Parker Sonnet Or Flighter?

[mikehodgman]

Hello,

 

I was getting read to pull the trigger on a stainless steel Parker Sonnet when I discovered the vintage Parker Flighter and now I am conflicted on what to buy. I really like the look of that Parker Sonnet and I have almost all modern pens. I have a couple vintage pens, but really don't have much experience with them. What is the better buy? There are different versions of the Flighter; are there certain types to stay away from? Thanks for your help???

 

http://www.amazon.com/Parker-Sonnet-Stainless-Fountain-S0809210/dp/B00383LX70/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1377986742&sr=8-10&keywords=parker+sonnet+stainless+steel

 

 

 

[PAKMAN]

Which vintage flighter? 51, 45, 75??

[mikehodgman]

Which vintage flighter? 51, 45, 75??

 

Any of them I guess. Are any of them best?

[ac12]

I think you can get a Sonnet in Flighter finish.

The Sonnet in the link you have looks like a Flighter.

 

Flighter is a finish, not a pen.

The Flighter finish is brushed stainless steel, and there were MANY models of Parkers in Flighter finish.

According to my list here are the models that have flighter finish: 51, 21, 15, 45, 75, 61, 65, 25, 50, Arrow, 180, Classic, 95, 105, Vector, Frontier, Sonnet, Insignia

And there probably are more. I would venture to say that almost every pen model after the 1950s had a flighter model. Which means a LOT of different pens.

Some of these are very hard to find or expensive to buy if you find one.

And to make it more complicated, here is the next wrinkle. For some/many pen models, there are different versions of the flighter finish; gold trim, chrome trim, plastic end piece, no end piece, etc, etc.

 

How do you define "best" ?

I can say a particular model is "best," but that is "best" to me and MY criteria, which could be and probably is different than yours.

And for ME, that is either the 180 or CLASSIC in Flighter finish.

 

A Flighter that is relatively easy to find, not expensive and is based on a good modular pen, is the Parker 45-Flighter.

As mentioned above, for some pen models, there are different versions of the flighter finish. The P45 has at least 3 different flighter versions that I know of, and probably several more that I do not know of but can extrapolate to.

 

If you intend to write with it, vs. collect it, it is important to ask the seller what the tip size is. I write with a F tip, and getting any other tip size just means I have to go buy a F tip to replace it. This is not a trivial task. Some pens (such as P51) require $$ surgery to replace the nib, others (such as P45) are a simple unscrew the old tip and screw in the new tip. Replacement tips (used and NOS) are available, but not all the time and not in all sizes, and that will add to the final cost of the pen. So it is easier to get a pen with the tip size YOU want. And IMHO, for a pen like the P45, it does not matter what the nib is made of; stainless steel or gold. To me, they both write the same.

 

Here is the next problem with tip sizes. On some pens (like the P51 and Arrow), there is almost no way for the seller to determine what the tip size is. It is not stamped on the pen where anyone can see. I have to use a caliper to measure the tip to determine what size it is. But if I tell you the tip is 0.030 inch, do you know what size that is? It is a Parker M tip. I do not trust ink lines, as I have made one of my M tip pens write like a F tip simply by changing ink and paper. And what is a Fine line to someone may be a Medium line to me.

 

As for cost, like anything on eBay, you have to shop well, or you could easily over-pay.

Edited September 1, 2013 by ac12

[mikehodgman]

Gotcha, thanks! I was confused, i thought that the Flighter was a specific type of Parker pen. That clears it up quite a bit Thanks so much for the comprehensive answer!

[PAKMAN]

The prettiest flighter version to me is the 51, but the 45 flighter deluxe is pretty nice too!

[Joe in Seattle]

The Sonnet felt better to write with than the 45 FlighterAnd I had

[usk15]

check this : http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/design/flighters.htm

[pajaro]

The 51 Flighter is probably best. I think the pen and pencil sets go for $300 or so and pens alone ?$250?

 

I have the Sonnet stainless CT and GT. I like them and put a new stainless medium italic in the chrome trim (CT) and I put a nice 18K fine in the gold trim (GT). These are among my favorite pens. Bought them used from Judperl, about $35 each. Judperl often has these models on ebay. I bought the nibs from the French penseller on Amazon for $35 and $53, free postage at $88 total. I got the extra nibs I wanted that way.

 

The Frontier GT Flighter cost $13.50 on ebay. I put an italic nib in it for about an extra $17 shipped. It's a nice pen even with the original medium or a fine I also bought for it.

 

The 45 Flighter might cost you $50 or so, and you could find extra screw-in nibs. You might like it, and the price is usually decent.

Edited September 1, 2013 by pajaro

[pajaro]

I am going to add this. If you buy a 51 Flighter it is unlikely yo will be disappointed with it. The 51 is one of the best pens ever made. If I were younger and starting out I would wait for the opportunity to buy one of these pens and pay its price. Better to have a superlative and very desirable pen than jump into something inferior just to have a pen right now.

 

The Sonnet is not the equal of a Parker 51, and little is as good as a 51.

 

The Frontier will write every time I uncap it, but is cheaper, feels cheaper in thickness and solidity of materials.

 

I have had 45s and a few were decent pens. Lots of people rave about them. I suspect they might not have used better pens.

 

If you wait and pluck a 51 Flighter when one becomes available, it will be a beautiful and desirable pen that will work ad infinitum, or ad nauseam to its haters. The world is eaten up with the dum-----.

[mikehodgman]

check this : http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/design/flighters.htm

 

Wow! Thanks for the link. That pretty much says it all on Flighters!

[usk15]

Glad to help you!

[Tom Aquinas]

I am going to add this. If you buy a 51 Flighter it is unlikely yo will be disappointed with it. The 51 is one of the best pens ever made. If I were younger and starting out I would wait for the opportunity to buy one of these pens and pay its price. Better to have a superlative and very desirable pen than jump into something inferior just to have a pen right now.

 

The Sonnet is not the equal of a Parker 51, and little is as good as a 51.

 

The Frontier will write every time I uncap it, but is cheaper, feels cheaper in thickness and solidity of materials.

 

I have had 45s and a few were decent pens. Lots of people rave about them. I suspect they might not have used better pens.

 

If you wait and pluck a 51 Flighter when one becomes available, it will be a beautiful and desirable pen that will work ad infinitum, or ad nauseam to its haters. The world is eaten up with the dum-----.

I agree with everything Pajaro has written, but would add, a Parker 75 Flighter is not to be sneezed at either.

[pajaro]

I never think of the 75, because I have never managed to buy one. For a long time I wanted a 75, but I became interested in other stuff and never got back to it. The 75 is a very respected pen, and as a C/C is in the modern style. Many people like the 75. Nibs can be changed out, an advantage.

Edited September 2, 2013 by pajaro

[ac12]

The 75 has a 3 sided grip, and way before the Lamy Safari. Mine is from the 70s.

While the nibs are user changeable, I think the replacement feed/nibs are EXPENSIVE and hard to find. Plus you have to deal with the narrow vs. wide feed.

 

I liked my 75.

I alternated between the 75 flighter and 180 flighter, while in college.