What Was Your Last Impulsive Pen Acquisition?

[Estycollector]

1 hour ago, Carguy said:

I’d like one of those in Willow Green. I love the pastel colors but they are usually too small for my hand.

My hands are fairly adaptable when it comes to tool use. For example, screw drivers come in a variety of sizes according to the size of the screw. It is the same with an open or closed in wrench. 

[Estycollector]

1 hour ago, Carguy said:

 

 

Edited December 17, 2020 by Estycollector
duplicate

[Estycollector]

1 hour ago, JonSzanto said:

Isn't there an Esterbrook forum?

Here you go, Jon.

Esterbrook - The Fountain Pen Network

[mizgeorge]

39 minutes ago, ParramattaPaul said:

Here you are:  Executive Vibe | Fountain Pen, Stationery, and Calligraphy Supply

Thank you

[NumberSix]

Another impulse buy I just remembered from the other day:

 

On pen_swap, I was buying a P21 and a P45. The guy and I got to chatting, and he mentioned he had some more stuff he'd be listing soon. Sent me a pic, and one of them turned out to be a Waterman CF pen (with an empty cartridge, fortunately - though I have since discovered that a squeeze converter can be had from a number of shops, which I believe works for this pen). Believe it or not, this will be my first Waterman, new or vintage. It looks like a fancier Parker 45 - or maybe something between a 45 and a 61. 

 

So I ordered it. 

 

I have faith that the post office will someday deliver all these items. 

[JonSzanto]

4 hours ago, NumberSix said:

 

Of course. But I thought it was nice to have a little conversation in this thread, about an impulse pen. Threads like this one are so often just a list, and where's the fun in that? 😄

Not being un-fun about it, but it does tend to dilute the thread if one prefers to see the new acquisitions as opposed to many posts about a pen one might not be interested in, in addition to the fact that it separates Estie-specific info from an area where one would likely see those discussions.

Of course, everyone sees this differently, and the question was quite rhetorical. Carry on. 

[Estycollector]

23 minutes ago, JonSzanto said:

Not being un-fun about it, but it does tend to dilute the thread if one prefers to see the new acquisitions as opposed to many posts about a pen one might not be interested in, in addition to the fact that it separates Estie-specific info from an area where one would likely see those discussions.

Of course, everyone sees this differently, and the question was quite rhetorical. Carry on.  

Personally, I would rather read three members making several posts about their experiences than one member making two posts complaining about where a post belongs. It's a bit of a "fly in the ointment". 

[JonSzanto]

53 minutes ago, Estycollector said:

Personally, I would rather read three members making several posts about their experiences than one member making two posts complaining about where a post belongs. It's a bit of a "fly in the ointment". 

I really enjoy my Esterbrooks. I started collecting them over 10 years ago and I've let the assortment ebb and flow over time. Because it is such a gateway pen for new users, I've often taken pens that I've purchased and restored, and get them in hands of people for their "first vintage". I've had all the basic J Family pens at one time, but gradually let a lot go, hanging onto a full set of Transitionals. I also have a fairly complete batch of Dollar pens, which always feel nice in my hand for no reason whatsoever. Add into that a large assortment of nibs, my very favorites being the X314-X series, with the 9314-M being an absolute go to for correspondence.

And both weren't complaining, as I had to answer the first. It's a valid opinion and concept, whether you care for it or not.

[Paul-in-SF]

7 hours ago, NumberSix said:

Another impulse buy I just remembered from the other day:

 

On pen_swap, I was buying a P21 and a P45. The guy and I got to chatting, and he mentioned he had some more stuff he'd be listing soon. Sent me a pic, and one of them turned out to be a Waterman CF pen (with an empty cartridge, fortunately - though I have since discovered that a squeeze converter can be had from a number of shops, which I believe works for this pen). Believe it or not, this will be my first Waterman, new or vintage. It looks like a fancier Parker 45 - or maybe something between a 45 and a 61. 

 

So I ordered it. 

 

I have faith that the post office will someday deliver all these items. 

Just stopping by to confirm that there is a style of Waterman's converter that fits this pen, it is an aerometric style squeeze converter, quite narrow (perforce, to fit) so it doesn't hold a lot of ink, but I thought it was better than trying to refill a cartridge. Unfortunately, I don't remember where I bought it, and that was over 18 months ago. 

 

I was trying to remember what pens have really been impulse buys, without serious thought, and there are fewer than I imagined. Sometimes I'll buy a pen because something about it attracts me and for no other reason (the most recent of these was a Monteverde Innova, sadly meh). The heftier purchases I tend to hem and haw about, and either I jump in due to a good price, or eventually I just decide that today is the day. 

[Estycollector]

8 hours ago, JonSzanto said:

I really enjoy my Esterbrooks. I started collecting them over 10 years ago and I've let the assortment ebb and flow over time. Because it is such a gateway pen for new users, I've often taken pens that I've purchased and restored, and get them in hands of people for their "first vintage". I've had all the basic J Family pens at one time, but gradually let a lot go, hanging onto a full set of Transitionals. I also have a fairly complete batch of Dollar pens, which always feel nice in my hand for no reason whatsoever. Add into that a large assortment of nibs, my very favorites being the X314-X series, with the 9314-M being an absolute go to for correspondence.

And both weren't complaining, as I had to answer the first. It's a valid opinion and concept, whether you care for it or not.

Okay.....🙄

[PDW]

I'd just said to myself 'no more pens, no more pens', then up came on eBay a P51 inscribed with the owner's name. This is a real plus for me, as IMO it changes one amongst many into a one-off with an individual history (I don't mind if you disagree - no flames please).

 

So, anyway, it was comparatively cheap due to a damaged jewel and that clinched it.  Now in the post to me ...

[linkoiram]

16 hours ago, mizgeorge said:

Thank you

FYI those are just Jinhao X450s with a different nib, you can do DIY this for a fraction of the price with an X450 and a Zebra G flex nib.

[Karmachanic]

4 minutes ago, linkoiram said:

FYI those are just Jinhao X450s with a different nib, you can do DIY this for a fraction of the price with an X450 and a Zebra G flex nib.

 

£15 on ebay UK if one wishes to go the easy route. "Jinhao flex nib"

[inkstainedruth]

2 hours ago, PDW said:

I'd just said to myself 'no more pens, no more pens', then up came on eBay a P51 inscribed with the owner's name. This is a real plus for me, as IMO it changes one amongst many into a one-off with an individual history (I don't mind if you disagree - no flames please).

 

So, anyway, it was comparatively cheap due to a damaged jewel and that clinched it.  Now in the post to me ...

I'll admit that I don't understand the people who want their pens to be in pristine condition.  I have a few pens that are engraved (and also a few "skunks' with company logos on them), and I find them interesting -- there's a backstory to the pen (because let's face it -- 90% of the time a vintage pen is NOT going to be NOS).  I'd love, for instance, to be able to track down the heirs of the person who once owned my 1937 Red Shadow Wave Vacumatic -- if for no other reason than to say "Just thought you'd be interested to know that the pen is still in use years later, and is one of my favorites!"   (Although, their attitude might be "Why would you even want that old thing?  Let alone USE it?")  Of course, the fact that the pens are engraved or have a company logo imprint means that they don't fetch premium prices -- yet another plus for me as a buyer.  

Although the little white marble Welsharp didn't really have to have initials that large and in black, did it?  I can only surmise that it belonged to someone that had a bad habit of losing pens, or some kid who got pens stolen by classmates a lot, or something. 

For me, anymore, "impulsive purchases" tend to be at pen shows (and even then I shop around some to see who all has the make/model/color I want), or -- more likely, especially during the pandemic -- in antiques shops and estate sales (and even the estate sales I'm checking listings ahead of time to see if it's worth getting up at "0 dark 30" to stand in line for an hour in cold).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[mizgeorge]

4 hours ago, linkoiram said:

FYI those are just Jinhao X450s with a different nib, you can do DIY this for a fraction of the price with an X450 and a Zebra G flex nib.

I saw that. And been there, done that. Total cost was about £7. It's very naughty of them to try to make this look special - especially as you need to change the Zebra G so often (sometimes just a couple of hours with the wrong ink). Not a problem when you're paying pennies for the nibs, but they're selling them without even a spare. 

[NumberSix]

1 hour ago, inkstainedruth said:

I'll admit that I don't understand the people who want their pens to be in pristine condition.  I have a few pens that are engraved (and also a few "skunks' with company logos on them), and I find them interesting -- there's a backstory to the pen (because let's face it -- 90% of the time a vintage pen is NOT going to be NOS).  I'd love, for instance, to be able to track down the heirs of the person who once owned my 1937 Red Shadow Wave Vacumatic -- if for no other reason than to say "Just thought you'd be interested to know that the pen is still in use years later, and is one of my favorites!"   (Although, their attitude might be "Why would you even want that old thing?  Let alone USE it?")  Of course, the fact that the pens are engraved or have a company logo imprint means that they don't fetch premium prices -- yet another plus for me as a buyer.  

 

 

I don't need my vintage pens to be pristine. But I have stayed away from engraved name ones. I like the way you're looking at it, though, and I have seen similar sentiments from others. I guess I am always thinking that I might not like pen X or otherwise decide to re-sell down the road. 

 

Re impulse - you'll appreciate this, as we were discussing something similar in another thread: This morning, I ordered a bottle of Mont Blanc James Purdey Single Malt, a lovely burnt orange ink that I have enjoyed in the past and wanted to get a bottle while it can still be had in the $60 range. But then I got to thinking that I might like a new pen to go with it. 

 

So I went on Goulet and ordered an Edison Menlo in "Sweet Honey". It's not really a color match, but it's still gonna be niiiiiiiice. The Menlo is not an impulse in that it's a pen I have been wanting for awhile. But it's an impulse today, and I bought it solely because I "needed" a pen to go with my fancy new ink. 😆

[I-am-not-really-here]

A hidden gem EDC - the Pelikan M75.
 

 

[essayfaire]

Retro51 LE Emperor Beethoven that I found out about very belatedly and refused to pay re-seller prices on.  I finally found an authorized dealer who still had some; I had been looking for a music-themed Retro for some time. 

[JonSzanto]

Last night I was scrolling around and something caught my eye, so I now have a Jinhao Centennial in black/white on it's way. I'm not a fan of Jinhao pens in general, but this particular model, which not only copies the Parker Centennial but ends up having a body with almost the exact same proportions as a Pelikan M800 addresses a good area for me: it is a reliable host for excellent vintage and customized nibs.

 

The first one I picked up was a real homage to the Big Red pens, and I'll take some shots of it later. I initially bought it late last year as a pen I could take to work and not worry if anything happened, but the nib was junk. One night I realized it might hose a Schmidt nib I had for years, one that had been made into a brilliant cursive italic by Pendleton Brown. Sure enough, that is what turned it from a paperweight into a nice, useable pen.

i'm a fan of black/white pearl pens from the Golden Era of celluloids, so when I saw this one for well under $20, I figured "what the hell!" When it shows up and has a nib transplant I'll take some more pics. This is just from the sales site, fixed up a little.
 

[mizgeorge]

I had a little treat arrive this morning, with an added bonus. A Pocket Six (which I've been hankering after for a while) which bizarrely had managed to reach me from the US in 10 days (it's taking longer than that to get things from 20 miles away), and despite having been customs processed, was delivered without them charging me the fee or the ransom money.

 

The nib's a Jowo 1.1 stub and is doesn't need a thing doing to it - writes perfectly on even quite ropey paper. 

 

I'm also pleasantly surprised to find I like the ink (a Monteverde purple) that it came with as well - though I still wish it didn't use cartridges. I shall have to see if one of my Kaweco sport converters works with it.