Parker 45 Gold Nib?

July 8, 2016

The gold nibs are distinctly rigid .The gold-plated ones in my experience are quite smooth.

July 8, 2016

The majority of my P45 gold nibs have been stiff, but a couple have had a little flex. It's a (bleep)-shoot and you probably would have ended up with a gold nib with no more flex than your steel version.

Well the plated nib writes fine. It's smooth and all.
Just wanted the gold nib for that extra spring.

July 9, 2016

The design of the 45's nib makes it very unlikely to have have any flex, so the smoothness and the line will be completely down to the shape of the tipping. There were so many 45s made, and many spare nibs and sections are for sale at reasonable prices, although mostly will be steel nibs, in 'F' & 'M'.

July 9, 2016

I have one that clearly flexes up and down when writing (though not enough to get meaningful line variation like a true flexible nib). I should make a video of it. But in general, you're correct: P45 nibs were not meant to flex, whether gold or "octanium." I figured this one was likely stamped out of an unusually thin sheet.

The design of the 45's nib makes it very unlikely to have have any flex, so the smoothness and the line will be completely down to the shape of the tipping. There were so many 45s made, and many spare nibs and sections are for sale at reasonable prices, although mostly will be steel nibs, in 'F' & 'M'.

July 9, 2016

My first 45 has a 14K medium nib. While not flexing, per se, it does have a little bit of what I would call "give" to it. My other 45s (14K F nib and a gold [?] oblique stub) do not have any give at all, as far as I have been able to tell.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

July 9, 2016

A gold nib has its own charm whether it writes any better than the steel nib or not. And, in some cass, the gold nib has definitely a bit more spring to it.

July 10, 2016

I have have had a few dozen P45s stretching back to the 1970s.

I am mystified by folks who think the steel nibs are better/the same as the gold ones.

The 14k UK made ones I have (6 or 7?) all have a bit of give to them and that is enough for them to put quite bit more ink on the page. While the nib itself does not have wide range of motion the result is noticeable. I can easily get some line variation with a itty big more pressure on down strokes. The couple steel nibs i kept are just nails. No wiggle at all. Great pens but the 14k gold nibs, esp. the UK made ones from the 60s definitely feel nicer to me. They also seem wetter and slightly bolder, same with the P61s.

July 10, 2016

Don't be mystified. You may have answered your own question, since all my P45s are US-made.

I have have had a few dozen P45s stretching back to the 1970s.

I am mystified by folks who think the steel nibs are better/the same as the gold ones.

The 14k UK made ones I have (6 or 7?) all have a bit of give to them and that is enough for them to put quite bit more ink on the page. While the nib itself does not have wide range of motion the result is noticeable. I can easily get some line variation with a itty big more pressure on down strokes. The couple steel nibs i kept are just nails. No wiggle at all. Great pens but the 14k gold nibs, esp. the UK made ones from the 60s definitely feel nicer to me. They also seem wetter and slightly bolder, same with the P61s.

July 10, 2016

I have have had a few dozen P45s stretching back to the 1970s.

I am mystified by folks who think the steel nibs are better/the same as the gold ones.

The 14k UK made ones I have (6 or 7?) all have a bit of give to them and that is enough for them to put quite bit more ink on the page. While the nib itself does not have wide range of motion the result is noticeable. I can easily get some line variation with a itty big more pressure on down strokes. The couple steel nibs i kept are just nails. No wiggle at all. Great pens but the 14k gold nibs, esp. the UK made ones from the 60s definitely feel nicer to me. They also seem wetter and slightly bolder, same with the P61s.

My P61 UK made pen had a bold, wet nib. My US made 45s with gold nibs are too wet and wide, and they are pretty stiff, but flex and spring are not things that occurred to me to seek. The UK nibs are usually wider and wetter than US made types. I find most European nibs are broader and wetter than US nibs.

July 10, 2016

I have have had a few dozen P45s stretching back to the 1970s.

I am mystified by folks who think the steel nibs are better/the same as the gold ones.

The 14k UK made ones I have (6 or 7?) all have a bit of give to them and that is enough for them to put quite bit more ink on the page. While the nib itself does not have wide range of motion the result is noticeable. I can easily get some line variation with a itty big more pressure on down strokes. The couple steel nibs i kept are just nails. No wiggle at all. Great pens but the 14k gold nibs, esp. the UK made ones from the 60s definitely feel nicer to me. They also seem wetter and slightly bolder, same with the P61s.

...and same with Enhlish P51, P65 and UK aero Duofolds.

Edited July 10, 2016 by mitto

July 10, 2016

Yes I've done that already and there's no marking. So it's definitely just gold plated then?

If it doesn't have a gold hallmark on it then it isn't a gold nib, just gold plated.

However, many ebay sellers would probably use the words 'gold nib' to describe the colour rather than the material it's made from.

July 10, 2016

If it doesn't have a gold hallmark on it then it isn't a gold nib, just gold plated.

However, many ebay sellers would probably use the words 'gold nib' to describe the colour rather than the material it's made from.

Well, that would classify as wrong description on part of such sellers justifying thereby initiating of a case for return and refund.

July 10, 2016

Well, that would classify as wrong description on part of such sellers justifying thereby initiating of a case for return and refund.

Yes indeed it would.

August 4, 2016

Speaking of nibs for Parker 45s - I have seen a number of different letter designations on the plastic collar and some of them I'm not sure what they mean. A (?), B(Broad), F(Fine), M(Medium), X(Extra Fine), Y(Oblique Italic?) What does the A mean and are there any other nib designations I'm missing here?

August 4, 2016

Speaking of nibs for Parker 45s - I have seen a number of different letter designations on the plastic collar and some of them I'm not sure what they mean. A (?), B(Broad), F(Fine), M(Medium), X(Extra Fine), Y(Oblique Italic?) What does the A mean and are there any other nib designations I'm missing here?

A means Accountant nib. Here you may see a chart showing diferent sizes of 45 nibs.

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/179634-parker-nib-charts/

Edited August 4, 2016 by mitto

August 4, 2016

A means Accountant nib. Here you may see a chart showing diferent sizes of 45 nibs.

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/179634-parker-nib-charts/

Thanks for posting the link. I have one that is marked as "Y", which turns out to be a fine oblique. I knew it was an oblique, but wasn't completely sure of the width.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

August 5, 2016

Thanks for posting the link. I have one that is marked as "Y", which turns out to be a fine oblique. I knew it was an oblique, but wasn't completely sure of the width.
Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

You are welcome, Ruth.