Parker nibs

[bixby]

Hi:

 

I've been looking at nibs under a microscope stereoscope and all the parkers I have have trace blue ink, despite never having inked or dipped the pen. I bought these from the manufacturer. I suspect this is a manufacturer testing common to Parker but thought I'd throw this at the experts.

 

My Conway Stewarts, Waterman and Pelikans don't have any trace ink, just the Parkers.

[tburke0]

Perhaps it's some other residue from the manufacturing process? Have you noticed this on steel nibs, gold nibs, or both?

[bixby]

Hi:

 

I've only internationals and centennials in the modern part of my parker collection, so I can only reference gold nibs.

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

The nibs are tested prior to shipment.

 

Dillon

[wimg]

Hi Bixby,

 

Watermans are also tested prior to shipment. But then, Parkers and Watermans originate from the same factory .

 

Warm regards, Wim

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

My Rotring Artpen came from the Parker UK factory too.

 

Dillon

[pmocz]

Does this mean that most new fountain pens, even if the box has never been opened, should be considered having been dipped.

 

If that is the case it would sure upset a few "collectors"

 

George.

[wimg]

Hi,

 

My Rotring Artpen came from the Parker UK factory too.

 

Dillon

Hi Dillon,

 

i was talking about the Waterman, France factory. Is there still a Parker factory in the UK? I thought they closed down.

 

TIA, warm regards, Wim

[wimg]

Does this mean that most new fountain pens, even if the box has never been opened, should be considered having been dipped.

 

If that is the case it would sure upset a few "collectors"  

 

George.

Hi pmocz,

 

Well, they should know, really... But it would be upsetting to some, very likely , especially if the ink residues aren't washed away properly after testing .

 

Warm regards, Wim

[Maja]

Does this mean that most new fountain pens, even if the box has never been opened, should be considered having been dipped.

 

If that is the case it would sure upset a few "collectors"  

 

George.

Hi pmocz,

 

Well, they should know, really... But it would be upsetting to some, very likely , especially if the ink residues aren't washed away properly after testing .

 

Warm regards, Wim

True, but it's not like buying used undergarments or anything...

 

I really wish more pen companies could test fountain pens before selling them...not the cheap student pens (or else their price would surely shoot up) but the moderate to high-priced ones. Nice of Parker/Waterman to do so....

[dmorgen]

A friend of mine helped his father-in-law move into assisted living. He knew I collect pens, so he grabbed a pen set, or it would've been thrown out. He gave it to me last week. It's a Parker 51 Aero & mechanical pencil, in a nice leather case with a gold trim of some kind, and instructions. At first, I thought the pen was in mint condition. But when I looked with a loupe, I could see a little dried ink on the nib. So I figured the pen had been used slightly. Now I'm reading here that Parker tests their nibs before shipping ... perhaps the pen is in mint condition after all!

 

BTW, the pen is black, and has a date code of "8.", which I believe means Q3, 1948. It has a lustroloy cap with a matte finish, a gold-filled clip, and a thin shiny cap band. As far as I've been able to find out, this cap was common, but wears very quickly. So far, I haven't been able to find any defects on this cap!

 

Thanks for listening!

 

Dave

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

Yes, there still is a factory. One of my pens from there is a 2005 Summer Parker Reflex.

 

Dillon

[wimg]

Hi,

 

Yes, there still is a factory. One of my pens from there is a 2005 Summer Parker Reflex.

 

Dillon

Hi Dillon,

 

Thanks!

 

Warm regards, Wim

[pmocz]

Hi Maja,

 

Talk about kinky. Buying used undergarments . If some of these "collectors" are willing to pay extra for a pen in a box that has never been opened and they intend on selling it, in an unopened condition (because it's worth more). How do they know that there is a pen in the box?? :blink: :blink: .

 

George

[JeffTL]

I imagine a 51 Aero would have been tested; remember that when they were made, they were the top-level pen made by the top company, kind of like an MB149 or something now.

 

Of course, I don't know if Montblanc tests their pens, though evidently Parker still does.

[Maja]

Hi Maja,

 

Talk about kinky. Buying used undergarments . If some of these "collectors" are willing to pay extra for a pen in a box that has never been opened and they intend on selling it, in an unopened condition (because it's worth more). How do they know that there is a pen in the box?? :blink: :blink: .

 

George

Good point, George!

What I meant was: buying a pen that has been used (something I have done and will do) is not the same as buying used underwear (something I have not done and will not do...willingly)