Technical Description of The Parker 45 Flighter Pen
Table of Contents
Introduction
Body of the Parker Duofold Fountain Pen
- Barrel and Cap
- Shell Section and Barrel Inner
- Ink Converter, Ink Collector, and Feed
- The Nib
Function
Conclusion
References
Introduction
Throughout history, there have been many prototypes of the fountain pen from the reservoir pen of the Fatimid Caliph in 974 C.E. to the early European reservoir pens that combined two quills with a cork and were described as “a silver metal pen.” The first ever fountain pen was patented by English inventor Frederick Fölsch in 1809. The fountain pen is a writing instrument that contains ink in its barrel and applied ink on paper through its metal bib. The name “fountain” referred to the interminable flow of water-based liquid ink from the pen just as water flows from a fountain (Nardo, 2023 para. 8). Fountain pens were invented in order to combat the inconvenience of the old-fashioned quill-pens that needed to be dipped in ink in order to produce writing. Furthermore, because they needed to be dipped in ink, the writing from the old-fashioned quills would result in inconsistent thickness in writing. The fountain pen eliminated inconsistent writing by providing a steady flow of ink and took away the need to replace the quill itself.
The Parker Pen company was founded in the year 1888, by American inventor and industrialist, George Safford Parker. The company had its big break in the year 1894, when “The Lucky Curve feed system” was developed, which was a mechanism that enabled the ink to return back into the reservoir (“Goldspot”, 2024). With this technology, Parker was able to become a major player in the fountain pen industry. Parker’s most famous fountain pen, the Duofold fountain pen introduced in 1921 was crafted from solid resin and palladium-finished trims. Parker Pen Company continued to launch many different models of its fountain pens such as the Parker 51, Parker 21, and the Parker 45 Flighter fountain pen.
Body of the Parker 45 Flighter Fountain Pen
The Parker Fountain Pen has a sleek tapered body with a sharp nib at the top made out of either gold or stainless steel. It comes with an even cylindrical cap that has an intricate emblem at the top and an arrow pointing down from the side. The inside of the pen boasts another sleek and tapered shape consisting of the shell section and the barrel inner. The inner section contains the heart of the pen as it contains the ink converter, ink collector, and feed, all three of which deliver the ink to the nib. Figure #1 showcases a visualization of the Parker 45 Flighter fountain pen with all of its parts displayed.
Figure #1: This image displays all the parts of the Parker 45 Flighter such as the cap, barrel, ink collector, nib, and etc. Source: [Diagram of Parker 45 Flighter pen]. (n.d.). https://parker45pens.wordpress.com/parker-45-flighter/
Barrel and Cap
The barrel and the cap of the Parker Flighter 45 pen are both stainless steel pieces that enclose the pen and make up the main body of the pen. The cap has intricate details such as an arrow that runs down the side and points toward the nib of the pen as shown in Figure #2. At the top of the cap is either conical, dimpled, or a dish design ( a slight crater). Even though the pen displayed in figure #1 has a stainless steel barrel and cap, it can also be made out of gold and or silver.
Shell Section and Barrel Inner
The shell section and barrel inner of the pen are the parts that house the main mechanisms of the Parker 45 Flighter pen. They are both black in color and made of resin. The shell section and barrel inner hold the ink converter, ink collector, and feed in place, which allows the smooth transfer of ink to take place.
Ink Convertor, Ink Collector, and Feed
The ink converter, ink collector, and feed are like the circulatory system of the fountain pen. Just like how the heart pumps oxygenated blood throughout our body, the ink converter, collector, and feed facilitate the flow of ink through the pen. The ink converter holds the water-based ink and can be refilled with bottled ink. After the ink leaves the ink converter, it is the role of the ink collector and feed to pass the ink down to the nib.
The Nib
The all-important aesthetically pleasing nib of the parker pen comes in either stainless steel or gold. The terminal portion extending till the central region of the nib is equipped with a screw mechanism, facilitating its attachment and detachment from the primary structure of the pen. Subsequently, as we progress from the middle to the apex of the nib, the width gradually diminishes until we reach the most acute tip of the pen. The nib has a triangular shape with slightly curved sides, as depicted in Figure #3. The nib serves as the terminal component of the pen, facilitating the transfer of ink from the fountain pen to the receiving paper.
Function
Unlike other Parker fountain pen models which use cartridges to store ink, the Parker 45 Flighter pen uses an ink converter to hold its ink. To use the pen, a user first needs to pull the cap off and hold the pen at 40-55 degrees in order to optimize the flow of the water-based ink. The application of pressure to the paper results in the downward movement of ink from the ink converter to the ink collector due to the force of gravity. Subsequently, the ink is directed into the ink feed, which facilitates the transfer of ink to the nib and enables its deposition onto the writing surface. The movement of ink from the ink converter to paper is facilitated by the force of gravity, while the dimensions and uniformity of the written content are regulated by the phenomenon referred to as capillary action. Capillary action refers to the phenomenon wherein a liquid is drawn into a restricted region as a result of the cohesive properties of the liquid and its affinity for a solid substance. (Nardo, 2023, “Capillary Action” section) The liquid ink of the Parker 45 Flighter pen is able to flow through the narrowing width of the nib and generate uniform strokes due to the combination of gravity and capillary action.
Conclusion
The Parker 45 flighter fountain pen, from the outside looks simple, but the process that takes place in the inside of ink flowing from an ink converter through a feeder and into the narrow part of the nib through the use of gravity and capillary action. This technological advancement was not only remarkable, but it also brought about a significant transformation in the realm of writing instruments. This technological advancement has resulted in increased efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and convenience in the process of writing, while also enhancing the consistency and precision of written content. Moreover, it had a pivotal role in the development of numerous contemporary writing instruments, including ballpoint and gel pens.
References
Goulet, B. (2023, August 17). How do fountain pens work?. The Goulet Pen Company. https://www.gouletpens.com/blogs/fountain-pen-blog/how-do-fountain-pens-work
Nardo, S. D. (2024b, February 12). Who invented the fountain pen? A comprehensive history. Dayspring Pens. https://www.dayspringpens.com/blogs/the-jotted-line/when-was-the-fountain-pen-invented-a-brief-history-1
Nardo, S. D. (2024a, January 19). How do fountain pens work? the journey from nib to paper. Dayspring Pens. https://www.dayspringpens.com/blogs/the-jotted-line/how-do-fountain-pens-workParker Pens history. Goldspot Pens. (n.d.). https://goldspot.com/pages/parker-pens-history#:~:text=1888%3A%20George%20Safford%20Parker%20established,in%20the%20Parker%20Pen%20Company.
