Parker 25 Variations

[Shaughn]

Some pics, as promised:

 

The most common boxes in brown plastic with white sleeves (sorry for the poor quality of the pic), and a sample of the special matte black box in black/metallic (and the rare black/silver sleeve) and a typical box found in the USA and Canada.

 

 

Talking about parafernalia, there are many varieties in paperwork coming with them. There is so much to explore!

Edited January 8, 2011 by Shaughn

[enitsirhc]

richardandtracy and Shaughn - you guys are awesome!

 

too bad I get my Parker 25 not in its authentic box.

 

by the way, I got my 12th and 13th Parker 25 (black/bold nib/date code IQ) today.

 

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/3134/parker25.jpg

 

[Shaughn]

Oops... I seem out of upload quota so off to photobucket ...

 

But for your IQ series of P25 the authentic box is more likely to be these, which i have seen in brown, blue and black, not necessarily corresponding with the colours of the pens:

 

http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz137/UncleShaughn/_P25CT.jpg

[Shaughn]

The photo upload thing is solved, so here we go again!

 

Just a detail: the plastic inserts on the clips may add to the dateline.

 

They seem to be secured with a different tool, the orange and green ones with something leaving a - mark, later devices leaving something more like a six sided hole.

 

 

I also noticed variations in the vent holed nibs. Some are rather square at the edges, others have more rounded corners. I'll be going through the pile one of these days to document it by photograph, in the mean time... anyone who noticed these variations too?

 

(edited for typo's and additional remarks.)

Edited January 23, 2011 by Shaughn

[richardandtracy]

No, I hadn't. :embarrassed_smile: But my black one has a - sign as suggested. The rest of the detail is lost due to wear.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[nstlgia70]

I noticed from the photos in eBay some examples have light blue section plastic, while most others have dark blue ones. These dark blue sectioned ones also have clips with very dark emblems, while the ones with light blue sections have emblems on the clips which match the color of the section.I had only seen the light blue ones in photos. I had not seen the actual pens, and I am not sure if the difference was due to color rendering by the camera or my monitor. I would very much like to have a light blue one if the difference is real. The light /medium blue color is simply gorgeous. It is very much reminiscent of another great pen, the Pilot Birdie.

[Shaughn]

To the best of my knowledge: there is little or no variation in the colour blue. If there is any, it is not enough to make a distinct difference between dark, medium and/or light blue. Dark blue is standard for the P25. I suppose 'light' blue is caused by camera or monitor.

 

The only very light blue variation I ever saw (and possess) is a discoloration of the plastic, probably caused by exposure to heat and/or light. I used one cracked shell for some destructive experimentation, boiled it in water and got that pale blue discolouration. So I guess that particular shell has been exposed to heat and sunlight in a car, a window or something like that.

[dex138]

Hi all. I have a Parker 25 ballpoint. I have gotten as far as learning that it is either a 1982, or quite possibly a 1972 production, due to the "AC" stamped next to the Parker Logo. It ha blue 'furniture' with a dimpled tassie. How can I determine the right year? is there specific differences I should be looking for?

 

Cheers.

 

 

 

 

 

[Shaughn]

That's an easy one to answer in two ways:

 

1st: before 1980 there appear no date codes at all on P25s, so yours must be 1982.

2nd: the P25 model was introduced around 1975 and not manufactured before that time.

 

Regards, Shaughn

[dex138]

That's an easy one to answer in two ways:

 

1st: before 1980 there appear no date codes at all on P25s, so yours must be 1982.

2nd: the P25 model was introduced around 1975 and not manufactured before that time.

 

Regards, Shaughn

Thanks for the information Shaughn, exactly what I needed to know.

Edited August 23, 2011 by dex138

[Dolganoff]

I've just realized that I actually owned one P25 bought new somewhere in the nineties, blue flighter with F nib and arrow logo on the plastic clip insert. Now, I absolutely don't remember at all where did this pen go!!! I just remember that I hated Pemanent Blue Quink (bottled), too bleak...

Edited August 27, 2011 by Dolganoff

[PhilD.gb]

I've just realized that I actually owned one P25 bought new somewhere in the nineties, blue flighter with F nib and arrow logo on the plastic clip insert. Now, I absolutely don't remember at all where did this pen go!!! I just remember that I hated Pemanent Blue Quink (bottled), too bleak...

 

I'm new to the forum, so please be gentle ........

 

I picked up on this thread whilst looking for Matt Black 25's on Ebay, and started searching in Google.

I have a collection of the black pens which I bought in the early and mid eighties whilst working in London in the bank district. They were widely available in the London bank area at the time, probably because of the yuppy financial traders ..... everything had to be black. I bought mine from a shop called "PenFriend" in the Strand, and then their entire black nib spares stock when the pen was discontinued. Most of my pens have barely seen the light of day, let alone been used. I use one pen until it dies completely ....usually when there's very little paint left and the lid won't stay on anymore!

I'll admit to an obsession with the black version ...... and use a fountain pen all the time for writing and drawing ....... much to the amusement of students at the school where I work. (Cheap biros are the norm ......... )

 

The black 25 also had a biro, propelling pencil, roller point and fibre tip as variations to the series.

I'll admit I don't know what year my pens are are, but they all have dimpled tops and "Made in England" on them.

[Shaughn]

 

I'm new to the forum, so please be gentle ........

 

 

So it is you who's hiding all the matte black!

[PhilD.gb]

 

I'm new to the forum, so please be gentle ........

 

 

So it is you who's hiding all the matte black!

 

Only in Essex, England!

 

Thank you for the welcome!

[OldLes]

Hi, I have just read some of the posts in this thread, so thought I would tell you about my 25. It was a gift, but as I did not like the feel of it, I have never put a cartridge in it. I looked for a date code, and found P1 (or could it be PI). It is in a black plastic case (Silver Parker insignia), sits in a grey mock flock, retained by a broad grey fixed ribbon. The folded paper sheet inside the box is black with white and a green "scribble".The pen appears to be stainless steel, has a blue inner part (is that the section) whose diameter seems to increase to simulate a thin blue ring. No markings on the stainless steel nib. The paper label implies made in Newhaven.

Goodness me, for a Newbie here, I am sounding technical!

OldLes.

[Dolganoff]

By the way, if somebedy is willing to part with his 25, send me a message

[Shaughn]

Coming here to bump the topic for easy access, I see an unanswered question... or two Sorry to have kept you waiting so long, Dolganoff.

 

The date code is PI, and the blue inner part is indeed called the section.

[yicker]

Hi there, brand new to the network so hello.

I had a Parker 25 at high school and when I saw a friends one at work recently I just had to have one. Bought one off eBay and I'm delighted with it. Like anything, though, I started to research it and now I have quite a conundrum. I impressed my friend by being able to date his Parker 25 to 1991 looking at his "Made in UK" stamp and the letters IU after it (using information gleaned from this forum - many thanks!). What I can't do is date my own pen.

 

My question:

Did the Parker 25 go from being "Made in England" to "Made in UK" and back to "Made in England" again?

 

If so then mine must be a 1995 as the only date code on it is the letter "T" after the "Made in England". If not then I am a bit flummoxed...

 

Any help greatly appreciated :-)

[Shaughn]

 

Yes, they changed England/UK/England for some unknown reason. In post #24 you'll find your dating confirmed, but I guess you've already seen that.

[yicker]

Thanks Shaughn, that's confirmed mine as a 1995 one, I don't feel so bad for using it daily now! Looks like I've got the bug though - I'm watching a very nice Mk1 on eBay although I think it will be over my budget.