Parker Duofold Centennial

[enricof]

Neither did I.

You can imagine my reaction when I received the pen (found on Ebay).

 

On the other end, the quest for a replacement cap led me to FPN, so all is well what ends well (not sure this is the right translation)...

[sdonahue]

Good reviews, one and all; I hate to be the dissenting voice. The B n P was going to be 'My' Pen as well. I saved for it, and got it from a shop in NY---a disaster in itself---the pen never made it, and the sleazy outfit in the City refused to refund my credit card until threat of a lawsuit, and only then did I get the refund. The pen was, more than likely, stolen in my Post Office before delivery. I ordered another from Pam Braun, and it arrived safely. Beautiful? Yes. Sent the pen to France to exchange the F nib for an XF nib. That wasn't good enough, so I had it Binderised. The pen is gorgeous, the Centennial size is perfect. But, after about a page, it just stops writing. Or, if it isn't touched for a period of time such as an hour or two, it has dried out. I've tried everything, but, no go. The pen? 'My Pen'? I never use it. I'd love to get rid of it. Can't take the feed system, it is just garbage. Yes, it is indeed a 'thing of beauty, and a joy to behold;' but, that's the extent of it.

[Cliff O]

I ordered another from Pam Braun, and it arrived safely. Beautiful? Yes. Sent the pen to France to exchange the F nib for an XF nib. That wasn't good enough, so I had it Binderised. The pen is gorgeous, the Centennial size is perfect. But, after about a page, it just stops writing. Or, if it isn't touched for a period of time such as an hour or two, it has dried out. I've tried everything, but, no go. The pen? 'My Pen'? I never use it. I'd love to get rid of it. Can't take the feed system, it is just garbage. Yes, it is indeed a 'thing of beauty, and a joy to behold;' but, that's the extent of it.

I talked about this very same problem I had with my first B & P Centennial right here. Your pen is a probably just a "dud"! I have one now that is about 7 years old (same color - Black and Pearl) and it is one of the best writers that I've ever owned.

Edited January 5, 2011 by Cliff O

[fjf]

In brief: these modern parkers have nice nibs, but cost a ton of money for a converter pen.

[dnb]

The pen is gorgeous, the Centennial size is perfect. But, after about a page, it just stops writing. Or, if it isn't touched for a period of time such as an hour or two, it has dried out. I've tried everything, but, no go. The pen? 'My Pen'? I never use it. I'd love to get rid of it. Can't take the feed system, it is just garbage. Yes, it is indeed a 'thing of beauty, and a joy to behold;' but, that's the extent of it.

 

Before you go an lose money on a beautiful pen that you have so much time and money invested in, why not contact one of the nib meisters for info. My understanding is that feeds can be corrected. This came up on one of my pens with Mike Masuyama and he told me to send it back. His turn around time is far less than Richard's. (I have no affiliation with Mike.)

[breaker]

nice review and nice pics

[Toolattack]

Nice review! I own this pen and I love it - big thumbs up!

[jhataway]

Richard,

 

Good review. I have a jade International that I like a lot. But I also have a question. Regarding the inner cap, your drawing shows that the inner cap extends some way down which would provide for a good seal for the nib when capped. I assume my pen has a similar inner cap design (my pen is a mark II). However, on seeing photos of caps for the mark I centennial on the bay, the inner cap is quite short. In a post under the Parker sub-forum, a problem with nib drying of a centennial was solved by Ron Zorn by sealing the vent hole, because, apparently there was no seal between the inner cap and the nib section. So, when the pen was redesigned as the mark II, did Parker change the inner cap design such that it extend further down? By the way, did you have to disassemble your cap in order to make the drawing? Thanks.

[shuuemura]

Richard,

 

Good review. I have a jade International that I like a lot. But I also have a question. Regarding the inner cap, your drawing shows that the inner cap extends some way down which would provide for a good seal for the nib when capped. I assume my pen has a similar inner cap design (my pen is a mark II). However, on seeing photos of caps for the mark I centennial on the bay, the inner cap is quite short. In a post under the Parker sub-forum, a problem with nib drying of a centennial was solved by Ron Zorn by sealing the vent hole, because, apparently there was no seal between the inner cap and the nib section. So, when the pen was redesigned as the mark II, did Parker change the inner cap design such that it extend further down? By the way, did you have to disassemble your cap in order to make the drawing? Thanks.

 

I am not Richard but I own the two Centennials that Ron Zorn worked on. My two Centennials were made in 1987 and 2006 respectively, and both exhibited the drying out issue. I used to own another Centennial made in 2004 that also dried out. Finally I just examined the newly released Centennial Historical Colours Big Red pen (made in France) and the interior of the cap looks exactly the same as the 2006 model which dried out. Hope that helps.

[jhataway]

Yes, it tells me that the vent hole should be eliminated by Parker, or that the inner cap design should be changed to provide a proper seal. Thanks.

[richardandtracy]

Funny. I have no problem with the drying issue. The inner cap was derived from measurements and looking (it's a very different colour on the P&B, so is relatively easy to identify).

 

Regards,

 

Richard

[dojocho]

Mine keep writing and never dry as well. I have 3 generations: Arrow nib, Banner nib and Ace of Spades nib. There is, however, a big diffenence between the nibs, the Arrows and Banners are very smooth, the Ace of Spades isn't very smooth and is quite of a nail.

 

regards,

 

Hugo

Edited January 27, 2015 by dojocho

[FPIndian]

I have the Pearl and black centennial as well. Came to me new with some skipping issues and a dry nib. Spent some time adjusting the flow and removing a slight baby bottom (I am very brave for an absolute newbie to this ) and it is now an absolutely reliable, smooth and wet writer and a joy to write with. It is the one with the ace of spades nib but while the nib is not very soft, I definitely would not call it a nail either. It is definitely softer than any of the sailor 21K or Delta 18K nibs that I have.

[jhataway]

Hello again,

 

I have found that using the squeeze converter from a Parker 75 solved my problems with slow starts. Now, the pen writes from the first touch to paper, and also writes a little wetter which is good for me.

 

Jim

[Gkatona3]

Thanks "View from the Loft" -- I think you explained how I ended up with a big chip out of the end of the cap on my pen -- it is a roller ball but I still love it. (One thing to keep an eye out for: the cap lip is vulnerable to cracking. Mine has two cracks, each along a black vein... and they are close, so now a third, perpendicular crack has appeared, and when they meet, a small section could just fall out. ) If anyone has a suggestion about where/how I can get it repaired I would be most appreciative -- I already tried Parker...

[Pensei]

Well, as this thread has been revived, I'll join it just to say thanks for the nice pictures, and more emphatically, thanks for the cautionary note about possible cracking in the cap, apparently related to the nature of the P&B material. I have one from somewhere in the mid-80's (can't find the receipt), and since I bought it at a time when it was expensive, but not absurdly so (and before I knew the value of money), I have just used it rather casually as a writing instrument, including just dropping it in a jar with other pens when not using it. It has held up well to this usage as a daily tool, but I think from now on I will avoid the banging, and take a bit more care when removing and replacing the cap. My model has the size 80 arrow nib, which I love, and while it shows some light scratches on the brightwork, it is in nice condition. Seems to be a case where older is better, although it is sobering to think of something I bought for myself as a young adult as "old."

[dojocho]

Mine keep writing and never dry as well. I have 3 generations: Arrow nib, Banner nib and Ace of Spades nib. There is, however, a big diffenence between the nibs, the Arrows and Banners are very smooth, the Ace of Spades isn't very smooth and is quite of a nail.

 

regards,

 

Hugo

 

Concernig the Ace of Spades nib, after quite some use it became very smooth.

[Pen_Noob]

I really love this pen, it is one of the best writers I have, and one of the most beautiful. But I hate that Parker is still keeping the hole in the cap, like the pre 60's pens, and if I leave the pen alone for a few days, it will always hard start. So it it sitting in my collection.

[shuuemura]

I really love this pen, it is one of the best writers I have, and one of the most beautiful. But I hate that Parker is still keeping the hole in the cap, like the pre 60's pens, and if I leave the pen alone for a few days, it will always hard start. So it it sitting in my collection.

 

Yup, I knew I wasn't the only one with the drying out problem! Sealing that hole will solve it.

 

Otherwise you could look at the latest Prestige Duofold collection - it seems that they have removed the superfluous breather hole in the cap.

[ggrosjean]

I love the Duofold, I have Ball Points, Roller Balls (I know.....) the mechanical pencil. Before I launch into the Fountain Pens I would say that I have cracked many caps and endured long waits for repair including lost and replaced by Parker so be careful. The fountain pens are an exercise in frustration, if I want to mess up my day fill one of those. Scratchy, dry with hard starts and drying out....you name it. Beautiful pen really but it's best left as a show piece.