Why collect old pens?
It seems that most people who get into collecting pens start with new ones (as I did), but eventually wind up gravitating toward the older ones. Why? In my opinion, old pens are more fun to collect than new ones for the following reasons: • They usually cost less • They are more numerous (if not always easier to find) and greater in variety • They come in countless styles and colors • They have interesting histories • They are broken-in, proven performers that often write and work better than new pens at many times the price. Comparison of points from a Waterman Gentleman (1980s) and a Waterman 14PSF (1910s). Note the thicker tip and larger nib on the newer pen, along with the more sophisticated-looking fit and finish. The older pen has more of an irregular, “hand-wrought” appearance. How are old pens different from new ones? In general, though there are many exceptions either way, very old pens (say, before 1930) tend to have very thin, supple points, while newer pens have fairly rigi
