I have loads of Slimfolds and Duofold Juniors. Cannot recommend them too highly. Lovely things, rock solid and robust. Like you say, excellent introduction to vintage and gold nibs.
The review i have been waiting for!, i have one of the later slimfolds in blue that has a different cap that was made in 1968/1969 i think, writes smooth and wet which i love and i only got it for £8 on ebay so it was a steal.
English Parker Duofolds (made at the Newhaven factory) are probably the greatest value for money of the older pens. I have several, in all sizes (Lady, Slimfold, Junior, Demi, Regular, Senior, and Maxima). The nibs were stamped to denote the size of pen: Lady 4; Slimfold 5, etc. For reasons beyond my capacity to understand, they are consistently excellent writers and seem to fit my hand perfectly. Fortunately, they were made in extruded plastic and were very stolid looking, hence the affordable prices today. Cheers!
Waski one of my all time favourites. Basically i love all the Fold family of pens from Parker especially the vintage models. Shame that the finial jewel is missing but all the same still a cracking pen. What is it about vintage pens that makes us say WOW love that pen!!! Thank you very much for sharing an awesome pen.
I feel like vintage pens have some history with them and a life lived. These are things a new pen doesn't have. That missing jewel tells a little story. The Duofold I'll be reviewing soon also has a story in the faded ebonite on the cap. I could see how its owner must have carried it in the sunlight for many years.
Hi what a nice pen you've got! I got a Parker slimfold in a fountain pen bundle I bought today, I paid 39 USD for 20 pens ( I got 4 parker pens, and a parker rollerball pen. And a really old Mont blanc pencil) . I guess I did good. My slimfold are blue, looks the same as yours. But on the body of the pen it has the number 7 with two dots right after. And the nib it says 14 k and the letter "D" right under, no numbers like yours does. Haven't tried to write with it, need to clean it good, was very dirty with dried ink in it.
Judging by my experience, I think you'll enjoy that Slimfold once you get it working. Without seeing it, the 7 and two dots likely means the second quarter of 1937 or 1947. I think the latter is most likely.
Thanks for giving the lowly Slimfold its 15 minutes. I don't own a Safari but am happy to have a handful of colourful English Duofolds, which were designed and made to be solid EDC pens. They remain so today. Plus it's an ideal series to collect.
As a recommendation for an inexpensive vintage Parker I'd go for the 'Victory'-for all intents and purposes it is identical to the Slimfold-and was also made only in England. Late 40s I believe.
I got a very clean example off fleabay for 13 squid.a few weeks ago I have to agree with you it's an unsung hero. I really want to get the equivalent Duofold to have a matching pair, however, I will have to play the waiting to get one which hasn't been restored and over polished as so many of these pens are.
Yes! I don't have experience with the equivalent Duofolds. But, I agree: the pens which are not over polished and over restored really show the issue at hand.
WaskiSquirrel no problem. Personally I think that any of the UK Duofold range from the 1950s onward are underappreciated today. I picked up another Slimfold, in blue with its box and instructions for £13! Also on a side note the green colour of your Slimfold makes it especially sought after.
Reverse writing - not that there’s anything wrong with that! (Sorry, Seinfeld reference.) Anyway, as for vintage, I enjoy Sheaffer flattops and Balances, which can be found reasonably priced IMO. Good writers to this day. The only downside is I limit myself to mild inks.
I have loads of Slimfolds and Duofold Juniors. Cannot recommend them too highly. Lovely things, rock solid and robust. Like you say, excellent introduction to vintage and gold nibs.
Thanks for sharing! These really were great pens!
The review i have been waiting for!, i have one of the later slimfolds in blue that has a different cap that was made in 1968/1969 i think, writes smooth and wet which i love and i only got it for £8 on ebay so it was a steal.
It's a truly great pen! And you can it at a low cost.
English Parker Duofolds (made at the Newhaven factory) are probably the greatest value for money of the older pens. I have several, in all sizes (Lady, Slimfold, Junior, Demi, Regular, Senior, and Maxima). The nibs were stamped to denote the size of pen: Lady 4; Slimfold 5, etc. For reasons beyond my capacity to understand, they are consistently excellent writers and seem to fit my hand perfectly. Fortunately, they were made in extruded plastic and were very stolid looking, hence the affordable prices today. Cheers!
I only have the one Slimfold, but I'm extremely impressed with it. What a quality pen! I wish Parker made pens like this today.
Waski one of my all time favourites. Basically i love all the Fold family of pens from Parker especially the vintage models. Shame that the finial jewel is missing but all the same still a cracking pen. What is it about vintage pens that makes us say WOW love that pen!!! Thank you very much for sharing an awesome pen.
I feel like vintage pens have some history with them and a life lived. These are things a new pen doesn't have. That missing jewel tells a little story. The Duofold I'll be reviewing soon also has a story in the faded ebonite on the cap. I could see how its owner must have carried it in the sunlight for many years.
Waski i like that " A LIFE LIVED." And looking forward to the review on the ebonite Doufold and hearing the story. Thank you again
Hi what a nice pen you've got! I got a Parker slimfold in a fountain pen bundle I bought today, I paid 39 USD for 20 pens ( I got 4 parker pens, and a parker rollerball pen. And a really old Mont blanc pencil) . I guess I did good.
My slimfold are blue, looks the same as yours. But on the body of the pen it has the number 7 with two dots right after. And the nib it says 14 k and the letter "D" right under, no numbers like yours does. Haven't tried to write with it, need to clean it good, was very dirty with dried ink in it.
Judging by my experience, I think you'll enjoy that Slimfold once you get it working. Without seeing it, the 7 and two dots likely means the second quarter of 1937 or 1947. I think the latter is most likely.
Thanks for giving the lowly Slimfold its 15 minutes. I don't own a Safari but am happy to have a handful of colourful English Duofolds, which were designed and made to be solid EDC pens. They remain so today. Plus it's an ideal series to collect.
I'm very happy with it. This pen will be back in rotation again. Nothing flashy, just a good writer.
As a recommendation for an inexpensive vintage Parker I'd go for the 'Victory'-for all intents and purposes it is identical to the Slimfold-and was also made only in England. Late 40s I believe.
Interesting! I've heard of the Victory and seen pictures, but never looked at them. I'll add that to my list!
I got a very clean example off fleabay for 13 squid.a few weeks ago I have to agree with you it's an unsung hero. I really want to get the equivalent Duofold to have a matching pair, however, I will have to play the waiting to get one which hasn't been restored and over polished as so many of these pens are.
Yes! I don't have experience with the equivalent Duofolds. But, I agree: the pens which are not over polished and over restored really show the issue at hand.
The UK Duofold line shipped with 14k semi flex nibs, I have a couple of Uk Slimfolds and a Duofold. They are really inexpensive in the uk.
That's good to know. Thank you for filling me in!
WaskiSquirrel no problem. Personally I think that any of the UK Duofold range from the 1950s onward are underappreciated today. I picked up another Slimfold, in blue with its box and instructions for £13! Also on a side note the green colour of your Slimfold makes it especially sought after.
I have a black one. I really enjoy the slightly "stubbish" nib on mine. It probably has the most expressive nib out of all the Parker pens I own.
I agree: very stubbish!
Is the ink capacity similar to a Parker 51?
If we're talking vintage, I think they're comparable.
Just purchased a black Slimfold on an E-Bay auction. "C1" was in the title. Don't know what that means.
I don't know about the C1 code either. Sorry!
I think it means "Christmas 1961"
Grandmia's has a video on how to take the Duofold apart too.
That channel is an amazing resource. I'll check that out.
Nice little pen and I like the nib!
Agree! And it's from your country.
Reverse writing - not that there’s anything wrong with that! (Sorry, Seinfeld reference.) Anyway, as for vintage, I enjoy Sheaffer flattops and Balances, which can be found reasonably priced IMO. Good writers to this day. The only downside is I limit myself to mild inks.
Good catch!
Yes, I have a Sheaffer Balance review in the work. Also a very good pen. And it's true: I'm probably a little too daring with my inks.
Great review!
Thank you!
Nice review. A size-comparison would be helpful e.g. with a Safari (everyone owns one). Thanks!
I don't! But I know wot you mean 8-)
That's a good point, especially with these vintage pens.
Margret Christie I don’t either, but a size comparison is always good to do for us viewers.
Hi try a Waterman w 5. It' amazing. Or some Osmia.
These are definitely options on the table. I just need to locate an affordable example.
I could not read the quote in the time alotted... Remember that nobody can read your handwriting as fast as you can hahahah
I always put the quotes in the video descriptions. Yes, it's hard to find the balance between too slow and too fast on that.