Newest Acquisitions (Virtual "Show & Tell") ~ part 502

Many thanks to everyone who came to our June meeting last night! I'll post a report (with lots of photos) early next week. In the meantime, enjoy this "Parker Weekend" featuring two reviews of Christopher's recent finds made by the Parker pen company (thank you, Christopher!).

First up --- a sometimes overlooked gem -- a handsome English Parker 'Duofold' fountain pen:

(review & photo courtesy of Christopher ~ please click on image to enlarge)

 When is a Parker Maxima not a Vacumatic? This is elementary -- when it is a British Maxima Duofold.

Still, on first glance. it had me fooled. Granted, it had the overall size of a North American Parker Maxima and what looked like a first generation North American wide feathered Parker arrow clip. But otherwise, it sported the banding of a Parker North American Major model, introduced in the second generation. Then there was the fact that this pen was a single jewel, which was part of the third generation. And unfortunately, that is just the beginning because, in removing the barrel,, it revealed an extremely large ‘Aerometric’ filler, reminiscent of the Parker 51. Even the filling instructions were imprinted on the metal filler sleeve just exactly like the Parker 51. Finally, in removing the cap, atop a substantial grip section was the most magnificent Parker 14K Gold arrow nib, a dead ringer for any Parker Vacumatic, North American or British. In fact, the country of origin was inscribed directly below the company name. But stranger still was the number 50, below both the company name and country the pen hailed from. The truth of the matter, as I was to discover, was that Parker in Britain numbered their streamlined Duofold pens on the nib, with 50 being the number designated to the largest model, the Maxima.

A little further history, if you will. The Parker Maxima Duofold was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1958, while the Senior model Duofold was being phased out. The Maxima was by far the largest model. but at a costly 50 pounds sterling, a very expensive proposition for the average pen purchaser. Subsequently, with the addition of rather a short production run, today the Parker Maxima Duofold is far from a common fountain pen.

There is very little else I can relate about my Parker Maxima Duofold, other then it came in a brilliant jet black with 14k Rolled Gold fittings. The huge nib writes so well that it will be a vintage pen that will see a lot of use at my end. The filler holds as much ink as the size reflects and the overall condition has to be very fine to near mint. Finally, to give an idea of why this pen is branded maxima, could be because it posts at a full 6 ¾ inches and still holds a good size capped at 5 ¾ inches, a somewhat longer proposition than the North American Parker Vacumatic Maxima. I find myself saying, “How do I love this pen? Let me count the ways!”