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How Much Should A Vintage Parker 45 Cost?


The Blue Knight

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I was having a browse of some Parker 45 Ebay today as i was looking for a moderately priced vintage pen and as I have little knowledge of vintage pens I wasn't sure how much one should go for.

 

The specific model i would like is the Parker 45 Arrow with 14K nib in blue. In terms condition I would prefer it to be in good to very good condition with a medium nib. Things like original box and paper work, I'm not too bothered about

 

So I was wondering if some one who knows a bit about vintage pen's could give a rough range of how much I should be prepared to spend as it seems like buying vintage pen's is completely different to buying modern ones

 

Also an Idea how much a flighter 45 with a similar spec should cost would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

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It depends how hard you look. I've bought a couple for under $20. A flighter a bit more.

Tenet insanabile multos scribendi cacoethes.

Many are possessed by the incurable urge to write.

Juvenal

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These might help to give an idea. It really depends on what you want such as new, style etc. By shopping around you can normally pick up a nice used one in the $25-$30,00 range. Good luck as a nice 45 is hard to beat for their price.

 

http://parker51.com/otherfs.html

http://www.fivestarpens.com/parker-45.html

http://martinspens51.com/Parker45.htm

"Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the difference between having our arms in possession and under our direction, and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?" Patrick Henry

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I'm prejudiced against the 45 , I regard it only as a student pen, so my purchases are rare, but I have seen them in the wild downunder for $A10.00. I do concede some of the designs are attractive, and the pens not only form an important part of Parker history but are also rugged. The last one I purchased recently was $A10.00 for a gold capped , 14ct nibbed burgandy barreled model.

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I bought one NOS recently for $25. There are some collector versions selling for more, but I think $25 should be tops for a steel cap/plastic barrel specimen in nice to NOS condition.

 

Never my favorite Parker, they seem to me to write scratchily. I like the style, it's 1960s style, very Mod. Good for looks and inexpensive.

"Don't hurry, don't worry. It's better to be late at the Golden Gate than to arrive in Hell on time."
--Sign in a bar and grill, Ormond Beach, Florida, 1960.

 

 

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The Arrow was co-designed with the Newhaven Parker factory.

 

I have 4 of them. At least 3 of mine were made in the UK. Check UK Fleabay.

 

I've had mine for a couple years and paid $15-25 w/Gold nibs on Fleabay. Prices have gone up a bit, with a gold

nib $25-30 wouldn't be unreasonable to me.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

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I bought one NOS recently for $25. There are some collector versions selling for more, but I think $25 should be tops for a steel cap/plastic barrel specimen in nice to NOS condition.

 

Never my favorite Parker, they seem to me to write scratchily. I like the style, it's 1960s style, very Mod. Good for looks and inexpensive.

Huh. What type of nib do you have on yours? I have a GT Deluxe (I've been told that it's probably from the mid-1960s) with a 14K M nib. "Scratchy" is the last POSSIBLE word I would use to describe it. Mind you, it has a *really* small sweet spot, because the nib is TINY. But when I hit that sweet spot I just go sort of all melty inside. :cloud9:

I sumgai'd it (IMO) in a small antiques mall in NW Pennsylvania last summer, for $10 US + tax. Black, steel cap, gold trim and of course the 14K nib. And it's got, I believe, the original squeeze fill cartridge in it).

It doesn't get much use, now that I have a very nicely writing 51 (plus I'm a bit concerned that the squeeze bar is pinching the sac, so I'm thinking I want to have a pro take a look at it at some point). But, all in all I would certainly consider buying another one (although the odds of getting one as nice for the price for this one are probably not all that good).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

"It's very nice, but frankly, when I signed that list for a P-51, what I had in mind was a fountain pen."

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I two dozen Parker 45 fountain pens. The $15 bargains are pretty much gone. Today, I would be willing to

pay $25 (including shipping) for a nice writer P45. +$5 for gold nibs and cap rings. +$5 for a red one.

 

A Parker 45 is a constant companion. As a writing fountain pen, I place little value in a gold nib, or stainless

(Flighter) barrel.

 

I hope you get and enjoy a Parker 45 soon. (It is the "Zippo lighter" of fountain pens.) Don't be adverse to

assembling one from parts.

Auf freiem Grund mit freiem Volke stehn.
Zum Augenblicke dürft ich sagen:
Verweile doch, du bist so schön !

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Just a couple days ago I took receipt of an early 14k nibbed 45 in Midnight Blue GT that I happened across on eBay 5 minutes before it closed. Wasn't marked as 14k, but the picture was unmistakable. Paid $11.50 +$3.00 shipping, and it included a never used Parker squeeze converter. Deals are still out there, but one must be patient.

Sun%20Hemmi2.jpg

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Huh. What type of nib do you have on yours? I have a GT Deluxe (I've been told that it's probably from the mid-1960s) with a 14K M nib. "Scratchy" is the last POSSIBLE word I would use to describe it. Mind you, it has a *really* small sweet spot, because the nib is TINY. But when I hit that sweet spot I just go sort of all melty inside. :cloud9:

I sumgai'd it (IMO) in a small antiques mall in NW Pennsylvania last summer, for $10 US + tax. Black, steel cap, gold trim and of course the 14K nib. And it's got, I believe, the original squeeze fill cartridge in it).

It doesn't get much use, now that I have a very nicely writing 51 (plus I'm a bit concerned that the squeeze bar is pinching the sac, so I'm thinking I want to have a pro take a look at it at some point). But, all in all I would certainly consider buying another one (although the odds of getting one as nice for the price for this one are probably not all that good).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

The last 45 I got came off of ebay and the one before I bought from Dennis of Parkville Pens, may he rest in peace. His was a nice pen with medium 14K nib in an old box, black/lustraloy. The ebay one is an XF in 14K nib, olive green barrel, steel cap. The medium works OK, very, very wet, not usable for me. The XF is like writing with one of the needles I use to inject myself with insulin, but those would make smoother nibs. Some kid has the XF olive, he thinks it is cool, bless him.

 

When I went into the USAF in 1970 I stopped at the BX stationery store one day and bought a Parker 51 set and a flighter 45. Somewhere I lost the flighter 45, no regrets. I like the looks of 45s, but they don't agree with my lefty writing.

 

I think I would rather buy a Du-DU-dudududududuofold than another 45. I like 51s, 21s and Sonnets. The Sonnets write nicely while they last, but the nib material seems flimsy and subject to bending and creasing. I was writing something with a Sonnet with 14K fine, tap-tap-tapping lightly on the paper pad with the nib, and the nib was bent. I straightened it and it writes nicely again, but you are forewarned about them, which means don't try to outbid me on them as I self destruct with Sonnet lust.

 

The 45 is a pricepoint pen, and it gave us poverellos a thrill in the 60s. If it isn't the best writer, we are comparing it to pens more costly in their time. Compare it to Esties.

"Don't hurry, don't worry. It's better to be late at the Golden Gate than to arrive in Hell on time."
--Sign in a bar and grill, Ormond Beach, Florida, 1960.

 

 

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$25-30 USD + shipping for a Flighter.

 

You have to ask about the nib size. Some sellers have no idea about that, especially if they are not pen dealers but are antique dealers or guys selling off estate stuff.

 

If the nib is the wrong size, nibs are available on eBay for about $12.

San Francisco Pen Show - August 28-30, 2020 - Redwood City, California

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Hi

 

I know in the UK the 45's have virtually zero value and often see them sell on eBay for under £10 and often closer to £5, with the same being true for Parker Slimfolds as well, don't know why neither pen has any value over here.

 

Paul

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Thanks for all the advice It's really useful to hear other peoples experiences. After reading through I've got a rough idea how much I should be prepared to spend, So I was thinking up to about £20-£25 max for a flighter in very good condition and between £10-£20 for an arrow.

 

All the advice was really useful I guess all I need to do know start searching through ebay for a bargin!

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I really like the 45s. I think they are quite stylish and very nice writers.

 

I have eight, but only sought out three. My first was a burgundy CT, then a black Custom, then a Flighter Deluxe.

 

The others came to me in mixed lots (3 more CTs, a Classic and a GT).

 

Two have octanium nibs and six have gold, but they all write smoothly (Though the very first required a bit of micromesh smoothing. I think someone had previously attempted something on the nib, unsuccessfully). All are F or M.

 

All but two were under $20 (US), though they were all bought in Australia. I paid $40 for the GT with the rolled gold cap. I recommend them.

Tenet insanabile multos scribendi cacoethes.

Many are possessed by the incurable urge to write.

Juvenal

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Agree with Paul80. If you are close to a "big" city, like leeds, york etc, get yourself into the antique and flea markets, and i,d be very surprised if you cant find a P45 for between £5-15 (possibly boxed).

 

They were made in huge numbers in the UK, i can almost guarantee coming across them, every time I go out looking for pens etc

 

Best of luck, Paul

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I bought two on eBay in the past year. The blue barrel was $9.95 plus S&H and the black barrel was $8.50 plus S&H. I think the S&H in both cases was under $3.00. Both came with aerometric converters. The black one writes great. I haven't inked the blue one yet.

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I paid $65 for this NOS 45 flighter deluxe. I was just taken by it's looks and was happy to pay.

 

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f282/jdanley/Parker_1_zps506158a0.jpg

 

PELIKAN - Too many birds in the flock to count. My pen chest has proven to be a most fertile breeding ground.

fpn_1508261203__fpn_logo_300x150.jpg

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I paid $65 for this NOS 45 flighter deluxe. I was just taken by it's looks and was happy to pay.

 

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f282/jdanley/Parker_1_zps506158a0.jpg

 

 

That's one of the most beautiful 45s I have seen. A collector pen. A delightful combination of gold and steel.

"Don't hurry, don't worry. It's better to be late at the Golden Gate than to arrive in Hell on time."
--Sign in a bar and grill, Ormond Beach, Florida, 1960.

 

 

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@sargetalon

That is a NICE flighter.

All the ones that I've seen have a black cap at the end of the barrel.

Now you got me going, now I have to find one with a gold cap.

 

@top pen

The ARROW is a totally different pen than the 45.

And from what I have seen, it is MORE expensive than the 45.

I think you have your prices reversed. The 45 would have the lower range prices, the ARROW the higher range price.

 

The FLIGHTER is a design that is present in almost all the Parker models. It is a brushed stainless steel finish.

So there is a 45 Flighter.

Edited by ac12

San Francisco Pen Show - August 28-30, 2020 - Redwood City, California

www.SFPenShow.com

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@sargetalon

That is a NICE flighter.

All the ones that I've seen have a black cap at the end of the barrel.

Now you got me going, now I have to find one with a gold cap.

 

If you like the gold, you should see it in silver. Check out Five Star Pens. No affiliation, just a satisfied customer.

PELIKAN - Too many birds in the flock to count. My pen chest has proven to be a most fertile breeding ground.

fpn_1508261203__fpn_logo_300x150.jpg

THE PELIKAN'S PERCH - A growing reference site for all things Pelikan

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