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Parker "17"
1962-1972
HISTORY
During the late 1950s and 1960s, the British Parker factory in Newhaven, UK, produced several models and versions of the new Duofolds, aimed at the lower-priced market. They were made using the injection-moulded polystyrene fabrication method that paved the way for the success of the Parker "45", in which the entire pen could be made from the same dyes.
A black Parker "17" DeLuxe.
The Parker "17" all had a version of the aerometric filler, introduced with the new Parker "51" line of the late 1940s. The filler system proved to be reliable and easy to use, and really had no competition until the launch of the Parker "45" and the cartridge filler system, still frequently used today.
The Parker "17" was introduced in 1962 in two designs: the Parker "17" Duofold and the Parker "17" Super Duofold (ca. 137 mm, closed). The former featured a thin cap ring and the latter an unusually wide cap band and a tassie ring/jewel. Both had slip-on caps, unlike the rest of the European Duofold line of the 1960s. They also sported a new-style clip with more tapered feathers.
The early models also had an open, beak-shaped 14k gold nib. The ends were wider and more pointed than later models, not unlike the Danish Parker Popular of the 1950s. They were offered in the four standard Duofold colours of the time: Black, Blue, Red, and Green. These pens also featured metal cap grip rings on the body. Twist-operated pencils were also offered.
A French ad from the 1960's.
Image © courtesy of John Gilks
A DeLuxe that was found with a Parker "51" MKIII style cap. The later DeLuxe "17" is identical to the Parker "51" MKIII, save the imprint.
In 1964, the open nibs were replaced with a design featuring a more hooded nib. They were not tubular in the manner of the Parker "51s", but still hidden under a plastic lip. The same year, a ladies' version—the Parker "17" Lady—was launched, of the same design and colours as the standard Parker "17" but smaller in size. There do not appear to be any examples of a ladies' version of the Parker "17" Super.
In 1967, a new model called the Lady Insignia was introduced. It had a 12k rolled gold barrel and cap, while the gripping section was in black plastic. It also featured a clip very similar to that of the Parker "45".
Image © courtesy of Generation Pen
A black Parker "17" DeLuxe.
In 1968, the Lady Standard (ca. 134 mm) was announced—similar to the Parker "17" Lady, but with a longer section, the Parker "45" clip, and a cap ring situated on the cap lip. It was also slightly longer and more tapered at both ends—again, Parker "45" features. Custom versions, with 12k rolled gold caps and trim, also exist. The cap grip rings were now made of black plastic, as opposed to the earlier metal ones.
A blue and a red Parker "17" Lady from 1964.
Both the Lady Insignia and Lady Standard belonged to the Parker "17" family but were not imprinted as such. New old stock pens reveal that they had the name in white crayon on the body, but this seldom remains on used pens.
A later addition to the line was also the Parker "17" Deluxe, a model with a metal cap and either chrome or gold-filled trim. The GF pens also had gold nibs, while the CT pens had cheaper steel nibs. Interestingly enough, at least the CT version was produced in France, and the parts—save the nibs—cannot be interchanged, possibly due to the use of the metric system during manufacturing.
The Parker "17" was discontinued in 1972, but Parker continued to sell from its large overstock for a few years.
