The Best Duofold Imaginable?
Perhaps. Perhaps not. Cachet is a nuanced thing in the upper strata of Duofolds.
But... this helps catch your eye, I hope.
While I don't collect Demonstrators in a completist fashion-- I've sold my only examples of at least a Conklin Nozac, Parker 61 and Parker 45 Demo-- I do have a growing number of them, usually pens representing series I already actively collect.
While terms can get a bit fuzzy at the edges --particularly by the late 1940s-- Demos generally reference pens provided to dealers, pens that allow examination of internal features. The two most common approaches to making Demonstrators include cutting viewing ports into cap and barrel and manufacturing the pen from a transparent material. Modern so-called Demonstrators do demonstrate, but really are not Demonstrators. They have the "show the guts" thing going for them, but they lack the minuscule production numbers and restricted distribution seen with the real deal from the old days.
I collect Parker's 1921-1935 original Duofold, both flat-top and later streamlined forms. But, again, I don't collect in completist fashion. Have probably a dozen or two pens in my collection and many more than that in the sales pipeline. I grab examples that appeal at the moment, and I've accumulated some with great color, some in pristine condition, and some with significant model/variant cachet.
I've photographed more than 7000 old pens for my photo archive, have browsed ebay daily and have attended 100 pen shows or so. No doubt I miss things, but... I have handled and have seen many Duofolds.
So, I did have quite a bit of interest-- in my role of collector-- when a friend found a transparent streamlined Duofold Demonstrator. I've never handled another. Demos starting in the mid 1930's are far more common.
This one has a sharp Duofold imprint, has transparent cap, barrel, end pieces, gripping section and feed. The original sac, adherent to barrel wall, has Parker markings. Just stunning. The closest I've seen is a similar color Parker Lucky Curve (without "Duofold" imprint), belonging to Tom Zoss iirc.
Always it is fun to find pen on ebay, buried in collections/hoards purchased in one fell swoop. That didn't happen with this one
I paid the asking price for this gem. I've tracked reports of one selling a few years ago, a weaker condition Canadian specimen residing in an English collection, and possibly one sold at auction in 1992.
This one will stay with me at length.
Curious if anyone else has handled any?
regards
David