Parker Reflex Fountain Pen

[rkahlon]

Hello Everyone,

 

New to the forum, after spending hours searching the internet I thought I would try this avenue. I recently broke my parker reflex fountain pen, and am wondering if anyone knows where I could purchase another one. I really like the reflex pen, it was a true workhorse pen...hope someone has some ideas. I've already checked ebay and they have a limited selection somewhat overpriced. The original site I bought it from no longer carries it....

 

Thanks for your help!

 

[usk15]

EBay...

[The Blue Knight]

I just checked Ebay and you can get one for less then $15, that's a reasonable price as it was discontinued over 6 years ago so NOS is slowly starting to dry up.

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

What part of it broke? If you're wondering, in many cases, the plastic used to make the Parker Reflex, especially the green ones it seems did not age well. Many of them are quite prone to cap lip cracks. I used to have a lot of them. I'd suggest looking for a different pen. That said, if you tell us the colour of the pen and the part that is broken, I might have parts. It's hard to say though because a lot of the parts I used to have succumbed to cracks. I still have some workable parts in like new condition that you might be able to have.

 

Dillon

[Sasha Royale]

I am not fond of the rubber grip, but, yes, it is a workhorse. Just before discontinuation, I got one for $8.95 . Today, I would expect

to pay twice that amount. Never can tell, though. Try searching "Parker Reflex Fountain Pen" on Ebay. I plan to search this evening.

If I find a good price, I will buy it. So, don't waste time.

[The Blue Knight]

In the UK they are still £5-£6 however were manufactured in the UK and I imagine the majority of the unsold pens are here rather then in the USA/Canada so factor shipping in £10 ($15) is fine.

 

Also have you tried the Frontier as it's a far better pen which arguable writes better then the sonnet and doesn't cost much more then the reflex.

Edited July 28, 2014 by The Blue Knight

[thINKer]

They have a blue Reflex on Overstock.com for $9. (No affiliation of course.)

[Dillo]

In the UK they are still £5-£6 however were manufactured in the UK and I imagine the majority of the unsold pens are here rather then in the USA/Canada so factor shipping in £10 ($15) is fine.

 

Also have you tried the Frontier as it's a far better pen which arguable writes better then the sonnet and doesn't cost much more then the reflex.

 

I second trying out the Frontier. I thought it was quite nice. I was a bit more fond of the Parker Jotter though, and that uses the same nib as the Reflex, so when my Reflex broke, I put the nib into my Jotter.

 

Dillon

[Mike 59]

Completely agree with Dillo (above #8), using the same nib, the 'Jotter' flighter is possibly the better choice. It's a slim pen and fairly small altogether, being 122mm capped and 136mm cap posted.

The Jotter has the new style 'shiney chrome' nib, and mine writes halfway between fine and medium, although these nibs always seem to be 'mediums', according to the 'M' under the feed.

. The 'Frontier' is a superior design, (very Sonnet like), mine is always in use, can't believe it cost me under £10 in 2008, what a bargain.

[pajaro]

Some peope start out with a given pen, like the Reflex, and, if it breaks, you want another of the same, because that's what you started with, and you don't want some other pen at this point. I think I understand this, because I started out with a Parker 51, and there were no other Parkers as far as I was concerned. All the other Parkers, no matter how much better they might have been or how superior to a 51 they might have been, might as well have been Wearevers for all I cared.

So, if you start with a Reflex and love a Reflex, because it is something you have used and loved, and if your Reflex breaks, it is perfectly understandable if you want another Reflex. No matter how much more cost effective other Parkers might be, it ought to be possible to see that a person has developed a liking for a Reflex and a comfort level with a Reflex, let him buy a Reflex.

I feel the same way about the 51. If you talked me into buying a Duofold, and someone did, I would not be comfortable using it, and indeed I dumped it fairly soon after purchase. So, if somene likes a Reflex, or if they like a Sonnet, just help them along. I think that, before you will change the pen you are most comfortable with, you have to become disenchanted with it on your own for some reason. I think each person goes through some natural progression of trying pens, but they might very well never stop writing comfortably and happily with a certain pen, no matter what the rest of the world thinks.

For me, pens I used early on have a sentimental attachment and I am more comfortable using them than any other pens. The Sheaffer translucent barrel school cartridge pen, the Parker 51 and the Montblanc 144 C/C pen are those pens for me. There might be better pens and more cost effective pens, but those pens I used early on and still have in my possession. They are good enough, and to me they are the epitome of pens. So, for the OP might be the Parker Reflex. It is a personal thing for each.

Edited July 29, 2014 by pajaro

[The Blue Knight]

Some peope start out with a given pen, like the Reflex, and, if it breaks, you want another of the same, because that's what you started with, and you don't want some other pen at this point. I think I understand this, because I started out with a Parker 51, and there were no other Parkers as far as I was concerned. All the other Parkers, no matter how much better they might have been or how superior to a 51 they might have been, might as well have been Wearevers for all I cared.

So, if you start with a Reflex and love a Reflex, because it is something you have used and loved, and if your Reflex breaks, it is perfectly understandable if you want another Reflex. No matter how much more cost effective other Parkers might be, it ought to be possible to see that a person has developed a liking for a Reflex and a comfort level with a Reflex, let him buy a Reflex.

I feel the same way about the 51. If you talked me into buying a Duofold, and someone did, I would not be comfortable using it, and indeed I dumped it fairly soon after purchase. So, if somene likes a Reflex, or if they like a Sonnet, just help them along. I think that, before you will change the pen you are most comfortable with, you have to become disenchanted with it on your own for some reason. I think each person goes through some natural progression of trying pens, but they might very well never stop writing comfortably and happily with a certain pen, no matter what the rest of the world thinks.

For me, pens I used early on have a sentimental attachment and I am more comfortable using them than any other pens. The Sheaffer translucent barrel school cartridge pen, the Parker 51 and the Montblanc 144 C/C pen are those pens for me. There might be better pens and more cost effective pens, but those pens I used early on and still have in my possession. They are good enough, and to me they are the epitome of pens. So, for the OP might be the Parker Reflex. It is a personal thing for each.

 

Well said I completely agree with what you have said. My first fountain pen 11 years ago that my parents bought me when I was 10 was a Parker Reflex and completely agree that it is a nice extremely ergonomic pen I broke mine many years ago. However I did buy a new one last year when I was getting into the hobby and it hasn't seen much use however after reading this thread I have put into rotation as it is a nice pen which I have over looked.

[Biber]

PM me and I'll send you one, a Reflex that is. I was given the pen as a PIF years back so I'll be happy to forward it on so someone who will appreciate it. Oh, and it's black.

Edited July 29, 2014 by Biber

[Dip n Scratch]

Does anyone know the accurate dates when the 'parallelogram' Reflex was made?

I bought one in November 2004 from W.H. Smith in the UK, with my first pay. That is why I still have it. It was probably the cheapest Parker fountain pen you could get.

I have moved on since then, but not to a better Parker.

[Mike 59]

Hi 'Dip n Scratch',

According to Parkerpen.net, only one year, 2002, for the Reflex with the parallelogram clip.

I had the ballpoint version in red.

Edited May 16, 2017 by Mike 59