The Parker 45 nib codes (engraved letter on the feed) have been a mystery to me. Given the fact that the nibs can be easily interchanged with feeds, I neved knew whether what I was getting was original or not. Recently I was able to get a complete set of original nibs so the nib codes are now clear and there are:

XF -> X
F -> F
M -> M
B -> B
XF/IT -> no mark
F/IT -> C
M/IT -> D
B/IT -> E
MO -> R
BO -> Z

IT: italic, O:oblique.

I hope you enjoy. Now if you find one with another mark please let me know

Hi Antonios,
Hire a new "raritie",this a Parker 45 english made and the code is :E
No idea what kind of mark/size is, but it seems to be a Italic,wide line
Enjoy the pic.
René Alvarez,
/:)

Nice.... As per the list above E is a broad italic. A very nice nib indeed.

Hi Antonios,
I did not see the E in the list;

sorry for mistake.Nice to know what code is it,
Thank you,
René,
:doh:

I just received an old 45 from my dad, and the underside of the nib unit has a big letter "S". It's a fairly wide, flat nib, probably from the early '60s. Any ideas? Some sort of calligraphy nib?

Thanks,
altoclef

edit: Oops, just finished reading the other thread. Looks like a "Stub". Should have guessed, but I'm pretty new to this... :-)

http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...showtopic=39284

That still leaves me in the air about the pen in this thread, as there's no marking on a point which is indded XF but in no way IT. Alas.

Reanimating this thread because I've just received a 45 with a point marked "A". Accountant? It's very thin, although I'm still soaking it to get nasty old ink-lumps out so I've not tried it.

I have not seen a 45 with an A collar although I have one with a very, very fine nib.
Could you post a picture once it is cleaned for all us 45 fans please.

Yes indeed Ernst it is an accountant nib i have one in steel fitted to an olive 45.

Sure, and I'm startled at how willing my little camera is some days:

Good home work.
Ps: My girl was asking me if you can write her her name so she can learn the way you write.

I have a new arrival today too - a flighter 45 with a nib marked 'Y' I know very little about nibs but from pics I've checked looks like a left oblique to me........

Any thoughts?

I don't really have a lens capable of getting a good shot of the nib - this is the best I can do -

Click to view attachment

Still hoping for input on this from the Parker experts....

I have to say that the nib feels quite strange to me, as a lefty, but I've found what I would call the sweet spot, and it is very very sweet indeed - buttery smooth and adds a definite 'control' to my writing which is often missing!

I've not got a converter in it and I don't like the Quink cartridges much, but I'll put a converter in and try something else soon.

In the meantime, if anyone can identify the 'Y' nib and tell me if it is a rare animal, I'd appreciate it.

I have never heard of a "Y" nib and i have had many dozens of 45's with various nibs. The obliques i've had have had an "R" and "O" on the collars both left foot obliques. The pic of yours seems to show a left foot oblique also.

Yep, that's what I thought.

My 45 is marked X. Can anyone tell me what that means?

See the first post in the thread - the very first designation X = XF

What does XF mean? Hehe

It means eXtra Fine - which, I think, has a really fine point...

Oh I see. Thanks. But I have another issue with my 45, cause when I write, sometimes it just stops writing. Then I have to take out the [disposable] cartridge, wipe off the ink which is around it, shake off the excess ink on the nib case thing (sorry I don't know what you call it!), and then put it back. What should I do?

I'm no expert at all, but the first thing I do is to put in a converter and get rid of the cartridges......

I see. I have the original converters, but when I was gonna buy ink, they had dried up ink in them. But you're the second person to tell me that, so I guess I'll switch to converters after all my ink is used up. Thanks!

Just a sighting remark: I had a 45 Flighter arrive this morning with a Fine left foot Oblique, marked X !

My 45's got an M on the barrel. It's not at hand now but I'll check for another M where it's supposed to be.

It could be non-uniform wear or simply an exchanged nib. It is possible to exchange nib and feed collar easily.