Parker 45 Appreciation thread

[titrisol]

The Parker 45 is one of the most prolific pens made by Parker.
Millions of them were sold worlwide and a wide variety of finishes, prices, nibs, etc

I got one when I began 3rd grade as school pen, almost 50yrs ago. I learned to write with it and Pelikan Koningsblau ink.

Used 45s through grade school, high school and college; replacing nibs a few times due to "accidents" (i.e. kids being kids)
After I finished college, I moved to more expensive pens but keep coming back to the 45 when I wanted something reliable, smooth and easy.

Very well designed pen, sleek looks, great variety of colors and finishes.
Very comfortable (to me), smooth writer with all sots of nibs and easy to clean/maintain.
Replacing parts takes no time, and the fact that it can use cartridges or a converter is invaluable.

Slip on cap is not a problem, and besides a few times that the pens have leaked during air travel it has never let me down
and over the years have become more and more appreciative of how smooth the nibs are, the longevity of the pens and how easy they are to maintain and upgrade.

This thread is to post pictures and (mostly) appreciation for this timeless design :hippie:

https://parkerpens.net/parker45.html

65919
65920

[titrisol]

List of nib codes posted in FPN


This is a list of the P45 nibs codes I have managed to acquire (it maybe inaccurate and incomplete) any corrections or additions would be gratefully appreciated.


Accountant (A) nib

Needle (N) nib

Extra Fine (X) nib

Fine (F) nib

Medium (M) nib

Broad (B ) nib

Double broad (B B ) nib ?

Stub (S) nib

Extra Fine Italic ( ) nib ?

Fine Italic (C ) nib

Medium Italic (D) nib

Broad Italic (E) nib

Fine Oblique (FO) nib ?

Medium Oblique (R ) nib

Broad Oblique (Z) nib

Fine Oblique Italic (H) nib

Medium Oblique Italic (J) nib


(Y) nib
(L) nib
(O) nib

[proteus]

I always thought that these Parker pens were quite remarkable.

Very simple design.


Over many years I have collected a few.

My main focus was the rarest examples.


A while back I bought a NOS Black TX set just to look at.

Made at Parker Newhaven in Black Epoxy resin.
( These were not prototypes )

[Pterodactylus]

I also like the Parker 45.

This is my Flighter set.

https://live.staticflickr.com/624/22552053923_12ed514a07_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/AmRaVV)

In this case the ballpoint is special to me as it was the pen of my father in the 80s.
Quite early I “borrowed” it from him and used it at school as I considered it as a cool and fancy pen.
And in total I for sure used it much more than he did, but it was his pen and has his name engraved which makes it special to me.
Even it is only a ballpoint and we are these days FP enthusiasts I would never give it away.

Quite some years ago I bought a 45 Flighter FP to complete the set, but of course it does not have such an emotional value to me.

And as you said great design and quality, reliable and sturdy.

I prefer the Flighter versions.

[proteus]

My definite list of all P45 collar marks known

A Accountant ( Arrow Park - XXF)
B Broad
C Fine Italic
D Medium Italic
E Broad Italic
F Fine
L Reverse Oblique Medium / Broad
M Medium
N Needlepoint ( Newhaven – XXF )
R Medium Oblique
S Stubb
X Extra Fine
Y Left Oblique
Z Broad Oblique

42 ( Oct only ) Medium Oblique

[Empty_of_Clouds]

I had a nice custom version by Kullock in centennial blue, but alas I gave it away during one of my irrational episodes! One of the better pens (in general) that I used at school back in the day.

[christof]

Parker 45 are very elegant pens. I have/had a couple of them in my collection:

https://live.staticflickr.com/944/42232105831_ebda405997_z.jpg

...and I have a weak spot, specially for the coronet variant:



https://live.staticflickr.com/8343/28408289074_9d5789da43_z.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/635/21253880902_cb25a1ee38_z.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/4853/45348607144_d92711c130_z.jpg

[proteus]

Empty_of_Clouds

Sir, do you have any images of the AK 45 mentioned PLEASE


christof - amazing images as always, Many thanks


I have added a David N. image

[Empty_of_Clouds]

@proteus. - Not to hand (there may be an image on my home PC somewhere). In the meantime this link shows the same pen Peyton St Pens (https://www.peytonstreetpens.com/parker-45-fantasy-fountain-pen-blue-swirls-flighter-cap-medium-steel-nib-new.html)


Edit: link fixed

[proteus]

Empty_of_Clouds

Many thanks.

Your link does not work for me but I know exactly what you are speaking of.
( Added a screenshot from my past research )


A good friend of mine has one that is a variant, have added an image of his pen.

Personally I thought this pen was wonderful.
He would not sell it to me.............

[Empty_of_Clouds]

Don't know why the link didn't work. Mine was like the one on the right if I recall correctly. To this day I do not know why I gave it away. Stupidity must surely feature highly. I've had other 45s, though kept none, and it's not as if they are bad pens. :)

[proteus]

Empty_of_Clouds,

An image ( screenshot ) of what your link shows me.

[Empty_of_Clouds]

And yet I found the page when I googled it. Strange but I am no computer geek so cannot explain it.

[proteus]

For those interested...........


An exotic example of a P45 in solid gold.

The shells are white & yellow 18ct gold ( not UK OR French hallmarked )

Made by a renown Italian jeweller using a Parker made hallmarked nib & both 9ct & 18ct clips.

12 were made


These were unlike the 51 & 61 Solid gold versions which were made by Asprey & Boucheron, who used multi coloured gold - same pattern - basketweave

[Chrissy]

Empty_of_Clouds,

An image ( screenshot ) of what your link shows me.
It doesn't work because the link has http:// in front of it that is always automatically populated in the FPG link box. If you delete that and start only with www. you will get the correct page

[christof]

just some pictures:
https://live.staticflickr.com/828/42175727851_e0f1142c9f_k.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/589/21861890664_e41d70f459_k.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49798441161_37528ce257_k.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50696061616_a2b0142316_b.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/4897/32405732968_b540debc7a_b.jpg

[Sailor Kenshin]

Don't know why the link didn't work. Mine was like the one on the right if I recall correctly. To this day I do not know why I gave it away. Stupidity must surely feature highly. I've had other 45s, though kept none, and it's not as if they are bad pens. :)

I think I have it. :redface:

It is very very fussy about inks. Maybe that's why. (Beautiful to look at though, and my thanks.)

I also have one or two other 45s, and a Moonman homage that writes better than any of them, sacrilege though it may be.

[welch]

The 45 was my entry level pen, displacing the awful Sheaffer school pens I had used in 5th and 6th grades. I was $4.98 in 1960, and about $45 when I bought one in about 2007 -- the year my hand said "no more" to ballpoints. According to the photos above, and Tony Fishier's great Parker Penography, Parker found the 45 so popular that the company released 45s in many classy colors and designs: https://parkerpens.net/parker45.html

I think the Parker 45 was the first modern fountain pen. Before 1960, Parker's economy pen, the 21 and Super 21, had been designed with a built-in and unremovable filling system. The nib, grip, and filler were all one piece. That was pretty much normal for all pens. Yes, the Esterbrook had a swappable point, but an owner still took an Esty to repair a punctured sac. For Parker's 61 and 51, or Sheaffer's Pen For Men, an owner took their pen back to the pen counter in a department store, and the pen counter mailed it back to Sheaffer or Parker Service.

If the owner of a Papermate or Parker Jotter had trouble, they bought another refill, and ballpoints had the great advantage that they wrote from an inky paste. While Parker and Sheaffer had competed for years to provide the cleanest filling system, both filled liquid ink from a bottle. Drip ink or, worse, tip over a bottle...disaster, especially if that was permanent ink.

The Parker 45 has a nib unit that is easy to unscrew and replace. Every other piece unscrews and can be replaced. The filling system can be replaced with a Parker cartridge, as close as a fountain pen can come to a ballpoint refill.

This has been the ordinary system for fountain pens ever since. Parker 45: the first modern fountain pen, the fundamental break from how fountain pens had been designed since the first Waterman.

[amk]

I love the Parker 45 as a good, competent, pen that I can take with me anywhere and not have to worry much about. If I'm working on a building site a 45 comes along. Not a 51, not one of my limited edition pens, certainly not a 75 - but a regular 45. I pick them up whenever I see one at a flea market.

I've sometimes had to threaten one with the ultrasonic cleaner, but like the Parker 51, the 45 is a pen that has very few faults and will hardly ever need more than a quick soak to get it going again.

[Empty_of_Clouds]

Don't know why the link didn't work. Mine was like the one on the right if I recall correctly. To this day I do not know why I gave it away. Stupidity must surely feature highly. I've had other 45s, though kept none, and it's not as if they are bad pens. :)

I think I have it. :redface:

It is very very fussy about inks. Maybe that's why. (Beautiful to look at though, and my thanks.)

I also have one or two other 45s, and a Moonman homage that writes better than any of them, sacrilege though it may be.

Never had a problem with it, and if I had I would have been transparent about it.

[Robalone]

Greetings . Throws hat into ring . I've loved these pens since my first one in boarding school , ever so long ago ! I'm especially fond of the 'Happy colours' coloured cap and barrel.
Some of these at the back are Wilson clones !! ( The Wilson story is well worth looking into, there's an in depth article out there, but I couldn't find it in time ).

And there's a couple of Moonman copies too ( I'm not a fan of fine nibs, but these are a respectful nod in the direction of the venerable 45.

( some are obviously 17s )
Cheers .

65992

Here's the interesting Wilson site 👍🏻 https://www.indianmemoryproject.com/122/#sthash.RafxxQvt.N3yDeoPx.dpbs

[Runnin_Ute]

I have six 45's including a 45 desk set from 1968. The black is a octanium and the desk pen too I think. The others are 14k. One is an Accountant nib.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20211225/93eade319ba7eb68461e6ebdb15d3801.jpg

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

[Lady Onogaro]

I have a collection of probably 20 45s in different colors and with different nibs. I love them and carry them quite often as a user pen. I have only one coronet--it's cap is a bit dented and was when I got it--and one signet. Would love to have more coronets, esp. a blue one. I haven't found any in the wild.

[david-p]

I have three Parker 45s. Much as I love the Parker 51 and 61, which are in some ways a class above the 45, the writing experience of the 45s with a good nib has always been excellent -- just pick one up and write with it. Plus, as others have rightly said, the easy ability to maintain the 45 is exemplary.

David

[proteus]

Running_Ute

If you are interested ………

Your side notes are P75 nib designations.
( image attached )

The answer :

65 – Fine
66 – Medium
67 – Broad

[titrisol]

Just received a pencil+FP set form eBay... unfortunately the feed is borken.
Anyone known where can I find a replacement feed?

[Robalone]

Hi, unless the seller mentioned 'broken feed' you'd be perfectly within your rights to ask for a refund, at their expense.

Also there are plenty of feeds for ( Parker 45 ?) on eBay, just keep looking for the cheapest, cos some are silly expensive!

[Robalone]

@lady Onogaro

Indeed, the coronets are pretty sexy. If you comb p45 on eBay, they pop up occasionally, but the blues are very rare, I think I've only seen one in a long time, and it was crazy expensive .

[Chrissy]

I have a few Parker 45's but have come down to a bare minimum. In order to permanently stay in or enter my collection they now have to be either a Coronet or an Insignia or a particular colour that I want. I still want an orange 45. Plus I still have a couple of Flighters left but that's because my 45's have what I call "non-standard" nibs. My black Coronet has a stub nib and my I think my red Coronet has a broad oblique. I have other right foot obliques of various tip widths. Because I had the S nib to "copy from" I've also bought a couple of B nibs that I've turned into stubs myself.

If I ever found non-standard nibs in a regular 45 on ebay I would buy it, swap out the nib for a M or F, then clean up and resell the pen. Now I don't tend to look anymore.

(When I get some decent light I'll add a picture of my current 45's.)

[titrisol]

Hi, unless the seller mentioned 'broken feed' you'd be perfectly within your rights to ask for a refund, at their expense.

Also there are plenty of feeds for ( Parker 45 ?) on eBay, just keep looking for the cheapest, cos some are silly expensive!

I'm not unhappy though, a XF/A nib is harder to find than a feed. I found a seller that has argentinian made nib units and after asking he's sending me a couple of feeds that he has for a good price. I forgot that Argentina had at a point Parker, Mercedes Benz, Peugeot, and other high end factories.

Now, anyone have an idea how to perform the dissassembly of the barrel inner and end-cap like shown in this picture:
Parker 45 pens.comhttps://i1.wp.com/parker45pens.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Parker-45-Flighter-Stripped-Labelled.jpg (https://parker45pens.com/parker-45-flighter/)

And the pencil repair/dissassembly thread!
https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/291569-question-on-how-to-fix-the-parker-45-pencil/

[Chrissy]

I'm not unhappy though, a XF/A nib is harder to find than a feed. I found a seller that has argentinian made nib units and after asking he's sending me a couple of feeds that he has for a good price. I forgot that Argentina had at a point Parker, Mercedes Benz, Peugeot, and other high end factories.
I've previously bought Parker 45 feeds on ebay. They can regularly be had for reasonable prices.

[proteus]

Now, anyone have an idea how to perform the disassembly of the barrel inner and end-cap like shown in this picture

titrisol, I am intrigued, why would you wish to do so - I quessing it is a technical excerise

Have never known one fail, possibly it would be to replace a damaged barrel end cap ( which is very simply done by unscrewing it )

As an side .............the dismantling of the cap section is more interesting.............

[proteus]

Found an image that I saved from past research........

They are south american Parker made

[pajaro]

I like the pink one. It would go nicely in a pink shirt pocket with a black suit.

[proteus]

pajaro,

Clearly you are quite a dandy dresser.........pink shirt, black suit.........like your style......wish I was that cool ...........


Just looked at what else I could contribute to this thread.

I recall a friend mentioning a P45C with an imperial pattern made at Meru.
Never seen another one, it appears that these were standard release - not prototypes

It maybe of interest or not.

[Wahl]

These are mine

http://i.imgur.com/jErXH9n.jpg (https://imgur.com/jErXH9n)

[top pen]

Has anyone come across a double broad 45 nib. I have seen examples of XF to B and quite a few Obliques and Italics but never have come across a BB or accountancy nib. I wouldn't mind a BB as I quite like thick nibs.

[christof]

I think that I have one in the mail...

The nib collar ist marked with "D" which could mean double broad. Will keep you updated when it's arrived.

[proteus]

top pen,

There are P45 XXF nibs which have collar marks of A & N

A - Accountant ( Arrow Park )

N - Needlepoint ( Newhaven )


Parker also made both EB ( BB ) & EEB ( BBB )

The EB should have a collar marked W or 61
The EEB - 71

Or collars will be blank


An original P45 nib with a collar mark of D is Medium Italic


As an side, which I thought odd, Parker also offered the P61C with a EEEB ( BBBB ) nib
I have no idea why anyone would wish to use one ( Personally I think it was a technical exercise )

[christof]

Thank you. I will post a picture of the D-Nib as soon as I got it under the lens.

[Scrawler]

I bought P45 Flighter set with fountain pen and ballpoint along with a book "The History of Writing" in the duty free at Heathrow Airport. The book and fountain pen were stolen by a Chinese diplomat in 1995. I still have the ballpoint.

[welch]

I went through Heathrow more than a few times, but never stopped at the duty-free shop. Guess I missed a nifty item...P-45 set. Was the book part of the set? I'll just imagine it was, and consider it Parker's perfection.

[Scrawler]

I went through Heathrow more than a few times, but never stopped at the duty-free shop. Guess I missed a nifty item...P-45 set. Was the book part of the set? I'll just imagine it was, and consider it Parker's perfection.

Yes, the whole gift set was a pen and ballpoint in a clam shell and book together.

[proteus]

What a sad tale.

Sounds like a great gift set.

[KBeezie]

Just got this earlier today, ran it thru the ultrasonic a few times (lots and lots of thick black ink) all cleaned up. Came with the medium nib, but I prefer the extra-fine I had set aside. Also came with an original squeeze converter, I replaced the latex sac with a PVC one.

https://i.imgur.com/WEU4Yed.jpg

A UK made black Parker 45 with the date code AE (Q1 1982) on it also arrived, cleaned it but haven't tested it, also has a medium nib.

Aside from those this is the only other Parker 45 I've had for a while, a teal colored one that originally had the 'X' nib, but later got a NOS Accountant nib put into it.

https://i.imgur.com/SdZuAss.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/t2DP4op.jpg

[christof]

An original P45 nib with a collar mark of D is Medium Italic





Thank you. I will post a picture of the D-Nib as soon as I got it under the lens.

Here comes the picture of the D nib. It is in fact a sharp grinded italic nib:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51830780503_594c448efb_3k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2mY7ihB)Parker 45 D (https://flic.kr/p/2mY7ihB) by C.M.Z (https://www.flickr.com/photos/30169694@N08/), auf Flickr

[proteus]

christof

If may say.

What outstanding photography……….and handwriting.

Always impressed.

[KBeezie]

An original P45 nib with a collar mark of D is Medium Italic





Thank you. I will post a picture of the D-Nib as soon as I got it under the lens.

Here comes the picture of the D nib. It is in fact a sharp grinded italic nib:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51830780503_594c448efb_3k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2mY7ihB)Parker 45 D (https://flic.kr/p/2mY7ihB) by C.M.Z (https://www.flickr.com/photos/30169694@N08/), auf Flickr

The "D" is for "Daaaaayummmm"

[christof]

christof

If may say.

What outstanding photography……….and handwriting.

Always impressed.


Thank you. Here's a picture of the pen:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51831595126_4101fe07f9_b.jpg

[WHITE]

Greetings fellow FP enthusiasts. I'm new here and I registered because I, too, am a Parker 45 believer. I love that it is very easy to disassemble, that it can take both cartridges and converters, and lastly, that it is very durable.

Proof of that durability is my one and only Parker 45 -- a plain jane, run of the mill, very ordinary, "classic" 45 in dark grey plastic body. I'm surprised that after much abuse when it was used a lot -- and I never cleaned it when I just tossed it in the drawer a couple of decades ago --it just needed a simple cleaning (water flushing) and it's back to writing like it did before. No hiccup whatsoever. Simply amazing. Parker sure made these things to last forever. This one's definitely a keeper.

But I'm kind of tired of the X nib that it came with and was thinking of getting a Medium Cursive for it, if I still can find those nibs at an affordable price. Any leads where I can get it aside from the usual Ebay?

Thanks.

[welch]

Greetings fellow FP enthusiasts. I'm new here and I registered because I, too, am a Parker 45 believer. I love that it is very easy to disassemble, that it can take both cartridges and converters, and lastly, that it is very durable.

Proof of that durability is my one and only Parker 45 -- a plain jane, run of the mill, very ordinary, "classic" 45 in dark grey plastic body. I'm surprised that after much abuse when it was used a lot -- and I never cleaned it when I just tossed it in the drawer a couple of decades ago --it just needed a simple cleaning (water flushing) and it's back to writing like it did before. No hiccup whatsoever. Simply amazing. Parker sure made these things to last forever. This one's definitely a keeper.

But I'm kind of tired of the X nib that it came with and was thinking of getting a Medium Cursive for it, if I still can find those nibs at an affordable price. Any leads where I can get it aside from the usual Ebay?

Thanks.

I would start with Five Star Pens. They have some medium "octanium" nibs for about $10 each. Octanium was Parker's name for steel. They also have a few gold nibs.

Look here: http://www.fivestarpens.com/parker-45-nibs.html

[pajaro]

I like the Parker 45 cap. I use one on a Montblanc 144, and it keeps the pen point moist.

The Parker 45 I like best is the avocado green. Very sixties.

I have a Kullock 45 in swirly purple.

I think the best feature of the 45 is its elan and style.

[Prettypenguin]

My father gave me his 45, a very regular grey one, with a F or M nib (I am pre-coffee and watching an early Bundesliga game, so I can’t go double check). It’s definitely a workhorse. I replaced a cracked barrel I broke (in 1995)last year with a NOS one from Five Star Pens- who were excellent. It’s been going strong since he bought it in 1963. The only thing I have left to replace is the bladder on the converter, which seems easy, and is on my list as a first hands on restoration project. Eventually, more colors, less common nib styles, and gold nibs are on my list.

[welch]

My father gave me his 45, a very regular grey one, with a F or M nib (I am pre-coffee and watching an early Bundesliga game, so I can’t go double check). It’s definitely a workhorse. I replaced a cracked barrel I broke (in 1995)last year with a NOS one from Five Star Pens- who were excellent. It’s been going strong since he bought it in 1963. The only thing I have left to replace is the bladder on the converter, which seems easy, and is on my list as a first hands on restoration project. Eventually, more colors, less common nib styles, and gold nibs are on my list.

Ah, the original converter! They were the best. (In 1963, I would fill my 45 with one hand holding the ink bottle and one hand holding the pen by that converter. All over the bathroom sink, just before school. With a current "best" Parker converter, you need two hands: one to hold the pen and the other to twist the converter. That leaves the bottle free to maybe tip over.)

Yes, if you can replace the converter's bladder, you will have a quiet, humble, masterpiece. No glitz, and no bling. Just an elegant pen that does what it was meant to do. Almost 60 years old and as good as anything you could buy today.

[pajaro]

Good point about the original squeeze converter. I resacced one of mine with a PVC sac. Now a painfully mediocre pen that dries out when I think I want to write with it can persist ad infinitum. Mostly I just look at it, as the style is lovely, and this pen and its easy to wield when filling converter can annoy someone else after me. These are pretty, though.

Really I only have pens to look at and admire them, and it has been like this for years now.

[proteus]

pajaro,

I have given your comments a lot of thought.

It is interesting how different we all are.

I collected Parker pens to both gain knowledge and admire some of the engineering techniques.

[LarryinIowa]

Hello

I'm a newbie. You guys' 45s and knowledge blow me away. I just posted in the Parker forum about a 45 demonstrator that came to me.

The collector has old ink in it. But more than that, I'm wondering if it could be a Kullock? What is that about? Were they clones? How can I tell if the one I have is genuine Parker? And more than that, what shall I do with it? I'm not a collector.

Thanks

[Motomachi10]

In the mid 80's I found a store that sold discontinued things: among them were some Parker 45 Coronets in blue for less than five dollars each. I bought three. When I saw the price in a pen catalogue I went back to that store to buy some more pens but all of them were gone. I kept one and eventually gave as gifts the other two.

[Sailor Kenshin]

I just got out my only non-Kullock 45 to compare/contrast with a Moonman lookalike. The Parker seems to have a monster feed by comparison.

[Dutchpen]

Hi all,

I have a mint Parker 45 TX in matt black with gold trims.
The pen is marked with PARKER, made in UK. lllI

Does anyone know more about this pen and it’s value?

Thanks!
Lennard

7162571626

[Donny0000]

Here's a fun way to display my Parker 45 FPs, using the 54-Jotter box but substituting the 45s for the Jotters:

[OCArt]

Wow, you've got some rare colors! Nice collection.

[nomis]

What a wonderful collection of 45s. I have 24 and think they are great pens.

[Donny0000]

What a wonderful collection of 45s. I have 24 and think they are great pens.

They really are great pens and so easy to clean. Also easy to change nibs on them. Beautiful pens in their simplicity.