Possibly the best design Parker made.👍 If my first fountain pen was a 45, I might have not ever gotten into any other pens, they're that nice. (If this "student pen" ended up the pen of choice for several United States Presidents... 😁) As I'm 1960s vintage myself, and I found one for the best price that was the same age, the one that I'm currently using is a flighter with gold trim and medium nib with the black tassie. Thanks for sharing this great pen!
I agree. The design is great, the concept, the wide range, the simplicity. I really enjoy this pen. And the amazing part is that sometimes I can get one used for 5 € or just a little more. I love this model. (sorry for the late reply)
Got several parts in a flea market and assembled a Parker 45 Flighter with gold trims and a black end of the barrel, also a black grip section. It has a Medium 14 kt gold nib. I disassembled it and cleaned thoroughly (one of the Oh so may joys of this pen). The cap has the 45 logo on it. At this very moment I am drying the components of the nib unit to assemble it later. As this is my very first Parker 45 I have my fingers crossed. BTW with the other parts I got an almost complete pen minus the nib unit, aerometric included. That cap does not have the 45 logo and the fineal dish is a bit different. EDIT: (1) Cap descriptions.
That is a great thing about this pen. It still can be found at great prices, it is very simple in design and most parts are completely interchangeable, allowing us to do what you did: buy several parts and make a "real" one or more of a "frankenpen". There were many variations through time and it is easy to have the wrong cap or barrel. But no one will notice that! 😊
@@OdE-ObjectosdeEscrita Thank you for your recommendation! As I told you the paper I am using is really cheap so a humble Parker 25 (F) in black has been my workhorse. Will look for Fine or Extra Fine nibs in Parker 45 as my Medium is way too wet for these cheap school notebooks I am using. Yes, both Parker 45 and Parker 25 are brilliant!
I have several 45 flighters. Good pens, especially considering a 60's gold nibbed pen can still be had for less than $50 regularly on eBay. I still rotate a 70's flighter, with a steel EF nib through my work rotation. Works great on cheap paper, and with quink is dry enough to even sign receipts with.
Thank you for the review! It had to be a longer video because you had much information about the pen. I bought my 45 flighter because my plastic one cracked at the threads. I repaired it five times. The last time I used epoxy tinted to a matching blue color, and reinforced it with thin sewing cotton thread. I identified the threaded section of the barrel to be a weak spot. The threading is short, which gives any bending force a great momentum (leverage), and the plastic is thin, to make the pen slender, and maybe age made it brittle too.Another very similar pen is the japanese ”Spaceman” which I own one in all gold colour. The cap and barrel look alike and are close to interchangeble with the 45, but the section bears a fully hooded nib. I think it needs some more tweaking to become a pleasant writer. But my 45:s already are indeed!
Beautiful pen. I have the exact same one that I inherited from my Father's that still works great. Love that hooded nib design. Certainly evokes a sleek look of a jet fighter. Edit: Correction, mine has the black tip on the body. Likely 60-70s as I used it partly through high school in the mid 70s. I'll have to ink it and take it out again.
Please do ink it. These pens deserve to be inked and used. They are great and they don''t get the attention they deserve from the fountain pen community!
Finally ! I was waiting for this video. A little info on the sweetspot from my experience, should you properly realign the tines this pen will write very well and you don't have to search for that sweetspot . My 45 had a slight scratch in one particular direction that bugged me and later I gave it to someone who aligned the tines and it immediately became the best nib in my collection , I also stress that not all nibs are the same so sometimes the realignment of the tines doesn't improve or make it the best but it's the first step you should do before you start doing anything with this or any nib
I agree with you. However in this pen the sweet spot is not so much about being scratchy (it isn't and the nib is perfectly aligned) but a matter of only writing in that sweet spot. Rotate it just a little bit and it will skip. I do not see it as a defect, but as the personality of the pen. And now I enjoy it.
The Parker 45 is a work of genius! The ease of cleaning, servicing, customising is unparalleled. My favourite model is the Flighter, though I much prefer the CT version for the integration of the 'look'. I have three '45s, including two Flighters, and two Moonman models - 80 Mini and 80 Mini E - which share a lot of the design elements. The surprising thing, for me, is the poor condition of the nibs in the 45s I have received. They have all been bent, at least a little, and, while I have managed to get satisfactory writing, I am still looking for a good source of replacements.
Yes, it is a great pen. I usually find them with good nibs but I already found some with bent nibs. I just don't buy those, except if there is some other element on the pen that makes it worth it, like a special barrel colour or a specific cap...
I came across Made in USA Parker Flighter which is similar to the 79 model with a Golden trim you have with a 14K Gold nib. I've ordered it ( along with a matching Ball-point pen) for $50 from a Vintage Store here in India !
Congratulations for your new set. I think, to have one with a gold nib makes it always more valuable. But for the writing experience, with this kind of nib, there isn't much difference in the writing experience. But they are very well made pens. The Parker 45 is one of the best pens ever, in my opinion.
I love the "51", "61" and "45" amongst others... The shape of the "45" Flighter is superb. I think the version you demonstrate is a later version of a Parker "45" Flighter DELUXE--because it has the gold-plated/ filled Clip. Am I correct in stating earlier versions of the "45" Flighter Deluxe also had a long gold plated barrel tassie rather than a plain end to the steel barrel as yours does? Another point is that I have "45"s that will not accept insertion of particular nib units--there must be slight differences. My favorite "45" nib is stamped E and is a wide, broad Stub. What a superb pen, available in many incredible finishes at reasonable cost. Thank you very much for your excellent review!
I love these models too but, from them, the 45 is my favourite. There were 2 older variations (both in the video), one with black tassie and one with gold plated tassie. And there was a newer version with the differrent clip and the round jewel on top of the cap. This pen is just great, although very simple, at same time. (sorry for the late reply)
Thanks. The Flighter because it is cheapper and also because it was my first Parker 45 and that makes a difference to me. But, if I could get them at the same price... I think I would go with the Harlequin, because the feel of the pen's texture on the hand is very nice.
Yes... You are right. They will work by they become really ugly. Not serious if it is just a black variation that we can find easily. The problem is when it happens with somo more unusual colors. And some of those colors are just gorgeous (thinking of olive green). Unfortunateley Parker 21, 61 and 65 also may have the shrinkage problem.
They are generally around $40-50 USD, currently, with some higher and lower. Of course, they've not been made since 2008, so they're mainly used, but as there's almost nothing to go wrong with them, they are a great pen to get. (A lot of searching, you are still able to get them for around $20-30 USD.)
E, afinal, por causa do teu vídeo fui ver e, a versão que tenho, é de 1970 a 1979, ainda mais velha do que o que pensava. Como disse anteriormente, há muito, pelo menos há 25 anos, que não escrevo com ela. Há alguma hipótese (não digo de vender) mas de a trocar?
Possibly the best design Parker made.👍
If my first fountain pen was a 45, I might have not ever gotten into any other pens, they're that nice. (If this "student pen" ended up the pen of choice for several United States Presidents... 😁)
As I'm 1960s vintage myself, and I found one for the best price that was the same age, the one that I'm currently using is a flighter with gold trim and medium nib with the black tassie.
Thanks for sharing this great pen!
I agree. The design is great, the concept, the wide range, the simplicity. I really enjoy this pen.
And the amazing part is that sometimes I can get one used for 5 € or just a little more. I love this model.
(sorry for the late reply)
Got several parts in a flea market and assembled a Parker 45 Flighter with gold trims and a black end of the barrel, also a black grip section. It has a Medium 14 kt gold nib. I disassembled it and cleaned thoroughly (one of the Oh so may joys of this pen). The cap has the 45 logo on it.
At this very moment I am drying the components of the nib unit to assemble it later. As this is my very first Parker 45 I have my fingers crossed.
BTW with the other parts I got an almost complete pen minus the nib unit, aerometric included. That cap does not have the 45 logo and the fineal dish is a bit different.
EDIT: (1) Cap descriptions.
That is a great thing about this pen. It still can be found at great prices, it is very simple in design and most parts are completely interchangeable, allowing us to do what you did: buy several parts and make a "real" one or more of a "frankenpen". There were many variations through time and it is easy to have the wrong cap or barrel. But no one will notice that! 😊
@@OdE-ObjectosdeEscrita Thank you for your recommendation! As I told you the paper I am using is really cheap so a humble Parker 25 (F) in black has been my workhorse. Will look for Fine or Extra Fine nibs in Parker 45 as my Medium is way too wet for these cheap school notebooks I am using.
Yes, both Parker 45 and Parker 25 are brilliant!
@@FGBFGB-vt7tc Really great pens. EF nibs on Parker 45 are not common to find. Most I found at flea markets and such were mainly M and F.
I have several 45 flighters. Good pens, especially considering a 60's gold nibbed pen can still be had for less than $50 regularly on eBay.
I still rotate a 70's flighter, with a steel EF nib through my work rotation. Works great on cheap paper, and with quink is dry enough to even sign receipts with.
That is it. They are inexpensive, they have good overall quality. Still easy to find and work well. I love this pen.
(Sorry for the late reply)
A beautiful review that does justice to the Parker 45!
I'm looking forward to the Parker 51 video!
Thank you. This is really on of my favourite pens ever. The video on the Parker 51 will be out soon, I hope. Lots of stuff to schedulle! 😁
Thank you for the review! It had to be a longer video because you had much information about the pen. I bought my 45 flighter because my plastic one cracked at the threads. I repaired it five times. The last time I used epoxy tinted to a matching blue color, and reinforced it with thin sewing cotton thread. I identified the threaded section of the barrel to be a weak spot. The threading is short, which gives any bending force a great momentum (leverage), and the plastic is thin, to make the pen slender, and maybe age made it brittle too.Another very similar pen is the japanese ”Spaceman” which I own one in all gold colour. The cap and barrel look alike and are close to interchangeble with the 45, but the section bears a fully hooded nib. I think it needs some more tweaking to become a pleasant writer. But my 45:s already are indeed!
I have some 45 that had some problems with the plastics. But most didn't. Maybe yours have that problem.
My Parker 45 flighter has mark lll written on it so I think from your video it's one of the last variants 👍
Mark III or just III? It may just be the date code for the pen.
(Sorry for the late reply)
Beautiful pen. I have the exact same one that I inherited from my Father's that still works great. Love that hooded nib design. Certainly evokes a sleek look of a jet fighter.
Edit: Correction, mine has the black tip on the body. Likely 60-70s as I used it partly through high school in the mid 70s. I'll have to ink it and take it out again.
Please do ink it. These pens deserve to be inked and used. They are great and they don''t get the attention they deserve from the fountain pen community!
Great video ! I still have my ‘45 from the 1960’s. And definitely looking forward to a video on the Parker 51.
Thank you. I'll work on it, soon.
Finally !
I was waiting for this video.
A little info on the sweetspot from my experience, should you properly realign the tines this pen will write very well and you don't have to search for that sweetspot . My 45 had a slight scratch in one particular direction that bugged me and later I gave it to someone who aligned the tines and it immediately became the best nib in my collection , I also stress that not all nibs are the same so sometimes the realignment of the tines doesn't improve or make it the best but it's the first step you should do before you start doing anything with this or any nib
I agree with you. However in this pen the sweet spot is not so much about being scratchy (it isn't and the nib is perfectly aligned) but a matter of only writing in that sweet spot. Rotate it just a little bit and it will skip. I do not see it as a defect, but as the personality of the pen. And now I enjoy it.
The Parker 45 is a work of genius! The ease of cleaning, servicing, customising is unparalleled. My favourite model is the Flighter, though I much prefer the CT version for the integration of the 'look'.
I have three '45s, including two Flighters, and two Moonman models - 80 Mini and 80 Mini E - which share a lot of the design elements.
The surprising thing, for me, is the poor condition of the nibs in the 45s I have received. They have all been bent, at least a little, and, while I have managed to get satisfactory writing, I am still looking for a good source of replacements.
Maybe 45:s with bent nibs are easier to sell. The good ones, people want to keep, of course, Haha!
Yes, it is a great pen. I usually find them with good nibs but I already found some with bent nibs. I just don't buy those, except if there is some other element on the pen that makes it worth it, like a special barrel colour or a specific cap...
@Johan I agree.
Completely agree! When I was a schoolboy, I could do the service myself, without any prior knowledge or specific tools.
@@josematy3249 Agai another characteristic of the pen that makes it one of the best ever.
I came across Made in USA Parker Flighter which is similar to the 79 model with a Golden trim you have with a 14K Gold nib. I've ordered it ( along with a matching Ball-point pen) for $50 from a Vintage Store here in India !
Congratulations for your new set. I think, to have one with a gold nib makes it always more valuable. But for the writing experience, with this kind of nib, there isn't much difference in the writing experience. But they are very well made pens. The Parker 45 is one of the best pens ever, in my opinion.
@@OdE-ObjectosdeEscrita Thanks.. I’ve just placed the order which will get shipped only after COVID situation in India gets under control ☹️
Tenho uma. Toda cromada. Adorava escrever com ela, quando estava na faculdade. Porém, não escrevo com ela para aí há uns 30 anos! Excelente vídeo.
Obrigado. As Parker 45 são das minhas canetas favoritas!
I love the "51", "61" and "45" amongst others... The shape of the "45" Flighter is superb. I think the version you demonstrate is a later version of a Parker "45" Flighter DELUXE--because it has the gold-plated/ filled Clip. Am I correct in stating earlier versions of the "45" Flighter Deluxe also had a long gold plated barrel tassie rather than a plain end to the steel barrel as yours does? Another point is that I have "45"s that will not accept insertion of particular nib units--there must be slight differences. My favorite "45" nib is stamped E and is a wide, broad Stub. What a superb pen, available in many incredible finishes at reasonable cost. Thank you very much for your excellent review!
I love these models too but, from them, the 45 is my favourite.
There were 2 older variations (both in the video), one with black tassie and one with gold plated tassie. And there was a newer version with the differrent clip and the round jewel on top of the cap.
This pen is just great, although very simple, at same time.
(sorry for the late reply)
Nice review
Thank you!
(Sorry for the late reply)
Great review video, if you should choose between flighter version or harlequin version which one will you take?
Thanks. The Flighter because it is cheapper and also because it was my first Parker 45 and that makes a difference to me. But, if I could get them at the same price... I think I would go with the Harlequin, because the feel of the pen's texture on the hand is very nice.
The parker45 I have has no country of origin mark on the cap...
Only '45 Parker 45' is engraved on the cap
Is this normal?
I think it is for the 45 made in USA.
The only downside of the 45s are they can be prone to heat and pressure shrinkage on the grip section. They still write well .
Yes... You are right. They will work by they become really ugly. Not serious if it is just a black variation that we can find easily. The problem is when it happens with somo more unusual colors. And some of those colors are just gorgeous (thinking of olive green).
Unfortunateley Parker 21, 61 and 65 also may have the shrinkage problem.
How can I get one
Check eBay or flea markets. I think it is the cheappest and easiest way to go.
(Sorry for the late reply)
how much is it?
It depends: ebay.to/3jLvvLK
They are generally around $40-50 USD, currently, with some higher and lower. Of course, they've not been made since 2008, so they're mainly used, but as there's almost nothing to go wrong with them, they are a great pen to get. (A lot of searching, you are still able to get them for around $20-30 USD.)
Thanks
Una lapicera que, aunque fue mi lapicera de escolar, aún de adulto la encuentro atractiva y elegante. Un diseño que no cansa.
Sorry for the late reply. I agree. I think this is timeless. A shame that Parker discontinued the model!
Mesmerized.
It is one of my favourite pens ever...
A superb review of my student days pen. Then came Lamey... Sighs. :) Good review thanks.
Thank you. I'm glad you liked it. It is one of my favourite fountain pens ever.
@@OdE-ObjectosdeEscrita My brother still uses his. He as the ornate steel body and gold nib. He is in his sixties!
@@kevinu.k.7042 This is a great pen, a classic and it works everytime... It is hard for me to understand why Parker discontinued it.
E, afinal, por causa do teu vídeo fui ver e, a versão que tenho, é de 1970 a 1979, ainda mais velha do que o que pensava. Como disse anteriormente, há muito, pelo menos há 25 anos, que não escrevo com ela. Há alguma hipótese (não digo de vender) mas de a trocar?
Creio que no The Fountain Pen Network ou no Reddit há locais próprios para isso...
Le parker 45 on ne l'oublie jamais.
One of my favourite pens ever.