Parker Reflex

[TMann]

I was in the store the other day, purchasing some writing supplies, when I came across a pen that seems to have disappeared from most office supply stores here in the U.S.: the Parker Reflex. Most of the grocery stores, drug stores and even the office supply stores seem to have given up on the really inexpensive FP's, (ie. less than $10 USD.) I occassionally see the Parker Vector FP being sold alongside the highlighters, ballpoints and rollerball pens. But I haven't seen a Reflex on the shelves in some time, so I decided to pick one up and see how an $8 pen performs.

 

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b143/TRM2005/Reflex_5.jpg

 

I decided that I would act like a fountain pen novice, and just use the included Parker ink cartridge. Just out of the package the nib put down a slightly dry, but even line of ink. It wrote smoothly without any skipping on the Ampad Gold Fiber paper that I was using that day. Later when I got home, I tried flossing the nib with a small piece of brass sheetmetal. The increased space between the nibs made it write slightly wetter than it had initially. I also spent a bit of time writing some circles on a piece of brown grocery bag which also helped the smoothness of the nib.

 

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b143/TRM2005/Reflex_2.jpg

 

As far as the feel of the pen, it is surprisingly comfortable to use. The section is made of rubber so it is easy to hold for extended periods of time. The all-plastic construction means that the pen is very light in the hand. One hardly know that it's there! My particular pen is made of a pearlescent royal blue color that is not fancy, but attractive nonetheless. The pen is adorned with a black plastic "jewel" at each end, and a silver trim ring just above the section.

 

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b143/TRM2005/Reflex_3.jpg

 

The pen is dimensions are as follows: Capped = 5 5/8". Posted = 6 1/8". It is a "standard" sized pen, neither too big nor too small for most hands.

 

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b143/TRM2005/Reflex_1.jpg

 

In summary, I think that the Parker Reflex is a great inexpensive-everyday-worry-free sort of pen. It is the perfect fountain pen to leave sitting in a deskcup on top of your desk, where it might be borrowed by your non-FP-using colleagues. It is also a great pen for those time when you are afraid to take a nicer pen for fear of it being damaged such as chemistry lab or an outdoor workplace. If you have need of such a pen, the Reflex may just what you are looking for.

 

TMann

Edited November 20, 2006 by TMann

[*david*]

They are a surprisingly decent pen for the price. I had a Reflex ballpoint that quickly became un-usable because the plastic of the barrel deformed so badly that the plunger would not move anymore, but the fountain pen had no such problems. The only difficulty with this $8 pen is that you might have to spend your eight dollars more than once, in order to get a good one.

[Maja]

Thanks for the review, TMann---your photo skills managed to make a very ordinary looking FP look good so kudos to you!

It's funny but I see the Reflex pen all the time at the Staples stores around here (Vancouver, BC) but I don't see the Vectors here at all ....

 

Edit: I almost forgot to comment on the pen itself!

I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of the pen being a "worry-free" sort of pen; I have two of them and they are very comfortable to use, are lightweight and are decent writers. I'm not sure about the plastic's durability, though, as the Reflex ballpoint I have got chipped near the top of the clip.

Edited November 20, 2006 by Maja

[Ravula]

I have used one for more than 3 years without any problem. The only issue with this and vector is that the nib gets very smooth, something I don't like and probably has to do with material used for tipping (steel?)

[hatherton_wood]

Yes, I wonder what the tipping material is as these and the Frontier seem to "bed in" quite quickly - more so than one would have thought if the material was very hard. Has anybody worn one of these nibs out?

 

John

[beaker606]

The Reflex was my first "work-a-day" FP. I carried the same one every day for nearly 4 years before I was convinced I could keep track of a pen and could be trusted with something a little more "upscale."

 

At the end of its life, my Reflex did get splits in the cap and was prone to drying out. I used a cart the whole time and did not know thing one about flushing. Otherwise I found it to be a real workhorse of a pen and had very few problems with it.

 

My Reflex has its place in my display, along with a few gift pens and a pen my father used in High School. I consider these pens retired rather than "out of rotation.

 

Thanks for the review!

 

Kevin

Beaker606

[travis71]

I also have used a Reflex for the past few years and find that it's reliable and generally a pleasant pen to use. I've read that the nibs are the same on the Reflex and the Vector, although my early 90s-era Vector feels smoother when I write. I've never had an issue with broken plastic on either pen, and the cap still feels just as snug as when it was brand new. BTW...your photos really do make the pen look nice! Mine still looks pretty good but has lost some of its sheen over the years. I just gave the very same blue one to my mother so she could get re-acquainted with fountain pens, and at $8 or less it's an easy pen to give away!

[kissing]

I'm not a huge fan of the Reflex. I prefer its brother and sister, the Vector and the Jotter, which have better looking designs IMO.

 

However, I gave a Reflex to a friend of mine who absolutely loves the big comfortable grip. I think its quite comfortable to write with too - advertised proudly by Parker as their "most comfortable pen"

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

I did have cap lip crack problems with these pens.

 

Dillon

[hatherton_wood]

I've got two and one soon cracked the cap. Its a very cheap design but works fairly well. I'm not a great fan though of the nib in the Jotter/Reflex/Reflex - the more expensive Parker pens have nibs with a better "feel".