16 replies to this topic

[marcshiman]

Here's an image (dream?) burned into my head - My "library" is a room in my basement with bookcases lining one wall. Against the opposite wall is a burgundy nailhead leather couch with an old steamer trunk as a coffee table. Against the far wall is an antique roll-top desk. Next to it is a Hamilton's printer cabinet storing several hundred vintage fountain pens.

Its a partially realized notion - I have the room in my house, I have the beginnings of the pen collection. I have a poor knockoff of a Hamilton cabinet. I have books.

But, in a moment of introspection as I contemplate my own career "what next?", I thought that perhaps understanding my motive to own a collection of vintage writing instruments, pack them away in a cabinet beyond anyone else's reach, and continue to add to them (with the occasional sale to prune) might give me a better insight into what drives me and motivates me. This isn't about pens specifically, this is about collecting.... things. Something.

So I've been looking around on the web, searching on "psychology of collecting" and the poll choice above is a very rapidly collected list of ideas that came from psychologists, authors, and a few from yours truly. I'm pretty sure part of my motivation to collect is to affect the way I'm seen by other collectors (although I'm having a hard time getting a handle on "in which way?").

Even if you don't think of any of the above to fit yourself, we all know people that are relentlessly competitive in the way they collect, and some of the things that you might think are personality flaws truly exist amongst others in our community. I don't think that makes anyone a bad person.

Anyway, I thought I might share a portion of this path of introspection I'm taking. Answer as many of these as you think fits.

Edited by marcshiman, 13 August 2013 - 09:31 AM.

[FmrLEO_GJ]

Great idea...

I could only select; Happiness from adding a new find ... then with 'other' I now explain.... I like to think I am continuing the life of the pen through purchase and continued use - where applicable [and desired when restoring commences in earnest] - as I'd love every pen in my collection that is an old / vintage pen to tell / write me their life story pertaining to previous owners, and the nature of use.

I'd NEVER contemplate melting down nibs and other gold pens / parts for money!!!
I think they are all little works of art. So much more than the disposable biro.

I cannot afford to purchase pens very often at present, but hopefully within the next 18 months I hope to resume searching, finding and purchasing.

I trust I haven't waffled on too much and bored too many, but I simply love the feel of a lovely fountain pen / Dip Pen in the hand, and using it for the purpose it was designed, fashioned and intended.

[AltecGreen]

It's cheaper than high end audio.

[Josephine]

I collect them to USE them. Which means I could have stopped at 2 or 3. But every one of them is different to use, every nib writes differently, the experience is always different and so I like finding more of my favorite types of nibs/bodies/etc. Mostly about the experience for me I think.

[Frank(Federalist Pens)]

Why Not??

[Procyon]

One of my selections was "Other", and it is pretty much along the same lines as FmrLEO_GJ's comments. I like to think that I am saving a piece of art and a historic artifact when I purchase a nice old pen. This is intensified when I obtain a pen that is in terrible condition, and I restore it both functionally and cosmetically. I also try to save/repair the pen rather than looking for replacement parts. If a nib is cracked, I will probably send it out to be repaired, even if I have one in my parts bin.

My other check marks were happiness from a new find and the thrill of the hunt. I also simply like to use them, but I have far too many for that to be a valid reason anymore.

[marcshiman]

I totally understand the thrill of the hunt and the happiness of a new find - but if those were the only motivating factors, we'd sell/trade them shortly after finding them. Why keep them stored away? (At least that's what I'm asking myself).

[Procyon]

I totally understand the thrill of the hunt and the happiness of a new find - but if those were the only motivating factors, we'd sell/trade them shortly after finding them. Why keep them stored away? (At least that's what I'm asking myself).

Why would I trade them, unless I like the pens I traded for better than the ones I have? Why would I sell them, if I didn't need the money? I don't keep them stored away - I use them, although I have too many to use all of them on a regular basis. I like to look at them. If I don't need the money why should I sell them? I like the pens better than looking at cash.

[spotted and speckled]

I collect them to USE them. Which means I could have stopped at 2 or 3. But every one of them is different to use, every nib writes differently, the experience is always different and so I like finding more of my favorite types of nibs/bodies/etc. Mostly about the experience for me I think.

What she said!

[welch]

Other: I accumulated pens searching for just the right one. I have (too many) Parker 51s, P61s, P75s (regular and Premier), and Eversharp Skylines...and, of course, Esties.

"One of these days", I'll start selling down to the five or six I use every week.

I do not collect. Never! (I "acquired" a P61 Flighter last week...but that's the last! Well, maybe another Vac?)

[Pensee]

"Happiness in new find" because I only have 8 pens and have hit a 'wall' so to speak in finding the less common ones in a certain pattern.

Also enjoy the history of pens and following their technological advancements.

I have retirement to think about though, so really can't justify spending too much money on them at this stage in my life. (I'm 48)

That's one of the reasons I only have a whopping 8 pens in 5 years of collecting! They're all in EXC+/NM- condition though. I believe you get what you pay for.

I like Procyon's attitude about money. If financially secure in your retirement or have a really high paying job-- why not spend it on a hobby you enjoy?

That could be anything: pens, classic cars (they'd take up quite a bit more room though!) guitars, baseball cards, movie memorabilia... the list could go on & on.

--Bruce

----
File under "Just a Thought:"

As someone in quantitative research, some of the questions seemed a form of bias confirmation. A Likert scale (if possible to set up here ) where each statement could be answered might provide more data. Like I say-- just a thought.

[Kelly]

First and foremost, I write with fp's nearly exclusively - 99%+ of my writing. I carry two to three pens in my pocket most all the time. Thus, I am in search of the best writing experience with my various pens (best is by my own definition and I really don't care to elaborate on that old topic).

I have found vintage (pre-1965 or so) pens to provide the best writing experience for the money, usually after a bit of tweaking or restoration. This fuels my hobby/collecting need in that I search out old pens and enjoy the therapeutic value of restoring them as best I can. I enjoy the hunt and the discussion that ensues with like minded folks. There is nothing quite like the thrill of discovering a cache of decent pens at an estate auction and then engaging in the bidding process, hopefully to win at sumgai prices. Or, visiting antique shops in the local area, cultivating relationships with the owners, and receiving that call, "hey I found some pens you might like." The hunt is fun.

I do enjoy the restoration process. Starting over a decade ago, I decided that I should learn how to work on old pens if I planned to continue dragging them in. While I will gladly pay a professional to do work beyond my reach, I see no reason to bypass the joy of basic restoration. And, as mentioned above, it is therapeutic; a few hours in the pen cave (a 50th birthday gift from my wife 10 years ago) makes life a bit brighter.

I hang on to my pens for the most part because I see no point in selling them. I have sold a few, especially some that I had purchased simply for practice purposes. I've given away nearly as many as I've sold. It is fun to convert someone interested in fp's. I suppose there are scenarios under which I would sell some of my better pens, but I've not yet landed in any of those.

I am way past the rabid accumulation phase and am in the relaxed and particular accumulation phase. I will buy a good deal when I see it but am no longer obsessed with finding the great deal.

In short, I use them and I like accumulating them for the sheer joy of it.

Edited by Kelly, 12 September 2013 - 02:49 PM.

[Alabamapenman]

I use fountain pens almost exclusively at work and at home.
I enjoy using a finely made writing instrument. It makes me feel better about myself and improves my handwriting as I think about how the ink flows on the paper.
I do not see the competitive side of this as important to me, since I will not likely be collecting pens which are so rare others will not have one like what I have bought.
I also like preserving a part of history, even if others only rarely look at or have an interest in my collection. I have framed a few magazine ads which match particular pens I have, which is part of what decorates the walls in my private office.
And it is cheaper than vintage automobiles.

Edited by Alabamapenman, 16 September 2013 - 12:08 AM.

[penguinmaster]

I had to select happiness in finding a new pen and other. I've struggled over the 7-8 years of collecting as to why I do it and I've finally accepted that it's a mix of a lot of things. I'm not sure how many people have seen the Ted Talk by Adam Savage about his journey on building a dodo bird skeleton and Maltese Falcon, but I had a light bulb moment after watching it. He talks about that he collects things he enjoys (obviously) but some things he uses and others he just likes the idea of having in his collection to have and hold and touch and just know that it's there. That's really how I look at my collecting drive right now.

My collection is really a mishmash of all those different types of collecting elements ranging from:

1. Certain pen models and types that I really wanted to collect the range within the colors and styles if possible, example being Second Generation Eversharp Symphony 703 pens and Graf Von Faber Castell Classic Series. I have no reason to sit down and write with every single one of those pens, but I like the idea that I have all of them.
2. I collect certain iconic pens that I really like, just added a Lamy 2000 to the collection, multiple Parker "51"s, etc...
3. Pens that I feel are really good writers and fits for my hands, I have a Rotring 700 w/ a Pendleton Point which is an amazing writer and great hand feel for me.
4. Pens that I just plain want in my collection for one design aspect or another, i.e. Lamy 27, Parker 100
5. Everything else from just really good deals or pens that caught my fancy (don't we all have those!)

As to why I chose pens as a collecting passion of mine, I realized early on that the things I collect are things that I've always had some interest, but as a child I was unable to really fulfill that fantasy of collecting those items. As a child, I was always intrigued by pens, but obviously didn't have the resources to have a collection like I do now. I also have an interest in aviation (wanted to be a pilot, but that's didn't play out), and really liked collecting 1:400 aviation models, I now have around 75 of those. Also really like Lava Lamps, have some of those now too! Someone above said it's because it's cheaper than high end audio, I'm in the same boat. I've reached a middle ground with that though as I work towards a high end headphone setup that I can use, a bit cheaper than high end full blown audio setup.

[Hugh]

I've always been a collector ( stamps,music,wine,art) so when I inherited a number of pens the move to pen collecting was easy. My late mother was a collector/hoarder so maybe it's in the blood, I ticked "other".

Regards
Hugh

[wastelanded]

Happiness, the fun of hunting, and sharing that happiness with other pen nuts. That and lining my nest with shiny things.

ETA: And, of course to *use* them! Fountain pens are an arthritic's best friend.

Edited by wastelanded, 13 October 2013 - 02:08 PM.

[vintage penman]

I also ticked other - for one simple reason - I like writing with FP's. Also much better to use than BP's, if like me you have gradually worsening arthritis in your hands.

I do however discipline myself not to have too many pens at any one time - at present it is an eclectic selection of 18 pens that I do like to use, some more occasionally than others.

I have no compunction whatsoever when it comes to selling a pen to fund another - that is the only way a collector / user can operate on a shoestring budget like mine -I have in my time landed some pretty special pens like a full size Ford's Patent Pen for next to nothing too.