The 45 was introduced in 1960, and the model continued until 2006,
which is a fairly impressive run. There has been, sadly, some
sense that as Parker has gone from being a family business to just
another multi-national's asset the notion of quality control has
slipped. This pen, from rather late in the run (the date code is
equivocal, but I believe it's a 1997 model from the horrid modern
converter it came with) is a prime example of that sense-- while in the
gross anatomy no different from its earlier
brethren, the point is disgracefully scratchy and
ill-tempered. I haven't done much about that, since the nature of
the 45 allows for easy exchange of the point for one of the other,
older and better ones I have on hand, but as I suspect this is why this
sort of thing was allowed out of the factory in the first place ("Don't
bother checking those too hard-- if they complain, we'll just send 'em
another point") I'm not
going to be nice about it in this public forum. One might argue
that since it was never intended as much more than a student pen it
shouldn't be judged too harshly. I deny that by pointing out some much uglier
student pens which nonetheless write
quite well.
Griping aside-- this mode
of trim is, when appearing in a Parker pen, called Flighter. It
originally appeared on a "51" (the link
is not a Flighter, alas), which was made to look like the company
airplane and had some specialized internal parts to render it more
reliable in an unpressurized cabin. Most other Flighter models
are merely a brushed steel/gold trim version, which describes this one
exactly. Under the skin, just another 45.
Specifications:
Medium point, and the lack of a hallmark makes me think that it's
plated steel (I haven't molested it enough to confirm that yet).
Came with sliding piston converter, accepts
current Parker cartridges. 13.6cm long capped, 14.7cm posted.
Condition: It's essentially a new pen; it came in its original
package, with the only signs of use being a slight rub mark on the
barrel from the flocked bed of the package.
Repairs:
None.
Location: My collection.
For sale:
No.
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