Writing Instruments: From the Collection - The Parker 61 with 'Rainbow' Cap

Now this is something a little different that belongs to me. Those that collect Parker would find this one of the unique fountain pens from the renown pen maker - the Parker 61. This was a pen, when first introduced in 1956 had a tagline ' Unlike Any Pen In The World...or Any Other'. You can see it in the photograph above.

How good things last - 1970s Sterling Silver Parker 75

This has been with me for about 15 years or so. A circa 1970s Parker 75 fountain pen with a 14k gold nib, cover and body made out of Sterling Silver with a cross hatched square grid pattern (called the Cicelé) and can be used with the usual Parker cartridge for ink. 

How good things last and how some don't really stay the same - Featuring my Parker ballpoint pens

I have been using the stainless steel Parker Jotter ballpoint pen you see here in the photographs as my main pen for over a decade. Those that have been following my exploits would know that I posted about it here. 

It does not mean that I am a one pen person. I have others. I have fountain pens too (Lots of them). But I find the ballpoint pen practical for daily use especially when filling up those forms at the banks, where you need to apply some force to make sure the duplicates are legible. So aside from the fact that I dread the fact of losing one of my vintage Parker, Pelikan or MontBlanc pens I like having the very affordable Parker Jotter with me most of the time. 

A Good & Affordable Pen - The Parker Jotter

My first posting in Amalaysianman.blogspot.com was about basic items that every man should have. It included my opinion that every man who works in an office environment should carry a proper pen. This means a decent pen instead of a cheap papermate or kilometrico. As cheap Kilometrico ballpoint pen poking out of your shirt pocket is a sign that you're not paying enough attention on your overall image and that you're not willing to go the extra mile in your quest to be prim and proper. 

A RM50.00 Parker Jotter ballpoint pen (now sadly out of production  still available at most large departmental stores in Kuala Lumpur) is something that does not cost the earth yet its arrow clip makes a good enough statement when poking out of one's shirt pocket. A Montblanc Meisterstuck fountain pen is even better. I've got one of those as well as about twenty other vintage Parker fountain pens.

 But if you're slightly careless or forgetful, then an entry level Parker would suffice most of the time as almost every other pen in the shirt pocket of most Malaysian paper pushers are either free, stolen from office supply  cabinet or as I mentioned, an el-cheapo ballpoint pen with a plastic cap or built wholly of plastic with numbers like the nib size, e.g 0.5mm, printed on it (very unbecoming). Couple that with its ease of use (which is the actual reason I tend to use the affordable Parker instead of refilling the fountain pens) and you're got a winner folks.

In short, any entry level Cross, Schaffer, Parker and any pen with a proper cap, clip and barrel would do. It's not the brand, but how decent its built and how it gives you a better overall impression. 

My very used stainless steel Parker Jotter is seen here with an Omega Seamaster Professional Quartz and a Sony Ericsson K800i. Those that are fans of James Bond will see that connection right away.