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Pens from the 1980s

Pimdtaun86

By Pimdtaun86
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Pimdtaun86 Near Mint

Pimdtaun86

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I was born in the 1980s (1986, to be precise) and, as I get older, I find myself becoming more and more interested in collectables from the decade and year of my birth. Recently I thought I'd like to acquire one or two vintage fountain pens from that era, but I honestly have no idea where to begin. My taste in pens is quite eclectic, but I prefer larger pens with broad, smooth nibs. I like to write with my pens, so nothing that is too fragile and delicate to be used on a day-to-day basis. Bonus points for anything that is a piston filler, mainly because I find the larger ink capacity more convenient, but also because they're just more interesting than cartridge / converter pens.

 

Based on this, the pens that immediately spring to mind are vintage Montblancs and Pelikans. I wonder if anyone has any suggestions of specific models which date from that period, or any other suggestions of pens from the 1980s which are collectable yet relatively easy to find.


Thanks in advance!

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Penguincollector Donor Pen

Penguincollector

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Hmm, I also collect pens from the ‘80s, but the other extreme, the smaller and thinner, the better. Cartier had some big pens back then- Pasha I think was one. Pilot/Namiki had some big, nice pens in the Emperor’ line. The Sheaffer Conaisseur is a big pen from the era as well. I found the Pelikan catalogue for 1986 and 🤩! 

Pelikan 1986

Best bet is to save searches for 1986 fountain pens on the bay or Google. I love looking at catalogues from the era and run image seaches for them. I know here in the US, we had several national and regional sales catalogues delivered- I reckon the UK had something similar. 

Top 5 (in no particular order) of 30 currently inked pens:

Parker Duofold Centennial IM, RO Rose Gold Antiqua

Parker Duofold Lady needlepoint, MB Cool Grey

Pelikan M800 needlepoint, Kuretake Shikon

Platinum PKB 2000, Platinum Cyclamen Pink

Waterman 52 EF, Herbin Bleu Pervenche

always looking for penguin fountain pens and stationery 

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Pimdtaun86 Near Mint

Pimdtaun86

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31 minutes ago, purplecloud said:

Lamy Profil 80 , 81 , 86 - piston filler produced from 1974 to 1987

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I hadn't come across this model before, but they look great.

 

25 minutes ago, Penguincollector said:

Hmm, I also collect pens from the ‘80s, but the other extreme, the smaller and thinner, the better. Cartier had some big pens back then- Pasha I think was one. Pilot/Namiki had some big, nice pens in the Emperor’ line. The Sheaffer Conaisseur is a big pen from the era as well. I found the Pelikan catalogue for 1986 and 🤩! 

Pelikan 1986

Best bet is to save searches for 1986 fountain pens on the bay or Google. I love looking at catalogues from the era and run image seaches for them. I know here in the US, we had several national and regional sales catalogues delivered- I reckon the UK had something similar. 

 

I will definitely look into these, thanks! Which models do you have in your small / thin collection?!

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senzen Antique

senzen

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I don't collect from the 80s but the Parker 105 epitomizes to me the best (well one of the few good bits) from that decade. Of course sales seem to have been terrible.

 

spacer.png

 

"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt."

 

B. Russell

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Penguincollector Donor Pen

Penguincollector

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On 8/27/2022 at 10:52 AM, danielbird193 said:

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I hadn't come across this model before, but they look great.

 

 

I will definitely look into these, thanks! Which models do you have in your small / thin collection?!

I have several Sheaffer Fashion/TRZs, Sailor Slim Candy and Chalana, Parker Classic and 88, MB 144. I had others, but they’re all in pen heaven. Pour one out for my Targa and Cross Century. 

Top 5 (in no particular order) of 30 currently inked pens:

Parker Duofold Centennial IM, RO Rose Gold Antiqua

Parker Duofold Lady needlepoint, MB Cool Grey

Pelikan M800 needlepoint, Kuretake Shikon

Platinum PKB 2000, Platinum Cyclamen Pink

Waterman 52 EF, Herbin Bleu Pervenche

always looking for penguin fountain pens and stationery 

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Inkysloth Vintage

Inkysloth

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If you're willing to branch out into cartridge pens, you can get Parkers made in 1986, with the date code to confirm that. You can even narrow the pen down to which quarter it was made, if you want to get as close to your birth month as possible! 

For 1986
Q1: YE
Q2: YC
Q3: YL
Q4: YI

The code during this period is usually along the cap rim. 

https://parkerpens.net/codekey.html

(Edit - corrected year of date codes - had mistakenly used 1984)

Instagram @inkysloth

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bunnspecial Collectors Item

bunnspecial

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Parkers are easy to collect from specific years/decades since they are date coded. The downside for your stated preferences are that all of that age are C/C fillers. The 75 is a timeless classic. I’m rather partial to the Duofold Centennial, which came out at the end of 87. 
 

Montblancs and Pelikans marked “Made in W. Germany” are likely from the 80s(on into the early 90s). Some of my favorite user Montblancs are that age, including the EF 149 in my pocket now(although it’s Germany/no SN/2 piece barrel so it’s more like early to mid 80).

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Pimdtaun86 Near Mint

Pimdtaun86

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12 hours ago, Inkysloth said:

If you're willing to branch out into cartridge pens, you can get Parkers made in 1986, with the date code to confirm that. You can even narrow the pen down to which quarter it was made, if you want to get as close to your birth month as possible! 

For 1986
Q1: YE
Q2: YC
Q3: YL
Q4: YI

The code during this period is usually along the cap rim. 

https://parkerpens.net/codekey.html

(Edit - corrected year of date codes - had mistakenly used 1984)

 

Thank you, I will keep an eye out for date code YE!

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mallymal1 Antique

mallymal1

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I recently purchased a Parker 45 Flighter, with a 1st Generation barrel (c. 1965-70). The cap had a date code. This was for 1994.

 

Just something to watch out for.  :thumbup:

 

 

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Pimdtaun86 Near Mint

Pimdtaun86

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16 hours ago, senzen said:

I don't collect from the 80s but the Parker 105 epitomizes to me the best (well one of the few good bits) from that decade. Of course sales seem to have been terrible.

 

spacer.png

 

 

A very handsome pen!

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afishhunter Mint

afishhunter

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Sheaffer Flat top Screw Cap No Nonsense.

Standard nibs were a 1mm, 1.5mm and 2mm stub nibs. (each in their own section with feed) if you bought the Calligraphy set/kit.

Good pens, smooth writers, that don't dry out after a few days of non-use.

The only cons are proprietary cartridges and converter, which are not inexpensive.

The least expensive converter (a piston fill) I've found is $30. At that price, they can keep it as far as I'm concerned. I can refill a empty cartridge using a syringe. Why should I spend more than what two or three bottles of ink costs for a daRn converter?!?

IMG_20220829_225743.jpg

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AAAndrew Antique

AAAndrew

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I received a Sheaffer Targa for my graduation from high school in 1984. I still have it and they are very nice pens. Everything you'd ever want to know about them can be found here. 

Sheaffer Targa

 

The one I have is the Model: 1003 Matte black, GP trim, gold nib - Classic.  (image below is from the site listed above)

Sheaffer Targa.jpg

 

“When the historians of education do equal and exact justice to all who have contributed toward educational progress, they will devote several pages to those revolutionists who invented steel pens and blackboards.” V.T. Thayer, 1928

 

Check out my Steel Pen Blog. As well as The Esterbrook Project.

"No one is exempt from talking nonsense; the mistake is to do it solemnly."

-Montaigne

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sansenri Donor Pen

sansenri

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Although the design dates earlier, Omas was still very active in the 80s and several of its faceted pens in resin were made in that period.

Paragon, Milord and Lady, size 557F, 556F, 555F, and also some of the Ogiva pens 557S, 556S.

 

A paragon in Colonial brown.

large.1097368037_P1080962-3OmasParagonColoniale.jpg.3851eb481c75eca2c5d45af43d0d2c1b.jpg

 

A 557F Gentleman

large.431438484_P1200194-OmasGentlemanF.jpg.c316ce733a64e7e10da53188f2eb008a.jpg

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