Your Top 5 Parker Models List?

[donnweinberg]

Ah, TheRedBeard, I think you've got it right.  A very neat feature of both pens is that you can find replacement nib/feeds pretty readily on Ebay and perhaps other sites, so that if you want a different width nib, you can make that happen.  One just has to make sure that the nib/feed one substitutes is of the same type as the nib/feed getting replaced.  So, an older, thin one with the same, and a newer thicker, combed one with the same.

[TheRedBeard]

1 hour ago, donnweinberg said:

Ah, TheRedBeard, I think you've got it right.  A very neat feature of both pens is that you can find replacement nib/feeds pretty readily on Ebay and perhaps other sites, so that if you want a different width nib, you can make that happen.  One just has to make sure that the nib/feed one substitutes is of the same type as the nib/feed getting replaced.  So, an older, thin one with the same, and a newer thicker, combed one with the same.

Sure, it is a great feature of P75s.

My French 75 has an absolutely amazing US 14k Fine nib

 

[donnweinberg]

Over time, I've gotten some broad, stub, and oblique 75 nibs (with feeds) and substituted them for the thinner nibs.

[PithyProlix]

On 6/28/2021 at 1:44 PM, PithyProlix said:

I actually only have 45s, 51s, and 61s and haven't tried other Parkers. I'm interested in the 65 and 75 next but I am holding off on those for now (I am not a collector and, right now, I have too many other good pens).

1. Parker 61 (capillary preferred with the caveat of trying to find an ink I really, really like in the pen and keep refilling with the same)
2. Parker 51 aerometric
3. Parker 51 Special
4. Parker 45

I prefer XF nibs for my normal writing (cursive) - I haven't been able to find a stub/italic here yet but interested. Also prefer the more understated look of plastic barreled pens over flighters.

 

Updating my list.

 

1. 61 mk1

2. Premier (the version introduced in the 1980s, not the Depression-era pen)

3. 75

4. 51 aero

5. 45 (colored barrels + gold nib)

 

Honorable mention: Classic (preferable to the 180, which I added as #5 soon after the above list from last year)

 

Ones I'm particularly interested in but haven't tried yet: modern Duofolds, 35, 65, & 85

 

Top of my 'want list': Premier in Chinese Laque

[TheRedBeard]

On 10/27/2022 at 9:30 AM, PithyProlix said:

 

Updating my list.

 

1. 61 mk1

2. Premier (the version introduced in the 1980s, not the Depression-era pen)

3. 75

4. 51 aero

5. 45 (colored barrels + gold nib)

 

Honorable mention: Classic (preferable to the 180, which I added as #5 soon after the above list from last year)

 

Ones I'm particularly interested in but haven't tried yet: modern Duofolds, 35, 65, & 85

 

Top of my 'want list': Premier in Chinese Laque

I think once you have modern Duofold tried you may need to update your list again  

It is quite unlikely that the other pens from your Wish List will affect your opinion. 

 

[Penguincollector]

Is there any difference between the ‘80s Duofold and the latest version?  I saw what the new ones are priced compared to what I bought mine for (new, in ‘91) and it’s about a grand.

[Penguincollector]

On 5/28/2022 at 7:37 AM, TheRedBeard said:

Great to see P180 on the top   

I love my 180- skinny, little, writes as fine as I need it to and the medium side shows off the shading inks. The nib is so strikingly beautiful.

[TheRedBeard]

2 hours ago, Penguincollector said:

I love my 180- skinny, little, writes as fine as I need it to and the medium side shows off the shading inks. The nib is so strikingly beautiful.

P180 is a great pen but it is too thin for me. 

[TheRedBeard]

2 hours ago, Penguincollector said:

Is there any difference between the ‘80s Duofold and the latest version?  I saw what the new ones are priced compared to what I bought mine for (new, in ‘91) and it’s about a grand.

UK Duofolds of late-80s and 90s are rightly considered by many as great pens with brilliant nibs. And I should say that I fully support that opinion. 

Frankly, I don't find my Centennials of 2016 and 2020 being any better than Centennials of 80s or 90s... 

[Penguincollector]

Double post

[Penguincollector]

9 minutes ago, TheRedBeard said:

P180 is a great pen but it is too thin for me. 

I have a weird grip that skinny pens work well with. The ‘80s slim pen heyday is my niche.

[Penguincollector]

4 minutes ago, TheRedBeard said:

K Duofolds of late-80s and 90s are rightly considered by many as great pens with brilliant nibs. And I should say that I fully support that opinion. 

Frankly, I don't find my Centennials of 2016 and 2020 being any better than Centennials of 80s or 90s... 

Right on, I keep seeing the Lapis at my local store and wondering if it was new and improved in some way. 

[TheRedBeard]

51 minutes ago, Penguincollector said:

I have a weird grip that skinny pens work well with. The ‘80s slim pen heyday is my niche.

In such a case I guess you should definitely like P50 Falcon and perhaps late Arrow.

[Penguincollector]

8 minutes ago, TheRedBeard said:

In such a case I guess you should definitely like P50 Falcon and perhaps late Arrow.

There was a rolled gold Arrow at a store by my childhood home that I coveted badly. They had a counter that I would stand by and admire while waiting for my mom to finish shopping. I also like the earlier Arrow, and the 45- my dad gave me his as my first pen. 

[PithyProlix]

16 hours ago, TheRedBeard said:

I think once you have modern Duofold tried you may need to update your list again

 

I will probably have to update my bank account balance first! (I hesitated just a little too long a few months ago and missed a local, like-new, complete International a few months ago for the equivalent of about $100 USD. Sigh ...)

[TheRedBeard]

2 hours ago, PithyProlix said:

 

I will probably have to update my bank account balance first! (I hesitated just a little too long a few months ago and missed a local, like-new, complete International a few months ago for the equivalent of about $100 USD. Sigh ...)

Just be patient and keep watching, and you will get your nice 90s Centennial at reasonable price  

They emerge from time to time in surprisingly excellent condition... 

[bunnspecial]

I'd not answered this one yet, but

 

1. Vacumatic Oversize

2. 51 Vacumatic

3. Stub nib English 51 Aeros

4. 75 Ciselle

5. Modern Duofold-I like them all but the Mk 1 gets the biggest nod for me, particularly with Italic or Oblique nibs

[TheRedBeard]

1 hour ago, bunnspecial said:

I'd not answered this one yet, but

 

1. Vacumatic Oversize

2. 51 Vacumatic

3. Stub nib English 51 Aeros

4. 75 Ciselle

5. Modern Duofold-I like them all but the Mk 1 gets the biggest nod for me, particularly with Italic or Oblique nibs

Thank you, Ben  

 

[Chandon]

I have not used them all, but would say;

1. 45

2. Vector

3. 75

4. Arrow

5. Jotter

 

[TheRedBeard]

On 4/10/2023 at 11:08 AM, Chandon said:

I have not used them all, but would say;

1. 45

2. Vector

3. 75

4. Arrow

5. Jotter

 

Thank you, Chandon  

Interesting to see Vector ranked higher than P75...