What Is The Letter "h" Impressed On My Parker Duofold Nib?

[inkyman]

Recently I sent my Duofold pen to the Parker Repair Service. A new nib was installed and the pen is ok. But I'm a little bit puzzled. The previous original nib was without any doubt a medium (a "M" was on the plastic side of the nib). With the new nib I'm not so sure that it's a "medium". Now there's a "H" on the plastic side of the nib and no letter on the golden nib. Does H mean "Hard"?

[knitknitfrog]

On a parker 45 an H is meant to be a 'fine oblique italic', but I thought that the letter was on the plastic collar not the nib itself.

[inkyman]

On a parker 45 an H is meant to be a 'fine oblique italic', but I thought that the letter was on the plastic collar not the nib itself.

 

Maybe you're right but the ink flow and the writing on paper make me think of a "broad". But I must admit that I've never used a "fine oblique italic". I'll check some post with handwritten samples of Parker Duofold fine oblique italic...

Thank you so much.

[Joane]

On a parker 45 an H is meant to be a 'fine oblique italic', but I thought that the letter was on the plastic collar not the nib itself.

KKF, that code may be true for a 45 but the Duofold codes run differently, using XF, F, M, B, and the rest being numbers. There was no H listed among the nib sizes. I had the same thing happen, with a feed being changed and the letter H on it, unrelated to the size the nib was before or after, afaik. I have a feeling the feed is a standard feed made to replace the faulty feeds that came with some of the banner nibs, but I don't know what the H stands for either.

[inkyman]

On a parker 45 an H is meant to be a 'fine oblique italic', but I thought that the letter was on the plastic collar not the nib itself.

KKF, that code may be true for a 45 but the Duofold codes run differently, using XF, F, M, B, and the rest being numbers. There was no H listed among the nib sizes. I had the same thing happen, with a feed being changed and the letter H on it, unrelated to the size the nib was before or after, afaik. I have a feeling the feed is a standard feed made to replace the faulty feeds that came with some of the banner nibs, but I don't know what the H stands for either.

 

Joane seems to be right in this case: I took a magnifying lens and now I'm sure that the nib is a traditional rounded one (it's not italic/oblique).

[knitknitfrog]

Wouldn't life be easier if things like that were consistent?

but far less interesting with less to be curious about!

Stella

[inkyman]

Wouldn't life be easier if things like that were consistent?

but far less interesting with less to be curious about!

Stella

 

You're perfectly right...

[bjornhansson]

I have a Parker Sonnet with a broad nib. At first glance, the letter "B" on plastic underneath the nib does look like H, and you need to look closely to see that it actually is a B.

[Ernst Bitterman]

This may be a code of some sort (has been fixed once already) that will mainly make sense to Parker's internal economy. I recall they did something like that in the past... was it points without date codes on them for the Vacumatics?

[mic]

i think it means Nike.

[inkyman]

Many many thanks for your help but it's without any doubt - even after a closer look - a real "H" (it's inscribed inside a circle on the plastic part of the nib)....maybe it's an internal code for the Parker Repair Service...sorry that I can't post a pic...

[Joane]

Many many thanks for your help but it's without any doubt - even after a closer look - a real "H" (it's inscribed inside a circle on the plastic part of the nib)....maybe it's an internal code for the Parker Repair Service...sorry that I can't post a pic...

Mine is definitely an H too.

[RalphP]

Recently I sent my Duofold pen to the Parker Repair Service. A new nib was installed and the pen is ok. But I'm a little bit puzzled. The previous original nib was without any doubt a medium (a "M" was on the plastic side of the nib). With the new nib I'm not so sure that it's a "medium". Now there's a "H" on the plastic side of the nib and no letter on the golden nib. Does H mean "Hard"?

 

 

The "H" marked on the feed of the Duofold indicates "Heavy Ink Flow" or so I was told by a Parker Dealer many years ago... The ink flow channels under the nib are a bit deeper on the "H" feeds. They seem to be rather scarce and were perhaps a special order item. I have one on a double broad italic - will try & get a picture of it posted.

 

Did you return return the pen for ink flow problems by any chance?

 

ralph

[inkyman]

Many many thanks, Ralph, for your useful reply!!!

 

Your explaination surely makes sense: I sent my Parker Duofold to Parker Repair Service just because I'd lost the golden plate mark on top of the cap and I wanted to get a new golden plate mark. So when I shipped my pen, the pen and the nib was absolutely ok (I had a wonderful medium nib with a very good flow). But when they returned my pen, I realized that they had correctly replaced a golden new plate on top of the cap but - in addition and without any request from me - had changed my M nib with this new one (with the H mark). I didn't complain anyway.

I must say that now the ink flow seems much deeper than with the previous nib and sometimes when I write I just can get an handwriting much nearer to a "broad" handwriting.

So you can be right, indeed!!! The "H" can stand for "Heavy" (Flow)!!!

 

Have a wonderful Christmas time!!!

[RalphP]

Many many thanks, Ralph, for your useful reply!!!

 

Your explaination surely makes sense: I sent my Parker Duofold to Parker Repair Service just because I'd lost the golden plate mark on top of the cap and I wanted to get a new golden plate mark. So when I shipped my pen, the pen and the nib was absolutely ok (I had a wonderful medium nib with a very good flow). But when they returned my pen, I realized that they had correctly replaced a golden new plate on top of the cap but - in addition and without any request from me - had changed my M nib with this new one (with the H mark). I didn't complain anyway.

I must say that now the ink flow seems much deeper than with the previous nib and sometimes when I write I just can get an handwriting much nearer to a "broad" handwriting.

So you can be right, indeed!!! The "H" can stand for "Heavy" (Flow)!!!

 

Have a wonderful Christmas time!!!

 

You are most welcome.

 

 

This morning I checked the Duofold Book but could find no reference to the "H" mark on the feed - perhaps it is there somewhere and I just missed it.

 

Here is a pen with a broad oblique nib with the "H" feed:

 

 

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/pratherpens/Duofold-H.jpg

 

 

 

Here is a close up of the Nib:

 

 

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/pratherpens/Duofold-H-Nib.jpg

 

 

And, here is the "H" on the Feed:

 

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/pratherpens/Duofold-H-Nib-Feed.jpg

 

 

 

 

Have not seen this Duofold feed designation mentioned any where - especially in any Parker literature. Perhaps these are even more scarce than originally thought...?

 

If anyone has any reference material on this please let us know.

 

thanks, ralph prather

[inkyman]

Many many thanks, Ralph, for your useful reply!!!

 

Your explaination surely makes sense: I sent my Parker Duofold to Parker Repair Service just because I'd lost the golden plate mark on top of the cap and I wanted to get a new golden plate mark. So when I shipped my pen, the pen and the nib was absolutely ok (I had a wonderful medium nib with a very good flow). But when they returned my pen, I realized that they had correctly replaced a golden new plate on top of the cap but - in addition and without any request from me - had changed my M nib with this new one (with the H mark). I didn't complain anyway.

I must say that now the ink flow seems much deeper than with the previous nib and sometimes when I write I just can get an handwriting much nearer to a "broad" handwriting.

So you can be right, indeed!!! The "H" can stand for "Heavy" (Flow)!!!

 

Have a wonderful Christmas time!!!

 

 

 

You are most welcome.

 

 

This morning I checked the Duofold Book but could find no reference to the "H" mark on the feed - perhaps it is there somewhere and I just missed it.

 

Here is a pen with a broad oblique nib with the "H" feed:

 

 

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/pratherpens/Duofold-H.jpg

 

 

 

Here is a close up of the Nib:

 

 

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/pratherpens/Duofold-H-Nib.jpg

 

 

And, here is the "H" on the Feed:

 

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/pratherpens/Duofold-H-Nib-Feed.jpg

 

 

 

 

Have not seen this Duofold feed designation mentioned any where - especially in any Parker literature. Perhaps these are even more scarce than originally thought...?

 

If anyone has any reference material on this please let us know.

 

thanks, ralph prather

 

Wonderful and very detailed pics, Ralph!!!

 

Yes!!! I can confirm that the mark "H" on your Duofold pics is exactly the same mark that is now on my Duofold!!!

 

Many thanks, again!!!

[readytotalk]

I still dont know what the mark "H" on Duofolds` feed is about, but here are some photos of "F" and "H" feeds compared side by side.

Noticeable that "F" feed has 3 feed channels instead of only 1 in "H". Nibs are both similar - classic fine from Duo Centennials from mid-1980s.

To say, I`ve tried to change nibs and found no difference.

https://images.vfl.ru/ii/1543514274/74ebe097/24406551_m.jpg

https://images.vfl.ru/ii/1543514429/78993060/24406580_m.jpg

Edited November 29, 2018 by readytotalk

[FarmBoy]

Believe the "H" on a feed indicates it is for Heavy flow.

[readytotalk]

Believe the "H" on a feed indicates it is for Heavy flow.

Well, seing is believing. I found no signs of increased flow in H feed. Practically)