 

Being that the '53 telecaster would be worth alot more with the correct pickup and saddle set up, I went ahead and put the correct parts on it and sold if for $10,000.00

 

http://members.tripod.com/blue_lena/micawber2.jpg

[mark e]

I think the point that is being completely missed is that the pen belonged to a musician, and it was equipped with a music nib, likely to be used to write music.

 

That's the difference.

--Daniel

 

yep...i didnt miss it...and that is the difference

 

but thanks for pointing that out for all, kirchh

[mark e]

Yah, I found this '53 Telecaster at a garage sale for $1,000.00. Someone had replaced the pickup in it with one from some other model and for some reason it was missing part of the saddle like the dude who owned it before only played it with 5 strings. It also had a sticker on it that said "Micawber" for some reason

 

Being that the '53 telecaster would be worth alot more with the correct pickup and saddle set up, I went ahead and put the correct parts on it and sold if for $10,000.00

 

http://members.tripod.com/blue_lena/micawber2.jpg

 

 

yeah, that is one special guitar........keith

 

http://members.tripod.com/blue_lena/guitar2.html

Edited December 10, 2014 by mark e

[Silvire]

 

 

yeah, that is one special guitar........keith

 

http://members.tripod.com/blue_lena/guitar2.html

 

Why would he lie about something so inconsequential?

[kirchh]

 

Why would he lie about something so inconsequential?

 

Why would who lie about what?

 

--Daniel

[seanruss]

I'm actually glad it went to someone who will really appreciate owning his "grail" pen, the price in that context isn't such an issue.

+1

 

beautiful pen! i saved the picture too