Parker 51 T6 date code?

[PaulLeMay]

Recently picked up a vac filled Parker 51 with a T6 date code.

What is T6? I've never seen that before.

 

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y271/plemay/black2.jpg

[Dennis B]

6 with no dots is 4th quarter 1946. The T is thought to indicate Toronto assembly of US parts.

 

Dennis B

[PaulLeMay]

Thanks

[OiRogers]

6 with no dots is 4th quarter 1946. The T is thought to indicate Toronto assembly of US parts.

 

Dennis B

 

Very interesting that the barrel would still be stamped Made in U.S.A. when assembled in Toronto... I suppose that is equivalent to our current "American Made" cars that have 90%+ parts sourced from outside the US and several large assemblies made outside the US as well.

 

Well, I've learned my one new thing for the day... I guess I can go to sleep now. Sweet.

[wheezur]

The notion that T indicates assembly of US-made parts in Toronto is widespread, but may not be the case. David Nishimura argues that the T date code indicates pens made in the US with some parts manufactured in Toronto; this is sort of the reverse of the widely accepted explanation for the T code:

 

http://www.vintagepens.com/FAQhistory/Parker_date_codes.shtml

 

The 6 (with no dots) certainly means fourth quarter of 1946. The T part of the code likely indicates some involvement of the Toronto factory, but it is less than clear whether it was US manufacture using some parts made in Toronto or Toronto-assembled with US parts.

 

Obviously, there were people from Parker who knew what the T represented so maybe someone out there knows for sure and can set this all straight?

[OiRogers]

The notion that T indicates assembly of US-made parts in Toronto is widespread, but may not be the case. David Nishimura argues that the T date code indicates pens made in the US with some parts manufactured in Toronto; this is sort of the reverse of the widely accepted explanation for the T code:

 

http://www.vintagepe...ate_codes.shtml

 

The 6 (with no dots) certainly means fourth quarter of 1946. The T part of the code likely indicates some involvement of the Toronto factory, but it is less than clear whether it was US manufacture using some parts made in Toronto or Toronto-assembled with US parts.

 

Obviously, there were people from Parker who knew what the T represented so maybe someone out there knows for sure and can set this all straight?

 

Ok, so perhaps I can't go to sleep yet.... This explanation sounds plausible as well.... perhaps more so.

 

I really need to invest in that "Parker '51" book... been meaning too do so for quite a while now. Perhaps this would be a good opportunity to spur myself into doing so.

Edited May 4, 2010 by OiRogers

[Dennis B]

Parker "51" by David and Mark Shepherd, p.37, states "T before the date code indicating pens which had been produced in the USA and assembled in Toronto." That's good enough for me to go with.

 

Dennis B

[gyasko]

I find T6 & T7 pens around here in southern Wisconsin, not far from Janesville. The Nishimura thesis seems a more plausible explanation for this. However, postwar labour shortages may have made seemingly irrational logistics rational.

[Vintagepens]

Parker "51" by David and Mark Shepherd, p.37, states "T before the date code indicating pens which had been produced in the USA and assembled in Toronto." That's good enough for me to go with.

 

However, after the book went to press, I asked David Shepherd if he had been able to find any documentation of this during his research in the Parker archives. He told me that he had not. I presented my views on the "T" date codes to him, and he told me that he found them convincing.

[Dennis B]

However, after the book went to press, I asked David Shepherd if he had been able to find any documentation of this during his research in the Parker archives. He told me that he had not. I presented my views on the "T" date codes to him, and he told me that he found them convincing.

 

David,

 

A fine example of how lore becomes "fact." Thanks for your clarification and I'll note your views in my copy of Shepherd's book.

 

Thanks,

 

Dennis

[OldGriz]

However, after the book went to press, I asked David Shepherd if he had been able to find any documentation of this during his research in the Parker archives. He told me that he had not. I presented my views on the "T" date codes to him, and he told me that he found them convincing.

 

David,

 

A fine example of how lore becomes "fact." Thanks for your clarification and I'll note your views in my copy of Shepherd's book.

 

Thanks,

 

Dennis

 

True, but in this case we have two bits of lore and no absolute facts.... so choose your poison and go on as you will

[OiRogers]

However, after the book went to press, I asked David Shepherd if he had been able to find any documentation of this during his research in the Parker archives. He told me that he had not. I presented my views on the "T" date codes to him, and he told me that he found them convincing.

 

David,

 

A fine example of how lore becomes "fact." Thanks for your clarification and I'll note your views in my copy of Shepherd's book.

 

Thanks,

 

Dennis

 

True, but in this case we have two bits of lore and no absolute facts.... so choose your poison and go on as you will

 

So perhaps make those notes in pencil rather than one of the bulletproof wonder-inks of today.

And even with this tragic near-fatal (possible) flaw exposed... I'm still intending to order that book. As soon as I get around too it.

[tsunami31]

However, after the book went to press, I asked David Shepherd if he had been able to find any documentation of this during his research in the Parker archives. He told me that he had not. I presented my views on the "T" date codes to him, and he told me that he found them convincing.

 

David,

 

A fine example of how lore becomes "fact." Thanks for your clarification and I'll note your views in my copy of Shepherd's book.

 

Thanks,

 

Dennis

 

True, but in this case we have two bits of lore and no absolute facts.... so choose your poison and go on as you will

 

 

 

 

Spot on. Huge respect for David (bought pens from him and had happy dealings with him), but with a company the size of Parker, there must be some records on this, surely. It shouldn't be necessary to speculate.

 

There used to be an active pen collectors community in Toronto. Surely someone must have researched Parker production there sometime ?