Which Model Is This Parker Pen?

[MyriamV]

My husband owns this fountain pen. However, we have no idea which model it is. The exterior is silver (probably platted). I'd shine it up, but hubby prefers it the way it looks. I just finished cleaning the old ink out. It has an extra-fine nib and I'm also wondering what ink would be the best to use in it. Any ideas?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[icardoth]

It's a Parker 75 Sterling Silver Cisele. You can find more info here http://parkercollector.com/parker75.html and here: http://www.parker75.addr.com/Reference/Parker75_Ref.htm

[Florida Blue]

Wow, you really are lucky!

 

As icardoth already pointed out, the cap and the barrel of your Parker 75 is solid sterling silver.

 

The cisele is a classic Parker finish and it was supposedly inspired by a silver English cigarette case that belonged to Kenneth Parker.

 

Your 75 is a cartridge/converter filler so you can use Parker (or Aurora) branded cartridges or converter with it.

[Tom Aquinas]

A cross hatch pattern sterling silver Parker 75, a real classic. It is probably a later US production. I use a couple a lot, they are a lovely unit. Investigate the "G" in the cap , it might have been a corporate gift, alternatively it may have been an optional extra. Parker in Australia were offering an opal triplet to tart up the pens for a minimal price.

[aeinstein]

I think Parker Quink or Pelikan 4001 are better for you pen.

[richardandtracy]

I'd suggest any fountain pen ink rather than limit it to Parker or Pelikan. Diamine do a huge range of inks, take a look here to see the sort of range available: http://www.diamineinks.co.uk/listings.aspx?brandid=3

 

Do not use 'India Ink' or 'Caligraphy Ink' as it has gum in it which glues up the inside of the pen.

 

Otherwise, have fun.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[Ernst Bitterman]

I've got some permanent thoughts on the safety of inks here. Be wary of Higgins inks, which are relatively easy to find, even in our not-close-to-much part of the continent, and claim to be for fountain pens, but which are very hard to clean out without special solvents. The quick answer is: anything by a major pen maker is safe, but the colour palette is limited.

 

You'll find that particular pen will reward regular and thorough handling with a high degree of shine. It will also reward the initial efforts with a blackening of the hands as it swaps silver oxide for skin oil, but don't let that put you off.

Edited July 30, 2013 by Ernst Bitterman

[MyriamV]

icardoth: Thank you for the links, I'll check them out. There is so much to learn about these pens. It's an adventure I'm enjoyiong

 

 

Florida Blue: Lucky? I wonder. My husband keeps finding fountain pens that were hidden in drawers. Now, I don't know where to turn and which ones to check out first! I'll have to take more pictures and post them. One, for instance, has no name on it. It's a mystery pen! For the 75, I started looking for a Parker converter and couldn't find one. The sac looks good in the pen, but if I can use a converter, I'd rather do that and preserve the original sac. Any ideas where I can find one?

 

 

Tom Aquinas: My husband's name is Gary. This pen was given to him by one of his teachers as a thank you gift. The teacher lost a ring that meant a lot to him. My husband found it and returned it to him. The gift was actually a set, the fountain pen and a pencil. I'll have to ask my husband if he still has the pencil.

 

 

aeinstein and richardandtracy: Thank you for the ink recommendations and the heads up on the india and calligraphy inks. My husband decided to go with Parker Quink. Do you think it would be safe to mix the Quink Black with the Quink Blue-black? He finds the blue-black a little too blue to his taste.

 

[MyriamV]

Ernst, I just finished reading your page. Good information, thank you. I noticed on the De Atramentis page, you mention that their "historic" inks are to be avoided in fountain pens. Being new to inks, are those clearly marked as being historic? I'm about to order some of their inks and want to be sure I order inks I can use.

[Sasha Royale]

Sterling Silver Parker 75. Please do NOT "shine it up". If you remove the protective coating,the silver will tarnish and tarnish and tarnish. It is not supposed to be shiny.

 

Give the ink system an occasional, good flush and cleaning. Wipe the exterior with a clean, soft cloth,and enjoy this pen for forty years.

 

My Parker 75 was a gift from friends, in 1973. It is still a lovely pen.

 

Parker made 10 million + of them.

 

Write with joy.

Edited July 30, 2013 by Sasha Royale

[MyriamV]

I'll tell my husband that he's right about not wanting to shine it up. I do have to admit that it has a nice look to it as is.

[Ernst Bitterman]

Ernst, I just finished reading your page. Good information, thank you. I noticed on the De Atramentis page, you mention that their "historic" inks are to be avoided in fountain pens. Being new to inks, are those clearly marked as being historic? I'm about to order some of their inks and want to be sure I order inks I can use.

 

I've just been looking at the company's site, and they've got the historic inks segregated under the Calligraphy tab; You should be safe. I also find that Google translates a warning at the bottom as "Caution! This ink is suitable for fountain pens" which misses a rather vital word in the original German: "Achtung! Diese Tinte ist nicht für Füllfederhalter geeignet."

[Florida Blue]

I started looking for a Parker converter and couldn't find one. The sac looks good in the pen, but if I can use a converter, I'd rather do that and preserve the original sac. Any ideas where I can find one?

 

 

Goulet Pens (gouletpens.com) should have Parker converters for sale. Parker makes two different types of converters: 1. a piston and 2. slide. Both work quite well, but the piston costs about twice as much as the slide.

Edited July 30, 2013 by Florida Blue

[MyriamV]

Ernst: Thank you for the link. Unfortunately, I can't read German so I can't specifically check the color I'm interested in. Would it be safe to assume though that if there's no quill and inkwell on the label, that it'll be safe for fountain pens?

 

Florida Blue: I checked again and see that I missed it the first time. They sell the Parker Twist Cartridge Converter. Would that fit in the old Parker 75? I have a limited budget (hate limited budgets) and just want to make sure I'll be able to use it.

[Florida Blue]

 

Florida Blue: I checked again and see that I missed it the first time. They sell the Parker Twist Cartridge Converter. Would that fit in the old Parker 75? I have a limited budget (hate limited budgets) and just want to make sure I'll be able to use it.

Yes, it should fit. The twist converter is the piston version.

[MyriamV]

Thank you, Florida Blue. I'll put that on my shopping list for August

[Tom Aquinas]

I'll tell my husband that he's right about not wanting to shine it up. I do have to admit that it has a nice look to it as is.

I got one new in 1970 when it was my grail pen. Parker recommended usage to develop its' unique patina, and I find that better than any polish.

[MyriamV]

I have to agree with you Tom. Especially since it didn't turn all black like silver usually does.

[richardandtracy]

The squeezy metal cartridge convertor you have in the pen should be good for a few more years unless the sac is punctured. I actually prefer that type, and buy them when I can find them to put in my more recent Parkers.

I had one in a Parker 61 for so long (25 yeras) I forgot I could take it out.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[Savory Goodness]

I really prefer inking my 75 with a cartridge, rather than dip-and squeeze. It has been my experience that the cartridges hold more ink, and that the couple drops at the end (which you can release with a tap or two) will overcome any procrastination in re-filling. The converter likely will pull straight out of the section, and the cartridge can be re-inserted in exactly the same way.

 

Nice pen. I'd be willing to bet that you'll come to love the weight of this one in your hand.