Parker Inflection - a pleasant surprise

[ayjayar]

I was amazed how much I liked this rather under-exposed pen. Got two of them from the UK (an SS/Gold GT & a Black Lacquer) at terrific prices and I think they may be the best value of any famous-branded pen I acquired lately. The Inflection is exactly the same length as a vintage 51, and a tad thinner (11.75 mm for the 51, 11.60 mm for the Inflection). It's lighter than the 51, but perfectly balanced, posted. The Fine nib I got is one of the nicest nibs in recent memory... smooth, steady, even flow, can draw an uninterrupted line while dragged on its own weight - I hold it gently by the very end of the posted cap - call it the AJR Test, if it's new to anyone ;-) Esthetically it really appeals to me. Try it - I bet you'll like it. http://www.parkerpen.com/sanford/consumer/parker/images/products/P4521200.jpg

[TMann]

Thanks, AJR! I'll have to keep my eyes open for more info on those pens.

 

TMann

[Maja]

The Fine nib I got is one of the nicest nibs in  recent memory... smooth, steady, even flow, can draw an uninterrupted line while dragged on its own weight - I hold it gently by the very end of the posted cap - call it the AJR Test, if it's new to anyone ;-)

First the "Savage test" (the 4-ink writing tests done before posting an FPN review)

and now the "AJR test"....

I love it!

[Guest JohanO]

I owned one of these Inflection’s only a few weeks ago. I picked it up really cheap on Ebay. Mine was a Stainless Steel medium. After some use I exclaimed, like Kurtz in Conrad’s The Heart of Darkness, the Horror, the Horror!!, and quickly sold it, with a rewarding profit.

 

Why? Well, it has a bad nib. It lies down a thick line, but it is scratchy. It feels and sounds like there is a very small needle attached to it. My Wing Sung 612 writes better.

 

Secondly; the finish is scratched easily by the cap. Period. :bonk:

 

Third; the pen has an horrible design (IMO, of course) with the fat beak of a Dodo and the ridiculous clip section. Some people think the Phileas is an overdone pen; I think this is much worse.

 

Pens like these make me run away from contemporary pens, and turn to vintage beauties. Definitely.

 

This pen is heir to the modern Parker 45: the Horror, the Horror!!

 

WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE

 

DOWN WITH THE PARKER 45 AND INFLECTION!!!!!

 

p.s., I’m not a communist

[Roger]

Johan: Did you have a look at the nib with a loupe? When a pen writes with such a pronounced scratch like you describe my thoughts turn to the probability of a messed up nib. Being from eBay, is it possible that the tines were badly out of alignment and maybe that's why the pen was for sale on the Bay? And, of course, your dislike for the looks and design are, as you say, in your opinion.

 

Interesting that AJR's opinion is so different.

 

I know, Dad, chocolate and vanilla...right?

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

In the brand new 45s, the nib is of better quality. The first new 45s had those bad nibs. JohanO's 45 is with me now, and it has a 14K 585 Parker nib. Parker replaced the clutch in the cap of the 45 and now it is fine. I also have another steel-nibbed 45 that has a good nib. I have three 45s in all counting an olive-green prototype 45.

 

Dillon

[ayjayar]

[....]

Why? Well, it has a bad nib. It lies down a thick line, but it is scratchy. It feels and sounds like there is a very small needle attached to it. My Wing Sung 612 writes better. 

 

Secondly; the finish is scratched easily by the cap. Period.  :bonk:

 

Third; the pen has an horrible design (IMO, of course) with [....]

You must have received a bad nib, Johan - which of course does not speak well of Parker's (UK) QC. The two Fines I got are absolutely flawless and very forgiving - my wife has a terrible time with pens turning in her hand (still learning how to use one)- the Inflection remains smooth even if it turns either way.

 

The finish... I waxed (thank you Giovanni Abrate) the section and I see no scuff marks, after a week of constant pulling the cap off and putting it on. But a bit of scuff wouldn't bother me anyway... it just tells me I am using the pen a lot.

 

The design... it's so ugly it's beautiful. Wife likes the dodo collar.. keeps her fingers from slipping next to the nib and getting ink on them.

 

BTW, has anyone come up with an ink remover that doesn't smell as foul as InkNix? (yuck!)

[Guest JohanO]

Well, my reaction to the Inflection was a bid overdone (I was in a sarcastic mood… ) but I honestly think that Parker has done a bad job with this pen…

 

Roger: The pen was sold NEW on Ebay. But perhaps I’m just choosy, because the person I sold the pen to hasn’t complained. <_<

 

Dillon and AJR: I indeed think that both Parker’s were bad offspring of a good pen. I own a Frontier Flighter and I LOVE IT!!!

 

To you all: I still feel that the design of the Inflection and 45 is an aesthetic HORROR…

[TMann]

BTW, has anyone come up with an ink remover that doesn't smell as foul as InkNix? (yuck!)

I have been using standard Windex (with ammonia) on my hands to remove the ink. It works pretty well, and doesn't have much of a smell.

 

TMann

[ayjayar]

BTW, has anyone come up with an ink remover that doesn't smell as foul as InkNix? (yuck!)

I have been using standard Windex (with ammonia) on my hands to remove the ink. It works pretty well, and doesn't have much of a smell.

Hmmmm.. that's a thought. I'll give it a try. Thanks.

[emrecan]

So which one would be a good buy?A Parker 45 (brand new) or Inflection?

 

 

Emrecan

[Guest JohanO]

Buy a Parker Frontier!

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

I would go with the 45. Get the newest you can get and be happy with it.

 

Dillon

[Roger]

BTW, has anyone come up with an ink remover that doesn't smell as foul as InkNix? (yuck!)

I have been using standard Windex (with ammonia) on my hands to remove the ink. It works pretty well, and doesn't have much of a smell.

 

TMann

Granted, InkNix has a smell, but I don't find it repulsive, in any way. Besides, it quickly disipates after use. Sheesh, you guys are tough!

[rowdy]

Txs for the review. I've looked at the Inflection but both it and the Ellipse don't seem to appeal to me. The Inflection reminds me of the Arrow that was out in the mid 80's.

 

I much prefer the SS/GT Frontiers and the steel nib Sonnets (in Flighter finish and black matte with chrome trim).

 

Just my thoughts.

 

Rowdy

[TMann]

BTW, has anyone come up with an ink remover that doesn't smell as foul as InkNix? (yuck!)

I have been using standard Windex (with ammonia) on my hands to remove the ink. It works pretty well, and doesn't have much of a smell.

Hmmmm.. that's a thought. I'll give it a try. Thanks.

Make sure that you buy the window clear with ammonia. Apparently there is something about ammonia that helps to dissolve most fountain pen inks. The newer "environmentally friendly" window clears will often NOT have ammonia in them.

 

TMann

[southpaw]

Thanks for the review and the follow-up comments.

[FLZapped]

BTW, has anyone come up with an ink remover that doesn't smell as foul as InkNix? (yuck!)

I have been using standard Windex (with ammonia) on my hands to remove the ink. It works pretty well, and doesn't have much of a smell.

Hmmmm.. that's a thought. I'll give it a try. Thanks.

Make sure that you buy the window clear with ammonia. Apparently there is something about ammonia that helps to dissolve most fountain pen inks. The newer "environmentally friendly" window clears will often NOT have ammonia in them.

 

TMann

That's funny. Ammonia is pre-digested Nitrogen.

 

-Bruce