The Parker 75 'Laque Collection' was introduced in Meru, France, in 1979. The 'Thuya' finish, which replaced the 'Tortoiseshell' and 'Woodgrain' finishes, this pen, started in1983. This example carries a clear 'IQ' date code, for the third quarter of 1990, the pen was unchaged until the last year of Parker 75 production in 1994.
The pen is in mint condition throughout, showing no signs of use, although I have inked the pen, once, for testing purposes. It has a showroom finish and pristine gold filled trim. The original hard Parker box is also pristine, as is the instruction leaflet.
The feed is marked 'M' for 'medium' and the nib produces a super smooth medium line and has a very pleasing 'soft' feel. It is, perhaps, a little on the fine side of medium.
A cartridge/ converter filler, the pen is fitted with the original Parker screw type ink converter fitted for use with bottled ink and a new Parker ink cartridges is supplied so it is ready to write in either configuration.
The 75 is widely recognised as a top quality fountain pen. It has a very solid brass construction and is finished with several coats of a deep lacquer giving it a shine that is impossible to replicate using less sophisticated methods.
The new round shaped gripping section, introduced in 1990, provides room for a Parker 51 style ink collector which acts as a second ink reservoir for improved ink flow.
It is a testament to the very strong design and quality build of the Parker 75 that it continued to be made, with only minor changes, for almost thirty years and that the model has become even more popular since it was replaced by the Parker Sonnet, a good pen but quite boring when compared to its predecessor.