Parker Duofold made in England Nib Numbering

[pan101]

Hi, I have a Parker Duofold made in England, I'm guessing 1960's with what I'd consider an extra fine or fine 14K gold nib. Can someone explain the numbering on the nib and confirm period of manufacture? Many thanks.

[metalhead]

33 minutes ago, pan101 said:

numbering on the nib

AFAIK 35 means Senior. check here- https://parkerpens.net/ukduofold.html

[Beechwood]

The Parker factory in England was in Newhaven, N for Newhaven,

 

Other Parker UK nibs may have different numbers

4 - Parker 17

5 - Slimfold

10 - Junior (& Victory V)
(15 - Victory)
25 - Demi and standard
35 - Senior
50 - Maxima
N - Newhaven manufacture on earlier pens

 

I haven't looked into this for a while but from memory your nib looks like it is from a  1964 Duofold Senior. I would have thought that the barrel would have a Senior imprint so that might mean that the nib has been swapped out or that I am wrong and that Parker made Senior Duofolds without the Senior imprint at some point in their history, To verify you would need to measure the length of the pen.

 

 

eta, The pen looks to be in exceptional condition, is it new? 

 

 

 

Parker themselves played fast and loose with nib swaps, no issues about putting a Duofold nib in a Vac for example when the pen went in for repair, this means that unless you know the history of the pen that it is difficult to be sure as to the situation just by looking at the nib.

 

Not that this is an issue.

Edited January 29, 2024 by Beechwood
clarity

[pan101]

Thank you rnjn. So this is a green English Parker Duofold Senior from 1956-1958. I think the 4 on nib and body might refer to the nib size.

[pan101]

Thank you Beechwood. The length capped is 142mm/uncapped 129mm. I can't see "Senior" imprinted anywhere on the pen.

I also have a Duofold Junior which does have "Junior" imprinted on the barrel, capped length 135mm and the numbers 10 & 9 on the nib, 10 for Junior, 9?

[Beechwood]

The length is correct for a Parker Duofold Senior, which agrees with the 35 nib.

 

I havent looked into it but I would guess that they dropped the Senior from the imprint at some point.

 

The 10 nib is correct for the Junior and made in 1959.

 

Both are excellent daily writers.

 

Two small pieces of advice, the lower edge of the cap, the lip, can crack if the cap is overtightened. The pen material is quite soft and can scratch quite easily, even by pushing the pen cap onto the end of the pen.

 

They are in very good condition, this can be preserved by a nice leather case if you intend to carry them around, a small investment that is worthwhile, especially if you can find a contemporaneous leather Parker case.

 

 

[theredfalcon]

Hi pan101,

The numbers on the nib are the nib size followed by a date code.

The 35 nib is the correct one for a Senior Duofold & the date codes of 4 on both the nib and the barrel are for 1954 so very likely to be original nib. Early "Seniors" just have the barrel imprint saying Duofold -as do the Demi-Duofolds. Again on the Junior, the 10 is the nib size & 9 is the date code for 1959. 

[pan101]

Thanks theredfalcon,  so the additional number is a date code, both a little earlier than I thought. Both smooth writers and the Senior even a bit springy with some line variation.

[Jim Holzemer]

Hi Folks!

My English Senior has a "44/3" on the barrel.

Any clue to meaning?

Thanks!

[Beechwood]

If this is a chalk mark, sounds like it, it was a price, 44 shillings and 3 pence which is a little over £2.21, assuming your pen was bought mid 1960s the inflation adjusted price would be around £45 or $60

 

The presence of chalk marks would suggest that the pen has had no use and would attract a premium price for collectors. 

 

The original purpose of the chalk mark was in place of a price label so that the customer could see the price of the pen in a  display case without having to pick up the pen and prior to making their decision.

[Sheptonian]

15 hours ago, Format said:

If this is a chalk mark, sounds like it, it was a price, 44 shillings and 3 pence which is a little over £2.21, assuming your pen was bought mid 1960s the inflation adjusted price would be around £45 or $60

 

The presence of chalk marks would suggest that the pen has had no use and would attract a premium price for collectors. 

 

The original purpose of the chalk mark was in place of a price label so that the customer could see the price of the pen in a  display case without having to pick up the pen and prior to making their decision.

 

Just to add to Format's excellent response, sometimes you will find pens with chalk marks identifying the model and nib but without the price. Typically these will have been bought as gifts and the price removed at the point of sale. 

 

Chalk marks can also be an aid to dating a pen. This example not only identifies the model and nib but also has the price in two different formats because it dates from around 1970 or 1971 when the UK currency changed from Pounds, Shillings and Pence (12 Pence per Shilling, 20 shillings to the Pound) to the decimal system that we have today. The legal changeover date was 15 February 1971 but items were dual-priced before and afterwards for a while.

 

[Jim Holzemer]

Thank You Both for the clarification!

[Beechwood]

9 hours ago, Jim Holzemer said:

Thank You Both for the clarification!

 Pleasure,  Jim.

 

You have what some would consider a taxing problem.

 

Some people pay much more for a new and unused pen, possibly double the price of a lightly used example, but then what do you do? Use it and immediately lose half the value or keep it and let someone else have a new pen 60 year old pen in the future.

 

For example, I know someone who a) collects 100 year old Burgundy but never drinks it and b) has an Aston Martin that he never drives and just pushes it out of the heated garage, pulls up a chair and looks at it as he drinks a glass of Chateau Thames Embankment, it is his money and his choices in life, who are we to judge?

 

Your Parker has seen little or no use, not unique but quite special and is worth $x, which will reduce to $x/2 and be a little less special on first use, the chalk marks will fade  into memory like a maidens first kiss. You might also say that I have plenty of other pens and I do not need or even wish to use this pen, I may never find another.

 

This issue has been debated so many times over the years, just as many in the Use it camp as in the Preserve it lobby.

 

 

[mitto]

On 1/29/2024 at 3:30 PM, Format said:

The Parker factory in England was in Newhaven, N for Newhaven,

 

Other Parker UK nibs may have different numbers

4 - Parker 17

5 - Slimfold

10 - Junior (& Victory V)
(15 - Victory)
25 - Demi and standard
35 - Senior
50 - Maxima
N - Newhaven manufacture on earlier pens

 

I haven't looked into this for a while but from memory your nib looks like it is from a  1964 Duofold Senior. I would have thought that the barrel would have a Senior imprint so that might mean that the nib has been swapped out or that I am wrong and that Parker made Senior Duofolds without the Senior imprint at some point in their history, To verify you would need to measure the length of the pen.

 

 

eta, The pen looks to be in exceptional condition, is it new? 

 

 

 

Parker themselves played fast and loose with nib swaps, no issues about putting a Duofold nib in a Vac for example when the pen went in for repair, this means that unless you know the history of the pen that it is difficult to be sure as to the situation just by looking at the nib.

 

Not that this is an issue.

The 4 is Lady. 

The 15 is Demi.