Parker Duofold 1940-1948

[peterg]

Thought I would introduce some variety!

 

Here is a Ladies Duofold, but what date?

 

It has a bit of everything. Duofold streamline post 1929. Christmas tree feed pre 1929/ carry over stock? British imprint post 1940?? It is also said that Valentines assembled/ manufactured Duofolds for Parker's in the 1930's. The nib is an N, so 1942 - 1950's but could easily be a replacement. So when does it date from?

 

PARKER

The imprint says GEO.S.PARKER REG.TM.

DUOFOLD

Edited February 23, 2020 by peterg

[Fermata]

Its a bitza!

 

I think that was just the way it was back then, both home repairers and at Parker, keeping the pen going was more important than only fitting original parts. Heck, I know some repairers that do things like Junior clips on 51s and any CS clip on any CS pen.

 

It all adds to the charm and history.

[Ricky2011]

@peterg your lady pen is a 1940's parker duolfold, reg tm came in about 1945/46.

[peterg]

I tend to agree that it is probably 1941 - 45 production as MADE IN ENGLAND was added in 1945/6.

 

But what was the pre war imprint? Valentine were gold nib manufacturers. Might they have used nibs of their own manufacture and fitted them during the 1930's using the N to distinguish them from other Parker production? Equally, how did they get hold of Christmas tree feeds? Could they have been Canadian components supplied in the 1930's for pens to be assembled in England?

[watch_art]

So what pen is this?

[inkstainedruth]

That's a Laidtone Duofold. I have a few of them -- two are button fillers and the third one is a Vac filler. Apparently they came in a couple of different sizes as well as being in different colors (I have Blue and Red/Dusty Rose (the button fillers) and the black one is the Vac (so technically a Duovac -- I remember a thread several years ago where people argued about the name "Duovac").

My Red/Dusty Rose one I found in an antiques store that actually specialized in old radio equipment. It was ten bucks. Wasn't till I got home that I realized it had a Sheaffer nib on it.... I keep trying to decide whether to swap it out for an actual Parker nib, or leave it alone since it writes well as is.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[watch_art]

Thanks!

I can't find a single example that's similar to mine. The 3 cap bands but no trim on the blind cap. Maybe the blind cap is a replacement from a different trim level pen?

 

edit:

Okay - so looks like a Senior - https://parkerpens.net/duovac.html - but doesn't have the barrel tassie. So probably just the wrong cap on the pen, or wrong tail on the barrel.

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks!

 

This is a Parker Duofold Vacumatic Junior in striped Maroon Laidtone celluloid, a combination of maroon, silver, and black strips, which are translucent in the barrel so the user can check the ink level. Junior models were also available in striped Blue, striped Green, and Black. This 5 1/8 inch long pen is date coded 1941. The barrel is stamped PARKER DUOFOLD over MADE IN U.S.A. next to .1. The gold nib is stamped PARKER over PEN over MADE IN over USA. The plunger is an aluminum Speedline type. They sold for $3.95 and the matching pencil was $2.50.

 

http://www.penhero.com/Temp/ParkerDuofoldJuniorMaroonVacumatic_2048_01.jpg

 

Thanks!

[Beechwood]

Thats is stunning Jim, many thanks. My favorite color combination too.

[PenHero]

Thats is stunning Jim, many thanks. My favorite color combination too.

Thanks!

[inkstainedruth]

Hi, Folks!

 

This is a Parker Duofold Vacumatic Junior in striped Maroon Laidtone celluloid, a combination of maroon, silver, and black strips, which are translucent in the barrel so the user can check the ink level. Junior models were also available in striped Blue, striped Green, and Black. This 5 1/8 inch long pen is date coded 1941. The barrel is stamped PARKER DUOFOLD over MADE IN U.S.A. next to .1. The gold nib is stamped PARKER over PEN over MADE IN over USA. The plunger is an aluminum Speedline type. They sold for $3.95 and the matching pencil was $2.50.

 

http://www.penhero.com/Temp/ParkerDuofoldJuniorMaroonVacumatic_2048_01.jpg

 

Thanks!

I just picked up a similar looking one last week at an antiques store south of me that was having a "Christmas in July" sale -- 20% off if I paid cash. The tag said it was a Senior, but I was somewhat dubious as to that. It seems to be a little slimmer than the one in your photo, and I think the clip on mine may be a little shorter as well. Third quarter '41 (date code is 1 with a single dot) and has the to slim cap bands like on yours. I already had the one in this color that was a button filler, but happy to get a Duovac as well (I did pick up a black Duovac at an estate sale about a year ago). Haven't even had a chance to see if it's working. I'm trying now to remember if the black one is also a Speedline filler or is a 3rd Gen (i.e., with the plastic plunger).

If the weather cooperates, I will try to get pix taken of the entire Laidtone family tomorrow between laundry loads and taxes.... Or at least a family portrait (Blue and Maroon/Dusty Rose button fillers, and black and Maroon/Dusty Rose Vacs).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth