Parker Pen Date Codes

[OneRiotOneRanger]

Has anyone seen anything official from Parker that they are using the same quarter codes for this new decade as they did in the last? For that matter, has anyone seen anything official from Parker at all - and has a contact we can use - other than the Newhaven closing?

[jniforat]

Here are some sites on date codes:

 

http://parkercollector.com/codekey.html

 

http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/51_profile.htm

[tarjeipark]

I have a Frontier (transluscent blue) that I know I bought in 1998. It has a code of E.11, which would suggest 2008. But I know I bought it in 1998. Could some kind soul explain?

[scalawag]

Hi new to this forum but interested in this topic so thought I would post.

 

I have a number of new parker pens bought this year (2012) from two on-line retailers here in the UK.

 

The pen models and date codes are as follows:

 

Sonnet red laque FP U

Sonnet red laque RB IIIU

Sonnet red laque BP IIU

Duofold Black GT Centennial FP IIIA

Duofold Black GT RB U

Duofold Black GT BP Q

Duofold P&B FP Centennial IIIA

Duofold P&B BP IIQ

IM Black GT RB IIU

 

All are made in france as would be expected and all appear to be currant models.

 

As far as I can see none of these pens has a ( . ) between the quarter and year letters and they are certainly not spaced out so as to allow for one.

 

This would suggest to my untrained eye that Parker are returning to the codes used in the 1990s for the 2010s, i.e. I's to denote quarter and then year letter with no separating( . ).

[Mike 59]

Hi, I can add a couple of date codes I have seen recently, on new 'shop-bought' pens.

First is a French made Vector FP, code is |Q ,no dots between letters, just the letters.

Second is an 'I.M' fountain pen, country of origin unknown, date code same as first pen, |Q

So that would seem to mean both pens were made in 2010, and the third quarter?

Edited August 11, 2012 by Mike 59

[mrqutory]

I just purchased a new Parker Urban black with gold trim. The date code is U. Any ideal on the date?

[Mike 59]

Hi mrqutory, That should be 2011. I bought an 'Urban' when I first saw them, I liked the design, still do, and mine is dated 'Q' which is 2010, the year before yours.

[mrqutory]

Thanks Mike59, I really like mine. It is black with gold. It really writes good amd feels good in my hand.

[mitto]

Parker returned to the datecodes used in the 90s for the current decade - 2010 onward.

[ceejaybee]

I just purchased a new Parker Urban black with gold trim. The date code is U. Any ideal on the date?

U. would be 2001 U without the dot would be 2011