Parker 75 Uncommon Nib? - Has Anyone Seen One?

[RalphP]

You may see here for hallmarks used in France:

 

http://parkerpens.net/codekey.html

 

Thanks for the link to hallmarks - very informative. It is interesting that the "P-arrowP" French marks shown are in sort of a triangle... & the ones on my pen are in an oval...

[Matlock]

 

Thanks for the link to hallmarks - very informative. It is interesting that the "P-arrowP" French marks shown are in sort of a triangle... & the ones on my pen are in an oval...

 

This is a makers mark and stands for Parker Pen (on current pens it is WP, for Waterman Parker). It can be found in rectangular, shield shape and oval as well as, the more usual, triangle.

[ceejaybee]

The PP makers mark appears in many forms but usually only in Countries which require hallmarks, it will be the mark registered with the Assay Office, you'll see it on earlier 75s with the arrow pointing down and on later 75s with the arrow pointing upwards, the Oval shape seems to be the earliest shape used in France.

 

Thanks for sending me the additional photos, I think I can see enough detail in the cap lip rectangles to convince me they are weevil hallmarks so all good there. Unfortunately the nib mark is still unclear which is a shame but I still think I can see detail in the earlier photograph that appears to be the weevil mark for imported gold - I enlarged the photo so you can compare it yourself....

 

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab212/ceejaybee_photo/hallmark.jpghttp://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab212/ceejaybee_photo/hall.jpg

 

I hope you can see it and I'm not imagining it! If it is marked then I'm confident that your pen did at least make it to France for hallmarking, as you suggest it may well have been a sample, or one of a batch, returned to the U.S.A. for evaluation and then the decision was taken to manufacture nibs in France instead and the plans for U.S.A. 18K production were shelved, especially if Janesville was already busy manufacturing for the home market. Maybe the European markets didn't meet expectations and were proving more challenging? The UK examples definitely don't turn up here in abundance and 95% of the examples I've seen were hallmarked in 1965 which suggests the initial run may have been a slow seller? The latest was 1968 and I've only seen one of those, the hallmarked ballpoints are very difficult to find. Later than this I can't find the 75 Sterling pens at all in catalogues or marketing literature until after France took up production in the mid 1980s.

 

I don't have any info about where the box was manufactured, I would think France or mainland Europe, the same shape and style of box was used for the gold and silver plated (Place Vendome) 75s in many European countries although it does bear a striking resemblance internally and in size to the U.S.A. boxes but the outer shape is different, it was also sold in the same outer card box with the same small box of accessories (converter, cartridges and nib adjuster) as with the U.S.A. package of the same era.

[baz666]

Hi,
Interesting thread.

Here are some pics of the weevil hallmark (for gold objects imported into France) from a Parker 61 Boucheron.

 

 

 

 

Just as an aside (ceejaybee) why would the cap lip rectangles be the weevil hallmark, when the cap is sterling silver?

 

quote..." I think I can see enough detail in the cap lip rectangles to convince me they are weevil hallmarks so all good there."

 

Regards

Paul.

Edited April 8, 2016 by baz666

[baz666]

My apologies (ceejaybee), the weevil hallmark was for imported objects (to France), not just Gold.

 

Regards.

[Matlock]

My apologies (ceejaybee), the weevil hallmark was for imported objects (to France), not just Gold.

 

Regards.

 

Usually the weevil mark is oval for gold and rectangular for silver.

[RalphP]

Great Photos & Information Above!

[baz666]

 

Usually the weevil mark is oval for gold and rectangular for silver.

 

Thanks Matlock, you are correct.

My fingers were typing faster than my brain was working (no change there then).

 

Paul.

[Matlock]

 

Thanks Matlock, you are correct.

My fingers were typing faster than my brain was working (no change there then).

 

Paul.

 

I know the feeling .

​

[RalphP]

 

Usually the weevil mark is oval for gold and rectangular for silver.

 

Just curious - why two (2) rectangles enclosing a weevil - and not just one (1)... the thought crossed my mind "perhaps it was thought 2 weevils are better than 1"; one for the cap one for the barrel??

[Matlock]

 

Just curious - why two (2) rectangles enclosing a weevil - and not just one (1)... the thought crossed my mind "perhaps it was thought 2 weevils are better than 1"; one for the cap one for the barrel??

 

I have had a closer look and I am not convinced that the right hand rectangle encloses a weevil, also it looks a little shorter than the left hand one. (or maybe it is just my eyesight?).

[Chouffleur]

 

I have had a closer look and I am not convinced that the right hand rectangle encloses a weevil, also it looks a little shorter than the left hand one. (or maybe it is just my eyesight?).

Ah, you've discovered the famous lesser-of-two-weevils pen.

[grainweevil]

I feel like I should be contributing to this discussion, but I got nuttin'...

[mitto]

...it is something between Ralph and Matlock...looking at their pens and exchanging views.

 

I know Matlock has the same pen with the weevils thingys.

On a serious note, very very interesting and informative discussion especially for 75 lovers, though.

 

How are you Peter?

Edited April 9, 2016 by mitto

[RalphP]

 

I have had a closer look and I am not convinced that the right hand rectangle encloses a weevil, also it looks a little shorter than the left hand one. (or maybe it is just my eyesight?).

 

I looked again at the two rectangles on the cap lip with 10x and 30x magnification... I think (never positive) that they are the same size - the weevil on the left is nice and clear now that I compare it to the pictures above - the one on the right - not so clear but it does - side by side comparison - look like a weevil.

 

The picture of the 61 above showing a weevil on the clip top is nice and clear - good picture - and a good strike of the imprint die in a recessed area which should keep it from getting worn away over time...

[ceejaybee]

I feel like I should be contributing to this discussion, but I got nuttin'...

You can! Tell us if that's you in the oval on that nib or am I just imagining you??

 

 

I have had a closer look and I am not convinced that the right hand rectangle encloses a weevil, also it looks a little shorter than the left hand one. (or maybe it is just my eyesight?).

The 2 rectangles are 2 individual die strikes side by side - the left one is slightly overlapping the right which is making it look ever so slightly smaller.

Edited April 9, 2016 by ceejaybee

[ceejaybee]

 

Just curious - why two (2) rectangles enclosing a weevil - and not just one (1)... the thought crossed my mind "perhaps it was thought 2 weevils are better than 1"; one for the cap one for the barrel??

Yes, one for the cap & one for the barrel - sometimes you see each part individually hallmarked but in my experience it only seems to be on the later pens, earlier examples are two on the cap.

Edited April 9, 2016 by ceejaybee

[Matlock]

You can! Tell us if that's you in the oval on that nib or am I just imagining you??

 

The 2 rectangles are 2 individual die strikes side by side - the left one is slightly overlapping the right which is making it look ever so slightly smaller.

 

Yes, on looking again, I think you are right. It is always hard to tell from pictures.

[Matlock]

...it is something between Ralph and Matlock...looking at their pens and exchanging views.

 

I know Matlock has the same pen with the weevils thingys.

On a serious note, very very interesting and informative discussion especially for 75 lovers, though.

 

How are you Peter?

 

I am very well Kahn, except overrun by weevils .​

[grainweevil]

You can! Tell us if that's you in the oval on that nib or am I just imagining you??

 

It might be cousin Pierre, after he was stepped on. We don't really like to talk about it...

 

I shall go away and take my facetiousness with me now, but a fascinating thread, and I have learnt a good deal. Thank you.