What Am I Missing About Expensive Pens?

[Tweel]

I did say it was a Pelikan (not with the expectation that she would recognize the brand name -- and she didn't) and told her a little about it. It turned out that a friend of hers has some sort of Montblanc pen set that he bought for $1,100, and he's trying to sell it and hoping to get $600. I think she was a little dazed by the amounts and when she spotted someone else using a fountain pen, hoped to get some sort of external confirmation that her friend isn't pure nuts. I didn't display shock at the purchase price, and said his selling price seemed like a reasonable starting point -- thus craftily concealing the fact that we're all nuts.

Edited March 13, 2018 by Tweel

[stephenfountain]

..... I didn't display shock at the purchase price, and said his selling price seemed like a reasonable starting point -- thus craftily concealing the fact that we're all nuts.

 

What a great post!

[MG66]

I did say it was a Pelikan (not with the expectation that she would recognize the brand name -- and she didn't) and told her a little about it. It turned out that a friend of hers has some sort of Montblanc pen set that he bought for $1,100, and he's trying to sell it and hoping to get $600. I think she was a little dazed by the amounts and when she spotted someone else using a fountain pen, hoped to get some sort of external confirmation that her friend isn't pure nuts. I didn't display shock at the purchase price, and said his selling price seemed like a reasonable starting point -- thus craftily concealing the fact that we're all nuts.

 

Thanks for taking one for the team!

[kazoolaw]

Regarding the Toyota vs Mercedes-Benz discussion:

 

I had a Toyota Corolla back in the 70s. No power-steering, power-brakes, power-windows, no radio, no air-conditioning. It delivered people where they needed to be. Not quickly, not speedily, but sweatily, and economically. It could accelerate to 90 mph in about an hour, and could pass cars that were going the speed limit given a long enough downhill run in advance. The road and wind noise at highway speeds was intrusive. Sharp turns were always an exciting combination of body roll and the sound of tires approaching their limit of traction even at relatively low speeds.

 

I own a German car now. Power steering, power brakes, power windows, radio/CD player, and automatic climate control. It delivers people where they need to be, including through slush, icy roads, and snow as it has AWD. It accelerates to 90 mph effortlessly, and will continue to accelerate with nothing but the speedometer to let you know how fast are going. It handles all but the sharpest curves without body roll and without drama.. It currently has 159,000 miles with 200,000 miles in sight. No, the car is not flawless. Maintenance costs are high. It is a tool that I use every day, one that I selected for its utility and well as it looks.

 

The point I am trying to make is that some, in fact most, people write better than I do. For them, oblique, flexible, italic, and hand tuned nibs take advantage of their talents, and aren't simply expensive luxuries. Some people, in fact most, have finer artistic sensibilities than I do. For them rare, unusual, or handcrafted materials are more meaningful than they are to me.

 

If none of the things about expensive pens appeal so be it. I started with a Parker 45, and thought that my Parker 25 matte black matching FP and BP set was the ultimate. Just as there are those who flaunt a brand-name, or a price tag, as a way to puff up their societal status, or their self-worth, there are those who would "virtue signal" by pointing out how crass others are based upon their choice of pen/watch/automobile.

 

Whether you are happy with a sharp stick dipped in handmade oak gall ink or your handcrafted skeleton pen forged from kryptonite with a gold skeleton overlay be content. Neither has had any impact on your value as a person. Go enjoy your pens.

[Tseg]

When I go through my checklist of likes and dislikes, somehow only expensive pens are left on the list.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Compare handwriting and driving. Both are necessities in life and we all do both of them.

 

Sure, a Toyota Corolla will get you down the road and on your way, but who wouldn’t rather be in a Mercedes Benz?

 

 

 

Me.

[Corona688]

With the conclusion of the industrial revolution has come a revolution in rising expectations, because it often is possible to get a quality item for less than premium prices. There's the Suzuki Swift, and a Mercedes, but surely there's things in-between.

[kazoolaw]

With the conclusion of the industrial revolution has come a revolution in rising expectations, because it often is possible to get a quality item for less than premium prices. There's the Suzuki Swift, and a Mercedes, but surely there's things in-between.

 

Good point. There's also buying new and buying used.

[inkstainedruth]

Regarding the Toyota vs Mercedes-Benz discussion:

 

I had a Toyota Corolla back in the 70s. No power-steering, power-brakes, power-windows, no radio, no air-conditioning. It delivered people where they needed to be. Not quickly, not speedily, but sweatily, and economically. It could accelerate to 90 mph in about an hour, and could pass cars that were going the speed limit given a long enough downhill run in advance. The road and wind noise at highway speeds was intrusive. Sharp turns were always an exciting combination of body roll and the sound of tires approaching their limit of traction even at relatively low speeds.

 

I own a German car now. Power steering, power brakes, power windows, radio/CD player, and automatic climate control. It delivers people where they need to be, including through slush, icy roads, and snow as it has AWD. It accelerates to 90 mph effortlessly, and will continue to accelerate with nothing but the speedometer to let you know how fast are going. It handles all but the sharpest curves without body roll and without drama.. It currently has 159,000 miles with 200,000 miles in sight. No, the car is not flawless. Maintenance costs are high. It is a tool that I use every day, one that I selected for its utility and well as it looks.

 

We have a seven year old Toyota Prius hatchback. Other than not having AWD and not having quite the mileage on it yet (it's close to 100K, though), it matches your German car and, as a hybrid, gets 43 MPG on average (better in city driving when it goes strictly on battery). I fully expect it to last at least as long as your car currently has for mileage. And it packs a lot of stuff (although I wish it was a wagon).

Of course, I got 132K miles out of my first car, a Dodge Omni, in spite of electrical problems out the wazoo (five batteries and 3 alternators in 6-7 years, and then discovered that it was a bad relay -- once I replaced that $68 part, the car was fine, and lasted another 2-1/2 years after that was done (although admttedly the last year I owned it the car mostly sat in the driveway until the bumper rusted off, because we really only needed one car for the most part in MA -- my husband took the train to work and I dropped him off and picked him up from the train station).

As for pens, I have a couple of moderately pricy Pelikans, and a $5 Pelican. I have a bunch of Parker Vectors and a bunch of 51s. And all those pens write well....

It's a case of YMMV.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[kazoolaw]

Other than not having AWD and not having quite the mileage on it yet (it's close to 100K, though), it matches your German car and, as a hybrid, gets 43 MPG on average (better in city driving when it goes strictly on battery).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Wanna race?

 

:>)

[stephenfountain]

 

Wanna race?

 

:>)

 

OK then, when and where LOL

 

[TSherbs]

I'm plebian. Consumer Reports is my buying guide. Frank and unbiased and detailed reviews of pens are the equivalent for me in the fp world. I read/watch as many as I can before every purchase. I have no fp stores anywhere near me. I like value for dollar, I like CR Best Buys.

[kazoolaw]

 

OK then, when and where LOL

 

Front LoRes.jpg

 

 

That's no Prius.

 

But I'm game:

 

http://cdn.bmwblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2006-BMW-Sauber-F1.06-FL-1024x768-750x500.jpg

[stephenfountain]

 

 

That's no Prius.

 

But I'm game:

 

 

 

LOL, roll on March 25th in Melbourne! (Looks so old now without a halo!)

Edited March 13, 2018 by stephenfountain

[rollerboy]

I didn't display shock at the purchase price, and said his selling price seemed like a reasonable starting point -- thus craftily concealing the fact that we're all nuts.

 

I would have snorted, rolled my eyes, and explained it's ridiculous to pay a large sum of money for a pen unless it's covered in Japanese tree sap.

[Zaphodbebullbrox]

 

I would have snorted, rolled my eyes, and explained it's ridiculous to pay a large sum of money for a pen unless it's covered in Japanese tree sap.

 

You Mean Precious Resin!?!

[Zaphodbebullbrox]

 

 

That's no Prius.

 

But I'm game:

 

http://cdn.bmwblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2006-BMW-Sauber-F1.06-FL-1024x768-750x500.jpg

 

For that one you need this...

 

[Tweel]

I... guess I could have told her the tortoiseshell material of my pen was actually tree sap. But I wouldn't have wanted to lie, and that wouldn't have explained the gold overlay on the pen next to it in the case...

[ParkerDuofold]

Regarding the Toyota vs Mercedes-Benz discussion:

 

I had a Toyota Corolla back in the 70s. No power-steering, power-brakes, power-windows, no radio, no air-conditioning. It delivered people where they needed to be. Not quickly, not speedily, but sweatily, and economically. It could accelerate to 90 mph in about an hour, and could pass cars that were going the speed limit given a long enough downhill run in advance. The road and wind noise at highway speeds was intrusive. Sharp turns were always an exciting combination of body roll and the sound of tires approaching their limit of traction even at relatively low speeds.

 

I own a German car now. Power steering, power brakes, power windows, radio/CD player, and automatic climate control. It delivers people where they need to be, including through slush, icy roads, and snow as it has AWD. It accelerates to 90 mph effortlessly, and will continue to accelerate with nothing but the speedometer to let you know how fast are going. It handles all but the sharpest curves without body roll and without drama.. It currently has 159,000 miles with 200,000 miles in sight. No, the car is not flawless. Maintenance costs are high. It is a tool that I use every day, one that I selected for its utility and well as it looks.

 

The point I am trying to make is that some, in fact most, people write better than I do. For them, oblique, flexible, italic, and hand tuned nibs take advantage of their talents, and aren't simply expensive luxuries. Some people, in fact most, have finer artistic sensibilities than I do. For them rare, unusual, or handcrafted materials are more meaningful than they are to me.

 

If none of the things about expensive pens appeal so be it. I started with a Parker 45, and thought that my Parker 25 matte black matching FP and BP set was the ultimate. Just as there are those who flaunt a brand-name, or a price tag, as a way to puff up their societal status, or their self-worth, there are those who would "virtue signal" by pointing out how crass others are based upon their choice of pen/watch/automobile.

 

Whether you are happy with a sharp stick dipped in handmade oak gall ink or your handcrafted skeleton pen forged from kryptonite with a gold skeleton overlay be content. Neither has had any impact on your value as a person. Go enjoy your pens.

Well said, Gary.

 

 

- Anthony

[Corona688]

You Mean Precious Resin!?!

Japanese lacquer actually is a "precious resin" of a sort, and by "precious", they mean "the itchy chemical in poison ivy, found so intensely concentrated in this especially toxic tree that it's prone to becoming a solid".

 

They have to be very careful making it.

Edited March 13, 2018 by Corona688