Identification of a Parker 75 Custom

February 22, 2023

Hello everybody.
This Parker 75 custom in the photos has a nib 18kt size M, it was neglected by the previous owner, as we can see in the barrel where the lacquer was removed by the firm postage of the cap and the metallic collar of the seizing section suffered a lot of oxidation, which caused the loss of the gold plating and large holes on the inside of the necklace, where the feather is accommodated. (I couldn't get good pictures of that last part.)
The doubts are: is this cap from this pen? I didn't find other examples with the pattern of five close lines and an interval, in the other custom ones I saw, they are usually thicker lines and with the same spacing.
This cap has no reference to French manufacture or type and amount of gold applied or date of manufacture.
Another detail that intrigued me is the metallic collar of the section, with this gold finish, I have examples with the plastic collar and the gold band but none like this one, does anyone have an example with this configuration?
Has anyone restored lacquer finishes? Do you have any considerations if this is an option for the pen? Remove everything and do it again or try to fill in the gap?!
It's a beautiful pen, it writes perfectly, but the flaws don't match the status it deserves, possibly I'll dedicate time and effort to relive its better days.
Thanks in advance for any information.
Best Regards

February 22, 2023

Your has had a hard life, maybe it is looking for a pamper life.

February 22, 2023

19 hours ago, Switala said:

The doubts are: is this cap from this pen? I didn't find other examples with the pattern of five close lines and an interval, in the other custom ones I saw, they are usually thicker lines and with the same spacing.
This cap has no reference to French manufacture or type and amount of gold applied or date of manufacture.
Another detail that intrigued me is the metallic collar of the section, with this gold finish, I have examples with the plastic collar and the gold band but none like this one, does anyone have an example with this configuration?

Hi there,

I was intrigued by your pen, so I have had a quick look around in the ‘Reference’ section of Lih-Tah Wong’s excellent website Parker75.com.

I suspect that a previous owner of your pen has mixed up some parts (possibly accidentally).

On the ‘Unknown Patterns’ page of Parker75.com there are photos of a French ‘Custom Lacquer’ 75 that is quite like yours (it is the 15th example of irregular patterns), but its cap does have the ‘MADE IN FRANCE’ imprint, and its nib-collar is one of the chrome-plated ones.

The cap on your pen looks like it might be from an early Parker 75 ‘Insignia’ pen - see here for a photo of that pen’s engraved lines. If a previous owner had an early ‘Insignia’ pen, and a ‘Custom Lacquer’ like the one in the first link, it would be very easy to accidentally switch their caps.

Parker75.com’s ’Reference’ section also has photos of pens that were made for the Italian market (look under ‘Special Markets’, then ‘Italy’) that did have the all-gold nib-collar, but those have a serial number engraved on the grip-section (like many Parker pens for sale in Italy). Under ‘Special Markets’ and ‘Private labels’ one can also find a photo of an early solid gold ‘Ambassador’ model that had an all-gold nib-collar (complete with the index marks and 0 of the earliest 75s).

These pictures do prove that Parker did sometimes make 75 nib-sections that had an all-gold-plated nib-collar, so it is possible that your pen is a prototype or early ‘Custom Lacquer’ 75 that was made out of parts from existing lines - an American ‘Insignia’ cap and grip-section with a gold-plated nib-collar, and a French 14k nib.

The loss of lacquer and plating is a pity. A jeweller might be able to re-plate the nib-collar for you, and might also be able to advise you how to repair the lacquer. I don’t know anything about that, but I suspect that you may need to have all the lacquer removed, and then have an entire coat of new lacquer put on the brass(?) of the pen’s body.

Good luck 👍

February 22, 2023

Hello Mercian.
I believe you have solved the riddle.
I also use the Lih-Tah site as a reference for the Parker 75, but the unknown models will pass unnoticed in my research. Obliged to contribute
Different from what I stated in the previous text, or chapter registered made in France, it only makes no reference to the covering material.
Follow complementary photos, two concave tassies and 18k nib.
The photos of the casting show the degree of corrosion that had failed, but despite not appearing in the photo, I was able to verify that there was a residue of the gold coating on the internal part of the casting. Isso made me prove that he was completely covered in gold, different from the line that he was following, he proved that there was a band of coating.
Due to the state of casting, I must look for a substitute, as the damage is very large and, in addition to corrosion, there will be some wear with lime, possibly trying to improve the appearance of casting.
I will deepen the investigations, be more encouraged with the recent discoveries.
I hope to post photos of this restored beauty shortly.
Best regards.

February 22, 2023

8 hours ago, jchch1950 said:

Você teve uma vida difícil, talvez esteja procurando uma vida mimada.

Hello, this is the plan for this beauty.

Best regards

February 22, 2023

In about 1983 these colors were added to the 75 line:

Blue
Burgundy
Black
Matte black

And had to compete against these colors for attention:

Tortoiseshell

Woodgrain
Thuya
Lapis Lazuli
Red Quartz
Malachite

Which explains why we don't see many of them 🙂

February 23, 2023

5 horas atrás, FlighterGuy disse:

Por volta de 1983, esses núcleos foram adicionados à linha 75:

Azul
Borgonha
Preto Preto
Fosco

E teve que competir com essas cores por atenção:

tartaruga

Woodgrain
Thuya
Lápis Lazúli
Quartzo Vermelho
Malaquita

O que explica por que não vemos muitos deles🙂