Parker Vector

[Nosferatualso]

Just spent the weekend writing with my silver parker vector. Does anyone know if they are still being made?

[Mike 59]

Hi, I found this Vector fountain pen at W.H.Smiths in the UK;

http://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/parker-vector-stainless-steel-fountain-pen-medium-nib-blue-ink/36465583

[Nosferatualso]

Thank you

[shea2812]

Just bought one. NOS, Made in USA, date code IY. Not sure what year is that. No converter though. I've seen a few marked made in UK with F, may want to get that too!

[mitto]

Just bought one. NOS, Made in USA, date code IY. Not sure what year is that. No converter though. I've seen a few marked made in UK with F, may want to get that too!

IY means third quarter, 1996.

[shea2812]

So what wud be the markings for those made in India ones? I am to understand that vectors are still being priduced there.

Just got one in F with Made in UK (date code O.I). This one comes with converter. I also just found out that Parker Quink carts are relatively expensive around here (Malaysia). I am more familiar with em Pelikan carts. My experience with bottled Black Quink is a little underwhelming. Too little saturation. I do have other FPs but I guess I want to keep a couple of Vectors. Vectors retail for relative high price considering the build and it has been around since time immemoria. I hope them barrels on the two that I have are not as brittle as some reports in this forum.

[shea2812]

I paid almost the same as for a used Parker Arrow rolled gold recently, a flea market find. I have passed that on to a friend's kid. I she does not like that then perhaps i can let her try a Vector.

[mitto]

So what wud be the markings for those made in India ones? I am to understand that vectors are still being priduced there.

Just got one in F with Made in UK (date code O.I). This one comes with converter. I also just found out that Parker Quink carts are relatively expensive around here (Malaysia). I am more familiar with em Pelikan carts. My experience with bottled Black Quink is a little underwhelming. Too little saturation. I do have other FPs but I guess I want to keep a couple of Vectors. Vectors retail for relative high price considering the build and it has been around since time immemoria. I hope them barrels on the two that I have are not as brittle as some reports in this forum.

I haven't seen the Luxur distributed made in India Vectors and perhaps wouldn't see them in future (given the strained ties between India and my country).

Q.I would mean third quarter, 2000. Strange you pick up only 'third quarter' pens. Lol.

[shea2812]

Have inked the Vector with F. Did not write strainghtaway, that got me a little worried initially. A little tweaked on misaligned tines and a bit of increased flow now it writes ok. I do remember using one so many years ago. They were cheap in WHSmith along with Casio watches and Calculators. Then I didnt know about a Vector being a nail. We just used what we had in hand in those days along with standard Parker Quink for color... which was more often than not was black.

Vector's F is wider than Metro's M. Hard with some feedback. Feel that it can take a lot of abuse. No wonder the design has survived so long and still being produced. Hope mine will find a new home soon. Will try the M US made one when I get a converter for it. Using cartridges is not viable because of the high cost of Parker carts around ere.

[ac12]

Nails were what I used in college, P45. A soft/flex nib would just get in the way of fast note taking.

I thought I had a Vector fountain pen, but I guess I only bought the roller ball.

 

I would use it right now as an "office/school pen."

It is not expensive, looks plain (won't attract attention), and works.

Edited February 18, 2016 by ac12

[GeneralSynopsis]

My experience of the Luxor/Indian Vector is that the fine(apparently the most common nib size on ebay) is slightly stubbish and very much to my liking. The fit of the parts seems slightly worse than the UK and French Vectors that I have (all reground to stubs, I can't abide a Parker medium nib out of the box). All of mine are reliable writers, starting up first time after days without use.

 

In the UK the retail pricing of Vectors can be rather amusing/erratic. In what passes for our high street you can get a Vector for anything from under £6 (at Wilco) to £12-15 at various shops no more than 100 m from one another.

[shea2812]

Well good to know that they are still around. I dont get to see Vectors around here anymore but the few that are mostly NOS. That means mostly UK made ones. I was surprised meself to have found a US made one. Didnt know that there are French Vectors too. There are still a few from where I got mine from. Not cheap tho at GBP6.7 in local currency equivalent. Add another pound one can get a Pilot MR (with converter). But Vectors has proven itself that it can take a lot of abuse and keep on writing. Pilot Metro/MR is yet to prove itself with its brass construction. I do not think them newer cheap chinese brands and make can take the place of Vectors longevitywise. I definitely keeping an eye for a Vector Flighter if there is any available near me.

[mitto]

Well good to know that they are still around. I dont get to see Vectors around here anymore but the few that are mostly NOS. That means mostly UK made ones. I was surprised meself to have found a US made one. Didnt know that there are French Vectors too. There are still a few from where I got mine from. Not cheap tho at GBP6.7 in local currency equivalent. Add another pound one can get a Pilot MR (with converter). But Vectors has proven itself that it can take a lot of abuse and keep on writing. Pilot Metro/MR is yet to prove itself with its brass construction. I do not think them newer cheap chinese brands and make can take the place of Vectors longevitywise. I definitely keeping an eye for a Vector Flighter if there is any available near me.

Got a NOS F nibbed Vector flighter just a few days ago. Made in France with date code IIIQ (first quarter, 1990) for Rs. 950.00 (about $9.00). The pen came in a transparent plastic box.

Edited February 18, 2016 by mitto

[mitto]

Forgot to mention mine came with a converter and that too the old squeeze type.

[shea2812]

The price paid does not even cover the holding cost for the Vector! (26 years in transit!) I suppose USD9 is quite a lot where you are, as it is here with current economic climate and currency exchange. How does the French Flighter write BTW. For many of us in the Far East, we dont get that many fancier FPs that we get to read about on FPN. For me at least buying online from Western based seller is not quite an option. I do notice that there are revived interest in FPs now. Brick & mortar shops that sell FPs are displaying more than in years past. I have also found a few shops selling various colors of Lamy inks.Used to be I got to see on the ubiquitous blacks and blues.

[mitto]

I haven't inked it as yet. I mean my newer French made Vector. And no, we have all the fancier FPs of all brands (both vintage as well modern) available in abundance here in Pakistan. And, a lot cheaper than on ebay or anywhere else in the US or Europe.

[etaylor33]

I was in India recently and was looking for an iconic Indian pen. I looked in several shops in Anand, a college town, and the one that seemed to be the best choice was a Parker in a blister pack with a bottle of ink included. I bought it and it turns out it is a Vector. It writes smooth enough on my Black 'N Red paper. It is picky about keeping the nib dead centered on the paper otherwise it skips. I have inked it up with the Quink Blue ink that came with it. It has a chrome or silvered bottom end and don't expect to post the cap, it doesn't have the correct configuration of cap and end to allow that. I was given four other pens from friends that know I'm interested in FP's. Two of these are Parker Vectors, so they must be popular here. I think one of the other pens is a Parker Frontier, but I'm not sure. The final pen is the best of the lot in my opinion; it is an Inventor K-Nine with a knurled section and all stainless steel with some gold plating on the clip and a couple of other places. It is the only one with a nib that looks like what I'm used to and it writes great at this point. No they aren't the best nibs on the market, but I can say they write better than the two Platinum pens I bought for a lot more. The Vectors went for about $5.90 USD. As the others were gifts, I don't know what they cost but via the internet, the Inventor goes for anywhere between 700 - 1100 Rupees. Not sure what that is USD but I think it's in the range of $10-12 USD. So I'm happy with my Indian pens and if they stop working tomorrow, no big deal. But right now, they are working great and I have no complaints.

[Frozz]

I am glad people are still using the vector ... i thought i was the only fool lol. btw the vector sure is an iconic pen no matter it be rollerball or the fountain pen version both have the same barrel and cap (screw the ball pen version it is ugly like a jotter!).

 

I have like 6 different vector design (all rollerball) and just purchased 3 fountain pen version ... the full S.steel silver, full S.steel gold, and the vector Durga design. I love the vector design so much but there are so many design its hard to collect all.

Edited February 22, 2016 by Frozz

[mitto]

Vector s.steel gold? So many designs that colleccting all is difficult???

[Frozz]

Vector s.steel gold? So many designs that colleccting all is difficult???

 

yes gold plated stainless steel version ... also some of the vectors are limited edition hence the difficulty to get it now as you have to purchase from someone second hand. Do not forget Vector is made by Parker (duh !!) UK and along the course till out of production Parker UK have a bunch of special design series like calendar, zodiac, cartoons, techno, vibes, and fashion to name a few. Aside that now China and India also does the vector and a bunch of series too.

 

Still THE single most difficult to obtained Vector type is the Vector clear Demonstrator version. so far i've only seen 2 person has it and a single listing of it for sale only which is sold. I really want to vector demonstrator ... Maybe I ought to ask China or India to make one ... India is Luxor Corp, does anyone knows which company does the vector in China ? and no its not Hero or Lucky or Baoer i have checked. thanks