Duofold Pencils

[The Pen Paladin]

Howdy friends,

 

Can anyone explain the date ranges for the styles and sizes of Duofold mechanical pencils (Jr vs. Sr, etc.) for the Flat Top Duofolds?

 

Specifically, I am wondering why I have some of the big red junior and senior pencils without the black bands at the top and bottom of the pen, while the majority of the other colors (lapis lazuli, jade, mandarin) have a black band at the top and bottom.  Pictures are attached.
 

Also, I am attempting to find Duofold Junior Pencils or Pens to create pairs.  If anyone knows where else I can find the missing pens or pencils I need, please let me know!  I have all except a Mandarin pencil and a Lapis Lazuli Pen - and I may need a red pencil.  Was trying to keep them all the same style.  All of my pens have the single gold cap band 1922-1927. And the pencils have the black bands at the top and bottom.

 

Thanks!

[joss]

Hi, I am not an expert on these pencils, but the Parker Duofold book, Parker catalogs and the many Parker advertisements from the 1920s learned me that:

- The first Duofold pencils came in black or red only, and the red pencil came without black bands. So absence of black bands on a red pencil means it is early (1924-1926).

- A March 1927 Parker advertisement shows the red Duofold pencil with black bands (that is not seen in earlier ads). The Duofold book mentions that Parker added the black bands to the pencil to better match the colour combination of the Big Red fountain pen.

- A March 1927 Parker advertisement introduces the "Black Tipped Jade" pens. Jade green is the third colour of the Duofold range and the Black Tipped Jade pencil also had black bands when it was introduced.

- A July 1927 Parker advertisement introduces the Duofold in Lapis Blue and in Mandarin Yellow and the pencil in these two colours has black bands.

- In early 1929, the Duofold in Pearl & Black was introduced and the corresponding pencil has black bands.

 

So in theory this means that there never was a Duofold pencil from the flat-top pre-streamlined era in Jade green, Lapis blue, Mandarin yellow or Pearl & Black without the two black bands.

 

Your coral red Duofold fountain pens with a single gold cap band can therefore be matched period correctly to a coral red pencil with or without black bands, bearing in mind that there are also early and late features within the single cap band period.

Edited May 9, 2024 by joss
text error corrected

[The Pen Paladin]

14 hours ago, joss said:

Hi, I am not an expert on these pencils, but the Parker Duofold book, Parker catalogs and the many Parker advertisements from the 1920s learned me that:

- The first Duofold pencils came in black or red only, and the red pencil came without black bands. So absence of black bands on a red pencil means it is early (1924-1926).

- A March 1927 Parker advertisement shows the red Duofold pencil with black bands (that is not seen in earlier ads). The Duofold book mentions that Parker added the black bands to the pencil to better match the colour combination of the Big Red fountain pen.

- A March 1927 Parker advertisement introduces the "Black Tipped Jade" pens. Jade green is the third colour of the Duofold range and the Black Tipped Jade pencil also had black bands when it was introduced.

- A July 1927 Parker advertisement introduces the Duofold in Lapis Blue and in Mandarin Yellow and the pencil in these two colours has black bands.

- In early 1929, the Duofold in Pearl & Black was introduced and the corresponding pencil has black bands.

 

So in theory this means that there never was a Duofold pencil from the flat-top pre-streamlined era in Jade green, Lapis blue, Mandarin yellow or Pearl & Black without the two black bands.

 

Your coral red Duofold fountain pens with a single gold cap band can therefore be matched period correctly to a coral red pencil with or without black bands, bearing in mind that there are also early and late features within the single cap band period.

Thank you so much!  My understanding is that the last year for the pens to have one band is 1927.  In 1928 they split into two.  And in 1929, they were streamlined.

 

All of my Pens are 1922-1927, so what I am trying to have all of my pens and pencils match.  Sounds like I need a 1927 Red Duofold Jr Pencil!

 

Thanks again!

[FlighterGuy]

Sorry, but the first Duofold Pencils were the spoon clip pencils.  These were red and black lacquer over brass.  (see June 1924 ad)

A Senior FP dwarfs this little pencil. And this is why the "Big Bro" pencils were created.  

 

[FlighterGuy]

On 5/9/2024 at 5:03 AM, joss said:

Hi, I am not an expert on these pencils, but the Parker Duofold book, Parker catalogs and the many Parker advertisements from the 1920s learned me that:

- The first Duofold pencils came in black or red only, and the red pencil came without black bands. So absence of black bands on a red pencil means it is early (1924-1926).

- A March 1927 Parker advertisement shows the red Duofold pencil with black bands (that is not seen in earlier ads). The Duofold book mentions that Parker added the black bands to the pencil to better match the colour combination of the Big Red fountain pen.

- A March 1927 Parker advertisement introduces the "Black Tipped Jade" pens. Jade green is the third colour of the Duofold range and the Black Tipped Jade pencil also had black bands when it was introduced.

- A July 1927 Parker advertisement introduces the Duofold in Lapis Blue and in Mandarin Yellow and the pencil in these two colours has black bands.

- In early 1929, the Duofold in Pearl & Black was introduced and the corresponding pencil has black bands.

 

So in theory this means that there never was a Duofold pencil from the flat-top pre-streamlined era in Jade green, Lapis blue, Mandarin yellow or Pearl & Black without the two black bands.

 

Your coral red Duofold fountain pens with a single gold cap band can therefore be matched period correctly to a coral red pencil with or without black bands, bearing in mind that there are also early and late features within the single cap band period.

Actually, the Pastels were introduced in six colors in 1926, they were the 49 B/C/G/L/M "and in larger sizes Mottled Green" #107

Then the Pastels were reduced to five colors and the Black Tipped Jade Pen was introduced 

Then the Jade Duofold was introduced, and as you may of guessed, model #107 for the senior FP.  🙂 

 

[The Pen Paladin]

Well friends, I am now the proud owner of every color of 1925-1927 Duofold Juniors.  The black and red, of course being 1925 to 1927, and the Jade, Mandarin, and Lapis Lazuli are 1927.  I was fortunate to find the colors all in that one year so that my collection has all of the flat tops with a single band!

 

I am only short one pencil now: The Lapis Lazuli in junior: preferably the blue on blue.  With that, my matching Duofold Jr. pen and pencil collection is complete!  Let me know if anyone has one they’d like to sell!

 

[FlighterGuy]

On 5/22/2024 at 12:11 AM, Pens_and_Pucks said:

Well friends, I am now the proud owner of every color of 1925-1927 Duofold Juniors.  The black and red, of course being 1925 to 1927, and the Jade, Mandarin, and Lapis Lazuli are 1927.  I was fortunate to find the colors all in that one year so that my collection has all of the flat tops with a single band!

 

I am only short one pencil now: The Lapis Lazuli in junior: preferably the blue on blue.  With that, my matching Duofold Jr. pen and pencil collection is complete!  Let me know if anyone has one they’d like to sell!

 

The 1928 Moderne Black & Pearl Flat Top Juniors?  The Lucky Curve Pastel in Mottled Green No. 103 & No. 173.

[The Pen Paladin]

On 5/23/2024 at 8:59 PM, FlighterGuy said:

The 1928 Moderne Black & Pearl Flat Top Juniors?  The Lucky Curve Pastel in Mottled Green No. 103 & No. 173.

I just wanted to stick to the single band flat-tops 1927 and prior.  But I’m sure I’ll eventually add those to my collection also. 

[The Pen Paladin]

On 5/18/2024 at 9:41 PM, FlighterGuy said:

Sorry, but the first Duofold Pencils were the spoon clip pencils.  These were red and black lacquer over brass.  (see June 1924 ad)

A Senior FP dwarfs this little pencil. And this is why the "Big Bro" pencils were created.  

 

I was fortunate to find one of the red spoon clips also!

[Bo Bo Olson]

When Parker tried to hit Germany by buying up Osmia 1928/9 they were met with a lot of cheap Duofold clones, in Germany was the Japan/China of it's time. (With the crash of 29, the Boehler brothers bought back the Lamy managed Parker (Osmia) factory in late '29, getting a free technology transfer.

This red-orange clone has a 4 digit telephone number on it... A pharmacist shop advertisement.