Can Anyone Date This Parker?

[quilluser]

This was my grandfather's fountain pen. It is a Parker and it's a Duofold, I believe. However, I don't know that date as he died in 1963 and had used the pen for years. The nib is very fine and semi flexible. Filling is by manually depressing the bars on the bladder. It is very small, measuring 12 centimetres with the cap on closed.

[FarmBoy]

Looks like a Duofold AF.

 

1950s

[AL01]

It may be a Slimfold...

 

You'll have to check the measurements online.

 

If it's not a Slimfold, than it's a British, (guess we were tired of 'em by then), Duofold from the late '50s.

[PaulS]

I'd agree with the suggestion of Slimfold - according to the book this particular aerometric started life at Newhaven, West Sussex, in 1962. Parker gave size designations to the Newhaven pens, and this No. is marked as part of the nib imprint and is related to the size of the pen - the smallest pen being the Lady with a No. 4 nib and with the next one up in size being the Slimfold with a No. 5 nib - you should find this marked on your nib. I've just measured a Slimfold and your figure of 12 cms. does look to be correct.

Most of the Newhaven models carried a barrel imprint, and this should - but unfortunately doesn't always - give the model name - often with much use and the passing of years these details become worn to the point of obscurity.

Edited May 7, 2019 by PaulS

[quilluser]

I'd agree with the suggestion of Slimfold - according to the book this particular aerometric started life at Newhaven, West Sussex, in 1962. Parker gave size designations to the Newhaven pens, and this No. is marked as part of the nib imprint and is related to the size of the pen - the smallest pen being the Lady with a No. 4 nib and with the next one up in size being the Slimfold with a No. 5 nib - you should find this marked on your nib. I've just measured a Slimfold and your figure of 12 cms. does look to be correct.

Most of the Newhaven models carried a barrel imprint, and this should - but unfortunately doesn't always - give the model name - often with much use and the passing of years these details become worn to the point of obscurity.

 

Thanks everyone. The nib has a 5 on it and there is a very feint engraved text on the barrel but I can't make out anything other than "Parkers".

 

So it must be a Slimfold. My grandfather must have bought this when I was very young and it's great to know a bit more about it. The ink sack was very rough when I started to use it but it was very well services and repaired by the Battersea Pen Home.

 

I'm into Onoto these days but I use this wonderful pen when I can.

 

Thanks again.

[thx1138]

I could probably take it for a coffee, not a full date.

[Karmachanic]

Sorry. I'm going steady with my Conid

[PaulS]

at my age I'd date anything that would have me ................................ but, trying to be a tad more grown up ………

 

Hadn't realized I had over a dozen SLIMFOLDS - plus a few of the final design where the pen looks more like a miniaturized P45, and on none of these do I see N (for Newhaven) on any nibs - so this looks to confirm that certainly by 1962 Parker had dropped the N and opted for just numbering the different models.

 

Some pix attached showing, firstly what I assume is a fairly early nib with date code figure 4 for 1964 (single dot so likely last quarter) ……….

another with just the No. 5, so presumably this is the most commonly seen nib after date codes had ceased, but prior to gold content 585 imprint.

Finally, nib showing this later addition of 585 applied, so I'm told, as a requirement for the States market.

 

Also a picture of barrel showing another date code which believe is a 6 (single dot) so likely last quarter 1966 - possibly one of the final date codes for SLIMFOLDS.

 

If I have details wrong please shout - thanks.