Is This A Parker 45?

[gammada]

I was recently offered this pen for sale. It appears to be a Parker 45 in rather good condition with a metal squeeze converter fitted in. But the thing that really caught my eye is that the pen was made in Mexico. I know Parker and other pen companies had manufacturing plants here, but I've never seen a fountain pen made here. My guess is that this pen was manufactured between the 70's and early 80's.

 

Do you think it's worth a second look?

[Mr.Rene]

If Parker made pens in Argentina..why not in Mexico...

[mitto]

This Wikipedia article mentions my country - Pakistan - among the places where Parker manufacturing plants were established. But I have not yet seen a Parker pen made in Pakistan. But who knows. Perhaps they produced pens for export to some other countries to earn hard currency and achieve increase in foreign reserves and, hence, the products are not found in the local markets.

 

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parker_Pen_Company

[OCArt]

According to Wikipedia:

"Manufacturing facilities were set up over the years in Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Mexico, USA, Pakistan, India, Germany (Osmia-Parker), Brazil and Argentina."

 

I'd pick it up if the price was right. I'm a big fan of Parker 45's and there's not much that can go wrong with one.

 

edited to say

Ha-Ha I see we both posted the same link!

Edited January 1, 2017 by OCArt

[gammada]

Perhaps they produced pens for export to some other countries to earn hard currency and achieve increase in foreign reserves and, hence, the products are not found in the local markets.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parker_Pen_Company

I think the opposite in this case. My guess is Mexican pens were produced for the local market only since the inscription on the cap says "Hecho en Mexico" in Spanish and most export products in this country use English. BTW managed to find at least three other similar pens!

[mitto]

Ha-Ha I see we both posted the same link!

 

...and at the same time.

[gammada]

 

I'd pick it up if the price was right. I'm a big fan of Parker 45's and there's not much that can go wrong with one.

That particular pen had a lot of wear on the tip of the section. But I'd managed to trace another couple sets for sale: one with pencil and ballpoint in NOS condition (still got the original stickers on the clips) and with original box for around $55, and another with pencil and original box for $20. Which do you think it's the better deal? I really don't mind the ballpoints, but might as well use the pencils.

[OCArt]

That particular pen had a lot of wear on the tip of the section. But I'd managed to trace another couple sets for sale: one with pencil and ballpoint in NOS condition (still got the original stickers on the clips) and with original box for around $55, and another with pencil and original box for $20. Which do you think it's the better deal? I really don't mind the ballpoints, but might as well use the pencils.

 

Which one has your preferred nib size? (The nib size is stamped on the underside of the plastic nib holder.) All things equal I'd go for the $20 one, but a gold cap or a pretty color might sway me.

[mitto]

If NOC in original boxes with paperwork, a box of cartridges, original Squeeze converter and outer card board boxes, then both are excellent deals. Even if no paperwork the prices are good.

Are the nibs gold or steel?

[gammada]

Which one has your preferred nib size? (The nib size is stamped on the underside of the plastic nib holder.) All things equal I'd go for the $20 one, but a gold cap or a pretty color might sway me.

Both are black barrels with stainless steel caps, so no luck there. I will inquire about the nib grade, thou. That's a good point!

[gammada]

If NOC in original boxes with paperwork, a box of cartridges, original Squeeze converter and outer card board boxes, then both are excellent deals. Even if no paperwork the prices are good.

Are the nibs gold or steel?

Both have squeeze converters, thou no mention of papers. My guess is that both pens have steel nibs considering they were aimed at the low-end market. But who knows, maybe I'll score a gold nib!

 

I will keep you all posted.

[Runnin_Ute]

I had a 45 that was a Made in Spain at one time.

[Jerome Tarshis]

Both have squeeze converters, thou no mention of papers. My guess is that both pens have steel nibs considering they were aimed at the low-end market. But who knows, maybe I'll score a gold nib!

 

I will keep you all posted.

 

Maybe you will score a gold nib. As for being aimed at the low-end market, the whole idea of the pen when it came out in 1960 was that it had a gold nib and the pen cost only $5. They all had gold nibs in the early years of the 45. Later on, differentiation set in, but the gold nib in a low-priced pen was the original idea.