The Parker Demi Duofold is a shorter, chunkier version of the Duofold Standard, this is a fine example, made in England in1951.
The pen has been fully restored and is in excellent working condition. It has a brilliant black finish with gold filling to the clip and decorated cap band. The barrel imprint is worn but legible and carries a date code for the third quarter of 1951, it is a first year pen.
The 'Aerometric' filling system works well and the 14 Ct. Gold is unusual in that it has a left oblique stub point. This produces a difference in line width depending on the angle of contact and the direction of the stroke. Unlike a flex nib, it does not need pressure variation, the line width change occurs 'naturally' as the pen is used. With the nib in full contact with the paper it is super smooth.
The nib is clearly stamped :
Parker Duofold. 14K. Pen. N.
The 'N' signifies that the nib was made in Newhaven, this is a first year pen, later Duofolds did not show the 'N' but used a number to denote the nib size.
The Parker Duofold Demi is not a common Duofold, by any means. It's raison d'etre is something of a mystery, to me anyway, as I have never worked out exactly who it was aimed at in marketing terms. It wouldn't have been a 'ladies pen', it is huge in comparison to the Parker Lady which was released just as production of the Demi ended. I can only think that it is something to do with the depth of jacket pockets, the military in particular seemed to be adamant that a shirt or jacket pocket flap should be fastened, perhaps a standard Duofold wouldn't allow this.
Whatever the reason, judging by the relatively few Demis around, it didn't work out well and the Duofold Demi did not sell in great numbers and is becoming very collectable.