Date codes on Parker Pens
In mid 1934 Parker began marking most pens and pencils with a date code, both the barrel and the nibs were marked, but lacking
a date code doesn't necessarily mean that the pen was made pre-1935, since
many imprints have been worn off with use. The first date codes, found for example on the Vacumatics, consists of two digits, the first one denoting the quarter of production, the second denoting the production year. Hence a "47" marking on a 1930's pen indicate that the pen was produced in the fourth quarter of 1937, not 1947, which is a common misconception.
In the second quarter of 1938 this system was however changed to save
production time, and a new date code, using a system of dots, was adopted.
The stamp initially had three dots and for each quarter one dot was filed
down leaving none for the fourth quarter. Since production was overlapping
examples exist with either the imprint 28 or .8. for the the second quarter
of 1938. Also, since this coding system extended over a decade, a pen marked 38 could be produced the third quarter either in 1938 or 1948.
In 1950 a new system for the date coding was introduced where the two digits only indicated the year, not the quarter hence "50" means made in 1950, this system was used in the US until 1955 and in Canada a few years longer..
Beginning in 1970 Parker in France and the UK began marking some of their pens on the trim or cap bands to allow for dating. Using the words "Quality pen", one letter per year, followed by a quarter marker, allowing for dating within a ten year span. Parker used this system more and more and it was introduced in the US in 1979. The quarter marker changed in 1987 from ECLI to III,II,I or none (last quarter) according to the below table.
In 2000 the code again underwent a small change when the quarter switched sides with the year and there was a dot between them "Q.III"
Year Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
---------------------------------
1970 - QE QC QL QI
1971 - UE UC UL UI
1972 - AE AC AL AI
1973 - LE LC LL LI
1974 - IE IC IL II Note that EI could also denote Q1 1984 or Q3 1988 etc
1975 - TE TC TL TI
1976 - YE YC YL YI
1977 - PE PC PL PI
1978 - EE EC EL EI
1979 - NE NC NL NI Date coding begins in the US
1980 - QE QC QL QI
1981 - UE UC UL UI
1982 - AE AC AL AI
1983 - LE LC LL LI
1984 - IE IC IL II Note that EI could also denote Q1 1974 or Q3 1988 etc
1985 - TE TC TL TI
1986 - YE YC YL YI
(change)
1987 - IIIP IIP IP P
1988 - IIIE IIE IE E Note that EI could also denote Q1 1974 or Q1 1984 etc
1989 - IIIN IIN IN N
1990 - IIIQ IIQ IQ Q
1991 - IIIU IIU IU U
1992 - IIIA IIA IA A
1993 - IIIL IIL IL L
1994 - IIII III II I
1995 - IIIT IIT IT T
1996 - IIIY IIY IY Y
1997 - IIIP IIP IP P
1998 - IIIE IIE IE E
1999 - IIIN IIN IN N
(change)
2000 - Q.III Q.II Q.I Q
2001 - U.III U.II U.I U
2002 - A.III A.II A.I A
2003 - L.III L.II L.I L
2004 - I.III I.II I.I I
2005 - T.III T.II T.I T
2006 - Y.III Y.II Y.I Y
2007 - P.III P.II P.I P
2008 - E.III E.II E.I E
2009 - N.III N.II N.I N
Condition-code standard for writing equiptment
Untouched,
unfilled. No marks or spots whatsoever. Crisp colour. Never filled. This
condition rarely exists. Absolute perfect condition.
Perfect
condition. No marks, spots or brassing. Crisp colour and shiny finish
on plastic pens. No discolouration. Working condition. These pens can
be filled. Not filled pens should be noted. NOS pens should be in Mint
condition.
An excellent pen, but with parts of duller finish or nearly invisible
surface scratches. No brassing, virtually a Mint pen, but with small signs
of usage.
.
Visible, but not accented surface scratches or parts of dull finish. More
accented scratches where the cap goes on the butt and body. Otherwise
fully functional and crisp finish with no brassing.
Visible
surface scratches or dull finish. Signs of wear on the nib or light discolouration
of the section or around filling lever or button filler. Light brassing
or small lip crack. Clear signs of usage, but still a better than average
pen.
Some scratches and dull finish. Signs of everyday usage on nib or body.
Brassing, light all over discolouration. Minute lip or body cracks. Loose
cap rings or body rings. A used pen in average condition.
Scratches,
dull finish. Nib and body well used. Brassing, discolouration. Small lip
or body cracks. Light cap or blind-cap misfit. Loose cap rings or body
rings. Worse than average condition, but still a fully functional pen.
Severe
scratches and marks. Severe brassing. Discolouration. Small lip or body
cracks. Cap or blind-cap misfit. Loose cap or body rings. Still functional,
or functional with light attention.
Severe
scratches and marks. Svere brassing and discolouration. Severe cracks
or essential parts missing. Cap, bodyrings or lever missing or loose.
A not functional parts pen.
Abbreviations:
BC = Blind cap
BCHR = Black, chased hard rubber
BHR = Black hard rubber
BLHR = Black lined hard rubber
BY = Body/barrel
CF = Capillary filler
CL = Clip
CP = Cap
CPT = Crome plated trim
CS = Clip screw
EB-1 = Engraved body/barrel. Light and small
EB-2 = Engraved body/barrel. Light or small
EB-3 = Engraved body/barrel. Deep or large
EB-4 = Engraved body/barrel. Deep and large
EC-1>4 = Engraved cap. Ditto.
ED = Eyedropper filled
FU = Filler unit
GF = Gold filled
GFF = Gold filled filagree
GFM = Gold filled mounted
GFT = Gold filled trim
IF = Ink feed
IM = Iridium
LF = Lever filler
MBL = Marble
MHR = Red and black mottled hard rubber
MIB = Mint in box
NB = Nib
NF = Never filled.
NOS = New Old Stock. Untouched, unfilled pens, not currently available
in stores.
NPT = Nickel plated trim
NS = Needs sac
PF = Plunger fill
PR = Plunger
RBHR = Red and black hard rubber
RCHR = Red chased hard rubber
RG = Rolled gold
RHR = Red hard rubber
RRHR = Red-ripple hard rubber,
RT = Ring top
SGM = Solid gold mounted
SF = Silver filagree
SFD = Silver filled
SGF = Solid gold filagree
SN = Section
SPT = Silver plated trim
SSM = Solid silver mounted
TD = Touchdown filler
TR = Tassie ring
VM = Vermielle
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