Parker U.K. Duofold

The Parker UK Duofold

The Parker Dufold UK version are often being neglected by collectors. Parker kept the Duofold name alive longer in the UK and Europe than in the USA.  Some of the sturdiest, best writing vintage pens around are the English and Danish made Aerometric-filling Duofolds from the '50s and '60s. It comes in a varieties of colours and sizes. Colors included black, blue, red, brown and the green.  All were equipped with conventional 14K gold nibs, many of which are wider and more flexible than their US-made contemporaries, though tending to have a softer feel. 

Parker Lacquer Pens from the 1980s.

The Parker Lacquer pens from the 1980s. The first one I got was the black where I bought it in the late 1980s at Lin Kwong shop at Singapore Parkway parade. I was torn between getting a black Montblanc or this black Parker lacquer fountain. In the end, I have chosen Parker as Monthblanc pen was made of plastic while the Parker is made with metal and coated with lacquer.

NOS Parker Challengers

NOS Parker Challengers

The Challenger was phased out around 1941 and i was fortunate to be able to find a tray of NOS challenger during the late 1980s- early 90s. All these pens pumps have been repaired by the late Mr. Yeo, who in the past also repaired our late SM Mr. Lee Kwan Yew's fountain pens.

Parker 51 from Hong Kong

The Parker 51 were popular in the 1950-60s. Many hero fountain pens modelled its design after the Parker 51.

Vintage Dunhill Namiki

Parker 45

Parker 75

Everyday pen

How I spend money

Parker 75 advertisements from 1966

National Geographic - November 1974

Book fom my Sifu

This is a gift from my Sifu..

Parker 75 Bicentennial from the USA

Parker 75 Bicentennial 

In 1976 Parker wanted to commemorate the 200th year/ bicentennial of the declaration of the declaration of US. It produced a Parker “75” that was made from pewter, basically a tin alloy, widely used in the time period of the colonial years.

It sported a ball ended clip, similar to the Duofolds of the 1920’s. Embedded in the cap top it had a piece of wood from the Independence hall, an American national landmark located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mostly famous because the US constitution, and the declaration of independence were prepared in the building.

The wood was removed from the building when it was restored in 1897 and Parker was later able to buy a small quantity that came with certificates of authenticity from the historic society. It came in a handmade chest made form mahogany with an elaborate brass lock to resemble a jewel chest from the 1700’s. The pen cap was engraved “Wood in this limited edition pen / is a relic of Independence Hall / Philadelphia – 1776”. The pens were numbered and 10 000 items were produced. It’s known to collectors as the Bicentennial pen or the American pen.

Source : http://parkerpens.net/limitededition.html

It was packaged in two different forms. One was a handsome cherrywood box while the other was a pewter box with two hinged doors/covers which was a replica of a colonial writing stand.  There was also a desk set containing a ballpoint pen and mechanical pencil though it was in the slim Classic version.

 Source: http://www.parker75.addr.com/Reference/Parker75_Ref.htm

Parker Grain d'Orge, 1971 - 1978

Parker 75 Grain d'Orge, 1971 - ?

This is a silver Parker 75 Grain d'Orge that has the Barleycorn pattern.

Silver & Gold Parker 75 Grain d'Orge above

Lamy X Line

I don't normally keep new pens but there is a need to support Dksh Korea efforts and idea of the joint promotion with Line.. The bear looks so cute and defintely will be a collectors items for the youth...

"Best" Fountian pen

Gift with Purchase Pen

This is a gift with purchase pen that I have initiated many years ago when I was working for Rothsman for the brand "London" Cigarettes launched in Myanmar during the late 1990s.

Parker 75 Godron, Mileraies, Perle, Matt Black from UK

Parker 75 Godron, Mileraies, Perle, Matt Black

My journey continues with

Early French Parker 75 in Godron Silver fill pattern. MINT . Fitted with the original 14kt gold medium tipped nib

French Parker 75  in Silver fill Milleraies Pattern. MINT UNUSED condition. Fitted with the original 14kt gold broad tipped nib.

Parker 75 in Scarce Perle Pattern gold fill, In Nr MINT condition. Fitted with the original 14kt gold medium tipped nib

Parker 75 in Matt Black Laque with gold fill trim. MINT UNUSED. Fitted with the original 14kt gold Fine tipped Nib

Parker 75 Guirlande from Thailand Bangkok

Parker 75 Guirlande

The Parker 75 Guirlande has a guilloche weave like pattern. According to Mr. Lih Tah Wong, Guirlande is French for "garland" and this is a rare pattern that was not known to exist in the Parker 75 family until a discovery in 1999, even though this pattern can be found for the Parker 35 and 180 models. Since then several of these have surfaced.  It is possible that this was not a full production pattern that was sold by Parker, being instead a test market pattern with limited distribution. 

As mentioned earlier, I was lucky to be able to find this in NOS conditions end 2014, when I first arrived in Bangkok, during one of my weekend vintage pen hunting. It even comes with an original old box.

Parker 75 Crosshatch grid, (Ciselé ), 1964 - 1993 from Thailand Bangkok

Parker 75 Crosshatch grid, aka as Ciselé, 1964 - 1993

This must be one of the most recognizable and iconic Parker 75 with its cross-hatch square grid made design of vertical and horizontal engraved lines, equally spaced to form 3,330 tiny squares. For me, this is the value for money fountain pen where one can own a solid sterling silver (mixture of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper) pen at a reasonable costs. It was marked "Sterling silver" or "925" on cap band.  

Interesting to see the prices escalates as times goes by:

1964: FP - $25

1970: FP - $25; BP - $15; PCL - $15

1972: FP - $25

1977: FP - $50; FT - $30; BP - $22.50; PCL - $22.50

            qty 12-49 FP - $45.45; FT - 27.27; BP - 20.45

1978: Same qty 1 prices as in 1977

1979: FP - $60; BP - $30; PCL - $30

1989: FP - $150; BP - $100

1990: FP - $150; BP - $100; no RB or Mechanical Pencil offered

1993: FP - $155; BP - $105

Source: www.parker75.com