45 contemplation

[Ernst Bitterman]

I just got a 45 via eBay, and I'm wondering if it's an oddity, an oldie, or just typical of Canadian manufacture. It differs from an American-made one I've got in these particulars:

 

- No model numbers on the flanks of the cap (was this initiated at the same time as on 51s?),

- XF gold point, with no marking on the underside regarding size,

- Converter, labelled as USA made, which is a steel tube with a cut-out press-bar window, rather than a three-piece job with a collar and two perpendicular bars bent into a cage, with one left free to act as a press-bar.

 

Opinions? Leads? Pictures to come, unless answers emerge before I manage to squeeze the camera the right way.

 

Oh, having cleaned and inked it-- best extra-fine point I know so far; smooth like smooth, and an unexpected hint of delightful flex.

Edited January 30, 2008 by Ernst Bitterman

[SquelchB]

I just got a 45 via eBay, and I'm wondering if it's an oddity, an oldie, or just typical of Canadian manufacture. It differs from an American-made one I've got in these particulars:

 

- No model numbers on the flanks of the cap (was this initiated at the same time as on 51s?),

- XF gold point, with no marking on the underside regarding size,

- Converter, labelled as USA made, which is a steel tube with a cut-out press-bar window, rather than a three-piece job with a collar and two perpendicular bars bent into a cage, with one left free to act as a press-bar.

 

Opinions? Leads? Pictures to come, unless answers emerge before I manage to squeeze the camera the right way.

 

Oh, having cleaned and inked it-- best extra-fine point I know so far; smooth like smooth, and an unexpected hint of delightful flex.

I have a UK made 45 with steel nib I suppose XF as well, but I can't be sure. Where are the markings on 45?. Converter in mine is USA made as well. I think the hoop filler you're referring to was somehow obsolete at the time the 45s were made.

[titrisol]

45 was my first FP, my mother bought me one in the fall of 1978 (for 3rd grade). A plastic gray-green model with steel nib.

I used it for a long time, even in college (late 80s-early 90s) No complaints about it, just had to change the nib once after it fell to

a tiled floor nib first.

Got a few more over the years. I still use the brushed-steel one that was a present in my 1st communion (1980) and one that was my father's

Some have markings on the cap, sme do not

also the "button" on top of the cap differs from UK and USA

 

NIB: For some reason the gold plated onees are smoother over time.

The markings are usually in the rear part of the nib assembly, and IMHO the F nib is almost perfect.

 

Converters: I have 3 or 4 different models either UK or USA made. As long as they work I do not care.

 

[Juan in Andalucia]

45 was my first FP, my mother bought me one in the fall of 1978 (for 3rd grade). A plastic gray-green model with steel nib.

I used it for a long time, even in college (late 80s-early 90s) No complaints about it, just had to change the nib once after it fell to

a tiled floor nib first.

Got a few more over the years. I still use the brushed-steel one that was a present in my 1st communion (1980) and one that was my father's

Some have markings on the cap, sme do not

also the "button" on top of the cap differs from UK and USA

 

NIB: For some reason the gold plated onees are smoother over time.

The markings are usually in the rear part of the nib assembly, and IMHO the F nib is almost perfect.

 

Converters: I have 3 or 4 different models either UK or USA made. As long as they work I do not care.

 

I also got a 45 for my first communion.

 

[Pens123]

The earlier 45s did not have the numerals on the cap. I'll bet the cap top is a single concave arrangement instead of the "circle within a circle" of the later models. The numerals seem to have appeared along with the change in the cap top. The converter you described sounds like the later converters that were, at least in my experience, used on models made in the UK.

 

Are you sure there are no markings whatsoever on the bottom of the nib collar. Could be that the x-fine is actually a needle point, which I believe was marked with two vertical lines.

 

/mike

 

I just got a 45 via eBay, and I'm wondering if it's an oddity, an oldie, or just typical of Canadian manufacture. It differs from an American-made one I've got in these particulars:

 

- No model numbers on the flanks of the cap (was this initiated at the same time as on 51s?),

- XF gold point, with no marking on the underside regarding size,

- Converter, labelled as USA made, which is a steel tube with a cut-out press-bar window, rather than a three-piece job with a collar and two perpendicular bars bent into a cage, with one left free to act as a press-bar.

 

Opinions? Leads? Pictures to come, unless answers emerge before I manage to squeeze the camera the right way.

 

Oh, having cleaned and inked it-- best extra-fine point I know so far; smooth like smooth, and an unexpected hint of delightful flex.

 

[Ernst Bitterman]

Not a mark on it-- the "chin" of the point/feed section is as smooth as whatever part of a baby you think is smoothest. I really have to get that camera sorted.

[hatherton_wood]

If I had to choose between a Parker 51 or a Parker 51 it would be the 45 every time - especially the earlier ones which had the better nibs. 51's are nice but just don't have the ease of cleaning out for colour changes, nib changes and can't use cartridges - plus often seem a lot more hassle to get to work properly.

[titrisol]

Good point, I prefer the 45s over the 51s anyday.

The 75 FP was outstanding but on a different class.

 

Incredibly enough I also found the vector FP to be a good writer and a joy to carry around

[Ernst Bitterman]

Here's the pictures-- the recent arrival is at the bottom, with the "normal" one at the top for ease of comparison:

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/takematsu/X3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/takematsu/X2.jpg

 

My inclination is to assume the flimsier converter is the more modern, because everything declines as time passes

[tawanda]

I'd like to re-open this one as I have a couple of questions the experts might be able to clear up for me>

 

Pens 123 said "The earlier 45s did not have the numerals on the cap. I'll bet the cap top is a single concave arrangement instead of the "circle within a circle" of the later models. The numerals seem to have appeared along with the change in the cap top."

 

I have not long begun collecting P45's and have been greedily sucking up any information on them to further my knowledge. I have five 45s with the circle-within-a-circle and two plain concaves. One of the concaves has the 45 etched on the cap (interestingly, this is my only GT), and one doesnt. Three of the circle caps have 45 etched on two do not. So it would appear I have three pens that were made during the cross-over period!

Does anyone know roughly when this might be? I'd love to be able to date them more accurately.

Many thanks

Tawanda

 

[chibu]

As you can see I´m from Buenos Aires Argentina. Here during a long period Parker produced local pens and the 45 was one of the most selling pen. I have a couple of them, flighters, Gold Filled, Cap Gold Filled golden nib and golden button. They are very good writers. What do you think about them?

 

Best regards all,

 

Martin

[richardandtracy]

The convertor looks like one Richard posted a picture of recently. It's the design that came before the 'Stainless Cartridge with pressbar' design. The thread's here:- https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...showtopic=71113

I have one like yours in a P61 c/c

 

Regards

 

Richard.

 

[Ispriluc]

I'd like to re-open this one as I have a couple of questions the experts might be able to clear up for me>

 

Pens 123 said "The earlier 45s did not have the numerals on the cap. I'll bet the cap top is a single concave arrangement instead of the "circle within a circle" of the later models. The numerals seem to have appeared along with the change in the cap top."

 

I have not long begun collecting P45's and have been greedily sucking up any information on them to further my knowledge. I have five 45s with the circle-within-a-circle and two plain concaves. One of the concaves has the 45 etched on the cap (interestingly, this is my only GT), and one doesnt. Three of the circle caps have 45 etched on two do not. So it would appear I have three pens that were made during the cross-over period!

Does anyone know roughly when this might be? I'd love to be able to date them more accurately.

Many thanks

Tawanda

 

 

p 45 was introduced in 1960.

date coding in parkers made in france and uk began in 1970, us in 1979.

the 45 flighter was introduced in 1964.

this should narrow your search, if any of your parkers have a "made in ..." imprint or is a flighter.

 

for example i am currently waiting for this one

http://global.ebay.com/New_Old_Stock_Vintage_Parker_Flighter_45_10k_Fine_Nib/200432378437/item

it was made sometime between 1964 and 1979, if the above info (http://parkerpens.net/codekey.html) is correct.