Although the Parker Classic Flighter had been around, as a ballpoint, since 1971, it wasn't until 1986 that Parker added a fountain pen to the range, it served to replace the Parker 180. It is very similar to the 180, could have been called a '180 Mk. II. This pen carries a date code for the last quarter of 1986. This is the GT, for Gold trimmed version, an upgrade to the standard Flighter.
The pen is in excellent condition throughout and appears to have seen very little use. It has the original converter, essential for a Classic, as the 'standard' Parker ink converters of the time are too wide to fit in the slim Classic barrel.
The term 'Flighter' was used, by Parker, for all their stainless steel bodied pens, partly as a consequence of George Parker's obsession with planes. The term is often used today for any steel pen but the only 'true' Flighters are Parkers.
The Classic is a slim and elegant yet very robust pen. The cap closes, flush to the barrel, with a satisfying and secure click. The stud at the barrel end is slightly flared so that the cap also clicks on to the barrel when the pen is posted for use. This device prevents the cap rim from coming into contact with the barrel in order to stop scratching.
The partially hooded, large, robust nib is triangular in shape, very similar to that found on the Parker 180. Although it is quite striking it looks perfectly suited to the pen in the aesthetic sense.
The collar of the nib is stamped 'M' for medium. It gives a smooth medium line, rather on the fine side, when used the 'normal' way round and, when reversed, writes with an extra fine line. This is not surprising as the Classic is, in essence, a modified 180 which was advertised as being a reversible nib with the ability to write when turned through 180 degrees, hence the name.
The pen is fitted with the original ink converter a new ink cartridge is supplied so it is ready to write in either configuration. The convenience of the filler system and versatility of the nib make the pen an excellent contender as a robust and practical every day vintage pen.