Vintage Parker 45 DeLuxe fountain pen review

This is the fountain pen that started it all for me, as I outlined in one of my first blog posts. It’s a vintage Parker 45 DeLuxe (or sometimes known as the GT). The Parker 45 was introduced in 1960, and this model with the plastic cap was introduced in 1964. The Parker 45 has been hugely successful and is still manufactured today (I believe), a product lifespan of almost 50 years. It was Parker’s first cartridge filler and is a robust workhorse for everyday use. But I must also add, do not confuse this vintage model with those made this century though. For me, there is a world of difference.

Parker 45 – New at the top, vintage at the bottom

Design The Parker 45 has a classic, no-nonsense look; a streamlined shape, which tapers at the barrel and cap. Though simple, it is quite an elegant design in a functional sort of way. It has a nice look when the cap is posted, the long taper pointing towards the semi-hooded nib. Design 7/10 Feel This is a very light pen. It is not made from the most expensive of plastics, but there is a certain quality to the way it has been made. The push-fit cap fits snugly and lightly clicks into place, it posts well, the threads in the barrel just seem right and don’t come loose – its as though all the components have just the right level of tolerances in manufacturing. It has a good balance and is good to write with though nothing spectacular. Personally I do find the section a little slim for my fingers, meaning I hold it much higher up the barrel than I would another pen. I also find I adopt quite a light grip and use light pressure when writing. Dimensions: 136mm (5 3/8”) capped, 143mm (5 5/8”) posted Feel 7/10 Nib 14k gold. Stiff, fine (though not that fine), pretty smooth and workmanlike. It works well for those with a light touch. The great thing about the Parker 45 nibs however is the ease of interchangeability. They simply unscrew out and screw in. There is quite a wide variety of different nib grades available. Fine and medium are fairly common, but others can be harder to find. Particularly if you’d like to try an italic. Nib 7/10 Filling It’s a Parker, so naturally is uses Parker’s propriety cartridges and convertors. Though the convertors don’t hold that much ink. Sadly, this one came without a converter so I had to put in a modern one rather than the original metal cage version. Filling 7/10 Cost There is a collector base for these pens, but the long production run and popularity of this pen means there are lots about. Mint condition, boxed examples are readily available at quite reasonable prices. I got this one off ebay a few years back for about £8 if I remember correctly. And apart from the lack of convertor and a somewhat scratchy nib it is in mint condition. Clean and glossy. A great price, but you must remember this is a budget pen. Cost 8/10 Overall A good everyday user at a good price, and a good one to collect if you like them – lots of different variants and affordable. Overall 36/50

Forgotten Waterman pens

I’ve recently discovered a category of pens which I’ve found a delight to use, and beautiful to look at. But, I see very few mentions of them in the pen collecting community. This may just be my perception though, and I’ll probably find quite a number of ardent Waterman specialists who will tell me otherwise!

The pen community talks about the Parker 51, Vacumatics and Duofolds, a whole range of Sheaffers, the Wahl Eversharp Skyline, Ringtops, The Waterman 52, Red Ripples, Patrician and 100 Year pen, Conway Stewart Dinkies and 58s to name but a few of the stars, but seldom talk about the Watermans of the 1940s. A time which was tough for Waterman.

What’s more interesting is you see plenty of them about on Ebay and pen selling sites. The pens I’m talking about are the English W2, W3, W5 and a few other similar pens from the same era made in the States and Canada. The pictures here show a good ol' US of A version.

I’ve now got a number of these, and I love them. I wonder if they get overlooked because they are quite functional – or they appear so in the photography of sites selling them. But in the flesh, the plastics used are wonderful. Reflective, deep, changing colour when viewed in different light. The nibs on each one of mine are a delight to use too, fine with varying degrees of flexibility and fun.

Best of all, they’re not particularly expensive. You should try one. Hmmm. Maybe this is another secret I should have kept to myself?

Stuart R Stevenson now stocks Lamy

Lamy A103 three pen case

The range of fountain pens and paraphernalia at London art and crafts shop Stuart R Stevenson is increasing. In fact, they now have quite an impressive display of brands available. I’ve noticed over the last week that they have now become a Lamy stockist too. I bought myself a Lamy A103 pen case from there just yesterday for £12 to replace the one I lost. It’s nice to be able to give my business to local, enthusiastic independent shops.

South West Pen Show – Sunday 22 February 2009

It’s the South West Pen Show in Bristol this weekend. Full details can be found on the UK Pen Shows website. Sadly I won't be able to make it, but thanks to Jeremy Collinridge and Ian Williamson for organising it.

Covent Garden market

During my lunch hour I wandered over to the Jubilee Market at Covent Garden. I used to go there quite often in my lunch hour, but as I’ve changed jobs I’m no longer within short walking distance. So my trips there only average about once every six months. On a Monday they have an antiques market. More of a house clearance / flea market actually. There are no specialist pen sellers. There used to be one about five years back, but not any more. The collection she had were not the best quality anyway, and quite expensive. Still it did give you the opportunity to browse some fountain pens in the flesh, a rare joy in the days of the internet. There are however a few pens to be found on the general stalls. Don’t expect to find anything fantastic, I’m sure the specialists get a look at anything before it ends up here. But there are one or two more modern and slightly battered pens to pique your interest. I have bought a few pens from here, and passed on a couple that in hindsight I should have had. Ones that have made it home with me were an Eversharp demi-Skyline set in green moiré. Nice looking and boxed, but the nib was XXF and pretty scratchy. I also got a couple of Parker 51 Vacumactics, £15 for the pair. The body was blown on one, from a poorly replaced diaphragm I guess, but it did have a great gold-filled blue diamond cap which was well worth the £7.50. Today I found a teal Parker 51 special with a good broad nib and a great condition transitional Esterbrook in green for £5, my first Estie. The amusing chat with the stallholder was worth the trip alone.

There'll be tears...

This snow has made me change my going to work gear. I've put on my walking boots, Goretex jacket and, of course, some thermal underwear. I've also swapped my briefcase for a rucksack, easier to put on my back and keep my balance on the ice. I put my Lamy pen case in the front pocket which has a vertical zip down the side of the rucksack. This morning on my way into work, I realised the pen case wasn't there. A frantic rummage revealed no joy. Got into work, emptied everything out. Still no pens. Where could it be? I finished my book last night on the train home, so in the evening I had put it on the bookcase and put a fresh one in my bag. Maybe the pen case had fallen out and was on the floor? Sent my wife a text asking her to check , text back "sorry not here". So I've come to the conclusion that it must have fallen out my bag when I got off the train and put my book back in the bag. I'm sure I remember seeing it then, and I'm sure I was careful, but ... And, what pens were in there you may ask. Sadly two of my favourites. Not the usual Safari's or Lamy Studio that are my most usual companions to the office and could have been replaced easily, but a 1940's Parker Duofold AF with a beautiful cursive italic nib and a Parker 51 with the smoothest nib and most perfect ink flow I own (owned?) - all the better that I bought it for just £20 five years ago. Gutted. Oh, and my other thought as I travelled to work - I'm going to have to use a ballpoint today.