4 replies to this topic

[brando090]

Ive been wondering, i prefer to keep my collection in my office, away from direct sunlight, but most of my pens are overlay's. For some of the more beautiful and more easily discolored material's such as Jade or Lapis, when using them away from home, can the increase in heat (sun,etc) and strong lighting when using them discolor them? Just taking into consideration, a nice mint Jade pen, but if you use it overtime theoretically it would discolor.

[david i]

Ive been wondering, i prefer to keep my collection in my office, away from direct sunlight, but most of my pens are overlay's. For some of the more beautiful and more easily discolored material's such as Jade or Lapis, when using them away from home, can the increase in heat (sun,etc) and strong lighting when using them discolor them? Just taking into consideration, a nice mint Jade pen, but if you use it overtime theoretically it would discolor.

Various threats face various plastics to varying degrees. A fair bit of standard lore comes from observation and from reasonable hypothesis, as none have been subject to rigorous prospective study. But... they make sense.. Rubber sac and ink fumes, skin secretions, sunlight, heat, even close exposure to degredation product of similar plastics (celluloid pen resting in closed space near another crazing celluloid pen) all are considered risks to color and to chemical integrity of plastic pens. Obviously, some plastics are at risk for some processes more than others, and within a given plastic family, some colors are more stable than others. For celluloid, dark non-pearlescent colors in thin regions seem to be more stable than pale pearlescent colors thickly applied (think the butt end of a gray-red Balance or the clear butt of a Waterman 100-Year Pen).

Even mint unused pens (black-and-pearl in a recent photo I showed) can darken, though they tend to hold up much better than inked pens of that sort. Clear Sacs are believed safer, though recently David Nishimura posted that some clear sacs have corrupting elements beyond the stretchy silicone many of us had expected.

But, yes, a mint Jade 1920's-1930's pen likely will do better without use. As with diamonds, color does matter when valuing old pens, and generally nearly-pristine Jade is seen in a tiny fraction of available pens from a given make/model done in that color.

I treat superb jade pens as collectables rather than users. Easy enough to trade/sell a gem Jade to generate cash for a weak jade if one wants a user. On other hand, if we get into the hackneyed "pens were made for use, so why would I want just to stare at one instead of using it?", well... I guess that's good for the value of my pristine Jade pens, as soon there will be one fewer out there to compete for sales

-d

[Hugh]

Another question is the longevity of celluloid which appears to have a "use by date" regardless of how it's handled. It would seem that at some future point every celluloid pen will eventually degrade...when is the unknown. Suffice to say I think a lot of celluloid pens will out live me with ease but if your , say, 20 then it may be different. From a value perspective at present it is fair to say pristine examples will continue to increase in value, there may come a point when degradation becomes a major issue then value may well fall as buyers see a pen that they know will not last. At present using "best possible practice" to preserve pristine celluloids is a wise move I think.

Regards
Hugh

[John Danza]

I have a fairly worn Lapis flat-top Sr. Duofold that had decent color up until this summer, a scorcher her in the Chicago area. I made the mistake of using it one day that was really humid, causing me to sweat quite a bit while I was outside, with the pen in my pocket. Now one side of the pen and cap is permanently discolors, a white-ish look like the color washed away. So definitely be careful of which pens you put in your pocket on very hot and sweaty days.

[brando090]

Thank you all for your knowledgeable posts. You confirmed a belief which i was what what sure about.