The Uk Duofolds And Their French Competitors

[georges zaslavsky]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/georges2/pens%20%20and%20pen%20reviews/ukduofoldandrivalsreview.jpg

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First picture from bottom to top, 1950 UK Aerometric Duofold extra fine french made nib , 1946 UK AF Duofold medium broad New Haven nib, 1949 french made junior sized button filler oblique broad and 1947 french made oversized button filler stub nib

 

Third picture, cap jewels

 

Fourth pitcure, rear ends, the two on the left the UK made Duofold and on the right the two french made vintage pens

 

Fifth picture from left to right, 1950 UK Aerometric Duofold extra fine french made nib , 1946 UK AF Duofold medium broad New Haven nib, 1949 french made junior sized button filler oblique broad and 1947 french made oversized button filler stub nib

 

Sixth picture, 1950 UK Aerometric Duofold extra fine french made nib , 1946 UK AF Duofold medium broad New Haven nib, 1949 french made junior sized button filler oblique broad and 1947 french made oversized button filler stub nib

Edited November 16, 2014 by georges zaslavsky

[georges zaslavsky]

38 views and not a damn reply!!!

[amk]

I like these Parkers. They're not blingy, they don't have fascinating celluloids; they seem to encapsulate the art of English understatement (yes, even the French ones). But the nibs are rather nice.

 

I picked up a little French Parker the other day: burgundy, button filler, says 'Parker Reg.T.M. made in France' on the barrel (like one of your two) and 'Parker 18k' with the French hallmark on the nib. Nice, good quality, but very unassuming (why I got it for very little!) Doesn't mention the word Duofold, though it has a family resemblabce - it's only 11.5cm long, a slim and tiny pen. If anybody has an idea just what it is I'd be interested to know. Terrible pic, apologies - it's getting dark too early these days!

http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/t411/amk-fpn/duofold-1.jpg

 

I suppose your French ones also have the 18k (French standard) nib?

[georges zaslavsky]

I like these Parkers. They're not blingy, they don't have fascinating celluloids; they seem to encapsulate the art of English understatement (yes, even the French ones). But the nibs are rather nice.

 

I picked up a little French Parker the other day: burgundy, button filler, says 'Parker Reg.T.M. made in France' on the barrel (like one of your two) and 'Parker 18k' with the French hallmark on the nib. Nice, good quality, but very unassuming (why I got it for very little!) Doesn't mention the word Duofold, though it has a family resemblabce - it's only 11.5cm long, a slim and tiny pen. If anybody has an idea just what it is I'd be interested to know. Terrible pic, apologies - it's getting dark too early these days!

http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/t411/amk-fpn/duofold-1.jpg

 

I suppose your French ones also have the 18k (French standard) nib?

Hi thanks you for posting yours, yours must be a 1946-1947 model. Mine carry all the 18k standard excepted the Duofold AF which carry the Duofold 14New Haven stamping, yours looks like to have a stub nib and pretty sure a semi flex one. The quality on these Parkers is stellar and is putting to shame all modern Parkers.

Edited November 16, 2014 by georges zaslavsky

[amk]

Wow, haven't tried this little baby out yet, I'll have to ink it up now and let you know if it's flexy!

[adamon]

Upper line - French Parkers

Lower line - Plexors

(I believe that these button fillers were produced during the WWII or shortly after war. Since 1948 button fillers were replaced with AF's)

 

 

French aerometric Parkers

 

[amk]

I love those blue Plexors. Very fetching!

[ddyager]

I have a few British Seniors and Maximas from the '50s and fully agree regarding their quality and usefulness. I just received a black senior in a group of pens from eBay. It's a cosmetic flop, but it writes soooo well - extremely smooth with just the right wetness. The nib is firm, but has just a bit of give to it, so it feels great. And the pen is very comfortable in the hand. Beautiful, perfect pens are wonderful, but for routine daily use, pens like this are the ones that stay in my pocket most of the time. My other British duofolds are in better shape, write just as well, seem ruggedly built, and are pleasantly understated. I haven't tried any French or Danish versions, although I'm looking forward to trying one of the latter that is on its way here.

[Jerome Tarshis]

Now that FPN has the attention of some people who own more of these than I do: Were the feeds hard rubber or plastic?

 

That may vary by date and model, for all I know. Mine is an English-made Junior whose nib dates to 1968. I am inclined to believe Parker Newhaven would have continued to use hard rubber feeds at least through the 1960s, but I don't know. My far more recent Auroras do have hard rubber feeds. Still, I've got plastic feeds that work well, and am now curious about what Parker UK used for the Aerometric Duofold Juniors.

[georges zaslavsky]

Upper line - French Parkers

Lower line - Plexors

(I believe that these button fillers were produced during the WWII or shortly after war. Since 1948 button fillers were replaced with AF's)

 

 

French aerometric Parkers

 

very nice and highly unusual collection The French Parker button fillers were manufactured till early 1949. The French introduced the AF on the French made VS in february march1949. I do have a French made VS too.

Edited November 17, 2014 by georges zaslavsky

[georges zaslavsky]

Now that FPN has the attention of some people who own more of these than I do: Were the feeds hard rubber or plastic?

 

That may vary by date and model, for all I know. Mine is an English-made Junior whose nib dates to 1968. I am inclined to believe Parker Newhaven would have continued to use hard rubber feeds at least through the 1960s, but I don't know. My far more recent Auroras do have hard rubber feeds. Still, I've got plastic feeds that work well, and am now curious about what Parker UK used for the Aerometric Duofold Juniors.

If you have a photo, I would be able to tell you but having seen some UK Duofolds for sale most of these had rubber feeds. On all of my French and UK Parker pens all have hard rubber feeds, the VS has a transparent lucite feed.

[amk]

Ooooh yes! It flexes nicely! and it also SQUEAKS, which is unusual. Lovely flex, not very wide but quite easy.

[wastelanded]

I love my Duofold AF. No nonsense, built to last, and a wonderful nib. I wouldn't part with it for anything. Thanks for highlighting these unsung heros. Or maybe not, since now they will become harder to find

 

[adamon]

The French Parker button fillers were manufactured till early 1949. The French introduced the AF on the French made VS in february march1949. I do have a French made VS too.

 

And what about real French Duofold AF?

Little bit longer and thinner than his English (and Danish) cousin.

 

 

Here 2nd from the left

 

 

 

 

 

And here first from the top

 

[georges zaslavsky]

 

And what about real French Duofold AF?

Little bit longer and thinner than his English (and Danish) cousin.

 

 

Here 2nd from the left

 

 

 

 

 

And here first from the top

 

very interesting adamon , I didn't know that those existed. Thanks for sharing

[adamon]

I have 2 of them - one in black and one in burgundy red (with some discolorisation) - No 2 and 3 from the left

 

Edited November 17, 2014 by adamon

[Ambien]

Great photos, I've only written w/UK Duofolds but I do like their elegant FP design and aerometric is one of my favorite ink filling systems.

[georges zaslavsky]

I have 2 of them - one in black and one in burgundy red (with some discolorisation) - No 2 and 3 from the left

 

Very nice collection thanks for sharing

[Ricky2011]

Hi,

 

nice to see a post about French duofolds/ plexors

 

please find images of mine. (3 button fillers, 1 AF and a plexor) note the plexor states SA parker.

 

feel free to contact me with regards to this area.

 

Rick

[ScottieDarin]

I have a British-made Victory AF too.

And it comes kneck and kneck with my Mont Blanc 146 (vintage nib) in terms of personal preference.

And that's saying something cuz it's a quarter of the 146's price.

Wouldn't mind getting another handful of them.