Parker 45 - Assistance To Tell "rage Red" From Vermilion"

[thomas.russell]

I collect Parker 45s and am trying to get one of each.

 

Richard Binder's excellent guide is very helpful in this regard as it lists all the barrel colours.

 

However, to my eye, it is very difficult to distinguish "rage red" from "vermilion" without having them side by side.

 

My problem is that I cannot actually place them side by side, because I only have one colour:

 

http://users.tpg.com.au/bule/temp/red_pens.jpg

 

(in reverse chronological order: Custom, CT, Arrow/CT, Parker Eversharp, Eversharp Big E).

 

Does anyone know which colour I have here? I suspect it is rage red but I far from certain!

 

Any guidance would be appreciated!

 

[Ceramicist]

Does this help at all?

http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/profiles/45.htm

[thomas.russell]

Does this help at all?

http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/profiles/45.htm

 

Unfortunately not, but thank you for the suggestion

[Tom Aquinas]

A strange colour for vermilion, when you consider vermilion is sterling silver plated with ( usually 10,12, or 14ct) gold ?

[Paul80]

Hi

 

I have a Rage Red Pen a Parker 61 and yours do look quite close to that ones colour so they might well all be Rage Red.

 

Paul

[Inkysloth]

A strange colour for vermilion, when you consider vermilion is sterling silver plated with ( usually 10,12, or 14ct) gold ?

 

Vermillion is a red pigment, originally made from cinnabar (mercury sulfide) http://www.webexhibits.org/pigments/indiv/overview/vermilion.html

 

The gold-plated sterling silver is vermeil. Similar words, but not quite the same

[thomas.russell]

Hi

 

I have a Rage Red Pen a Parker 61 and yours do look quite close to that ones colour so they might well all be Rage Red.

 

Paul

 

Thanks Paul, that's is helpful. I'll have to try to get my hands on a Vermilion to see if they're different!

 

I appreciate your help

[thomas.russell]

A strange colour for vermilion, when you consider vermilion is sterling silver plated with ( usually 10,12, or 14ct) gold ?

 
As [member=Inkysloth] said, that's "vermeil" you're thinking of. Vermilion is a pigment made from the (bright red) mineral cinnabar. Both look great on pens and, now that I think about it, they would make a pretty awesome combination, particularly for Chinese dragon style pens.

Edited July 27, 2013 by thomas.russell

[Tom Aquinas]

 

Vermillion is a red pigment, originally made from cinnabar (mercury sulfide) http://www.webexhibits.org/pigments/indiv/overview/vermilion.html

 

The gold-plated sterling silver is vermeil. Similar words, but not quite the same

Thanks , you are correct.

[idazle]

My red Parker 45 looks way darker than yours, and nevertheless I wouldn't say it is the burgundy red featured in R.Binder's site, is it? And if it is not burgundy, what colour is it? rage red? Maybe yes, there is a 1972 rage red Parker 51 in Andreas Lambrou´s book which is pretty much the same colour as mine. Then I would say yours is unlikely to be rage red. But maybe I'm wrong. It's difficult to judge from what we perceive through the computer monitor.

 

What I suspect is that in practice there were more red shades than those described by R.Binder.

 

 

[thomas.russell]

Thanks [member='idazle'], that is very helpful. Although monitor settings and lighting conditions account for a lot of variation, I am pretty sure I have a Parker 61 the same colour as your pens - darker than the 45s I have, but not dark enough to be burgundy (easily distinguishable from burgundy if placed side by side).

 

Perhaps yours are the "vermilion" and my others are "rage red". Or perhaps, as you suggest, Richard Binder's list is not exhaustive, although I hope not because I am working from his list in an effort to amass one of each colour!

 

Now for the million-dollar question - are you interested in selling? :huh: The thing is, I've noticed you conveniently stuck price labels on. I've got the $7.95 ready to go!  ;)

[idazle]

Now for the million-dollar question - are you interested in selling? The thing is, I've noticed you conveniently stuck price labels on. I've got the $7.95 ready to go!

 

hahaha no, I'm afraid I cannot accept such a tempting offer

 

Although I'm sizing down my collection to focus on vintage Mont Blancs, this is one of the pens I would never part with. I have a bit of a thing with these pens as they remind me of my childhood. Besides I got this set at a very good price and completely new and unused. The pen writes beautifully, although I have not wanted to remove the price tags, they look great

[thomas.russell]

 

...I got this set at a very good price and completely new and unused. The pen writes beautifully, although I have not wanted to remove the price tags, they look great

 

Oh, just go and make it even more desirable why doncha! Haha thanks for responding, anyway. If you ever change your mind..!