Lost Companion - Seeking Replacement

[Usernameistaken]

Hello,

I joined this forum recently to inquire about my pen, mainly out of curiosity. Then, mere weeks later, after over 20 years of carrying it in my pocket daily, it was suddenly lost, most likely forever.

There is none other I'd want to carry in my pocket except that rollerpoint pen, or at least a duplicate would be the least painful replacement.

Can anyone here offer any clues about where I might locate another one?

It was purchased new in 1993 from the original Sharper Image store, and from a response in another thread, I understand The Sharper Image might have commissioned only small runs of their pen models, but I suspect they made more than one of this pen, and some might still be floating around out there.

From photos, the closest thing I've seen in terms of shape and part dimensions seems to be by Donitrio. But my pen's body was fully metal.

The closest thing I've seen in terms of style is the Aurora Ipsilon Quadra full sterling body, but that is smaller and lighter.

I'm not convinced that it was the same caliber of pen offered by those higher end companies, especially since the pocket clip was not so finely formed.

Any insights or hints you can provide on how to search for such an obscure and possibly un-namable pen would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your consideration.

James

 

 

http://www.jamesburger.com/new/pen2.jpg

[RMN]

Looking at the answers you got in that previous topic chances of getting one are very slim indeed.

 

Once you are a Gold member here (still 18 posts to go) you could place a WTB classified, but again, chances for succes are slim.

 

Or you could place an ad on Ebay, or try to contact that store, but I understand they stopped trading?

 

 

So I wish you good luck, together with condolences...

 

D.ick

[Usernameistaken]

Thanks, D.ick, I appreciate your candid reply.

 

Since I once found a lost diamond in a construction gravel pit at dusk for my distraught client and another time found a lost cell phone for another client after New Year's Celebration in Times Square, when we had unrestricted access all night for everywhere, I am going to remain cautiously optimistic. I am very good at finding things (and until recently was very good at not losing them), so I just hope this pen is not the exception that proves the rule!

[RMN]

So, your previous track record states that your chances in finding the lost one are good. Finding a replacement???????

 

Still, wishing you good luck!

 

 

D.ick

[andreasn]

It looks from the photo like it uses a Schmidt refill. That might help narrow it down some, although not much. It's a popular refill.

 

edit: When I think about it you probably knew that already, since you used it for so long.

Edited September 10, 2016 by andreasn

[tamiya]

Or perhaps commission a custom pen maker to handcraft an equivalent!

[flymark]

You may start with websites that have scans of various Sharper Image catalogs. Acquiring the closest image of your pen possible, may allow you to use Google's Reverse Image search to get one step closer. Best of luck. M.

[flymark]

Intrigued, I started researching the issue. It looks like Kevin a/k/a Winedoc may have your answer. He has previously sold some of the Danitrio pens from Sharper Images' Chapter 11 liquidation. Kevin will be the one with contacts at Danitrio, and may know someone there who can help.

 

 

Check this post. https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/189836-economic-pens-for-sale/

Edited September 12, 2016 by flymark

[Usernameistaken]

You're right, D.ick, the examples are not quite synonymous, but I prefer to think it's simply my ability to track down items most people can't or won't. I have several other real-life examples, but I digress...

 

Yes, andreasn, Schmidt does look like it would have fit. That's not what I was using, but maybe I'll get to try those on a future pen.

 

tamia, that's definitely a possible course of action I'm considering. I wish I had a better set of photos, which is ridiculous for me to say as a professional photographer currently specializing in small product photography, but personal projects are often the ones we regret not getting to, I suppose. With the photos that I do have, and some ingenuity and luck, I might be able to nail down the proper specs to reproduce the original and pretend to forget this happened, but too early to tell because I have a lot on my plate ahead of that.

 

flymark, I've search for scan of Sharper Image catalogs but have not had much luck. Since these might have been produced in such limited runs, I'm also not sure they even made it into the printed pages, but since I remember when I bought it, June or July 1993, if I could find just a few catalogs from that range, I'd love to find it referenced (I'd be fascinated just to see those, even without that pen listed. Very surprised they haven't made it online except for a few in tangential instances. I was also fortunate to stumble on Kevin's info a few days ago, and he was gracious to write back with confirmation that it, indeed, is a Danitrio. I am using that info to generate as many other leads as I can.

 

Thanks so much for your helpful and kind input!

Edited September 12, 2016 by Usernameistaken

[usk15]

What about this one, I've seen one in silver:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Colibri-Pen-Ball-Point-Madarin-Yellow-Never-Used-/182358442074?hash=item2a7569005a:g:HVsAAOSwux5YLzr2

[Usernameistaken]

Out with the old, in with the... old!

 

I'm very lucky to be writing that my car died the other day and I was forced to thoroughly clean it out for trade-it in. I now know that when searching for my lost pen several times prior, I was extremely close to finding it but just couldn't see the unknown hiding spot between the seat rail and the center console - at least not until I completely removed the mats, and slid the seat all the way forward. For several month it was sitting there, in a space perfectly configured to hide it, millimeters beyond the reach of my flashlight and my hand.

 

Thanks to everyone here and elsewhere who offered their tips for tracking down a new one. While it was missing, I learned as lot about pens in general and the history of my pen specifically. I was even honored to be in contact with the original maker, who, for no other reason than general kindness, aided my search. And, I'm glad to have found this community and appreciate your passion.

 

As you might know, I also started a thread Offering Photography Advice, which I will continue to respond to, as long as anyone has questions. If I think of any particular relevant pen photography advise, I'll also continue to post it there.

 

Lucky me!

[bearcat1]

Post a picture of the pen.

[Usernameistaken]

I plan to do a proper portrait of it as soon as I can get the materials together... thought of the idea last night.

[flatline]

I have two pens that came with refills that look like the refill in the picture you posted. If it is the same, then that means your pen should be able to use refills from a wide variety of commonly available pens.

 

If you have any of these pens laying around, see if their refill will fit your pen:

Pentel energel

Uni-ball 207, 307, or Jetstream

Paper Mate Inkjoy gel

Bic Velocity gel

Zebra Sarasa

 

--flatline

[RMN]

Out with the old, in with the... old!

 

I'm very lucky to be writing that my car died the other day and I was forced to thoroughly clean it out for trade-it in. I now know that when searching for my lost pen several times prior, I was extremely close to finding it but just couldn't see the unknown hiding spot between the seat rail and the center console - at least not until I completely removed the mats, and slid the seat all the way forward. For several month it was sitting there, in a space perfectly configured to hide it, millimeters beyond the reach of my flashlight and my hand.

 

Thanks to everyone here and elsewhere who offered their tips for tracking down a new one. While it was missing, I learned as lot about pens in general and the history of my pen specifically. I was even honored to be in contact with the original maker, who, for no other reason than general kindness, aided my search. And, I'm glad to have found this community and appreciate your passion.

 

As you might know, I also started a thread Offering Photography Advice, which I will continue to respond to, as long as anyone has questions. If I think of any particular relevant pen photography advise, I'll also continue to post it there.

 

Lucky me!

 

So, you live up to your reputation.....

 

Great.

 

Enjoy

 

 

 

D.ick

[Nightly]

Out with the old, in with the... old!

 

I'm very lucky to be writing that my car died the other day and I was forced to thoroughly clean it out for trade-it in. I now know that when searching for my lost pen several times prior, I was extremely close to finding it but just couldn't see the unknown hiding spot between the seat rail and the center console - at least not until I completely removed the mats, and slid the seat all the way forward. For several month it was sitting there, in a space perfectly configured to hide it, millimeters beyond the reach of my flashlight and my hand.

 

Thanks to everyone here and elsewhere who offered their tips for tracking down a new one. While it was missing, I learned as lot about pens in general and the history of my pen specifically. I was even honored to be in contact with the original maker, who, for no other reason than general kindness, aided my search. And, I'm glad to have found this community and appreciate your passion.

 

As you might know, I also started a thread Offering Photography Advice, which I will continue to respond to, as long as anyone has questions. If I think of any particular relevant pen photography advise, I'll also continue to post it there.

 

Lucky me!

 

I love that you found the pen! Woo!