To ink or not to ink

[BMWRT]

fire that puppy up

[DrPJM1]

If it were a rare collector's item leave it to the "uber-collectors".

If it were a common pen, say a Parker "51", then why not?

[Brian Anderson]

Everyone is entitled to do as they wish with their pens. This debate comes up often, and somehow, despite this being a rather old thread, I missed it the first couple times around. Ink or not ink is one question, but ripping off the sticker is what makes me cringe even more. There is a lot of good information on those stickers. For example, Esterbrook made a line of pens in the mid 30's out of this wierd, poor excuse of a plastic. They are ugly, often distort wildly and are many times unusable because of this. One day I got one in reasonable shape off ebay and it happened to have a sticker on the end of the barrel designating it as a model BTL. I've never seen this referenced anywhere ever, before or since. So, if you're going to rip the sticker off and ink it up, I like the suggestion of placing the sticker in a journal or notebook for later information.

 

Just my $.02.

 

Best-

Brian

[JimStrutton]

Ok so confession is good so here goes.

 

I was in Lidl today, 'cos I am the LIDL Bargain Hunter. I bought a telescopic tree lopper and got another short lopper as part of the deal for under Ten Quid.

 

I also browsed the returns and bargain box and found just the one Pelikan Culture Pen in it's original pack marked down to £1.99, so guess who had to get it?

 

Now I already have one that I use off and on mainly as a take out pen, as I would not be heartbroken if I lost it, but now I have a second one I am keeping that in the pack. Who knows in 20 years it might even be a part of the Philip Benz Collection !!

 

Jim

 

:roflmho:

[maxrhino]

I have a few pens that are mint and uninked,the oldest being from the 1950's.I will not be inking them.I have other pens that are in excellent condition but have been inked.I may use them once or twice.

 

When I get a pen I make a decision.Collector or not.If it's a collector it remains in it's box and goes on display with the lid open.

 

I enjoy writing with some pens,but I can't say I have a desperate urge to use every pen.

 

I can understand people that do have that desire to use but I get a lot of satisfaction from a pen in pristine condition.

I think they call it "Shiny item syndrome."

 

Maybe i'm not a true pen lover.Maybe i'm too concerned with the value of a pen.

If money was an unlimited resource for me i'd have two of every pen.I'd use one and collect the other.

[krz]

My search for pens to draw with was easy. Esterbrooks and Osmiroids, it's all about the nibs, nibs, nibs.

 

My quest for the best KRZ daily writer was much harder. I had a Stainless Hero that almost did the trick but didn't hold enough ink for me, and I lean towards vintage.

 

Then I got some Sheaffer Tuckaways, and I like them real good. The Vac. versions hold more ink than you'd think! Ultimately though I needed a heftier pen.

 

Then I tried a Sheaffer Valiant Snorkel. It's such a nice pen in such good shape that I didn't want to take it out as a daily writer, and it was slightly longer and slimmer than I liked.

 

Then by chance I bought an old Basic Fat Black Vac. Valiant (white dot on top of the cap) that had been around the block a few times. The previous owner used it allot (brassing on the band and clip), but it wasn't abused at all, just good honest use. The seals are weak but it would still draw in a weeks worth of ink. I needed at least 2, so I could have it refurbed, and not go without one.

 

Well, I won a bid on one for a song. I think everybody was just looking the other way and the auction Gods smiled my way. It arrived today and I pulled it out of it's packing, and it's pristine! I flush it with water and there's no ink whatsoever. The darn sticker's still on it, reading: "$12.50, Valiant, Fine, No Federal Tax".

 

I was intimidated by it's newness and for a fleeting moment I thought a collector should have this, I wanted a user pen... Then on closer inspection I found 2 small dents in the nib.

 

That's all I needed! The sticker couldn't be saved. It crumbled as I tried to take it off. Now I have my official brand new KRZ user pen, and I couldn't be more pleased.

 

Damn the torpedos! Full steam ahead!

[FLZapped]

I'm a user, not a collector. I just won a pen on Ebay, after a bidding war, that I intend to use. I think the other bidder intended to churn it and try and make a profit....

 

-Bruce

[Margana]

If it were a rare collector's item leave it to the "uber-collectors".

If it were a common pen, say a Parker "51", then why not?

I do agree with DrPJM1 although I've had trouble with stickers on vintage pens myself.

 

Recently I purchased a stickered '70s Platinum pocket pen still in its original packaging and the seller, Russell Stutler, advised me to go ahead put it to work. Despite his advice I still haven't inked that one. This thread got me thinking about it though and, if I can buy a converter for it, I'm going to ink it and put it to good use.

[John54green]

IMHO I would use it, I feel guilty when I have a pen I don't use. I may not carry it, but even though it may be a work of art, it was made to be used. Regards, John

[Roger W.]

Coins were meant to be spent but after a time we collect them we don't spend them. So pens were meant to be used is somewhat shortsighted. We could get really silly and say bombs were meant to be dropped on people so why aren't we using them? Gas chambers were meant to be used so let's get cracking...

 

Sorry, enough of the silly. When a pen has achieved a number of years in pristine condition it is worth more as a collectable than a user. You are free to do as you please but, do it knowing that the value will take a hit if it becomes a pen you use significantly. Careful periodic use of even a stickered pen is fine but, you always run the risk of something getting broken. (Remember it is the LE people that don't ink things absolutely.) Often stickered pens can be sold for more and the difference use to by a great user pens and have some coin left over. Afterall, if you want a user pen - buy a user pen.

 

Roger W.

[Sparky]

INK the heck out of it. You'll enjoy it so much more, than the $50 more you could get for it if it were never inked. Rember you'll never miss the money, but you will miss the fun.

[Robert Hughes]

It looks as though the question boils down to whether any tool should be treated as a utilitarian object or whether its historical or aesthetic significance is such that it should be saved for the education and enjoyment of future generations. I think the outstanding example of this debate is in antique automobiles; if you drive that Stutz Bearcat or Stanley Steamer around, you're wearing it out. Of course if you're Jay Leno with his full-time resident mechanic and car restorer, maybe that's OK, because such a person can fashion replacement parts that are as good or better than the original. But then is it original anymore? Does replacing the sac (or the nib) on an old Esterbrook increase or decrease its value? What if it was FDR's Esterbrook? Depends on whether you want it as a museum piece or a tool.

Edited December 4, 2007 by Robert Hughes

[sexauerw]

Stickers are an interesting topic. I have a couple of Sheaffer Targas with a lacquer finish that came to me with the original stickers still on them. They were older models, probably late 1970s. The adhesive in the sticker had destroyed the lacquer underneath. So, stickers are not necessarily harmless and should not necessarily be left on for extended periods of time. They were only meant to to be on the pen from the time of manufacture to the time of first use, which was not anticipated to be an extended period. Depending on the finish material, the sticker may or may not damage the pen over a long period of time.

[Paddler]

Ink it! Use it! Enjoy it! Who deserves it more than you?

 

Paddler

 

[leftee]

If I own 200 pens, and I do, at least. Over 80% have been Modern (I consider anything after 1935 "modern") I have inked and used each one for a day or a week or longer. Some go into my regular rotation, others are kept because they speak to my design sensibilities. I have fewer than 10 NOS pens or sets that I've never touched. Mostly because I have so many other examples of the same pen that I use regularly. There's no greater joy for me than being the first owner to use a 50-70 year old fountain pen. Regards, Leftee

[nanahcub]

Let me paraphrase the idea behind of this thread.

 

You see a beautiful person, someone who appeals to you emotionally, physically and mentally. You seduce the person. What next...

 

Do you:

 

1) enjoy the relationship, enjoy making love with them, enjoy their company, enjoy conversation with them. Take full advantage of all the things you would want from such a relationship

 

2) shut them away in a box, enjoying the act of ownership, but not using any part what first attracted you to the person. Don't enjoy their body - just be content with knowing it is there. Never enjoy a conversation with them, but be happy with the idea that they are there should you ever decide to try it?

 

Is the potential for sharing pleasure and happiness, the knowledge that it is there greater than the actual act of taking or sharing pleasure and happiness?

 

The idea of getting a pen and not using it just defeats me. What is the point of that? Ticking off a list? No. Buy a pen and use it. Enjoy it. Otherwise, don't buy it because you are depriving someone of the opportunity to use and enjoy the pen.

 

The only exception I can think of is if you are buying it and keeping it unused for a specific purpose - museum perhaps, or you are buying it now whilst it is available to give it as a present on a specific occassion - for example buying it to give to your child when s/he graduates or similar. To just buy it and stick it away in a box defeats the whole point of owning a pen.

Edited July 16, 2012 by rbuchanan

[outbackpengeek]

I inked my NOS Murex...it makes me happy to think it's finally fulfilling its destiny :)I left the sticker on however, purely because I find it interesting to look at.

[Sanglant]

guns are made to shoot, you can use them to train, hunt, and to have fun.

 

bombs are being used, the word is deterrent.

 

gas chambers, well they should only be used on there advocates.

 

 

as for pens, i won't buy one i don't plan to use(or give away). but i don't care if someone else wants to fill there house with pens and have nothing to write with.

[BrandonA]

I voted the middle option. Ech individual pen I own will spend at most one month a year with ink in them. I therefore often keep the sticker on them until I'm ready to take the pen out of the house.

 

On a side note, the first MB fountain pen I bought about ten years ago still has the sticker on it. It's got to a point now that out of principle I will not remove it, even though you now can't tell what letter was written on it.

[Laura N]

This thread is from 2004. I'm guessing he's made his decision by now.