Just when I complete the purchase of a vintage fountain pen I am already thinking about the next possible purchase. Case in point – when Gary Lehrer opened his March 2016 catalogue I purchased a Parker True Blue. Later that same day I saw a Parker 51 with a Rhodium cap in the catalogue that I just had to have. Collecting vintage fountain pens is a fun hobby. However, I warn you – it can be addictive. So, I am curious to the readers of this blog – where do you purchase your vintage fountain pens? There are many sources. These are my go to sources.
- Pen stores – some pen stores have a selection of vintage pens. The Fountain Pen Hospital in New York City has a great selection and often times they have pens in the store that are not listed on their website. Bromfield Pen in Boston offers a small selection and about once a month I receive an email with their latest offerings.
- Pen shows – a great source for purchasing a vintage fountain pen while getting to know the many wonderful people who restore them.
- Pen club meetings – I highly recommend joining a local pen club. Often times you can swap and/or purchase pens from your fellow pen aficionados.
- Web sites – many of the same folks who display at pen shows have great websites with nice vintage pens for sale.
- Antique shops – I’ve had some luck with antique shops, however, often times the owners of these shops don’t know much about the pens and sometimes they do need restoration. That being said I’ve heard some great stories of a $5 pen from an antiques shop that was worth a great deal more.
- EBay – there is some risk with buying pens on auction, however, I’ve bought a number of pens on EBay and they were exactly as described. I recommend checking the sellers ratings and asking questions.
RSS Feed