Parker 25B Fountain Pen Review. A rediscovery

[@topazhk]

Thank you, Chris, for a retrospective review of the Parker 25 Matt Black. My own plastic case has been lost for decades and your opening shot of your case was an awakening for me. I guess I must have purchased my Parker 25 in the UK around 1980, and I used it quite a lot back then. It then ‘disappeared’ until around 2019 when I chanced upon it tucked away (without its case). Now, it is a regular part of my pen rotation and its medium nib writes well in spite of its age. It seems to have been built to last. The matt finishing has taken a beating and has been chipped off around the base and a bit at the top, but it is working perfectly fine. Thanks for posting this relaxed overview of this pen.

[@santauxia]

Ink makes the pen indeed. I just bought me a Platinum Curidas Medium nib. I started using it and it dried out all the time. I switched inks and now it's ready to go every time all the time.

[@chrisrap52]

Ink flow varies between brands and even within a brand's line. Good to try other inks.

[@johndevault9030]

Chris, I hope you enjoy that Asvine C2000 when you receive it. I have been using the light green version with a fine nib for 2 days now, and have enjoyed the pen. I have it inked with Pelikan 4001 Dark Green and when writing on Oxford Optik paper it is smooth and wet; even after 20 seconds it was not completely dry, and the 4001 ink series is known as dry inks. On the cheap office notepads and 20 lb bond printer paper there is see through and an occasional bleed through. So for writing in Chiao paper you may need the extra fine nib. I am still waiting on the red version with the stub nib to arrive.

[@penguin1780]

I love the Parker 25! I think a Chinese maker just came out with a version, and many pen folks I know are picking up the orange and green versions because they can’t find a 25 in those scarce colors. Mine is a blue flighter. I’ve seen the black and the white 25s on eBay lately.

[@chrisrap52]

Majohn B25 is the Chinese Parker 25. Reasonable price, lots of colors.

[@user-xt4jy6qq6e]

I love these pens, have the steel version with a blue grip and am waiting for an orange copy to arrive from china.... thanks for the memories!

[@stevenparsons4076]

Used one of these at school ,sadly long gone in those days they had a tough time 😊

[@zeus52452]

Thanks for another interesting review Chris. I saw online that Majohn had produced what they call the Craftsman B25 that looks like stainless steel with 5 different colored sections and trim. I ordered one which will be interesting to try and compare it to your Parker model 25B. It will probably be a while before it reaches me!!

[@chrisrap52]

Thanks for the reference. I was not aware of the B25. I does look like Parker 25.

[@paulmchugh1430]

I had two 25s. I broke the section on both. I used to use it writing on NCR paper (carbonless copy paper). I thought about getting another one as I would certainly treat it better. When I got one it was at a small shop near the subway entrance in John St. It was in a paper display and cost $7! I doubt I would ever find one at that price again.

[@chrisrap52]

Maybe get a Majohn B25. Looks like the Parker. Carbonless copy paper, brings back memories.

[@denisripley8699]

Nope.. it's made of austenitic stainless steel. Not magnetic, even with v strong neodymium magnet. The brass thread insert was used on some models as production evolved. It was, of course designed and manufactured solely by Parker England. Various interchangable nibs are available including cursive italic. Kenneth Grange designed the Parker 25 pen, which was released in 1975. Grange was a British industrial designer who was known for his work on the Kodak Instamatic camera, Wilkinson Sword razors, and the Iconic InterCity 125 high-speed train

[@chrisrap52]

Thanks. Great to have an update to my video. The brass threads threw me. Austenitic Stainless has lots of nickel & hence not magnetic. Thanks for the history.