2 P45S Black & Orange

September 18, 2011

Please help. Is this a Parker 45? Is the pencil also a P 45? Note no gold band in the middle center of the pencil. Is the pen nib rhodium, iridium or what? I used the pen hero web site but am not experienced to get a perfect answer. I believe the filler is a cartridge converter squeeze rubber? Is that the term? think the orange one is the same except that it has a crtridge and the nib is gold color. Would that be 14K or plated? Thanks Please forgive my pictures as I used your method of attachments and have 2 through photobucket. I don't know how this post will show up.

Please help. Is this a Parker 45? Is the pencil also a P 45? Note no gold band in the middle center of the pencil. Is the pen nib rhodium, iridium or what? I used the pen hero web site but am not experienced to get a perfect answer. I believe the filler is a cartridge converter squeeze rubber? Is that the term? think the orange one is the same except that it has a crtridge and the nib is gold color. Would that be 14K or plated? Thanks Please forgive my pictures as I used your method of attachments and have 2 through photobucket. I don't know how this post will show up.

September 19, 2011

Cartridge/Converter is fine.

Those look early enough to me that any gold tone nib is likely 14 (or maybe 10)k.

Do an advanced search in this forum for "collar" and you should bump into some threads on P-45s where I typed about taking the nib out and apart. It's mindlessly easy to do. Near foolproof. [1] If the nib is gold it should be stamped on the nib but not visible with the nib in place.

Those are clean pens, good job!

Bruce in Ocala, FL-[1] nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently persistent fool

September 19, 2011

Wonderful colour on that orange one.......wonder what they called the shade 'Duofold Vermillion' perhaps?

September 19, 2011

Cartridge/Converter is fine.

Those look early enough to me that any gold tone nib is likely 14 (or maybe 10)k.

Do an advanced search in this forum for "collar" and you should bump into some threads on P-45s where I typed about taking the nib out and apart. It's mindlessly easy to do. Near foolproof. [1] If the nib is gold it should be stamped on the nib but not visible with the nib in place.

Those are clean pens, good job!

Bruce in Ocala, FL-[1] nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently persistent fool

Hi Bruce, Thanks for your answer to my question about the nib and the fact that pen was an early one. I hope my realization is correct that the numbers for Parkers are in sequence. So can I assume that the 45 preceded the 51? I have a parker 21 Does that precede the 45 in time? I also have a 61. I will learn more from you guys as time goes on. I will follow up on your suggestion to search for "collar".Thanks again, I appreciate your time patience and interest in helping. Phil in Naples, FL

September 19, 2011

Wonderful colour on that orange one.......wonder what they called the shade 'Duofold Vermillion' perhaps?

Hello, Rasendyll, Thank you or your response to my post. It is a nice color. I thought more orange than red. I checked the penogaphy (parkerpen.com) website and saw many 45s but not any that color. Could it have gotten lighter over 30 to 40 years? Is this a 45? Is your use of the word "duofold" a model of the 45? If you have an idea I would be interested in hearing from you about your thoughts on the subject. Thanks for your time and interest. Phil

September 19, 2011

Cartridge/Converter is fine.

Those look early enough to me that any gold tone nib is likely 14 (or maybe 10)k.

Do an advanced search in this forum for "collar" and you should bump into some threads on P-45s where I typed about taking the nib out and apart. It's mindlessly easy to do. Near foolproof. [1] If the nib is gold it should be stamped on the nib but not visible with the nib in place.

Those are clean pens, good job!

Bruce in Ocala, FL-[1] nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently persistent fool

Hi Bruce, Thanks for your answer to my question about the nib and the fact that pen was an early one. I hope my realization is correct that the numbers for Parkers are in sequence. So can I assume that the 45 preceded the 51? I have a parker 21 Does that precede the 45 in time? I also have a 61. I will learn more from you guys as time goes on. I will follow up on your suggestion to search for "collar".Thanks again, I appreciate your time patience and interest in helping. Phil in Naples, FL

The number system can often make sense only to Parker:

The "51" was introduced in 1941, but development was pretty much completed in 1939, Parker's 51st year.

The 75 was introduced in 1964, but development was pretty much completed in 1963, Parker's 75th year.

The 45 was introduced in 1960. As this was Parker's first cartridge/converter fountain pen, the name/number had more in common with the Colt 45 revolver gun than it did with Parker. The Colt 45 was a well known (at least in the US) gun from the Old West that was an early handgun renowned for its quick re-load capability. At a time when Parker was looking to promote its entry into the cartridge-refill market, quick change-out was a sell point.

Can't explain the 61, as it was introduced in 1956. All I can guess is that as the successor to the "51" as the flagship Parker pen, the logic was that they (Parker) needed a higher number than 51 to promote it as the high-end pen.

Take a look at Tony's site, parkerpens.net, where he provides descriptions of Parker's number pens over the years.

Hope this helps.

Edited September 19, 2011 by nxn96

September 19, 2011

Cartridge/Converter is fine.

Those look early enough to me that any gold tone nib is likely 14 (or maybe 10)k.

Do an advanced search in this forum for "collar" and you should bump into some threads on P-45s where I typed about taking the nib out and apart. It's mindlessly easy to do. Near foolproof. [1] If the nib is gold it should be stamped on the nib but not visible with the nib in place.

Those are clean pens, good job!

Bruce in Ocala, FL-[1] nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently persistent fool

Hi Bruce, Thanks for your answer to my question about the nib and the fact that pen was an early one. I hope my realization is correct that the numbers for Parkers are in sequence. So can I assume that the 45 preceded the 51? I have a parker 21 Does that precede the 45 in time? I also have a 61. I will learn more from you guys as time goes on. I will follow up on your suggestion to search for "collar".Thanks again, I appreciate your time patience and interest in helping. Phil in Naples, FL
The number system can often make sense only to Parker:

The "51" was introduced in 1941, but development was pretty much completed in 1939, Parker's 51st year.
The 75 was introduced in 1964, but development was pretty much completed in 1963, Parker's 75th year.
The 45 was introduced in 1960. As this was Parker's first cartridge/converter fountain pen, the name/number had more in common with the Colt 45 revolver gun than it did with Parker. The Colt 45 was a well known (at least in the US) gun from the Old West that was an early handgun renowned for its quick re-load capability. At a time when Parker was looking to promote its entry into the cartridge-refill market, quick change-out was a sell point.
Can't explain the 61, as it was introduced in 1956. All I can guess is that as the successor to the "51" as the flagship Parker pen, the logic was that they (Parker) needed a higher number than 51 to promote it as the high-end pen.

Take a look at Tony's site, parkerpens.net, where he provides descriptions of Parker's number pens over the years.

Hope this helps.

Hi,nxn96, Thank you for your clarification of the number "system" used by Parker over the years. I am sure your reasonable description makes it more plausible to understand. If I get any other Parker numbers I will be checking Tony's website, thanks' to you. You are very kind to take the time to straighten me out. Phil

September 19, 2011

The black one looks like it is from the early to mid 1960s if so then it may be equipped with a 14kt gold nib. P45s from 1960 until about 1965 had 14kt gold nibs after that they were equipped with either gold plated stainless steel or bare stainless steel nibs.

The orange one is not going to have a 14kt gold nib but a gold plated stainless steel nib. The original colors that the P45 was issued in 1960 were black, burgundy, grey, green, blue and dark blue. Orange wasn't introduced until after 1970 in the standard 45 range.

Edited September 19, 2011 by Florida Blue

September 19, 2011

The black one looks like it is from the early to mid 1960s if so then it may be equipped with a 14kt gold nib. P45s from 1960 until about 1965 had 14kt gold nibs after that they were equipped with either gold plated stainless steel or bare stainless steel nibs.

The orange one is not going to have a 14kt gold nib but a gold plated stainless steel nib. The original colors that the P45 was issued in 1960 were black, burgundy, grey, green, blue and dark blue. Orange wasn't introduced until after 1970 in the standard 45 range.

hello. Florida Blue, You are certainly very well informed. I am now dating the pens closer thanks to your information. The black one has a silver color nib, so I figure from your quote it is from after the mid sixties and as you say it is bare stainless steel as it is not even gold plated. The orange one must be from after 1970 and have a gold plated nib as it is yellow in color. I have it figured out now with your help. Thank you. Phil