Modern "big Red"

[antichresis]

http://www.tylee.tw/image/cache/catalog/product/%202016-7-10%2016%2020%2039-500x500.jpg

 

Hi guys, I saw this pen while looking around T.Y. Lee. An officemate is visiting Taipei soon and I was wondering if I should ask her to get this for me?

I haven't seen any reviews of this pen so I want to know if this were any good (if at all), or if it's just a fancy looking Vector. Have you tried one?

[mitto]

Is it a Parker?

[Beechwood]

http://parkercollector.com/bigred.html

 

Mitto - just a homage to the original and converted from a BP, so you are correct, not quite a Parker but just a novelty.

[mitto]

Thank you Beechwood. I was just looking at the nib and the section and couldn't indentify the pen.

[Joane]

Does "not quite a Parker" mean it was not made by Parker? I like the look of it and would definitely get one if it appeared in this vicinity.

[antichresis]

I booted-up Google Translate and it does appear to be the 70s-80s "Big Red" pens converted to a Fountain Pen. I really really like how it looks, but without firsthand information it is a bit of a gamble. I'm not even sure what converter would fit, or if the nib is quality.

[usk15]

It is a Parker, made by Parker, but it is design as ballpoint and rollerball. I have some of them converted to fountain pens:

 

This one is with a Cross medium nib

 

 

This one with TWSBI 1.1mm stub nib

[

[mitto]

Yes, converted from a Felt Tip (Touche) or a Ballpoint, it looks good. But not quite a PARKER with a non-Parker nib (and a non-Parker section?).

Edited October 26, 2016 by mitto

[usk15]

Yes, converted from a Felt Tip (Touche) or a Ballpoint, it looks good. But not quite a PARKER with a non-Parker nib (and a non-Parker section?).

 

Well... they're Frankenpens now, but looks good, feel good and write well!

[Joane]

I have one of the Big Red rollerballs. Is there a Parker nib/section that can be used to convert it to a fountain pen?

[pajaro]

I made one of these with a Cross Solo section and the 18K rhodium plated nib from a Parker Sonnet. It has worked well for a couple of years. It uses the green Cross converter.

 

Thus.

[ac12]

I understand that the Cross nib is made by Pilot, so not a brand-X nib.

 

You can do it yourself, just get the 2 pens; Parker Big Red ball pen + Cross Solo fountain pen.

I made one, and the good thing is that the threads of the Cross section matches the threads of the Big Red body.

 

You get the look of the Big Red, with the convenience of a cartridge/converter.

Edited October 27, 2016 by ac12

[usk15]

Another section that will fit into Big Red bodies:

 

Parker IM FP

Pilot Metropolitan & 78G

- there is a Rosetta section with JoWo nib, but not sure which one...maybe for Coronado...

[pajaro]

Using the Parker IM fountain pen section would keep it all Parker and not so franken.

 

It was kind of a shame to take the Solo section, because they are one of the better pens at the price. Definitely better than some Parkers.

[OCArt]

I have one of the Big Red rollerballs. Is there a Parker nib/section that can be used to convert it to a fountain pen?

 

I'm not sure about the rollerball version, but for the ballpoint model a nib unit from a Sheaffer No Nonsense screws right in!

[Joane]

I'm not sure about the rollerball version, but for the ballpoint model a nib unit from a Sheaffer No Nonsense screws right in!

Thanks for the tip! Good options to try out in this thread.

[pajaro]

 

I'm not sure about the rollerball version, but for the ballpoint model a nib unit from a Sheaffer No Nonsense screws right in!

What about the converter? Does that fit? Ah, wait, the NoNonsense section must fit into a Cross Solo. A three-way interchange, or a cluster-something.

Edited October 27, 2016 by pajaro

[Ron Z]

 

I'm not sure about the rollerball version, but for the ballpoint model a nib unit from a Sheaffer No Nonsense screws right in!

 

No, I'm afraid that they don't. I have a roller ball with the widgets that let you use a BP in the pen, and neither the converter nor the section will screw in.

 

The later ones with chrome clip and no cap band were sold as advertising pens. I have one of the originals that I bought in 1972 and dragged through college. I also have a NOS stock one in the box that I just picked up. I remember reading the ads thinking,"I'd like to have one of the Big Reds, but I bet they're long gone." Little did I know....

[pajaro]

I tried screwing the NoNonsense section into the Parker Big Red. It does not screw in, unless you force it, risking damage.

[usk15]

A quick snapshots with Big Reds and Parker IM & Pilot Metropolitan sections:

 

http://i65.tinypic.com/2wqwvvl.jpg

 

With Parker IM fine nib

 

http://i64.tinypic.com/14kiogx.jpg

 

With Pilot Metro medium nib

 

http://i63.tinypic.com/2lm0xl4.jpg

 

Sorry for bad pictures, but I didn't have time to set properly...