What Do You Think Of Parker's Current Lineup?

[gammada]

I've just visited Parker's website and while I like some of their pens, I don't feel that much enticed to prefer them over vintage ones.

 

My curent Parker stable is not really much, just a couple of 15, 25, 45, a Vector and a tiny Vacumatic Debutante, all from the Newhaven-era or earlier. Yet, the more I use them and the more I learn about their history, the myriad versions produced over the years and how Parker came to shape the writing industry as we know it today, the more enticed I feel to buy other vintage pens such as the 51, the 75, or the 180.

 

What's your take on modern-day Parker?

[alexwi]

I just checked the site.

 

Meh.

 

The jotter intrigued me, but I'm not crazy about the proportion of the nib's and section's widths. I'd have to see it in person.

 

Over the past year, I've acquired a few 180's, 75's, and 45's, and last week ordered a Falcon on impulse, as it was well priced and I figured, it's quite unique and kinda interesting, so why not? I guess I'm stuck in the past as well.

 

alex

[mitto]

Not interested in modern Parkers nor do these inspire me.

[senzen]

I like the looks of Duofolds, but not enough to even research prices. The Premier looks a little bland.

 

I have two Sonnets from the late 90's, they have always been troublesome pens, but I now finally enjoy them; some of the current designs are over the top (ciselé and gold), some are nice, some of the previous colours are interesting: verdigris, blue.

 

Don't think much of the rest.

 

I finally got a 75, which will take some time to get to me, I'll finally be able to compare to sonnets, hopefully it won't be too thin for my hands.

Edited September 12, 2018 by pseudo88

[Flounder]

One of the Jotter London architecture ballpoints is quite nice. The Parker site is a perrenial frustration to me, I hate trying to navigate it.

[alexwi]

I took another look, and I kind like some of the IM pens. Especially the white and the matte blue one, as they're quite minimalistic.

 

I found it interesting that the nib options are limited to M and F, whereas pens like the 75, from what I've read and what pops-up on ebay, had an overwhelming array of nib options.

 

I guess that if I want a stub or an italic or an oblique, I'd have to grind it myself.

 

alex

[inkstainedruth]

Well, I bought one of the re-issued Vectors made in France, and it's okay (maybe a little on the dry side). Beyond that, I'll stick to my vintage Parkers, for the most part....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[JayKay3000]

Duofold, sonnet and maybe the IM. I had a 1st gen IM, but didn't really like it. The thing I liked the most was the clip design, but now they've just flattened it out and it's no longer the defined arrow it once was. I tried a sonnet a few years ago brand new and it was terrible. Just dried up and would not feed properly. I got a re-fund and tried another. Same issue, re-fund, brought a clone that works perfect. I read that it may have been suffering from the 'babies bottom' effect and it was smooth, just wouldn't put ink on the paper. Bit of a let down especially since I'd wanted one for ages and it cost what I thought was a lot of money.

 

I prefer the older Sonnet designs. ('vintage') I'm a Parker fan, but I'd get something vintage. I guess we can class late 90s vintage now too.

 

I guess the word that comes to mind is just 'boring'.

 

Their classic designs, sonnet, duofold, jotter, premier (looked better in the 'kind of a 75 but not version'), still stand out.

 

If I was in the market for a brand new pen Parker would not be on my radar and this is from just looking at the website plus on the pens I do like they have really horrible colour choices / mixes. There are nicer pens than the duofold at the duofold price point imo for instance

Edited September 13, 2018 by JayKay3000

[gammada]

Not interested in modern Parkers nor do these inspire me.

 

I get you!

[gammada]

 

I have two Sonnets from the late 90's, they have always been troublesome pens, but I now finally enjoy them; some of the current designs are over the top (ciselé and gold), some are nice, some of the previous colours are interesting: verdigris, blue.

 

 

I'm thinking of buying a 90's vintage Sonnet that I recently saw at an old stationery wholesaler here but am intrigued by your comment. What do you mean by troublesome?

[gammada]

One of the Jotter London architecture ballpoints is quite nice. The Parker site is a perrenial frustration to me, I hate trying to navigate it.

 

Yes, some of them look quite nice. And yes, Parker's navigation and product line is not the same across all sites. Some are pretty confusing.

[gammada]

I took another look, and I kind like some of the IM pens. Especially the white and the matte blue one, as they're quite minimalistic.

 

I found it interesting that the nib options are limited to M and F, whereas pens like the 75, from what I've read and what pops-up on ebay, had an overwhelming array of nib options.

 

I guess that if I want a stub or an italic or an oblique, I'd have to grind it myself.

 

alex

 

The Jotter only offers a Medium nib!!

 

Yet, I find the new section design and the nib arrows somewhat appealing. I know the Jotter FP is nothing special, but my Parker 15 has proved to be one of those "less is more" pens. I truly enjoy carrying it around.

[gammada]

Well, I bought one of the re-issued Vectors made in France, and it's okay (maybe a little on the dry side). Beyond that, I'll stick to my vintage Parkers, for the most part....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

...and considering your awesome collection, can't wonder why!

 

So, are there any differences between the relaunched Vector and the old one?

[gammada]

 

If I was in the market for a brand new pen Parker would not be on my radar and this is from just looking at the website plus on the pens I do like they have really horrible colour choices / mixes. There are nicer pens than the duofold at the duofold price point imo for instance

 

 

The Doufold Limited edition displayed therein, reminds me more of a Waterman than a Doufold. The colors, the patterns, looks pretty much like a rebranded Waterman!

[kestrel]

I own a lot of Parkers. Except for two Sonnets (purchased new in 1994 and 2008) all were made before 1960. Vintage Parkers are great. Modern ones seem overpriced for what you get. My 90 year old Duofolds write just as well for a third of the price and, to my eyes, look a lot nicer.

[alexwi]

Modern ones seem overpriced for what you get.

 

Hi,

 

Today, at a pen "party," I was talking to someone about the Parker 75, which would be, back then, the equivalent of what the Sonnet is nowadays in Parker's line-up (methinks, correct me if I'm wrongs).

 

When introduced, in 1964, the 75 had a list price of $25. According to https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/ that's the equivalent of $203 today. The Sonnet Cisele's list price is $494 (it "retails" for around $395, though), so I think that there's more than just opinion to your statement.

 

Alex

[Ron Z]

Most are meh. Some are . But I have a bias towards vintage, though I do have some moderns.

[senzen]

 

I'm thinking of buying a 90's vintage Sonnet that I recently saw at an old stationery wholesaler here but am intrigued by your comment. What do you mean by troublesome?

 

They evaporate like crazy, which might not be a problem for everyone but I can't stand inks changing colours in a matter of days or even hours. Now that I keep them in a case, they're usable - again to me.

 

Even in a case they really dislike not being used, their nibs are very nice freshly inked, afterwards they flow well but somehow want to cling on to paper, and this is with Clairefontaine, Rhodia, HP LJ 32lbs, Tomoe River.

[kestrel]

 

I'm thinking of buying a 90's vintage Sonnet that I recently saw at an old stationery wholesaler here but am intrigued by your comment. What do you mean by troublesome?

My 1994 Sonnet tends to dry out and start hard if it isn't used every day. The 2008 version doesn't dry out but is very fussy about the type of ink I put in it. Most inks produce skipping or blobs, sometimes on the same page. The one ink that is problem free is, of course, Penman Sapphire.

[Runnin_Ute]

My only modern Parkers - a pair of IM's are ok, but I put them away and they don't get used. Hard starters both. Dry out quickly. When they are writing they are ok. One is an F and the other an M if I recall correctly. On the other hand, my 45's and 51's get regular use.