Allan (Procyon) and all other interested parties: There is no Kevin. Or at least, I am not him. I used to go by "RobertNFrappuls" here and elsewhere. My real name is actually Brian McQueen.
Farmboy, in case you misunderstood me, I agree that these pens were sold way out of line. Black 51 sets with common caps in not perfect condition = sub $150 sets.
Reaper, a little clarification since you asked for some.
So changing the clips around is not considered alterations from the original? So I assume all this discussion is just showing what you all know about Parkers and what is acceptable to you all is okay... Again I agree to disagree with you! If the clips were changed in the era they were made then that would be acceptable to me..
What David is talking about doing, when he mentions swapping clips, is swapping one part for another original, Parker made, period correct part.
What the eBay seller was selling were pens which had parts swapped out for non-original, reproduction parts.
There is a marked difference between the two. The first method creates a pen that could have originally come from the factory in that configuration. The second method creates an entirely new thing which could NOT have come from the factory.
So to the original forum subject just tell what it is because the value is in the eye of the beholder!
True, the value of an object is solely in the eye of the beholder. Something is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. I think we can all agree, though, that for two black Parker 51s with the same cap and in the same condition, the double jeweled pen is more valuable than a single jeweled pen. When someone swaps on a reproduction piece and then tries to pass it off as an original piece, that seller is deceiving the buyer. I have a problem with that. My original point was to warn buyers of the potential for reproduction parts getting swapped in and passed off as originals.
Let's do a little math scenario (I will use prices from the SOLD pens page at parker51.com, so these are real prices paid for real, original pens)
---BEGINNING OF SCENARIO---
Ernesto sold a Single Jewel black Vacumatic 51 set with GF caps for $180.
He also sold an ORIGINAL Double Jewel black Vacumatic 51 set with the same caps for $375.
Ariel Kullock's site doesn't exist anymore, but he used to sell a black reproduction blind cap with tassie and jewel for under $50 shipped to the US. These are the pieces that were on tatsy123's pens.
Let's say I purchased Ernesto's SJ set from him for $180. I want to sell it for $375, but nobody is going to give me that much for it. So I buy a $50 DJ blind cap from Ariel and put it on my pen. I now have $230 invested in the pen. I tell people it is "100% Original" when I put it up for sale. Someone believes me and pays me $375 for my set. I've now committed fraud. This is not OK.
Let's say instead that I buy Ernesto's SJ pen for $180, Kullock's blind cap for $50, and put it up for sale for $375. This time, though, I let the buyers know that the blind cap is a reproduction piece. Someone then decides that it is worth $375 to them, and buys it. This is OK.
---END OF SCENARIO---
I had sent Tatsy123 a question about THIS PEN while the auction was still active. Note that the auction makes no claims about originality, but it also makes no mention of reproduction parts (save for the brass filling unit)
I asked him if it was a reproduction tassie. His response was (direct quote) "Hi, its the original blind cap & jewel . I had the tassie replaced but it's from Parker dunfold."
It can be very clearly seen, however, that the jewel at least is NOT original. I can't say definitively that the blind cap is not original. The tassie appears to be a Kullock tassie, not a Duofold tassie.
Edited by BrianMcQueen, 18 April 2015 - 06:43 AM.
