In with my deceased father's papers, I found this mechanical pencil as per attached photograph. It is a Parker and possibly malachite. Can anyone please date it for me? It would be somewhere between the 1920s and the 1950s, most likely. Many thanks.
In with my deceased father's papers, I found this mechanical pencil as per attached photograph. It is a Parker and possibly malachite. Can anyone please date it for me? It would be somewhere between the 1920s and the 1950s, most likely. Many thanks.
Last edited by Escaliba; September 22nd, 2016 at 05:52 AM.
Speaks like Duofold, check http://www.parkerpens.net/duofold.html and Google "Parker Duofold" images.
Escaliba (October 21st, 2016)
Thank you very much for those suggestions. I found the pencil on http://www.parkerpens.net/duofold.html , identical in every detail. What a great site, by the way.
Thanks, good stuff then
This is called Jade Radite or Permanite and it could date to as early as 1928.
Last edited by Scrawler; October 24th, 2016 at 11:02 AM.
Escaliba (October 25th, 2016)
Many thanks, Scrawler. Can you tell me anymore about Jade Radite, please?
Re the date, yes, I think you would be right. My Dad was born in 1913 & the snippets of family history I am slowly collecting suggest the pencil belonged to his younger years. It could even have been a confirmation gift.
It was used by Parker and Sheaffer to make fountain pens and pencils starting in late 1926 until the depression really caught hold a few years later. It was only used on upper end more expensive pens. It is highly sought after when it is not faded or discoloured. It discolours mostly by absorption of gasses from pen sacs, but also a little from sweat. It tends to shrink a little with age and sunlight. It is beautiful material. Yours looks like it has been kept in a dark place when not in use. This is one of the first coloured plastics invented at a time when most pens were still black.
Edit: The first Jade prior to 1928 was paler green. Yours is the brighter green, which is how I have dated it.
Last edited by Scrawler; October 25th, 2016 at 06:40 AM.
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