Parker
Pens and Ephemera

As World War II came to a close, the Parker Pen Company wanted to mark the occasion. As such, this 1945 Parker Duofold was fitted with a 14k gold "Victory" nib. Click the headline to see the large "V" imprint. We restored this vintage pen with a new diaphragm. Showing only a little wear from use, we think this blue-and-grey art deco pen is still a handsome edition. No cracks or deep scratches. There's a little ring around the tail, where the cap posted. You will write a smooth, fine line with its special nib. This is the larger size version of the pen at 13.6cm capped.

Vintage pens are the heroes of communication from yesteryear to today. Our Parker 51 is pretty heavily worn and scratched, but it is still in great working order. A proven work horse, it still makes for a great daily writer more than 70 years after its birth. The pli-glass ink sac still works well. You will write a nice fine to fine-medium line with its 14k gold nib. 13.6cm capped.

Here's our first-ever in-the-box Parker 41 set with both the fountain pen and "Liquid Lead" pencil! We thought it was a 51 set, at first. Then we read the imprint on the sac protector. The set is in great shape with only light wear from use. The ink sac remains in excellent working order. You will write a fine line with a little feedback and drag using its steel nib. The pencil still seems to have a little liquid lead in it! This is incredibly cool, considering Parker abandoned making those refills in the 1950s or early '60s. Box included.

We don't think we can call this a pure-bred Parker Challenger. It seems to us that some long-ago repair person fitted it with a new cap band and section. We don't think that Parker Challengers ever came with an ink-view window. And although this section fits well in the barrel, the grip seems a size to small for the barrel. Regardless, we restored it with a new ink sac. ANNNND, it is a great writing pen with a delightfully smooth medium-point 14k gold nib! Our vintage pen shows the wear of past hard work, but there are no cracks. Ready for more hard work, this pen can make for a great daily driver. 13cm capped.

Parker Duofolds were the most popular pens of the 1920s, but not everyone could afford one. The Parker Lucky Curve was a more affordable option. It is the thinner, less flashy version. We don't know if this is its original box, but it is a great vintage box with instructions. We restored the vintage pen with a new ink sac. The main part of the cap and barrel are black permanite, and the section and end caps are black hard rubber. Click the headline for close-ups. You will write a nice fine line with its 14k gold nib that also flexes just a little. Light wear on the cap and barrel. Looks pretty sharp. 13.4cm capped.

When people discuss the Parker 51, they are usually focused on the revolutionary fountain pen. However, the Parker 51 is a pretty dang neat pencil, too. This vintage pencil is a nice black with steel cap and gold-plated trim. Twist the tail cap to extend and retract the pre-loaded red lead. This pencil takes any color .9mm lead, though. It has a little wear from use but nothing terrible. No spare leads or hardened eraser, though. 13cm.

Golden Pearl is always one of our favorite Parker Vacumatic colors. This Parker Vacumatic Debutant set looks stunning. The vintage pen is fully restored with a new diaphragm, and the cap and barrel sport minimal wear from use. No brassing, but the barrel is a bit ambered. The dating on this set is great, as it was made on the cusp of 1939. The barrel imprint on the pen says 1st quarter 1939. The two-tone 14k gold nib sports a 1938 date. And the working clicker pencil has a Q4 1938 date code. You will write a nice medium line with the nib, by the way. Remember, the Debutants are the smallest of the Vac models. Pen measures 12cm capped.

Mandarin yellow Parker Duofold Juniors are not the most common of colors. Yet, streamlined versions are even more difficult to find. Our vintage pen was fully restored with a new sac several years ago. The photo doesn't showcase the nuance of the colors in the cap and barrel. The of the cap is a couple of shades lighter than the barrel. However, the barrel is inconsistent with some spots darker or lighter than others. The imprint is fairly well worn. No cracks. Minimal, if any, brassing. You will write a buttery smooth, wet fine line with its 14k gold nib. Click the headline for close-ups. 11.5cm capped.