Parker "big Red" Information?

[lazarus86]

While I am looking for a first good pen, I would love a Fisher AG7 and a Parker Duofold. But I started reading about the vintage "Big Red" pens and they look great!

However, I am a little bit confused, as I see some claiming to be excellent condition for like, 20 bucks on Ebay and some for 200+ dollars.

 

I would assume this would be due to the collect-ability and rarity and all that.

 

Where would I go to find information about vintage "Big Red" Parker pens, and how much do they tend to go for?

Also, would a vintage pen like that be suitable for every day writing?

[lovemy51]

hi and welcome!

 

i will address this question only (maybe others can help with the rest):

Where would I go to find information about vintage "Big Red" Parker pens, and how much do they tend to go for?

 

u'll find plenty of "info" here:

http://www.richardspens.com/?prof=duofold

 

and "how much" here:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/classifieds/item/2694-parker-duofold-senior-fs-needs-minor-work/

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/classifieds/item/2437-parker-big-red-duofold-f-nib-reduced/

 

 

hope this helps.

 

 

(edited to fix the links)

Edited August 31, 2011 by lovemy51

[Shangas]

However, I am a little bit confused, as I see some claiming to be excellent condition for like, 20 bucks on Ebay and some for 200+ dollars.

 

The Big Red is a HIGHLY collected pen. Some people spend months, years chasing them (I did). They vary in price significantly. You must do lots of research until you know them inside out. Then you can start looking for them with an informed view.

 

I would assume this would be due to the collect-ability and rarity and all that.

 

That is indeed true. Early Big Reds (1921-1926) were made of hard rubber. These are more expensive due to their manufacturing material. First-year BRs are particularly expensive (I seem to recall seeing one being sold for upwards of $800 and being told that was 'cheap'). Later model Big Reds don't sell for quite that much. I paid about $250 for mine.

 

Where would I go to find information about vintage "Big Red" Parker pens, and how much do they tend to go for?

 

I would suggest Richardspens.com as the best place to look. There's also a book called the Parker Duofold, which covers ALL VERSIONS of the Duofold from the 1920s to the modern day.

 

Also, would a vintage pen like that be suitable for every day writing?

 

Absolutely perfectly suitable. Don't forget, they were designed for that purpose. Use it frequently, but with care.

[alkman]

There's an incredible amount of history on Parker pens at this site, http://parkercollector.com/, which is broken down by the different models. It catalogues many of the changes the pen underwent. HTH and good luck.

[jar]

Also there was a line of cheap ball point pens that Parker released in the 80s or 90s IIRC that they also called "Big Red".

 

If the price is $20 it is likely one of them.

[Scrawler]

If there ever had been a Big Red in even passable condition for $20, it would be on my desk now.

[nxn96]

Also there was a line of cheap ball point pens that Parker released in the 80s or 90s IIRC that they also called "Big Red".

 

If the price is $20 it is likely one of them.

That was my thought as well. The Big Red was was marketed in the 1970's as a lower priced pen and a lot of the advertising as I recall harkened back to 1920's nostalgia. It was a big seller for Parker in it's day. There was also a lower price version Parker sold under the name "AdPen"- I assume into the Ad/Specialty business- that you see come up on eBay every so often.

Edited August 31, 2011 by nxn96

[tonybelding]

If you find one in good condition, nicely restored, it should be perfectly usable. It may take a while, and the price for a nice one might be a bit up there.

 

Back in the days when the Big Red was so popular, a number of other companies came out with their own similarly styled red (or orange) pens to compete with it. Some of them were pretty good, and they're typically less collectible and therefore less costly to acquire.

 

As far as modern pens, you can get a brand new Bexley Simplicity II or the new piston-filling Corona in the classic red-orange color. They aren't exactly replicas of the Parker, but their styling pays a lot of homage to it.

[OcalaFlGuy]

And, if you are so inclined (and well heeled), I believe the gentlemen's name is Chris Thompson who can make you a new "cloned" Big Red, nearly indistinguishable [1] from the real deal and made from new modern materials.

 

[1] so close he puts "Replica" under the exact copy of the Parker imprint to somewhat sedate the rabid C-worder-nista.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL-even in Titanium if you really wanna go crazy

[Florida Blue]

If you are looking for a Big Red Duofold in better than user grade condition you should look for some key condition issues:

Cracks- very common in the original Duofolds due the the hard rubber drying out. Cracks are usually found around the cap lip and through the cap band and in the caps and barrels.

Color- the better the color the more money it should fetch. Duofolds that are faded don't look as nice as examples that have retained their original color. They usually are faded on the barrels so that the cap and barrel are different shades.

Chips- very common around the cap lip but can occur elsewhere.

Imprint- it is again common for the imprint on the barrel to wear-off over time and examples with crisp, deep imprints are more desirable.

Brassing- usually the brassing is the worse on the cap band and especially the ball of the clip.

Parts- it is quite common for Duofolds to be missing the blind cap but reproductions can be purchased online.

Is is working?- usually not. However, most only need a new sac but sometimes they need a new steel pressure bar or possibly the button needs works which should probably be done by a professional. The sac and the bar you can do yourself and buy the parts online.

Size- the Duofold was made in the Senior, Junior and Lady size. The Lady had no clip but a ring to wear as a pendant. The Junior is of course smaler than a Senior and price goes up with size.

Edited August 31, 2011 by Florida Blue

[ANM]

Just to give you an idea of the different Big Reds over the years, there were different sizes, variations in shape from straight to tapered, different cap rings, etc. The one that is next to the end on the right is a ball point from the 1970's and newer big reds from the late 1980's onward had arrow clips like the blue one on the end.

 

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii101/matthewsno/DSCF3478.jpg