Sonnet Nib And Feeds Replaceable?

[gringomckinley]

I own two Parker Sonnets, bought them in an online auction together. I do not care for the nib and feed, they always start off dry, scratchy, and often skip. I was wondering if there were parts, doesn't have to be Parker, I could buy separately to swap out? I have no issues making these Frankenpens as long as they work how I like. I live in South America so shipping them to the US or Europe to get nib work done would be pretty costly and the postal system here isn't that reliable. Any suggestions would be great.

[hari317]

You should be able to buy spare nib units on the Internet. It is simple to install. They simply screw into the section like Pelikan.

[pajaro]

OP's description does read as if the nib needs tuning. Then, if OP still doesn't like it, sell it with the confidence that it is tuned and can be sold without deception.

[richardandtracy]

As Hari says, the nibs and feed unscrew as a unit. It's how I turned my one from a medium to a broad italic. A typical gold one is here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NOS-New-Old-Stock-GENUINE-PREMIUM-Parker-Sonnet-18k-Solid-Gold-Nib-Feed-Unit/173060558826 . If there are any steel ones around, they should cost a bit less. A good bit less.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[Chrissy]

ebay is your friend here.

 

It is also possible to find just a nib and feed that have been already pulled out of the Sonnet section. If not gold, then these can be quite inexpensive to buy on ebay.

 

There are a few Parker Sonnet copies around that are really cheap. Those nibs and feeds could fit the Parker Sonnet too. I wouldn't expect them to be fantastic writers though....

[pajaro]

Some of the Sonnet fakes and look-alikes have nibs and feeds that are friction fit. These are not nib units in the sense of Sonnet or Pelikan, but separate nib and feed. These might foit into Sonnet's section.

 

Here's a nib unit, gold plated steel, that I found on ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Parker-Sonnet-Nib-Unit-Bent-Gold-Plated-Medium-c1990s/122804053542?hash=item1c97b12626:g:KLYAAOSwbw1aB13f

 

The above nib unit is actually for a Parker Insignia, as the chevrons show. This nib will fit Sonnet, and the Insignia sections are compatible with Sonnet. I have both pens and have interchanged nibs and sections. The Insignia does not have the gold ring at the leading edge of the section as Sonnet does. Just some useless info in case you run into an Insignia.

[senzen]

I've bought nib and feed as well as section replacements, readily available from ebay, sometimes from seller forecast pens on amazon, there's also one or two sellers in the UK. They are notorious evaporators, I finally got a tiny tub of silicone grease, applied some to the cap crown and that seems to have solved it.

 

I toyed with the idea of buying a Chinese knock off but I wanted less problems, not more. Both my nibs are steel, one is really smooth, the other one seems to improve the more I use it.

[Mitenae]

The Online Pen Company in the UK sells Sonnet nib/feed units. I've been looking for one myself (replacing a M with an EF) and was pointed there.

[Dutchpen]

I have new Parker sonnet nib assemblies available in steel, gold plate and 18ct solid gold (single and two tone).

 

Please Pm me of interested.

[zacca113]

On 1/2/2018 at 1:18 AM, gringomckinley said:

I own two Parker Sonnets, bought them in an online auction together. I do not care for the nib and feed, they always start off dry, scratchy, and often skip. I was wondering if there were parts, doesn't have to be Parker, I could buy separately to swap out? I have no issues making these Frankenpens as long as they work how I like. I live in South America so shipping them to the US or Europe to get nib work done would be pretty costly and the postal system here isn't that reliable. Any suggestions would be great.

I managed to put a Kaweco Sport nib in my Sonnet and it writes beautifully. But my Sonnet (like others I've seen) dries out fairly fast.

[dunis]

although it is extra cost, if you’re really concerned about authentic replacement nibs, there are many shops that sell nib units for Parker Sonnet and other models/Brands. two sites that I go to are fpnibs.com and penheaven.co.uk

[ColdWarVet]

On 11/14/2022 at 7:49 AM, zacca113 said:

But my Sonnet (like others I've seen) dries out fairly fast.

I have two Sonnets, one with the wide trim and another with thin trim at the base of the cap, marked France.  Both have fine nibs and dry out fairly rapidly; I believe it's because the top of the cap is 'ventilated' - I'm not sure what else to call it.  If you pour water into the cap, you will see it leak out of the top.  I don't think it's a manufacturer's defect, it seems designed this way.  I can only speculate as to why there would need to be such a vent. The cap does fit tightly when closing the pen, and it may be that there would be a vacuum effect if not vented. Or, perhaps it's to equalize air pressure when flying.  ln any case, I think that is the reason why capped Sonnets will dry out fairly quickly, and become difficult to clean if not used weekly.  That's just my experience, I would certainly like to hear from others as to why they think the cap would be vented.  

Edited March 26, 2023 by ColdWarVet
switched thin & wide trim by mistake

[Mercian]

The Sonnet has always been notorious for drying-out.

It’s a result of the bad design of its cap.
I find it tremendously frustrating that Parker has re-designed the Sonnet’s cap several times, and has even moved production of the Sonnet from England to France, but has never seen fit to take the opportunity to address this issue, which often renders what is a fairly-expensive pen useless.
If I were an executive there, I would have ordered that the problem be fixed long before now - because sending out pens that don’t work damages the reputation of the brand, and is likely to make customers disinclined to purchase more Parkers. But that’s just me - what do I know about how to run a business sustainably?

Anyway, ‘if’ you would like some actual useful information, instead of a rant…

 

…respected pen repairer/restorer @Ron Z says that the Sonnet’s problem occurs because the inner-cap often cracks when it is riveted in to the cap of the pen during manufacture.

 

Several threads have been created on FPN over the years by people who are asking how to solve this problem in their pens.

 

One good one is:

 

 

Slàinte,
M.