Parker Victory Repair

[Durham K]

Hi

 

I was given a black Parker Victory this week by my school technician. His late Father had been a caretaker at my school where I teach and collected many a lost pen. I was quite excited to try the pen, thinking it would write a bit with a little dip in water. Not that easy, as I uncapped it. The nib had seemingly been stabbed into some surface and it was bent about 120 degrees from the correct position. This is my first nib straightening of a gold nib and I am pleased with how it now writes. The lightest touch to paper gives a medium line.

 

I was asked if I knew how old it was and all I knew was that it is not the same as my button filling Victory model. However as you can see from the photo the nib is clearly stamped 1953. At least I know the age of this part, 6 years older than me!. Am I safe to assume that it would be original to the pen and an accurate date for the body?

 

I must say that I cannot find another image on the Net that shows a dated nib. It was a short search though!

 

I have managed to mark the nib a bit by being too enthusiastic and not having the correct tools.

 

Still, a free pen that writes well is a result.

 

K

[icardoth]

There was several Victory "generations". A picture of the whole pen will help.

[Durham K]

I will get round to that later. But I am already in trouble for pen fixing when I should be writing reports! (not even with a pen).

 

It is exactly like the one in the rewiew by terminal, Jul 19 2012 01:19, Review: Parker Victory Mk5 Nib '10', but mine is black and much more scratched.

 

K

[Beechwood]

You may be able to improve the marks on the nib with a nail buffer or a smooth round bodied pencil pencil as a burnisher.

 

I havent seen a date marked Parker uk nib, could it be a Corontion year marking perhaps?

[adamon]

This nib is part of aerometric Victory (Victory Mk V) - for sure.

Earlier Victory models had the nibs signed with N (I've found some with nibs signed with "35", but I'm not sure if it is not repacement. "35" is nib of aerometric Senior Duofold).

With "10" are signed Victory Mk V and Junior Duofold only - both are identical except of imprints.

I've seen some Victory Mk V and Senior Duofold nibs signed with 1953. This sign is hidden inside the section and normaly not visible. I believe it's production year.

The later pens have sometimes nibs signed with production year (probably?), but there are one-digit numbers added to nib numbers (50 - Maxima, 35 - Senior, 25 - Duofold, 15 - Demi, 10 - Junior and Victory Mk V, 5 - Slimfold).

[Durham K]

This nib is part of aerometric Victory (Victory Mk V) - for sure.

Earlier Victory models had the nibs signed with N (I've found some with nibs signed with "35", but I'm not sure if it is not repacement. "35" is nib of aerometric Senior Duofold).

With "10" are signed Victory Mk V and Junior Duofold only - both are identical except of imprints.

I've seen some Victory Mk V and Senior Duofold nibs signed with 1953. This sign is hidden inside the section and normaly not visible. I believe it's production year.

The later pens have sometimes nibs signed with production year (probably?), but there are one-digit numbers added to nib numbers (50 - Maxima, 35 - Senior, 25 - Duofold, 15 - Demi, 10 - Junior and Victory Mk V, 5 - Slimfold).

 

Thank you Adamon. This is good to know. I hope people do not start pulling nibs out to date them if they are not careful.

On first straighting the nib it was a little above the feed. Now it touches the feed and gives a medium line at the slightest touch on paper. It now has a distinctly wider channel on the top of the nib than underneath. is this as it should be? I am new to tuning gold nibs.

K

[Mike 59]

Hi, Here is an 'N' code for example.

This belonged to my grandfather who I believe bought it new.

It's not complete at the moment, I just dipped it to test, not really expecting too much, but it writes a slightly narrow medium line, not quite 'fine' width.

What surprised me was how light and comfortable this is, once restored, this might get used often.

Edited June 28, 2014 by Mike 59

[Florida Blue]

 

I havent seen a date marked Parker uk nib, could it be a Corontion year marking perhaps?

 

Parker Newhaven did come out with a commemorative Coronation Mk 5 Victory and 51 set. They looked like ordinary models, but came in a special gift box. However, the Coronation Victory is dark blue. Maybe if the OP had his pen out in the light it might turn out to be blue rather than black? Maybe it was a special marking for the Coronation year.

 

Tony Fischier's very informative site has pictures of the Coronation Victory and box:

http://www.parkerpens.net/limitededition.html

Edited June 29, 2014 by Florida Blue

[Durham K]

Parker Newhaven did come out with a commemorative Coronation Mk 5 Victory and 51 set. They looked like ordinary models, but came in a special gift box. However, the Coronation Victory is dark blue. Maybe if the OP had his pen out in the light it might turn out to be blue rather than black? Maybe it was a special marking for the Coronation year.

 

Tony Fischier's very informative site has pictures of the Coronation Victory and box:

http://www.parkerpens.net/limitededition.html

Just been out in to the sun (yes in Northern England!) and it is most definitely black. Did they have nibs left over?

K

Edited June 30, 2014 by Durham K

[Florida Blue]

Just been out in to the sun (yes in Northern England!) and it is most definitely black. Did they have nibs left over?

K

 

Hmmm… maybe Parker made the Coronation Victory in others colors or perhaps that nib was used on all 1953 Victories. I'm assuming that 1953 is the date of manufacture, which would make sense since that was the first year of production for the Mk 5 Victory.

[adamon]

Coronation Victory is the same pen as "normal" - no special imprints. The only one difference is box.

1953 is the first year of aerometric UK Duofolds.

According to many sources, the digital numbers of nibs were introduced in 1958. But I don't believe, if it is truth.

The Senior Duofolds were produced from 1954 till 1958 and almost every I've found have the nib signed with "35" number and not "N".

Maybe the "N" sign was typical for standard and Demi Duofolds produced in this time period only?