The Best Parker Fountain Pen?

[CharlieAndrews]

 

I wonder what the OP got in the end?

A Parker 51, A Parker Duofold, 2 Parker Sonnets, many bottles of ink, and many other pens.

[sansenri]

Parker 51 needs to be mentioned, I like how it looks and how it feels, but as someone already said it has one big merit, it just writes.

 

Duofold Centennial, the big pen, with smooth and juicy nib, and some fantastic finishes, is my favourite

[mitto]

Next to 51 I would go for a 1920s' Duofold Senior aka Big Red.

[pajaro]

Next to a 51 I might like one of the Golden Web pens. Since I let these kind of pens rest in a tray and enjoy their looks, the beauty of this pen would be a pleasure to look upon once in a while. I would go on writing with the Midnight Blue 51s I have in EF, F, M and stub.

[alexwi]

Duofold Centennial, the big pen, with smooth and juicy nib, and some fantastic finishes, is my favourite

 

 

I had the same model you showed. It's a wonderful pen, but I don't use screw-capped pens, so I sold mine on ebay years ago. Out of curiosity, I contacted the buyer a few months back and he still uses it.

 

alex

[RonE]

You can find new Sonnets usually at a good sale price. That being said....I do like the Parker 45s best. Nibs easily screw out and are still cheap to replace. You can eyedropper the plastic ones. The are reasonable, dependable and come in many colors. Best, Ron

[Charles Rice]

Mine is the vintage Duofold.

 

I have several other Parkers including a 51. I have no idea why it is so popular.

[JotterAddict62]

Would it be the Parker that you are using at this time?

[europen]

This thread is more than a year old but the OP still seems to be responding, so I will add my two cents: the novice monk approached the Master and asked humbly, What is the meaning of my life? To which the Master gave him a sound slap in the face. One could argue that purchasing a pen is not tantamount to existentiality, but after all...we make our purchase, we see how the pen works for us. For me, I would purchase any Parker except the 180 (I don't like the switcheroo nib) and the Vector (I never cared for the cheap step-down design). All other Parkers exude class, which I am willing to purchase if the price is right (in addition of course to nib and feed systems!)

 

BTW sansenri, nice photo!

Edited September 25, 2018 by europen

[sansenri]

 

I had the same model you showed. It's a wonderful pen, but I don't use screw-capped pens, so I sold mine on ebay years ago. Out of curiosity, I contacted the buyer a few months back and he still uses it.

 

alex

 

Actually it's a lovely pen. I prefer screw capped pens and have several centennials, they are not only high quality but also very robust, and at the same time they are balanced and comfortable.

I tend to use the less blingy versions more often, this classic black early version with the straight cap is a favourite.

[pajaro]

Mine is the vintage Duofold.

 

I have several other Parkers including a 51. I have no idea why it is so popular.

Bought new in 1970, it writes today as well as or even better than when new, with nothing spent on it but for ink, and no repairs. That has something to do with it. Doesn't look fancy, just streamlined. Not a statement of net worth or pocket jewelry.

[mitto]

+1 to what pajaro said above.

[inkstainedruth]

I have to agree with pajaro and mitto. While being expensive pens in their heyday, Parker still sold an estimated 20 million 51s, and they were the company's flagship pen for something like 20 years. All the R&D costs were to make them what they are -- superb writing instruments. They're not flashy, they're not "bling-y". They don't even really LOOK like fountain pens, because of the hooded nib (but even that was a thought out industrial design element, not just for "show"; and yet nearly 75 years after the first ones rolled out of the Parker plant, they don't look old-fashioned). They just do what they're supposed to do: write and write and write....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[sansenri]

This thread is more than a year old but the OP still seems to be responding, so I will add my two cents: the novice monk approached the Master and asked humbly, What is the meaning of my life? To which the Master gave him a sound slap in the face. One could argue that purchasing a pen is not tantamount to existentiality, but after all...we make our purchase, we see how the pen works for us. For me, I would purchase any Parker except the 180 (I don't like the switcheroo nib) and the Vector (I never cared for the cheap step-down design). All other Parkers exude class, which I am willing to purchase if the price is right (in addition of course to nib and feed systems!)

 

BTW sansenri, nice photo!

 

 

Thank you europen

 

I own a few Centennials and wish I had a few more especially the earlier models, it's a classy pen no doubt

Here is my favourite

 

[senzen]

I've long resisted posting in this thread, basically because as has been mentioned, it depends on many personal factors, and which pens we have actually tried. After battling with my two Sonnets for a loong time I am finally getting along with them, Kyo No Oto Hisoku looks really nice in one of them and I'm hoping Aonibi will do the same for the other (very pale, tranquil inks); still, these are pens that have to be kept stored, and not upside down or they'll leak, and demand to be used... My 75 bought used is a much more reliable pen, with a design that stands the test of time, although it's slightly smaller.

 

 

I love the Vacumatic design but I need a pen that is easy to clean, and a lot bigger. Even though I should save for a Waterman Carène I might be tempted by another 75, in Ciselé. I find it interesting that so many people enjoy their 51 but hooded nibs are just unappealing, and they seem to be even smaller pens. A size comparison of all these classic models would be very useful.

Edited October 23, 2018 by pseudo88

[pajaro]

I've long resisted posting in this thread, basically because as has been mentioned, it depends on many personal factors, and which pens we have actually tried. After battling with my two Sonnets for a loong time I am finally getting along with them, Kyo No Oto Hisoku looks really nice in one of them and I'm hoping Aonibi will do the same for the other (very pale, tranquil inks); still, these are pens that have to be kept stored, and not upside down or they'll leak, and demand to be used... My 75 bought used is a much more reliable pen, with a design that stands the test of time, although it's slightly smaller.

 

 

I love the Vacumatic design but I need a pen that is easy to clean, and a lot bigger. Even though I should save for a Waterman Carène I might be tempted by another 75, in Ciselé. I find it interesting that so many people enjoy their 51 but hooded nibs are just unappealing, and they seem to be even smaller pens. A size comparison of all these classic models would be very useful.

You might consider the Duofold or the Waterman Carene. I have three Carenes, and they are trouble free so far, treated carefully, written with a light hand. I have not experienced any of the nib leaking issues. EF, F, M nibs perfect.

[ardene]

From personal experience: No1 for aesthetics, robustness and efficiency, Parker Lady Duofold late '20s. Finer semi-flex nib, forces you to treat it like a feather. No1 for overall modern amenities (ease of care, longer writing sessions and higher portability because of cartridges, writing smoothness which can take hard pressure without complaints): Parker Urban (pre-2016). The common points between the pens are that they are designed to handle a variety of paper from thin, newspaper-like cheap stuff to velvet-like, spongy paper with ease. The Urban handles Rhodia vellum-like paper better at high speeds, which is to be expected from a more recent design. They both will never let you down. I write more with the Lady Duo, but I have to say that the Urban is the best pen I have.

[pajaro]

From personal experience: No1 for aesthetics, robustness and efficiency, Parker Lady Duofold late '20s. Finer semi-flex nib, forces you to treat it like a feather. No1 for overall modern amenities (ease of care, longer writing sessions and higher portability because of cartridges, writing smoothness which can take hard pressure without complaints): Parker Urban (pre-2016). The common points between the pens are that they are designed to handle a variety of paper from thin, newspaper-like cheap stuff to velvet-like, spongy paper with ease. The Urban handles Rhodia vellum-like paper better at high speeds, which is to be expected from a more recent design. They both will never let you down. I write more with the Lady Duo, but I have to say that the Urban is the best pen I have.

Certainly interesting and thought provoking choices.

[mitto]

Parker Urban? Ok, I am tempted to grab one and see how does it feel and write.

[sansenri]

You would be surprised if you have not tried a Parker 51 that it's not thin, in fact the 75 (another lovely Parker) feels smaller in the hand, probably due to the shape of the section.

 

Edited October 26, 2018 by sansenri