Parker 45 Insignia With Parallel Line Pattern And Numbered Tassie

[longhandwriter]

Looking for help again and perhaps to gain a little knowledge.

 

I've recently come into possession of a USA made Parker 45 Insignia. The pen has the parallel line pattern on cap and barrel with black end piece, the pattern being a little unusual in itself perhaps, but the most striking part of the pen is the tassie which has been factory stamped with the number 3. I'm pretty sure it is factory stamped as the gold is still present inside the reasonably deeply stamped number, so I'm guessing was plated after the stamp was made. The cap impression is 45 PARKER 45 and on the back is the halo trademark with 1/10 12K GF and under that is MADE IN USA. The tassie is the V shaped one and so the pen is probably from the first half of the 1960s or so.

 

My question here is of course about the 3 stamped onto the tassie. I can see no reason for an individual or company to make that stamp without additional advertising or associated names so I am going with the (hopeful) premise that this is a pre-production numbered model, predating the release of this model in (I think) 1964. If this is a numbered pre-production model then obviously there will be other numbered ones. I'd like to hear from anyone who has one or who can shed any light on this pen. Many thanks in advance for any help given or theories postulated.

[icardoth]

Can't help with this particular model, but I have a Parker 61 made in USA with the same 3 engraved in the clip tassie. According to the paperwork included with my pen, it was produced in 1963. Probably the same thing with yours.

[longhandwriter]

Never seen that before either. Thanks for the info.

[Captivelight]

The lined pattern is standard for the 45 Insignia, so nothing out of the ordinary there.

The number 3 stamped on the clip screw is also found on other examples - although not all of them. One of mine has it to.

If I were to hazard a guess it would be that these pens are first year Insignias where the parts were manufactured in 1963 prior to release in 1964 - as you say the stamp appears to have been done before the gold plating.

 

Of course it could just as easily be that the clip screw is style #3 or came off machine #3 ear marked for Insignias, but either way it would seem that it is a production mark rather then a pre-production prototype number.

 

http://www.pencollect.co.uk/personal/13.jpg

[longhandwriter]

My comment about the lined pattern was really that it was parallel lines not converging,which I mistakenly thought was the dominant or perhaps only lined pattern on 45 Insignias. As for the 3, the jury is out on that one. You would think that every makers mark,of any kind,on a pen has a purpose. I know of course that date coding was not in force at this time so if the 3 does represent 1963 why is it not present on all Insignias in 1963. Why would only relatively few get this treatment. It the 3 does not represent the year then where are the 1s and 2s?