Parker 45 Flex?

[The Blue Knight]

I saw this listing earlier I was quite interested in the fact it went for around £20 more than the typical less than good condition 45 would. The seller claims there's flex, however, most nibs will just about give that much "flex" without springing if pushed hard enough. I'm wondering if softer 45 nibs were a thing or if it's a case of the seller giving a run of the mill 45 airs and graces?

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-PARKER-45-CLASSIC-FOUNTAIN-PEN-BLACK-14K-GOLD-FINE-NIB-WITH-FLEX-SUPER-/382511538468?hash=item590f76e124%3Ag%3A3NIAAOSwpcxbPgTa&nma=true&si=AO3XkJf0VgpvcFGmiuKx2HpSgLs%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

[mariom]

My 14k nibbed 45 will give a little under pressure, but to call it flex would be a stretch. Generally, the size and design of the 45 nib unit would tend to preclude any genuine flex.

Edited July 29, 2018 by mariom

[Chrissy]

I saw this listing earlier ......... or if it's a case of the seller giving a run of the mill 45 airs and graces?

 

 

I think that seller is giving a run of the mill 45 airs and graces. I've also previously spotted he charges that high P&P price even if he just sells a nib, as they easily post using RM Large Letter rate. His buyers don't seem to notice.

[CS388]

I've never seen a 45 flex. The whole design of the nib/section seems dead-set against flex.

 

And the seller includes a writing sample, with no flex. So, I'd be inclined to think it's "airs and graces'?

 

45's are good, useful everyday pens - but not flexy.

[bsenn]

A 45 will have, at most, a very tiny little bit of spring or bounce. No flex.

[pajaro]

I looked at the writing sample. There appears to be line variation. It could, I guess, have been written with a 45 italic nib, or the nib might have been force-flexed. There is not a lot of line variation there.

[hood]

Without getting into the debate of what constitutes flex, semi-flex, or any other type of flex, there were some P45 nibs produced that open up much more readily that normal. The following thread talks about an example:-

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/327929-p45new-slimfold-nib-compatibility/

[JotterAddict62]

All nibs will flex until they break.

[rochester21]

A great number of fountain pens end up with damaged nibs because people have forgotten how to actually use a fountain pen.

 

In the case above, it`s just a seller trying to get more money by using an obvious lie.

The parker 45 doesn`t have any real flex, indifferent of whether the nib is steel or gold. The nib is too short and the particular shape prevents it from flexing.

 

I believe the nib was designed to be stiff, since this was a school pen and school kids tend to be pretty rough with their pens, accidents happen. The same design philosophy has been continued in the Vector series, where the nib is also concave and short. It`s like a curved triangle, the tip will be very stiff and resilient when pressure is applied.

 

These flex-hunters are the hipsters of the fountain pen world. They ruin a lot of pens(not that they ever admit it). And the sellers that encourage them are not helping.

Edited July 30, 2018 by rochester21

[ink-syringe]

The Newhaven 14k nibs are a little soft (however they are still largely constrained by the collar).

 

If you Conan the Barbarian an English made P45 you can get what he got out of it.

 

Writing like that regularly would be (imo) abusive.

 

He also calls it "Serviced and Restored" which at least for the 30 years probably 100+ P45s I have owned means hit with some soapy water and a soak. heh.

[ink-syringe]

All nibs flex once.

[FarmBoy]

All nibs flex once.

Correction: All nibs flex AT LEAST once.