Cyberpenz
 We
asked a few PCA members, who also happen to be internet pen collectors
for their thoughts on collecting pens in cyberspace. Here's what they
had to say!
Why Do You Collect Pens on the Internet?
I collect pens on the internet because it gives me an opportunity to
collect pens from all over the world, particularly from Germany where
the Pelikans I'm focusing on come from. It also exposes me to more information
than is available locally and in the few books on pens that are readily
available. There's a lot of knowledge stored in people's heads that
will be lost if it isn't passed on, and the internet is one of the quickest
and friendliest ways to pass it to other collectors. For example, if
I wasn't online, I'd never have learned the fine points of the markings
on Parker 51s, which in fact I learned them from the Master of All Things
Parker, Michael Fultz.
- Alexandra Fleetwood, penxan@sprynet.com
Simply because I can find (and even see, now that scanners are so cheap)
stuff there that's not otherwise accessible to me searching through
antique shops. Sometimes I can even see things that I don't find at
pen shows.
- Bill Hong, whong@ida.org
Before I answer that let me tell you how it came about. It used to be
you could go to the antique stores, malls, and flea markets on the weekend
and find nice old collectible pens. I always came home with some great
finds, Duofolds, Patricians, Enduras, Wahl Deco Bands, etc., but over
the last several years either because there are more collectors looking
or lack of pens in general the dealers and flea markets became less
and less a feasible source. Don't get me wrong the occasional find still
turns up but it is a lot tougher these days. During the same time I
was discovering more and more places on the internet to buy and learn
about old pens. AOL, Alt. Pen & Pencil, Pen Lovers, the Zoss list
and eBay among many others. With the internet the thrill of discovering
a nice old pen in a dusty showcase or tin cup wasn't there, but thrill
was being replaced by quantity and with quantity there was a new type
of thrill. Now I'm finding more pens than I ever thought possible. If
you think about it, the foot race is being replaced by a key stroke.
I can't tell you how many times I've sent email to sellers only to be
told, "sorry sold", "sorry, sold it five minutes after
I listed it", "sorry sold it but don't feel bad ten people
ahead of you didn't get it either." For me random anticipation
at the local shops has all but been replaced by the internet. I have
bought pens from all over the United States, England, Germany, Italy,
France, Canada, Australia and South America. All from the convenience
of my arm chair.
- Larry Shelton, LarryS86@aol.com
The internet is the place for knowledgeable dealers and friendly service.
In this era when K-Mart and Wal-Mart have pushed out all the small shops
in all but the largest cities, we are lucky that the pen specialty shops
still exist -in profusion! - on the internet.
- William Stevens, 72240.2427@compuserve.com
What is Your Favorite Non-commercial Website?
I find myself visiting the Parker Pen site (http://www.ettnet.se/~boris/parkerindex.html).
It's a real handy guide to identifying Parker pens and ancillary information
about them.
- Andrew Gnoza, gnoza@gulftel.com
My favorite non-commercial website on the net is, hands down, PenLovers.
It is very informative and there are always thought provoking discussions
and of course, the great pens for sale posts.
- Fran Taylor, fftaylor@ix.netcom.com
Penoply. There aren't really many non-commercial sites; nearly everyone
offers pens for sale on their sites
- Susan Fishel, lili@novia.net
You ask a difficult question. Reviewing my favorite sites to try to
come to a decision made me realize the relative dearth of non-commercial
sites. I have always liked Pier Gustafson's site a lot, because it is
so 'Pier'. Otto Yang has a worthy site, too, and it seems to reflect
Otto's personality and collecting interest. The most extensive non-commercial
site that I've looked at is Penoply, Rick Conner's site. What the relative
paucity of sites tells us is that we need to concentrate on enlarging
the scope of the PCA web-site. PCA's site could have encyclopedic information,
glossaries, etc. in addition to listing available off-prints, upcoming
events, etc. PCA needs to take the lead in this regard.
- Carlie Krolick, CKrolick@aol.com
Tell Me About Your Best Pen Find Ever on the Internet?
They all are.
- Larry Shelton, LarryS86@aol.com
Mmmmm. Best surprise was a Waterman music nib on a Commando. Favorite
find was my little purple Moore. I don't know the model. It came nibless,
but another internet purchase provided a nib. I put the two together,
it became such a sweet little pen. Good natured, reliable, cute.....
- Susan Fishel, lili@novia.net
My most cherished internet find is a most elegant Waterman 452 smooth
silver overlay, pen and pencil.. If I am not mistaken, the set is a
somewhat rare item, and it came to me in nearly pristine condition.
Restoring it to working order was a kick, since the "Fine Rigid"
nib is just a grand writer. The pen also has a somewhat cryptic inscription
(and I myself am particularly fond of pens with engraving - they are
the pens' "souls"), which would seem to indicate that the
pen was a Boxing Day gift to someone in 1942. Quite a fancy present
given the fact that it was then war time. Oh, yes, the original instructions
for pen and pencil, plus a marvelous old blue plush case complete the
picture. I realize that this set wouldn't necessarily qualify as a rare
find for most collectors, it was for me a satisfying acquisition. Isn't
this what the hobby is about, that we take a vintage pen, restore it
and make it "our own" by using it for the pleasure of writing.
- Carlie Krolick, CKrolick@aol.com
I wish I had an interesting story here, but alas, my best pen find was
a ballpoint with milk carton on top and the logo "Velvet"
from my wife's home town in Kentucky.
- Bill Stevens, 72240.2427@compuserve.com
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