What draws you to the Parker pen. I am trying to learn. What drew me to the Sheaffer touchdown was the shape and color contrast of the nib. I like the design of the Parker nib as well. It draws my eye to the nib thenI look at the rest of the pen. The Parker nib and the Sheaffer nibs are both eye catching and seem t draw me toward the pens. It is time I started looking and buying some vintage Parker pens. What are you thoughts?

I like Parkers because nobody else makes the Parker 51. Duh.

Get some aerometric 51s! Everyone luuuurves them and rumor holds that they are mostly indestructible.

If you like open nibbed pens I'd be surprised if you're drawn to the Parker 51/61 or similar. And, to a certain extent, vice versa.

What makes people like Parkers? Difficult one that. I like the way they write & their solidity. My wife (who prefers a Sheaffer Targa) hates the same Parkers for those same reasons. I can't comment on why anyone would like the open nibbed Parkers, because I don't much like them.

Sorry, I don't think that helps much.
It's all down to personal taste, and I have no idea how to quantify or describe that precious commodity.

Regards

Richard.

What draws me to Parker?

1) They write, very well,
2) They are built robustly,
3) They have usable designs (good, shapes, sizes and weight),
4) They are elegant in style (fancy enough colors, shapes, and materials to be interesting but not gaudy),
and
5) They write, very well!

Very sorry, computer or network hick-up!

what the heck?

deleted ...

It all started with the lustraloy cap and hooded nib that the other kids had. Never got one in those days. And it grew from that till now I have them from as early as I can to as modern as I can.............

I suppose I can say heritage and pen quality. My dad liked and used Parker pens and my first real FP back in the late 1950's was a Parker. Parkers had a reputation for being very well made and for writing nicely. Through the years, I have added many Parkers to my pen stable.

I cannot guess what the future has in store for Parker. I will just leave it at that.

1. Duofold

2. Vacumatic

3. "51"

4. 75

(The only great design they missed out on was the Balance )

What is the Parker draw?

I thought it was when you are holding a 21, 41, 51, and 61 and hoping to draw the inside straight.

Todd

Doesn't that have something to do with a really good pen ... erm ... FLUSH ?

All of the above. Additionally, I believe that the older Lucky Curve Nibs are some of the finest writers you can get as far as flex. The Duos and the 51s write differently, but still are outstanding.

For me the draw is the first generation Duofold. It has a very period 1920s look, but has a few modern features like a fairly rigid nib. The button filler is simple and friendly to use as well.

The Vacs are nice pens as well, though I don't have any at the moment.

The 51 I am indifferent towards- the draw for Parker to me is purely pre WWII.

I have a specific focus on the pens made at the Newhaven factory during the early days of WWll. THey are very pretty with the variety of colours used because of material shortages. The nibs are more flexible than the original duos. Sizes are also varied. I have 18 of my collection in a display case and they make a continuum from small to full size senior, very pretty.

Parker draw?

To write, write, write... holding Sonnet Fougere!

Thanks to evryone who posted to my question. Ya'll have given me lots to think ablut and I am sure I will be looking for a WWII or older Parker to begin my Parker experience!

I don't mean to put down the 51 or other pens certainly, they're just not my thing. If you do like the very old-style vintage look from the 20's and 30's though, and you want a Parker, the Duofold and the Vac are great options.

There are several factors that make Parker pens highly desirable: Parker advertised heavily, so they are quite well known. Parker produced high quality, very dependable pens for a very long time, in very large numbers. Parker was a fairly innovative company, unlike some of the other big pen makers in the 30's and 40's (Watermans being a particular example), so they stayed in the forefront of the public's mind.

Me, I like my Parkers because I have quite a few examples that write wonderfully. I also have a number of Sheaffers (mostly Snorkels and TD models) that usually write better, along with way too many other pens.

Get a "51" in good shape or a 61 and you will find out why they have such a following. And the Vacs are pretty!

Peter

To me, Parker pens have a plain design, but that's what draws me in - I don't really like my pens being all fancy. Some of my classmates commented that my Parker "51" looks ugly, but I find it the most beautiful pen in the world, at least for now.

The beautiful Vacumatics..I LOVE the celluloid

I know it sounds blasphemous, but I completely agree. I guess they're an acquired taste.

The draw for me are the vintage Duofolds (love any from the 20's up to the striped victory nib models in the 40's), the Vacs, and absolutely adore the 61's, followed by the 51's.

The feel of the vintage Parkers, while varying to a great degree between models, all are exactly what I think FP's *should* feel like while writing. That feel is what draws me to them.


I've been very disappointed with the new lines of Parkers and I'm not drawn to them at all anymore. Some people swear by the new ones though, so maybe I'm just warped.

Dave

I agree with you about the modern ones- the modern Duofold looks nice, but the price tag is quite high. Other than that I've not been impressed with the new offerings.

I was using a Montblanc for many years an more recently a Cartier Diablo when I found a pen my father had given me in the late 70's. It was a Parker 51 Signet and when I cleaned it up and got it working it blew me away. It's the pen that got me into collecting vintage pens. Just look at all the pens around the 1930's and 40's and then look at a 51. It looks like a pen from outer space. It's incredibly well built and writes like a dream.

Check out the history of the 51 at http://www.penmuseum.co.uk/master%207.htm. You can still buy "new old stock" 51's on Ebay (you'll probably be bidding against me) and high quality pens are still plentiful at very reasonable prices.

I have some old Duofolds, Vacumatics and other great Parker pens, but the 51 is special. Give it a shot and you'll see what I mean.

IMHO the first thing that attracts is the look, the design. I admittedly only have modern day Parkers but they are all beautifully proportioned instruments.
Feel the Sonnet Ciselé, what a marvellous pen to hold. Take a good look at the Duofold: the shape of the barrel, the way the clip harmonizes with the cap.
In other pens I always seem to find something wanting - specially in barrel shape and clip design. Parker succeed, from the Vector to the Duofold.

Cheers


Anthony

The draw for me is...well history. I love history and old stuff so vintage Parkers like the Duofold and the '51' are part of the draw. But also the fact that Parker is extremely famous and it's pens were used by the rich and famous of history. I was elated when I found out Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (One of my favourite writers, although I've stuck solely to his writings on Mr. Holmes), wrote his last stories with a (presumably hard rubber) Duofold big-red.