Parker Black Giant fountain pen (June 2023)

June 04, 2023

I have just joined a new Facebook group on Fountain Pens collecting and it has motivated me to start refining my pen collections again. This is my latest find a Parker Black Giant: iconic oversize black hard rubber eyedropper-filler, 15.5 cm long, full length model with clip. This is my first vintage fpuntain pen for 2023. The last vintage fountain pens were found in December 2022.

Parker’s first Giant,” the “Red Giant,” introduced in 1909 at US$10. The Big red giant failed because the cap was too brittle and Parker was losing too much money honoring their warrantees. This was less of a problem with the “Black Giant,” introduced soon afterwards.

The Parker Giant pen is an eyedropper filler made in hard rubber, furnished with a slip cap and joint threaded section, and very approximate measurements of 15.5 cm long capped with a diameter cap 19 mm. It has both Red and Black. The Parker Giants is not made as a self-filler owing to its extraordinary ink carrying capacity and infrequent need of filling.

There are a few variations of the Parker Giant. These are found clipless, with a “split” clip (open in the back), and a full washer clip, such as this example below. They also are found with and without a cap imprint (this example is without). The pen also came in two lengths; this being the longer version. To match the size of the pen, the pen is fitted with a huge #12 fine nib.

In term of design, the Parker Giant is the predecessor of the Parker Duofold. The Parker Duofold Senior is much smaller in length and diameter and has a range of colours from the famour Big red to Mandarin yello, Lapis Blue, black and brown. It has also the junior size and ladies.

I was hesistant in getting this Parker Giant as the price is quite high and after several days of considerations, I have decided to putl the trigger. I am glad I did as I later found out that there is a fellow pens collector from fountain pen network also looking at getting the pen. I think its getting harder and harder to search for this unique peices. To help focus, I have decided to limit my collection now to eye dropper fountain pen as well only trying to keep oversized pens of mini.