Silver Duofold Centennial

[chunya]

Hello All,

 

I have a godron 'silver' Centennial (the subject of one of my posts a while back) and the letters date it to the last quarter of 1991, so when this model was first produced. However, there are absolutely no markings on it indicating it is hallmarked silver/sterling. Having done a quick search I've found several examples, but only one seems to be stamped Sterling.

 

Reading through Tony Fischier's page, he identifies that there was a gold plated version, on an acrylic body and the solid sterling silver.This pen is definitely solid 'metal' and I can't find any reference to a silver plated version being made, so does anyone know the answer?

 

I've contacted Tony (but he may be too busy to respond, and also e-mailed Parker, but not too confident of a response from them.

 

Many thanks

 

 

[ceejaybee]

They are supposedly sterling and were advertised as such in Countries that don't require hallmarks, Parker chose not to go to the trouble and expense of hallmarking and instead advertised them as 'white metal' here in the UK. The strange thing is that hallmarked examples do turn up, both with full UK and Convention (CCM) hallmarks so at some point they thought it to be worthwhile.

[chunya]

Hi ceejaybee,

 

That is interesting to know...do you mind me asking your source, if you can recall?

 

Many thanks

[ceejaybee]

Haha, you won't find that information written anywhere, it comes from researching sterling silver Parker, mainly 75s, pens for a few years, and piecing together clues from various sources - what information are you looking for? You'll need to look for adverts/catalogues from the USA and Germany, neither Countries require hallmarks to legally advertise as Sterling, for material describing them as Sterling Silver. A quick search on ebay will show many Duofolds with original packaging with Sterling descriptions. I think I have a UK brochure somewhere with the 'white metal' description, I'll see if I can find it.

 

BTW you mentioned in your OP you'd seen a Duofold marked Sterling, can you let me know where you saw it? I'd be really interested to see it.

[chunya]

Haha, you won't find that information written anywhere, it comes from researching sterling silver Parker, mainly 75s, pens for a few years, and piecing together clues from various sources - what information are you looking for? You'll need to look for adverts/catalogues from the USA and Germany, neither Countries require hallmarks to legally advertise as Sterling, for material describing them as Sterling Silver. A quick search on ebay will show many Duofolds with original packaging with Sterling descriptions. I think I have a UK brochure somewhere with the 'white metal' description, I'll see if I can find it.

 

BTW you mentioned in your OP you'd seen a Duofold marked Sterling, can you let me know where you saw it? I'd be really interested to see it.

Thanks for that...The one I saw was on a Google search, I'll try and find it again and post the Link.Shouldn't be too difficult (famous last words!)

[chunya]

Haha, you won't find that information written anywhere, it comes from researching sterling silver Parker, mainly 75s, pens for a few years, and piecing together clues from various sources - what information are you looking for? You'll need to look for adverts/catalogues from the USA and Germany, neither Countries require hallmarks to legally advertise as Sterling, for material describing them as Sterling Silver. A quick search on ebay will show many Duofolds with original packaging with Sterling descriptions. I think I have a UK brochure somewhere with the 'white metal' description, I'll see if I can find it.

 

BTW you mentioned in your OP you'd seen a Duofold marked Sterling, can you let me know where you saw it? I'd be really interested to see it.

Hi Again,

 

I found this one again, but it is marked 925

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WONDERFUL-PARKER-DUOFOLD-CENTENNIAL-STERLING-SILVER-GODRONS-GOLD-18-CARATS-FP-/221228021898

 

But I am pretty certain that I also found one that said Sterling ...or could be old age! I'll keep looking

[ceejaybee]

Thanks, those are the Sterling hallmarks for France - head of Minerva

 

Here's a link to a similar thread Tony shows the description from a UK catalogue there.

[chunya]

Thanks, those are the Sterling hallmarks for France - head of Minerva

 

Here's a link to a similar thread Tony shows the description from a UK catalogue there.

Thanks for that ceejaybee ...and I didn't answer your original question. I was asking because I advertised mine for sale and someone asked me whether it was hallmarked, which got me thinking... it also got me thinking as to whether I really want to part with it

 

But I am confused (doesn't take much) .. on that thread 2000buyer asks 'Did Parker put out a silver plate Duofold in 1992?' and then goes on explaining why.Tony's response is ...'Sure did. For some reason Parker wasn't allowed to call it "Sterling" in the UK, so it was initially advertised as "white metal". '

 

Tony hasn't been active for a couple of weeks, so I probably can't ask him yet, but I presume it was a simple slip as what he goes on to suggest is that they were silver.

 

Thanks again!

Edited May 8, 2014 by chunya

[icardoth]

The "white metal" info is mentioned in the Parker Duofold book from David Shepherd and Dan Zazove.

[chunya]

The "white metal" info is mentioned in the Parker Duofold book from David Shepherd and Dan Zazove.

Thanks for that ... It does make you wonder why they decided to cut corners,perhaps having themcertified sterling or hallmarked would have added too much onto the price

[ceejaybee]

Thanks for that ceejaybee ...and I didn't answer your original question. I was asking because I advertised mine for sale and someone asked me whether it was hallmarked, which got me thinking... it also got me thinking as to whether I really want to part with it

 

But I am confused (doesn't take much) .. on that thread 2000buyer asks 'Did Parker put out a silver plate Duofold in 1992?' and then goes on explaining why.Tony's response is ...'Sure did. For some reason Parker wasn't allowed to call it "Sterling" in the UK, so it was initially advertised as "white metal"

Can be tricky trying to convince a skeptic - good luck with that one.

 

I thinks it's a simple slip from Tony, I wouldn't read too much into it.

 

I think the issue of hallmarking is probably more prominent here in the UK because we have the most stringent hallmarking legislation of anywhere in the world but it is an expensive process and I think Parker have avoided it where the Sterling pens are concerned for that very reason. I could imagine it doubling the production costs of a Duofold FP which is hard to justify.

[chunya]

Can be tricky trying to convince a skeptic - good luck with that one.

 

I thinks it's a simple slip from Tony, I wouldn't read too much into it.

 

I think the issue of hallmarking is probably more prominent here in the UK because we have the most stringent hallmarking legislation of anywhere in the world but it is an expensive process and I think Parker have avoided it where the Sterling pens are concerned for that very reason. I could imagine it doubling the production costs of a Duofold FP which is hard to justify.

I didn't have to convince him in the end. Last night I'd decided to keep it if it didn't go today, as the BIN was expiring, then this morning I awoke to two identical offers, £20 less than the asking price, and a notification that someone had bought it for the full asking price! I am not surprised, although I'm not overly in love with some of the new Duofolds, this was a really nice pen.

[terim]

We have a lined version of the sterling Duofold Cen. Made in US. Also lacking hallmarks.