Sunday, October 30, 2016

Book fom my Sifu

This is a gift from my Sifu..

Saturday, October 29, 2016

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...

Friday, October 28, 2016

"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

Thursday, October 27, 2016

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

Parker 75 Ecossais, 1971 - ? from Thailand Bangkok

Parker 75 Ecossais, 1971 - ?

The Parker 75 has a crosshatch grid but without regular grid spacing design, with silver plating over brass.

Vintage Fountain Pen shop Bangkok

After staying two years in Thailand, there is not much entertainment for me except my visits to the Jatujak weekend market and my visit to the vintage pen shop in Bangkok at Fortune town.

Inside the shop you can see these lovely pens:

The prices varies according to conditions and depending on one's skills in picking the best buy! Do your homework and it will be a nice treasure hunt experience...

PARKER 75 Lapis Lazuli LAQUE fountain pen 1979-1983

The Parker 75 Laque fountain pen in the Lapis Lazuli hand lacquered finish, one of the Chinese lacquer inspired series produced at the Meru factory in France in the late 1970s and 1980s. This is the most sought after Pen within the Laque series. It comes with an 18k nib.

Lacquer pens series consist of:

· Woodgrain
· Tortoiseshell
· Jasper red quartz
· Lapis Lazuli
· Thuya brown
· Malachite green
· Burgundy
· Grey
· Black

You will note from the photo below the ridged area between the nib and the barrel that was designed to increase the writer’s grip. The advantage of the Parker “75” nib unit is that the nib collar will rotate if wished to move the nib to an alternative angle to suit your writing style