So with the eclipse and all, there is a large amount of out of town traffic flowing through my town.
Yesterday I helped a guy out who had his wallet stolen while traveling.
He needed some fuel and didn't have any money.
Mind you - I see these jokers peddling lies all the time and I can spot them from a mile away.
This guy was legitimate.
As payment, he pulled out a pocket protector full of older pens and mechanical pencils and handed it to me as compensation.
I looked at it and realized these probably were the "tools of his trade" and handed them back saying it wasn't a fair deal.
He looked relieved and quickly accepted the pocket protector back. He pulled these two out and handed them to me...
He said that he had carried them for 35 years. I tried to hand them back knowing they were sentimental to him, but he repeatably refused.
I got in my car and started to leave, then felt bad about walking away with his pens when all I was trying to do was a favor. I felt like I had taken his pocket knife or something.
I wrote my mailing address down on the back of a receipt and went back into the store where he was paying for fuel and tried again to give him the pens back. I told him to just mail me the money later and keep his pens. He again stubbornly refused and said keep the pens AND he'd mail me the money.
Now I am curious as to what he does for a living where he would utilize a pocket full of mechanical pencils.
Draftsman....architect....mechanical engineer...surveyor?
I will be checking my mail for his correspondence, at which time I will have his address so as to mail his pens back. I WILL have the last word. He was from Virginia.
I know from past discussions here that others have sentimental pens/pencils that they have used for many years.
Good reminder to tuck some cash away somewhere when your traveling.
Wow, my dad had two exactly like those!
Edward Reading, post: 443065, member: 132 wrote: Wow, my dad had two exactly like those!
Is he Asian?
You must have made a very positive impression on him.
People don't part with sentimental items unless they are recognizing someone for a kind act.
Or they are practitioners of some faith where material things aren't important.
imaudigger, post: 443062, member: 7286 wrote: So with the eclipse and all, there is a large amount of out of town traffic flowing through my town.
Yesterday I helped a guy out who had his wallet stolen while traveling.
He needed some fuel and didn't have any money.
Mind you - I see these jokers peddling lies all the time and I can spot them from a mile away.
This guy was legitimate.As payment, he pulled out a pocket protector full of older pens and mechanical pencils and handed it to me as compensation.
I looked at it and realized these probably were the "tools of his trade" and handed them back saying it wasn't a fair deal.He looked relieved and quickly accepted the pocket protector back. He pulled these two out and handed them to me...
He said that he had carried them for 35 years. I tried to hand them back knowing they were sentimental to him, but he repeatably refused.
I got in my car and started to leave, then felt bad about walking away with his pens when all I was trying to do was a favor. I felt like I had taken his pocket knife or something.
I wrote my mailing address down on the back of a receipt and went back into the store where he was paying for fuel and tried again to give him the pens back. I told him to just mail me the money later and keep his pens. He again stubbornly refused and said keep the pens AND he'd mail me the money.
Now I am curious as to what he does for a living where he would utilize a pocket full of mechanical pencils.
Draftsman....architect....mechanical engineer...surveyor?
I will be checking my mail for his correspondence, at which time I will have his address so as to mail his pens back. I WILL have the last word. He was from Virginia.I know from past discussions here that others have sentimental pens/pencils that they have used for many years.
Good reminder to tuck some cash away somewhere when your traveling.
Don't bet on it. I could pay you back and never let you know where I live. If you didn't already know, he could make sure you don't even know which state he is in.
BTW, Nice job.
Stephen Johnson, post: 443071, member: 53 wrote: Don't bet on it. I could pay you back and never let you know where I live. If you didn't already know, he could make sure you don't even know which state he is in.
[SARCASM]You think he works at Langley ?[/SARCASM]
imaudigger, post: 443067, member: 7286 wrote: Is he Asian?
Not that I know of. 🙂
I hope the guy is legit, but I don't think those pen/pencils are 35 years old. Just not enough patina.
Mark Mayer, post: 443130, member: 424 wrote: I hope the guy is legit, but I don't think those pen/pencils are 35 years old. Just not enough patina.
Here's a link to figure out how old your Parker is:
Mark Mayer, post: 443130, member: 424 wrote: I hope the guy is legit, but I don't think those pen/pencils are 35 years old. Just not enough patina.
If they are good USA stainless steel and gold plated, I don't believe there would be a patina after 35-40 years.
Looks pretty legit.
I've been accused of being a bit of a stylophile. If I'm not mistaken that appears to be a Parker 45 GT Set. Value would range from about $40-70 for the set. Well made and if properly maintained they will last you forever. If they ever do start showing their age you can easily ship them off to a pen shop (yes, there is such a thing) and have them restored. When I do carry a pen its usually a Parker 51.
Is it a rollerball or a fountain pen?
Good for you. I've helped out folks in the past also. I'm sure I've been taken a time or two but I'm also sure I've really helped some folks.
That looks just like a set I was given as a graduation gift in 1970.
Andy
Zoidberg, post: 443164, member: 8841 wrote: I've been accused of being a bit of a stylophile. If I'm not mistaken that appears to be a Parker 45 GT Set. Value would range from about $40-70 for the set. Well made and if properly maintained they will last you forever. If they ever do start showing their age you can easily ship them off to a pen shop (yes, there is such a thing) and have them restored. When I do carry a pen its usually a Parker 51.
Is it a rollerball or a fountain pen?
Now I want to get a Parker 51.
Zoidberg, post: 443164, member: 8841 wrote: I've been accused of being a bit of a stylophile. If I'm not mistaken that appears to be a Parker 45 GT Set. Value would range from about $40-70 for the set. Well made and if properly maintained they will last you forever. If they ever do start showing their age you can easily ship them off to a pen shop (yes, there is such a thing) and have them restored. When I do carry a pen its usually a Parker 51.
Is it a rollerball or a fountain pen?
It's not a fountain pen. And yes, USA made stainless steel and gold plated.
I looked at those 45's and the tip looks different, but I am no expert for sure.
Definitely a roller ball. Ballpoints generally don't have a cap but utilize a twist or click system. I can't be 100% sure which model it is, as I've not involved myself in the hobby for some years now but it's a quality set of writing instruments regardless! Probably 10+ years ago now I was on a job, discussing options for subdivision with a client in his garage when I couldn't help but notice a little jar on the workbench that was stuffed with pens and pencils. The one gem that I spotted was a Waterman Ideal 52. I asked the owner how he was enjoying it... He had no idea what it was, which isn't surprising as it's "just an old pen". He asked if I wanted it, which I insisted I couldn't take it due to its value. He wasn't having my denial and gave it to me. I explained that when restored it's value would be just under $100. He was shocked but insisted I take it as it was just "junk". So I sent it out, got it restored for $10, and now it's a lovely writer. I always kept it full with Private Reserve Dakota Red. Ironically, I found it on a shelf a couple weeks ago and noticed that it's ready for a fresh restoration again. I'll send it out over the winter and get it back in rotation.
Zoidberg, post: 443604, member: 8841 wrote: Definitely a roller ball. Ballpoints generally don't have a cap but utilize a twist or click system. I can't be 100% sure which model it is, as I've not involved myself in the hobby for some years now but it's a quality set of writing instruments regardless! Probably 10+ years ago now I was on a job, discussing options for subdivision with a client in his garage when I couldn't help but notice a little jar on the workbench that was stuffed with pens and pencils. The one gem that I spotted was a Waterman Ideal 52. I asked the owner how he was enjoying it... He had no idea what it was, which isn't surprising as it's "just an old pen". He asked if I wanted it, which I insisted I couldn't take it due to its value. He wasn't having my denial and gave it to me. I explained that when restored it's value would be just under $100. He was shocked but insisted I take it as it was just "junk". So I sent it out, got it restored for $10, and now it's a lovely writer. I always kept it full with Private Reserve Dakota Red. Ironically, I found it on a shelf a couple weeks ago and noticed that it's ready for a fresh restoration again. I'll send it out over the winter and get it back in rotation.
I used a fountain pen for a short while in Grade School in the 60's.
I started carrying one in the early to mid 80's and still do over 30 years later. My last 4 have all been made by Cross.
Stephen Johnson, post: 443768, member: 53 wrote: I used a fountain pen for a short while in Grade School in the 60's.
I started carrying one in the early to mid 80's and still do over 30 years later. My last 4 have all been made by Cross.
When I was in grade school, the desks still had the hole in them for the ink well...did your desk have an inkwell in it?
Parker Pens were made in Janesville near where I grew up and were common place in my household. Some of the first drawings that I signed were with a Parker fountain pen. I probably still have that laying around somewhere.
While working at the Los Angeles zoo I gathered a lot of large feathers from the big birds (ostrich, emu, cassowary) and others lying around.
I tried making quill pens with them. That's an art! Ever tried to make one? I don't know how anyone ever got a letter written with the constant dipping in the ink, writing a few letters, dipping in the inkwell, writing a few letters...
Get yourself a feather sometime and try it.
Dave Lindell, post: 444167, member: 55 wrote: While working at the Los Angeles zoo I gathered a lot of large feathers from the big birds (ostrich, emu, cassowary) and others lying around.
I tried making quill pens with them. That's an art! Ever tried to make one? I don't know how anyone ever got a letter written with the constant dipping in the ink, writing a few letters, dipping in the inkwell, writing a few letters...
Get yourself a feather sometime and try it.
Isn't that how they draft in Texas?
