Parker
Pens and Ephemera

The original Parker Snake pen was first introduced in 1906. It was a black hard rubber eyedropper pen with a sterling silver overlay in the design of an emerald-eyed snake. It was a gorgeous pen and very expensive. Few were made and survive. As such, it is among the most sought after pens by vintage pen collectors. Parker rereleased a Snake pen 100 years later in a more modern cartridge/converter format. This is one of those modern luxury pens that is still new in the box...never used. It comes with all of its original boxes and papers. Perfect for display or even use, if you desire. The website can't figure out the shipping on such a large box and might cost extra...especially for international destinations. Please e-mail for details.

We love that the early Parker Vacumatics didn't have a standard look. This grey-marble model is quite handsome and fully restored with a new diaphragm. You can see in the photo it is a double-jewel, lock-down filler. It shows some wear from use, but it is in good working order. The celluloid is darkly ambered, and you can barely see through it. The good news is that it has a buttery smooth, wet medium nib. It is a ton of fun to write with. Click the headline for close-ups. This is the mid-sized pen and measures 12.1cm capped.

Look at the way the vibrant green radiates on the cap of this Canadian-made Parker Vacumatic. We consider it a junior-sized pen, a little shorter and more slender than a standard model but definitely larger than a "debutante" model. Fully restored with a new diaphragm, this vintage pen is in great working order. Its lockdown filler still locks down, as you can see in the photo. The clear barrel celluloid has ambered, but you can still see your ink level in it. Click the headline for close-ups. You will write a nice, fine line with its 14k gold nib. We love how the nib was labled "Vacumatic." Not a common feature in American-made Vac nibs. 11.1cm capped.

Parker introduced the last great innovation in filling system design with its capillary filler featured in the Parker 61. Unlike over-engineered Sheaffer Snorkels, the 61 had a Teflon-coated tube filled with a padding that wicked ink into the pen. Ingenius! The only trouble with it for modern collectors is that it is really hard to change ink colors. We spent several days flushing this pen clear. We love the crack- and wear-free turquoise hood and barrels on this set, but it is the RAINBOW CAPS that really stand out. Click the headline for a close up. The caps show some scuffing and wear. The clip is both loose and secure, as we can't get the jewel to unscrew. You will write a smooth fine line with the pen's 14k gold nib. The pencil is a Liquid Lead model that still writes a little.

Perhaps our favorite color combination on the Parker 100 pencil is this sky-blue and brushed-gold design. Our preowned luxury pencil is in great working order with a new eraser and spare .5mm leads. You'll see some scratches on the brushed gold cap and nose cone. Twist the cap to advance the lead or close up/retract the lead mechanism. Makes math, crosswords and sudoku more fun. 13.8cm.

The Parker 51 was such a wildly popular pen, the company has tried several times to bring it back since the 1990s. This is their second attempt, which they called the Parker 100. We actually think these pens were quite elegant and should have been more popular than they were. This ballpoint version of the Parker 100 has a dark-blue barrel, and dark-pearl-grey cap and gold plated trim. The brushed gold nose cone has some scratches, but the rest of the pen only shows light wear from use. We installed a brand-new Parker style refill with black ink. The pen has a little weight, which makes it a really smooth writer. You also get its boxes. 13.7cm.

At the depths of the Great Depression, Parker realized it needed to make pens people could afford if the company was to survive. This led to the birth of the Parker Thrift Time pen. It was a smaller, but still stylish, button-filler at a price that didn't break the bank. Our vintage pen has been fully restored with a new ink sac. Its burgundy coloring has discolored in places to an orangey hue. There's some brassing of the cap bands and clip. You will write a nice medium line with its 14k gold nib. 12.1cm capped.

Some pens are just difficult to define. Our Depression-era Parker looks a lot like a Parker Challenger in a demi size. However, it is the Parker Thrift Time pen. We restored this vintage pen with a new ink sac. A little of the nickel-plated trim is worn away, and there are some bite marks on the blind cap. Yet, the marble design helps to hide the wear. You will write a nice extra-fine line with its 14k gold nib. We don't find the line to be scratchy, but it isn't buttery smooth, either. A slender pen that measures 12.2cm capped.