Parker Victory
1941-46
About This Model
The earliest years of Parker's history in England are complex and murky, but it is known definitively that their operation in Newhaven began in 1941 in the Valentine Company's pen production facility, and which Parker then took over after WWII for its English production. The Victory was the first all-English Parker, and it shared characteristics with Valentines and Parker Duofolds. In fact, the first generation Victories look like Duofolds at first glance, with the black crown and blind cap, the celluloid patterns, and the fact that it is a button-filler. However, Victories have the best of both worlds: Duofold styling but a soft English nib. Victories were produced from 1941 through the early 1960s in five distinct forms, the MKI (1941-6) with the most Duofold-like appearance, the more slender MKII (1946-7) with matching crown and blind cap, MKIII (1947-48) with a longer blind cap, the yet more slender MKIV (1948-52) with a new Challenger-like clip, and finally the aerometric MKV (1952-mid '60s), more slender yet and with cheaper components.
About This Pen
This is an excellent example of the first generation Victory. At 13cm long, a button-filler, it is in black and gold marbled celluloid, looking very much like a later Duofold. It is unmarked, shiny, and exceptionally clean. The Parker Victory imprint is deep and complete. The gold Parker clip and single gold cap ring are tarnish-free. The nib is marked “Parker Pen”, 14K, and with the “N” for Newhaven manufacture. In addition to this Victory’s appearance, it is a wet and bold writer, the best of English soft writing. Whether the nib is a full bold or lightly stubbed is hard to say, but its writing is the proof. Don’t let this pen get too far from its ink source; it holds a lot but will need frequent refill.
Price: $125 Sold