Your Collection's Directions or Your Collecting Goal

[andrew98]

James's recent Guide to Buying Your Second Pen got me thinking about my collection, in general. Buying a second pen sounds a lot like buying the 50th pen.

It's usually some X-factor that gets me when I'm considering my next pen. I'll find a pen that I know will be a good writer and has a design I really like, or my attention will become drawn to, say, flex nibs. Maybe I'll go on a Pelikan Jag, then discover the wonderful designs from the likes of American pen makers like Bexley, Franklin-Christoph, or Edison. There's always something; some design, feature, or other reason. I've dismissed gorgeous pens that get less than wonderful reviews, and I own some plain Jane pens that write nicely.

I really like variety, and I want to own at least one pen from all the manufacturers that I respect, within reason. I'll probably never own a Nakaya, for example, even though I love the look of their pens. I also want to own at least one stub, one italic, and one flex nib.

Over the last year or so, I've decided there is no perfect pen; only pens I'm happy with, both functionally and aesthetically. This means I'll either become satisfied with my collection at some point and stop buying pens, or I'll keep buying pens.

I am limiting my collection to 33 pens because I have two pen boxes, and that's the number of pens they'll hold in total. I figure that will help me exercise some restraint and force me to only keep pens I truly enjoy and use. If I want a new pen, I'll have to sell or give away an old one to make room.

Surely I'll stop buying pens at some point, right? RIGHT? Someone please tell me that's right!

Anyway, how do you shape your pen collection? What interests you and motivates your purchases? No extra points for guessing Doug and Brian's main interests, although I'm sure there are sub-categories within their main collecting focus that I'm not aware of.

-Andy

 

[rickcharles606]

Good question. My meager collection is growing, and I'll buy and try just about any brand of pen. If I write with it and don't like it....I give it away. Heck, I gave my TWSBI away to my brother in law today. The key for me is that the nib has to write very wet, because I push the nib across the page on some of my strokes. Which usually means broader nibs work best for me, but I'm not opposed to fine nibs if they don't skip when I write with them. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that I don't/won't discriminate against any brand of pen, as long as it meets my writing needs.

I recently gave two Esterbrooks away as gifts, because I didn't care for the feel of the nib. Guess I could have changed the nibs, but honestly...I needed a gift to give and this guy really wanted to try fountain pens. Win/win.

I have found that higher end pens seem to have better nibs, which in turn offer a better experience for this lefty. Maybe if I were right handed it would open up some other options for me, or maybe I'm just using that as an excuse to pick up higher end pens

 

[andrew98]

I have found that higher end pens seem to have better nibs, which in turn offer a better experience for this lefty. Maybe if I were right handed it would open up some other options for me, or maybe I'm just using that as an excuse to pick up higher end pens

My dad is a lefty, and he likes medium and broad nibs because he's an over-writer that pushes the pen quite a lot. He has a Jinhao X750 with a Knox medium nib that I gave him. It's an inexpensive pen that writes nicely.

That said, I manufacture whatever reason I need in order to buy a new pen.

-Andy

 

[Mr5x5]

I'm just looking for a pen that writes well, and feels good in my hand. When I find one that works I will be satisfied. Initially it looked as though my collection would be pens manufactured by "P" companies. My first pen was a Platinum Preppy I got off the BST, then a Parker 21, then Pilot Plumix and Pilot Varsity followed by a Pelikano Jr. Some of our fine members took pity on my and loaned me a couple of other pens but they still felt too small. Next came the Ahab and I'm still dealing with it. I have to say that as I spend more time writing with something other than a Super Sharpie, my aversion to tiny pens is waning. At the moment I guess you could say I have a collection of Wearever lever fillers. Both of them were cheap and still need new sacs but who knows, maybe I have started a collection. I will see when I get them put back together.

 

[Snargle]

My collection goals are kind of vague at the moment. I have several modern pens that I enjoy quite a bit: Edison, TWSBI, Waterman Carene, Danitrio Cum Laude, Kaweco Sport, etc., but most of my buying activity seems to be with vintage (1920s-1950s) pens, particularly those made from colorful and exotically-patterned celluloid. That being said, I'm still very tempted by a modern Pelikan Souveran (maybe a M600 or M800). I'm saving up my pennies for the DC Super Show in August, but it's hard to say what I might come home with.

 

[Craig9802]

Buying a second pen sounds a lot like buying the 50th pen.

These were my thoughts on reading James' post as well, except for substituting 5th for 50th.

I've considered why I've selected each pen I've purchased, as well as those I've decided not to purchase. I can say that the only theme I've found so far is value - it their own way, each pen represents a good value of style and functionality for the dollar. I've also stuck with current production pens for purely practical reasons - I want a pen to work every time I pick it up. I'm not sure I can call my fountain pens a collection, as they're just specialized versions of tools I use every day, much like the tools on my workbench in the garage. I like each of the 4 pens I have, but I'm still looking for one that just makes me smile every time I pick it up.

I've bought pens with different nibs, different barrel materials, and different styles, but I see that the ones currently on my desk are all fairly similar in size and writing characteristics. I'll be looking to branch out more in nibs sizes / types, probably pick up a vintage pen or two, and experiment with some different filling systems. Since I try not to spend money on items for my hobbies until I've done a lot of research, I *hope* it will take some time before I fill up my 12-pen display case. At that point I'll probably switch to a zero-growth strategy as you have. But, by then I'll hopefully have gotten my daughters hooked into fountain pens and writing, and the whole game may change.

 

[jzuzphreek]

Andrew, I think I see what your problem is.


You need another pen box!

But seriously, as a fledgling collector on a tight budget, at the moment I'm relegated to collecting whatever pens I can find in antique stores for cheap. My first non-antique store purchase was a response to a buy offer I posted earlier this month. Still vintage (Parker pens). I've got a long way to go before I'm content with one niche in the FP scene. There are some modern pens I'd like to try, but only a few. As my wife and I get better at budgeting, and we get some things paid off, my "fun spending" allowance will increase bit by bit. The hard part is trying to decide which higher priced pen will be my first. I really want a Pelikan... maybe a 140? Or a 200? But I want a Parker Vacumatic too. But I'd really like to try an FC pen. And I've still yet to try a stub nib. Oh... I have no idea what my pen collecting goals are.

Oh, and as for Brian's sub-categories that you are unaware of... Didn't you know he's a closet Hero Collector?

 

[mikeschu]

What typically happens to me for new things (just like DE razors) is that I'll buy a bunch to build up a collection, choose what I want to keep, and then sell or donate the rest. In the DE world I managed to get up to 15 razors before settling on two, and I know what my next razor purchase or two is. From there I want to try out a couple of DE razors, but I'm good where I'm at otherwise.

I have a feeling this is how my fountain pen collection will go - at least initially.

I have ten or eleven different pens right now (they're listed on my wiki page). Out of that collection I have three or four I haven't even dipped or inked up yet, and I know I'll have a few that are on the list to liberate out of my collection. I also know what my next purchases are and what I want to try out - I want a Vanishing Point, and I really want to try an Edison pen. After that, who knows? But I do have an end-game for my collection.

If I can get down to, say, 1/2 dozen pens I'll be good. That doesn't include something like a 78G and/or a dip pen for testing inks. I think it's achievable for me, but this also keeps me from spending tons of money on things that I may never end up using.

 

[andrew98]

My 33 pen limit may eventually get reduced to 13, which is the number of pens my glass-lidded pen case holds. I'll still probably keep a few inexpensive pens in a jar on my desk, too. In reality, I don't even need that many pens. I don't blow through ink quickly, even with journaling and a few pen pals. Hopefully, I'll be able to weed out my absolute favorites one day. We'll see, but they're all so nice! Ugh.

-Andy

 

[oc_in_fw]

I think, with the exception of a Pelikan M600 the rest of mine will be vintage. I have to get a Pel 140 in there, along with a Parker Vacumatic (at least one) and a 51 eventually. I think I would be very happy with just those, and would probably get rid of my Lamys and other pens that don't get much use. I may decide on adding a Lamy 2000, though.

 

[andrew98]

I may decide on adding a Lamy 2000, though.

Same here.

-Andy

 

[syngent]

I know I love my M205 and would like a larger version of it, M600 maybe which also look a lot nicer as well. I have fancy specialty nib pens for letters and fun I wouldn't mind on more multi purpose fine or medium point pen to fill out my collection something like a Sailor, other then that I have a good variety to keep me from getting board. Along with lots of ink to keep things interesting for some time

But Xfactor pen goes to a mottenshaw modified Falcon for specerian, or a vanishing point just for the whole, click on click off, work thing. I may someday pull the trigger on the vanishing point since you can snag good deals on them from time to time

and for no reason I can factor I love the Nakayas or some of the Danitrios (the eyedropper ones) but they are window shopping only pens

 

[Boro62]

I think for me its whatever grabs my fancy that i can justify the price for. I like having an eclectic collections of vintage and modern pens in varying price ranges.

 

[oc_in_fw]

Same here.

-Andy

I didn't answer what factor would shape my future collection. Since getting my M200 I have decided against cartridge/converter pens. In fact, I view the aerometric filler in later 51s with a suspect eye. Maybe because I have a Gui Guan that has a converter that fills the same way. I think that when I do buy the 51 it will be a vac filler- I will just bite the bullet and have someone refurbish it correctly.

 

[Snargle]

I didn't answer what factor would shape my future collection. Since getting my M200 I have decided against cartridge/converter pens. In fact, I view the aerometric filler in later 51s with a suspect eye. Maybe because I have a Gui Guan that has a converter that fills the same way. I think that when I do buy the 51 it will be a vac filler- I will just bite the bullet and have someone refurbish it correctly.

My experience with the Aerometric P51 has been excellent. It's much more efficient than a twist-type piston converter and the pen holds a ton of ink.

 

[oc_in_fw]

My experience with the Aerometric P51 has been excellent. It's much more efficient than a twist-type piston converter and the pen holds a ton of ink.

Yeah, I guess I just need to start looking in antique shops and hope I get lucky. I think with this one I want to see and touch before I buy.

 

[nemo]

My collecting has taken a few twists and turns throughout the years. I sincerely believe that the collection will guide you along, not the other way around; pick something you like, buy and try out as many as you can afford and only then will you realize what you are truly interested in. It will evolve and morph, changing along with your tastes over time. I've had themes such as colors (black) or brands/models (Sheaffer, Skylines, Vacs), or eras (1920s, post WWII), materials (celluloid), or countries. I've also got (just as Andy thought) some fun and historical sub-categories in my collections. Even though I'm into vintage, I dabble with (I don't call it collecting) a few modern pens.

In doing your research you'll undoubtedly find other unknown quantities you'll "need" which will only expand your collection in another, possibly good, or not so good direction. You'll figure this out, then a little sell-off of what you don't cherish or use may be needed and is always possible. Working with lots of vintage German pens I've come to appreciate the high quality of a few brands, some of which I cannot afford to own, but I keep looking ... ah, the thrill of the hunt! Lately I've been searching for Goldfink and Soennecken pens from the 1950's. Keep it fun.

 

[brianw]

33 pens..... that is blasphemy !!!!

 

[andrew98]

But Xfactor pen goes to a Mottishaw modified Falcon for specerian, or a vanishing point just for the whole, click on click off, work thing.

You probably know I'm a big fan of the Vanishing Point. It's great for jotting quick notes at work.

Also, check out the Pilot 742 with the Falcon FA nib. It's less expensive (by $100) than having mods done to a Falcon, and the 742 is much nicer pen overall, imo. That said, you know the pen would be wonderful after John Mottishaw worked on it.

-Andy

 

[Argonaut]

I never planned on having a pen collection! I wandered into this forum, said to myself "Whatever! Have fun with that, pen dudes." then spotted a pristine Sheaffer pen and pencil set with the original case in my local antique store the next time I visited. Counting the ones I have given away, I've had my grubby mitts on close to fifty now.