The Parker 75 fountain pen is a remarkable pen. In 1964 it was offered at $25, a staggering price tag for a pen produced for the 'mass market'. On paper it looked doomed, it was nothing like the Parker 51 or Parker Duofold, the most successful Parker pens so far, it was a cartridge/converter filler made from solid Silver, the ballpoint pen was ravaging the fountain pen industry, and the 75 was outrageously expensive. It was a huge success and sold over 10 million units over 30 years!
This pen is a superb, mint condition, early Sterling silver crosshatch Parker 75 dating from 1966. It has the original flat tassies rather than the later dished design, a zero reference mark on the chrome section ring. The dates that these changes were implemented imply a date of 1966 for the date of manufacture of the pen. The stamp of '66' on the feed, which is consistent with the date, is by coincidence, the code for a medium nib.
The length of the pen, when capped is 13cm. The cap is a push fit, it snaps into place with a satisfying 'click' and posts securely in position for writing, although many users prefer not to post a metal bodied pen. The posted length is 14cm.
At each end of the pen is a Gold filled 'stack of coins' stud, this was replaced by a plain stud in the very late models. The studs on this example are in first rate condition.
Around the cap band the pen is engraved:
The Parker 75 is a cartridge/converter filler, a most convenient arrangement as it allows for the ease of use of cartridges with the flexibility offered by the use of bottled ink. The pen performs equally well with both filling systems and which one to use is merely a matter of personal choice. I favour using bottled ink, partly because I always have a range of inks to hand but I do enjoy the process of filling the pen and being able to easily flush it between changes in inks. The use of bottled ink is probably a good deal more environmentally sound and is certainly much, much cheaper than using cartridges. This pen is fitted with the original converter and is supplied with a new ink cartridge so it is ready to write in either configuration..
The pen is very comfortable in the hand and is a super writer. It is also a very tactile item with an unmistakable top quality 'feel' of solid Silver. The Parker 51 is often referred to as 'the best pen Parker ever made' but I think this is a questionable assertion when it is compared to the fabulous Parker 75.