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Hello all! I recently won a Parker Duofold Senior (the Big Red) online and I just received it in the mail. The pen is in wonderful condition, but the imprint is so strange. There is no Parker imprint, but rather just COMPLIMENTS OF FALLS GARAGE INC. and an offset D to the right of it. I have no idea what to make of it, and I can find nothing online. The rest of the pen looks great, so Im stumped. Is it a gift? Loaner pen? Maybe a bootleg Duofold? Ive attached pictures, so let me know if you know anything about this pen! Maybe we can figure something out.

Fascinated as I am by Parker Duofolds, though can't bring myself to break the psychological $300+ FP barrier, I was drawn to a world of Duofold Look-Alikes, such as the Pilot Lucina. However, on receipt of the Lucina, I realized it is a SMALL pen. NIb is great (Steel, but very nice) but the body length just barely adequate when posted. However, due to a large inventory of pens, I'm prone to experimenting. So, I tried threading the section of a Lucina into a 1970's Parker Big Red ballpoint/felt tip shell. And who'd have thunk...it actually worked out kind of nice! The extra length of the Big Red body makes it more comfortable to write with, and the step-down to the Lucina section is not that bad - and I have profound hatred of excessive step-downs (looking at you, Metropolitan!). Unlike previous Frankenfolds (Pajaro's Cross Solo hybrid) this one will fit a converter, though I prefer using the Pilot cartridge. Unfortunately, the Con-70 will not fit (too wide for barrel). Hey, if Cross can use Sailor nibs why can't Parker use PIlot ones? Sailor nibs....hmm...where's my spare 1911... Correction: Pajaro states it does fit with a Solo section/Parker Nib + green "push in" Cross converter.

This Orange Parker Duofold Centennial Special Edition is what I would call a reasonably priced collectors pen. Somewhere between sane & insane. If you take a close look, it's a lot, but it's not much. Is it plain? -yes. Is it simple? -yes. Are there any other pens like it? -yes. Are there any other pens exactly like it? -no. Would I buy a pen if it was a homage? -no. Would I get a MacArthur Limited Edition for 4 times more? -no. Does it compliment my Japanese Pilot Maki-e theme? -no, yes & maybe. But if I close my eyes & think Parker, I imagine Orange Vulcanite or Orange Permanite. How would I picture the most perfect Parker? Pilot Custom 845 Ebonite Urushi, from Parker, in Orange, with 3 thin rings; 1 medium & 1 thin ring; or 1 medium ring. A 2 tone nib, in a maple wood box. The only thing I know that is worse than fountain pens are leather pen cases. Probably my lack of knowledge, but the only one I've seen that I liked was Maxwell Scott, The Pienza in Chestnut Tan or Dark Chocolate Brown. -so if you know better, please tell me. We don't have fountain pen shops or a fountain pen culture where I live. The only place I know where they can seriously markup fountain pens, only sell Montblanc in their physical shop & their shop is older than me. So what about Parker Maki-e? -if you can't get away with more than Pilot could get away with in 1979, I'm still unsure about getting a Pilot Taka (although, they're SUPER NICE), so anything beyond what a Montblanc 149 costs, is like getting a Painting. As I said before, my theme is supposed to be Pilot Maki-e & I already have too many non-Pilot Maki-e. If this hobby is to last me a lifetime & I can't get a decent price, or be bothered with the risks involved in selling used pens. I better choose carefully the pens that I want to collect, for the sole purpose of admiring them, every now & then. I wanted to do this with watches, but servicing an expensive watch every 3 to 5 years, feels like punishment. If I start from the bottom & slowly work myself up, I might enjoy & understand the value & workmanship. It's only expensive because we believe that it has value. Otherwise it's Supply & Demand. A Rich, Dead, Artist, who can't Authenticate his own work. Or a Poor, Unappreciated, Artist, who can't get paid or sell anything.

Hi! Need some assistance as to where I can score a spare Parker Duofold Senior Red (flattop) SECTION replacement. I'm trying to restore my senior red and it needs a new/replacement section. Been trying to order and contact through fivestarpens since it's the only website I found that sells spare sections for the big reds. Unfortunately, they haven't responded to all my emails for weeks now, not sure if they're just busy with some pen exhibits or what, but as of now I feel I need to look for another supplier in case they leave all my queries into oblivion. Thanks in advance guys.

Hi All, Need some assistance and was hoping y'all could help. Recently picked up a Parker Duofold Big Red that I thought was a winner (been looking for one for a while) but I think I may have been duped. Now not sure if I should keep... I was told it was a 1926 Parker Big Red and the images were fuzzy (no image of imprint). Today it arrived and here is what I got. Sorry for the bad images - that barrel says "Parker Duofold - Geo S. Parker - Made in USA" with no Lucky Curve banner and a date code of "8.". Ring/clip says 5-16. Christmas tree feed, Parker Duofold Pen P nib. Does anyone know what is going on with this pen? Everything fits together perfectly... Is it worth keeping? The pen is in amazing condition, looks barely used (cept for some slight brassing) but maybe the blind cap and end are replacements (they are very nice looking). Ohh, and I rubbed the (bleep) out of the cap and barrel and neither smelled liked rubber like my Lucky Curve Lady Ringtop... Thanks! CnB

I ran across a set of old Parkers while cleaning out my office; they were given to me in the Eighties when I collected Vacumatics. The pen and two pencils are all the classic Duofold red, but the furniture is plated and there's no insignia on the barrels. The pen cap has two rings, which doesn't seem to correspond with the Duofolds in the pictures I've looked at. Am I looking at an old fake? The nib looks like a real one - an absolute nail. I'm mostly using old Moores and Watermans and I have some nice Vacumatics, but this one's a head-scratcher. Anyone know what I've got?

I recently became the owner of an excellent Big Red in great shape. While the pen has been restored, I am concerned that the free-rotating cap band will become a problem in the future. Is there some way to fix this? I am worried that any rushed attempt by me would result in unsightly stains on the cap, and would also not help the band do its job - of preventing the cap from developing cracks. Any advice would be appreciated. I included some pics for much needed eye candy. http://i.imgur.com/0nBPr0h.jpg http://i.imgur.com/XnwCwUJ.jpg

A few years back I signed a petition that was floating around on FPN for the United States Postal Service to create a stamp with a fountain pen on it. As far as I know, nothing came of it. However, there is a Parker Big Red on a "forever" stamp honoring Gerald Murphy ("Razor," 1924) in the current first-class series "Modern Art in America." I wonder if there are other stamps from either the US or other countries which picture fountain pens? Admin: If this post is better placed on another board, please do so.