Review: Parker Duofold Centennial

[kosimov]

I have one of these, in the blue "marbled"(?) color. Recently, I noticed an old manual for Microsoft Word version ??, and "my" pen was shown on the cover!

 

I have an Italic nib, which I obtained from Parker; once I had made the purchase (I believe sometime in 1994), I called Parker to find out about italic nibs, and learned that Parker allows you to exchange the nib on a new pen for another of your choice. I knew little about fountain pens, other than I enjoyed using them (I had a Mont Blanc and a Parker 45 in the 1970's or so; the Mont Blanc cracked, and I threw it away! Arrrrghh! Same with the Parker! How could I have DONE that! I didn't know about lifetime warranties and such for those pens; I was just irritated that such expensive pens were so "flimsy".)

 

I don't really know what nib I have, except it is italic and oblique, probably fine (it seems more medium but I think Parker's of this type run a bit wide). I love using it; I developed a writing style when I was in school because my handwriting was originally terrible; I was threatened with being flunked in GRADE SCHOOL (!) if I didn't improve it, so my mother made me practice every day, just like other kids were learning piano, I was learning penmanship. I began to enjoy it, and soon I was good enough to win some recognition in the school contests, etc. I've benefited from that all my life, as people have noticed I can write clearly and legibly and can even mimic some calligraphy styles, though I have never studied that much (I will now!)

 

Anyway, you probably have already taken care of the nib long ago, but I thought I would let you know my experience, just in case.

 

I hope you enjoy your "flat top" as much as I do mine. Oh, by the way, I bought it in a small stationary store in Roseville, CA for -- (drum roll) -- $70 brand new! And I thought I was being foolish to spend so much on a pen!

 

regards,

 

Larry

[QM2]

Wow Larry, that is a great deal you got! I am jealous of your lovely italic, and it is very cool that your very pen is pictured in the Microsoft Word manual -- enjoy it!

 

QM2

[joelj]

Great Article. I too was wondering what the model was of the Parker Pen my wife gave me to sign our marriage contract in 1990. It was a duofold Centennial. I had the nib changed to a flat or was it oblique. I don't remember. it still writes great after 20 years.

 

Cheers,

 

joel

Edited May 9, 2009 by joelj

[ArchiMark]

Great review QM2....

 

Don't know if this is a fair question, but how would you compare the Duofold to the Duro Heritage??

 

Curious, as I've been considering getting a Duofold or a CS.....

 

Thanks!

[dapv]

Excellent topic, comparison, and discussion!! Keep it coming. The late eighties black Parker Duofold is among my all time favs.

[breaker]

very nice review on a classic pen

[aurore]

Sorry for resurrecting the thread (though such a lovely review deserves it).

Reading comments made me curious what really was the original price those days (late 80s, early 90s). Some claim here "below 100 bucks" which sounds weird to me even considering it was 30 years ago. I am not claiming this was not true but it rather seems these were exceptions rather than a standard price (but I may be wrong, I did not buy pens then after all).

According to this web, in early 90s the standard (black/maroon/blue) models cost 300 in case of Centennial and 250 in case of International.
https://parkerpens.net/centennial.html

 

Anyway, it is hard to believe Parker would have gone through all the ado (all the pretty high end manufacturing, fancy boxes, marketing etc.) to sell their best pen for "below 100 USD". But as I have said I did not buy pens then, so all my knowledge is combination of the parkerpens.net website and a bit of logic (considering I know very well how much Waterman Man 100 and 200 and some other pens cost those days), so I am very sceptical Centennial standard price was normally anywhere around 100 bucks.

Edited July 28, 2019 by aurore

[Torrente]

I purchased my marbled red new with fine 18k nib around 1988 in Spain when it was released, it has datecode PC (1997 Q2) with the short clip.

I paid for it 30,000 pesetas , that is 180€ or 217$ at current rate.

I wrote most my college notes with it, I still use it and works great while now I only sign documents and write PostIts, I use it together with 2 Pilot Vanishing points.