Always great “genuine” content. Full of humor and joy-inspired commentary… what this hobby needs… not so serious all the time and definitely more of what real writers and lovers of writing with fountain pens are all about. I really am over the overly pretentious museum-piece showcases that only a few of us (really hobbyists) ever consider worthy of the ridiculously-small-nation-GNP-priced “limited” this and that examples that continue to take front and center… nothing wrong with a nice pen… but… anyway, please excuse the soapbox… putting that away. But back to you, Sir… excellent video. Always look forward to your publishings/posts. BTW what is this TEST you mentioned… not familiar with the term…
My budget only allows a few expensive pens. So, mostly, I enjoy repairing vintage pens. They are my real passion. The test is the "Pier Gustafson" test, named after the famous pen reviewer. It's a test of the pen under very rapid writing.
Beautiful pen! I snagged the same exact one off eBay for a bargain. It just has the older nib design and it’s missing the ink sac which can be replaced. Given that this version is circa 30’s, it will soon be no longer vintage; rather it will be soon considered antique! That adds more prestige and appeal!
I’mmmm Lilac bush for a set this time. Love it, your back yard garden border perhaps? Gota Love that Duofold! Much more pleasing than the just announced “new Duofold (again) apparently acrylic mimic of the early Vacumatics, I wonder if it will write as good out of the box as your 100 year old does now. Congrats on your great success with the nib work thus far and looking forward to progress updates. Thanks for the 1st impression., take care and I hope you get some rain soon for that garden.
Greetings from England. Thank you for your review. While I have never been lucky enough to try an original Duofold, I recently did manage to try one of the recently released Parker Duofold Centennial. Yes a very nice pen, but I must say I couldn't justify the cost, given that I find my Jinhao 100 Duofold is in every respect the Parker equal, when it comes to writing.
I'll confess that I really wanted a modern Duofold Centennial. But I waited until I could find one at a decent price. It's a great pen, but not worth what it usually sells for. And, of course, this vintage one cost a lost less than any of the modern Duofolds!
Great pen. I understand your feeling. I feel the same about my Vintage Parker Duofold, although I prefer the flat top version. I was looking closer and seems that your pen has the "wrong" section. That is the shape of the section of a flat top version. This streamline version should have a section much more similar to the section of a modern Duofold excluding the metal rings. Anyway, great buy. The vintage Duofold is how a fountain pen always looks like in my imagination...
@@WaskiSquirrel But to me, in a vintage pen, it doesn't "damage" the value of the pen. It makes sense in an old pen that is almost 100 years old. I was amazed with that a few days ago when I was filming a video about my "terracota" coloured pens and was holding my vintage Duofolds... It is impressive that we can actually write with a writing instrument that is 100 years old. And it performs perfectly. It is really amazing. We think about cell phones and other stuff that turns obsolette in 5 years or less and then we can write with these pens.
I just got my hands on a black Duofold Senior myself, so this was a timely first impressions. Still can’t decide if I like the first version Duofolds, or the later streamline models like yours better.
Just an FYI, I'm not sure if you noticed but it looks like the nib is not centered on the feed. That can cause flow issues. Thanks for sharing. Love the pen.
Thanks for the info! The nib does "wander" a bit. When I get some time this weekend, I'll be pulling the nib and feed out and seeing if I can do some more improvement.
Congrats! You've got one of the most iconic pens of all time. I have been looking for one for some time now. Read somewhere that red ebonite Duofolds tend to be brighter than celluloid ones.
I'm really thrilled with it! I would agree that it's brighter than the two celluloid examples I have. I wonder if it's related to off gassing from the sac as it deteriorates: it apparently discolors the celluloid.
This pen ticks so many boxes on my page of favorites, that it isn’t even funny. I love large pens. And orange. Vintage, certainly. And ebonite. And the button filler. And a Duofold, any day of the year. The nib just brought me back to earth after the initial euphoria. But that can be set right in your hands. Alas, I have only one Duofold. Once Aurora, especially the Aurora 88, took over my life, it has left me little left to spend on some of the other pens that I still desire greatly, not least one more vintage Parker Duofold.
The Aurora 88 is definitely a winner. Dare I say that I may even prefer the vintage 88 to the Duofold? That said, the nib definitely needs some work. It seemed pretty hopeless when I first got the pen, but I'm feeling hope now!
It seems as if the cap is a modern (streamline) replacement rather than the incorrect section. Most later duofolds had friction-fit sections rather than the screw-in version which that pen has. The fail in my famous test might be that the tunes are just not quite aligned yet....or pressing into eachother a bit.
I think you may be right, though apparently that may be something that Parker did itself as it transitioned the model. parkerpens.net/duofold.html Yes, the tines still need some work. I'm going to pull out nib and feed and see if I can fix several issues.
Very nice pen. Please send it to a nibmeister, if you can, along with the feed and section, and it will come back just wonderful. I wish I had this Senior Duofold. Great pen.
Maybe the PG Test is not so crucial, if you love the way the pen writes anyway, despite failing said test. Well done fixing the nib, that must be vey satisfying.
The PG Test shows a certain trait of the pen: the ability to rapidly flow ink. It's not necessary for good writing, but I include it because some of my users do value it. I'm thrilled with this pen as a writer!
I do love the anticipation of the big ink reveal. I'd have to say - and it may be something to do with colour balance of my device or yours - but that Washable Blue looks quite lilac (appropriately) on the page.
Great video. Is it true that when Parker wanted to make pens in another colour to stand out and boost sales that ‘red’ (orange let’s be honest) was the only colour they could achieve reliably at the time. More pen restoration videos would be great btw. I appreciate time constraints etc but really enjoy the bits where you work on pens
Yes, exactly right! Black ebonite was what most pens were made of. Parker figured out how to make orange ebonite and it definitely made their pen stand out. I will be doing some pen restoration soon. In the pipeline now are videos on resaccing, J-bars, and the two types of pressure bar from different button fillers.
I get you about the "restored" that really isn't. My first Wahl-Eversharp Skyliner was supposedly completely restored. Yeah. Just a coat of wax and a working ink sac (at first...) And definitely not the "flexible" nib they stated. Pictures hid the wear and tarnish and dings. But I only paid $20, so... 😁 As much as I still love my vintage Esterbrook pens, I really am happy with the button filler pens. Seems to hold more ink than a lever filler, about the same to clean out. I have a Challenger that I'm really happy with. Still looking for a Duofold... 😁 Really enjoy seeing your pens, and what you do to get them behaving. Sometimes it's just as simple as a slight adjustment. (And then there's the almost tearing up when I shattered a Conklin Endura ringtop trying to remove the section... With almost no pressure...)
Yes, this one was clearly resacced but that's the only restoration. This nib was one of the worst of any pen I've restored so far. As you point out, I didn't pay a lot of it, so I'll calm down. And I too have some shocking stories of destruction to share from my pen restoration!
Maybe that pen has an aversion to Washable Blue- no this ink just will not do! Gustafied. You want a reason to repair an old Duofold and get it working again- that’s a Gustification?
Always great “genuine” content. Full of humor and joy-inspired commentary… what this hobby needs… not so serious all the time and definitely more of what real writers and lovers of writing with fountain pens are all about. I really am over the overly pretentious museum-piece showcases that only a few of us (really hobbyists) ever consider worthy of the ridiculously-small-nation-GNP-priced “limited” this and that examples that continue to take front and center… nothing wrong with a nice pen… but… anyway, please excuse the soapbox… putting that away. But back to you, Sir… excellent video. Always look forward to your publishings/posts. BTW what is this TEST you mentioned… not familiar with the term…
My budget only allows a few expensive pens. So, mostly, I enjoy repairing vintage pens. They are my real passion.
The test is the "Pier Gustafson" test, named after the famous pen reviewer. It's a test of the pen under very rapid writing.
Beautiful pen!
I snagged the same exact one off eBay for a bargain. It just has the older nib design and it’s missing the ink sac which can be replaced.
Given that this version is circa 30’s, it will soon be no longer vintage; rather it will be soon considered antique! That adds more prestige and appeal!
Excellent point! I never even thought about it becoming antique! Yes, the sac is an easy replacement.
I’mmmm Lilac bush for a set this time. Love it, your back yard garden border perhaps? Gota Love that Duofold! Much more pleasing than the just announced “new Duofold (again) apparently acrylic mimic of the early Vacumatics, I wonder if it will write as good out of the box as your 100 year old does now. Congrats on your great success with the nib work thus far and looking forward to progress updates. Thanks for the 1st impression., take care and I hope you get some rain soon for that garden.
I agree. I'm not at all impressed with the looks of their special edition. It's not even on my fantasy list.
Greetings from England. Thank you for your review. While I have never been lucky enough to try an original Duofold, I recently did manage to try one of the recently released Parker Duofold Centennial. Yes a very nice pen, but I must say I couldn't justify the cost, given that I find my Jinhao 100 Duofold is in every respect the Parker equal, when it comes to writing.
I'll confess that I really wanted a modern Duofold Centennial. But I waited until I could find one at a decent price. It's a great pen, but not worth what it usually sells for.
And, of course, this vintage one cost a lost less than any of the modern Duofolds!
Great pen. I understand your feeling. I feel the same about my Vintage Parker Duofold, although I prefer the flat top version.
I was looking closer and seems that your pen has the "wrong" section. That is the shape of the section of a flat top version. This streamline version should have a section much more similar to the section of a modern Duofold excluding the metal rings.
Anyway, great buy. The vintage Duofold is how a fountain pen always looks like in my imagination...
Well said! And you may be right. So often, vintage pens are not "pure". They end up as conglomerations of spare parts.
@@WaskiSquirrel But to me, in a vintage pen, it doesn't "damage" the value of the pen. It makes sense in an old pen that is almost 100 years old.
I was amazed with that a few days ago when I was filming a video about my "terracota" coloured pens and was holding my vintage Duofolds... It is impressive that we can actually write with a writing instrument that is 100 years old. And it performs perfectly. It is really amazing. We think about cell phones and other stuff that turns obsolette in 5 years or less and then we can write with these pens.
I just got my hands on a black Duofold Senior myself, so this was a timely first impressions. Still can’t decide if I like the first version Duofolds, or the later streamline models like yours better.
This is my oldest Duofold, so I can't comment on the oldest ones, but I do enjoy this one very much!
Just an FYI, I'm not sure if you noticed but it looks like the nib is not centered on the feed. That can cause flow issues. Thanks for sharing. Love the pen.
Thanks for the info! The nib does "wander" a bit. When I get some time this weekend, I'll be pulling the nib and feed out and seeing if I can do some more improvement.
@@WaskiSquirrel Good luck
Congratulations! Is this the “most vintage” pen in your collection?
It's certainly close. I have a Waterman's 52 which could be older (or newer).
Congrats! You've got one of the most iconic pens of all time. I have been looking for one for some time now. Read somewhere that red ebonite Duofolds tend to be brighter than celluloid ones.
I'm really thrilled with it! I would agree that it's brighter than the two celluloid examples I have. I wonder if it's related to off gassing from the sac as it deteriorates: it apparently discolors the celluloid.
This pen ticks so many boxes on my page of favorites, that it isn’t even funny. I love large pens. And orange. Vintage, certainly. And ebonite. And the button filler. And a Duofold, any day of the year. The nib just brought me back to earth after the initial euphoria. But that can be set right in your hands. Alas, I have only one Duofold. Once Aurora, especially the Aurora 88, took over my life, it has left me little left to spend on some of the other pens that I still desire greatly, not least one more vintage Parker Duofold.
The Aurora 88 is definitely a winner. Dare I say that I may even prefer the vintage 88 to the Duofold? That said, the nib definitely needs some work. It seemed pretty hopeless when I first got the pen, but I'm feeling hope now!
It seems as if the cap is a modern (streamline) replacement rather than the incorrect section. Most later duofolds had friction-fit sections rather than the screw-in version which that pen has. The fail in my famous test might be that the tunes are just not quite aligned yet....or pressing into eachother a bit.
I think you may be right, though apparently that may be something that Parker did itself as it transitioned the model.
parkerpens.net/duofold.html
Yes, the tines still need some work. I'm going to pull out nib and feed and see if I can fix several issues.
Very nice pen. Please send it to a nibmeister, if you can, along with the feed and section, and it will come back just wonderful. I wish I had this Senior Duofold. Great pen.
The nibmeister may be necessary. I have the nib and feed out right now so I can investigate them better.
@@WaskiSquirrel your beautiful treasure is certainly worth it. Thanks.
Maybe the PG Test is not so crucial, if you love the way the pen writes anyway, despite failing said test. Well done fixing the nib, that must be vey satisfying.
The PG Test shows a certain trait of the pen: the ability to rapidly flow ink. It's not necessary for good writing, but I include it because some of my users do value it. I'm thrilled with this pen as a writer!
@@WaskiSquirrel Good point. Actually I assume there are people who draw (with more skill and flair than I) with such gestures in their vocabulary.
I do love the anticipation of the big ink reveal.
I'd have to say - and it may be something to do with colour balance of my device or yours - but that Washable Blue looks quite lilac (appropriately) on the page.
I goofed up my settings when I filmed this pretty badly and didn't realize until afterward.
@@WaskiSquirrel Oh, OK. That would explain it. Easily done.
"Let's go over to my TWSBI Draco page..". Will this be a forthcoming first impression video?
It will. I'm absurdly happy with that pen!
Great video. Is it true that when Parker wanted to make pens in another colour to stand out and boost sales that ‘red’ (orange let’s be honest) was the only colour they could achieve reliably at the time.
More pen restoration videos would be great btw. I appreciate time constraints etc but really enjoy the bits where you work on pens
Yes, exactly right! Black ebonite was what most pens were made of. Parker figured out how to make orange ebonite and it definitely made their pen stand out.
I will be doing some pen restoration soon. In the pipeline now are videos on resaccing, J-bars, and the two types of pressure bar from different button fillers.
I get you about the "restored" that really isn't. My first Wahl-Eversharp Skyliner was supposedly completely restored. Yeah. Just a coat of wax and a working ink sac (at first...) And definitely not the "flexible" nib they stated. Pictures hid the wear and tarnish and dings. But I only paid $20, so... 😁
As much as I still love my vintage Esterbrook pens, I really am happy with the button filler pens. Seems to hold more ink than a lever filler, about the same to clean out. I have a Challenger that I'm really happy with.
Still looking for a Duofold... 😁
Really enjoy seeing your pens, and what you do to get them behaving. Sometimes it's just as simple as a slight adjustment. (And then there's the almost tearing up when I shattered a Conklin Endura ringtop trying to remove the section... With almost no pressure...)
Yes, this one was clearly resacced but that's the only restoration. This nib was one of the worst of any pen I've restored so far. As you point out, I didn't pay a lot of it, so I'll calm down.
And I too have some shocking stories of destruction to share from my pen restoration!
Replacement nib because of warranty! I have a bunch from the 20's used, warranty and new in the box.
I think the warranty on mine is run dry. I do need to work on the nib, though.
Maybe that pen has an aversion to Washable Blue- no this ink just will not do! Gustafied. You want a reason to repair an old Duofold and get it working again- that’s a Gustification?
It should like drinking its own ink...though to be fair Parker Quink Washable Blue was not a thing when this pen was young.
BTW, Parker… one of my favorite brands…. I own a more modern iteration/release of the DUOFOLD, and it is a prize in my collection…
The modern Duofold is great too!
I’m constantly thinking of buying a modern Duofold. I cannot fathom why I still haven’t.
I love my duofold cenntinal
It's a great model!