I bought a red one for £1 at a charity shop recently, and I was comparing prices on eBay, and they were going for about £10, which is still a very reasonable price. I just got lucky. I picked up an all steel slim Parker flighter, like the jotter, but thinner for the same price bundled with a cheap note pad as well. But those are the exceptions. Normally I look for a good deal on eBay.
Mid 60-year-old, always a pen fanatic, I recently came across a website all about the history of Parker pens. I’m sure fans of Parker know of this website. I remembered I had bought a jotter in the early 90s, replaced the cartridge with a bold cartridge, didn’t like the way it wrote particularly and so threw it in a box where it has been for decades. Website gave date codes so recently I found and dated my old black jotter to sometime in 1991. Decided to refill that jotter with a modern jotter refill, which I am assuming is their best work on the ink so far. Enjoying the way it writes, decided to purchase a new jotter XL, and I really like this one which is perfect for my large hand. Was in thrift store recently, came across a bag of old pens and pencils, looked at this bag, and to my amazement saw a stainless steel Jotter! The whole bag sold for around two dollars, threw away all the other cheap no-name pens, pencils, and kept the jotter. Replaced the cartridge with a fine point. What a thrift store find that was! So I use my old black Jotter and my new Jotter XL and the thrift store stainless steel Jotter and I’m happy as a clam now. The Jotter stainless steel date code worked out to be about 1991 as well. Both were made in the USA, the new Parker XL was made in France. Does anybody know if the original is made in Janesville? How many other factories does Parker have in the USA? Happy writing!
Yes, Parker added the S/S tip protector for durability. I remember my family had a Parker that chipped the tip, and later fell apart when a crack made it across the plastic barrel.
I like the Ohto Rays but you definitely notice that’s it’s narrower than a jotter where you place your fingers. Also I find the regular jotter much less slippery than the all stainless jotter. I also recommend Schneider Slider extra bold refills for jotters.
I prefer plastic bottom Jotter compared to all metal as it is easier to grip especially if using longer. Looks nicer than the Jotter XL except if it was slightly thicker with same tapering would probably be ideal. Th eXL version is longer and slightly thicker but I feel like the regular would have done better then the XL if it was just slightly wider maybe 1mm or so and taper it as the original is tapered. And the most recent Parker Quink refills(made in Fr) are ideal for me not so slick (as many hybrid inks are) and not too thick just ideal traction.
The traditional Parker Jotter is way too narrow for my writing grip, and the Jotter XL is a little too wide. The Sheaffer Sentinel feels nearly perfect in my hand, but its refill is frustrating. I enjoy wielding a Ballograf Executive and generally like its refills, especially those with archival ink. However, although Sheaffer "K" and Ballograf refills look similar, I haven't found them to be interchangeable. Neither genuine Sheaffer nor Ballograf refills are as widely available as those embracing the Parker G2 standard. The mystery for me is why these manufacturers maintain proprietary refills. Is there something about their business model that benefits from this approach? Government and institutional sales, maybe?
Some newer Ballograf models, like the Executive featured in this video, can actually take G2 refills without any modifications. However, I think your guess is correct that government and institutional sales have been a major factor for Ballograf. The Ballograf Epoca pen (th-cam.com/video/5ynN_7W8ezU/w-d-xo.html) has been around since the 60's, and for most of that time has been the primary choice in Sweden for all kind of environments where archive quality ballpoints have been required. Post offices, banks, government, public universities, the army etc.
The Jotter refills are absolutely shit. How such a nice pen could feel so bad to write with is disappointing, so changing the refill is a must. Everyone should own one Jotter though. Nice pen, shit refill.
isn't that the same shit English is a bastard language anyway a mixture of made up words from germanic and latin languages (pure fact from English themselves can watch it here on TH-cam) makes no difference Bol ball its o sound anyway not aaa
I was checking older videos just now and it was a nice surprise clicking on a new upload
I love the understated elegance of the plastic Jotters. I always get Mid Century vibes when I handle one.
My first Parker Jotter style pen was a PaperMate Double heart. Wish they would make them again.
I bought a red one for £1 at a charity shop recently, and I was comparing prices on eBay, and they were going for about £10, which is still a very reasonable price. I just got lucky. I picked up an all steel slim Parker flighter, like the jotter, but thinner for the same price bundled with a cheap note pad as well. But those are the exceptions. Normally I look for a good deal on eBay.
Mid 60-year-old, always a pen fanatic, I recently came across a website all about the history of Parker pens. I’m sure fans of Parker know of this website.
I remembered I had bought a jotter in the early 90s, replaced the cartridge with a bold cartridge, didn’t like the way it wrote particularly and so threw it in a box where it has been for decades. Website gave date codes so recently I found and dated my old black jotter to sometime in 1991. Decided to refill that jotter with a modern jotter refill, which I am assuming is their best work on the ink so far. Enjoying the way it writes, decided to purchase a new jotter XL, and I really like this one which is perfect for my large hand.
Was in thrift store recently, came across a bag of old pens and pencils, looked at this bag, and to my amazement saw a stainless steel Jotter! The whole bag sold for around two dollars, threw away all the other cheap no-name pens, pencils, and kept the jotter. Replaced the cartridge with a fine point. What a thrift store find that was! So I use my old black Jotter and my new Jotter XL and the thrift store stainless steel Jotter and I’m happy as a clam now.
The Jotter stainless steel date code worked out to be about 1991 as well. Both were made in the USA, the new Parker XL was made in France. Does anybody know if the original is made in Janesville? How many other factories does Parker have in the USA? Happy writing!
Yes, Parker added the S/S tip protector for durability. I remember my family had a Parker that chipped the tip, and later fell apart when a crack made it across the plastic barrel.
Great topic and video.
Thanks for the video - just subscribed to your channel! Appreciate the information!
Thanks for stopping by
So cool that you have a first-year Jotter!
The Ohto Rays dry gel is my go-to refill and Parker Jotter-type pen.
Ohto is the bestest
nice collection , i think is worth tracking all the models that look a lot like the jotter
Good review of the jotter look alike, excellent pens by the way. Another alternative would be a model from the
spanish inoxcrom
I like the Ohto Rays but you definitely notice that’s it’s narrower than a jotter where you place your fingers. Also I find the regular jotter much less slippery than the all stainless jotter.
I also recommend Schneider Slider extra bold refills for jotters.
Parker jotter is the best, I love also the ohto rays just hate the fact that the push button is made of plastic, nice video thanks!
Hi, I would like a recommended pen for my daily signing. Is the CARAN D'ACHE ballpoint good?
Inoxcrom pens also great and very qualified at this range of price
does the new jotters have no data code engraved on it?
I prefer plastic bottom Jotter compared to all metal as it is easier to grip especially if using longer. Looks nicer than the Jotter XL except if it was slightly thicker with same tapering would probably be ideal. Th eXL version is longer and slightly thicker but I feel like the regular would have done better then the XL if it was just slightly wider maybe 1mm or so and taper it as the original is tapered. And the most recent Parker Quink refills(made in Fr) are ideal for me not so slick (as many hybrid inks are) and not too thick just ideal traction.
hauser also has one called the berlin
Excellent pens-the Jotters.
Thank you again, friend. I've gotten into more fountain pens lately. What do you think of the Parker jotter fountain pens?
I’m a big fan of the jotter but I tend to use the space pen more.
Oh sorry saw you meant only the fp: I’m not a big fan of the jotter fp. I much prefer the Lamy safari and pilot metro in this price range.
The traditional Parker Jotter is way too narrow for my writing grip, and the Jotter XL is a little too wide. The Sheaffer Sentinel feels nearly perfect in my hand, but its refill is frustrating. I enjoy wielding a Ballograf Executive and generally like its refills, especially those with archival ink. However, although Sheaffer "K" and Ballograf refills look similar, I haven't found them to be interchangeable. Neither genuine Sheaffer nor Ballograf refills are as widely available as those embracing the Parker G2 standard. The mystery for me is why these manufacturers maintain proprietary refills. Is there something about their business model that benefits from this approach? Government and institutional sales, maybe?
Some newer Ballograf models, like the Executive featured in this video, can actually take G2 refills without any modifications.
However, I think your guess is correct that government and institutional sales have been a major factor for Ballograf. The Ballograf Epoca pen (th-cam.com/video/5ynN_7W8ezU/w-d-xo.html) has been around since the 60's, and for most of that time has been the primary choice in Sweden for all kind of environments where archive quality ballpoints have been required. Post offices, banks, government, public universities, the army etc.
are you using some kind of noise reduction filter? it sounds weird... anyway, great content as always
Yea, audio is horrible. Thought my speakers were dying lol.
Yea had audio problems with this one. My bad.
Diplomat Equipment is another jotter style ballpoint
The Ohto Ray is more comparable to the Jotter XL in size
nice vid, but whats with the audio?
Mic issues. Tried the fancy mix and had some complications.
Bro I have hauser berlin which is looking like parker jotter
Never seen that one before thanks
need to include Bic Citation
They don’t make them anymore
@@deykno87I have six advertising ones from the '90's still in wrappers.
Your audio is quite distorted. I've noticed it previously but it seems worse on this video. Might just be me though.
Yea had an audio issue that I noticed too late. Tried to salvage the video
The Jotter refills are absolutely shit. How such a nice pen could feel so bad to write with is disappointing, so changing the refill is a must. Everyone should own one Jotter though. Nice pen, shit refill.
Easy swap. I like the Schneider xb a lot but there is no shortage of good options
Wait.. nylon is plastic. Did I just misunderstand you, or are you trying to say nylon isn’t plastic?
The nylon is a very different type of plastic than the newer models.
Ballograf NOT Bolograph
Thanks!
isn't that the same shit English is a bastard language anyway a mixture of made up words from germanic and latin languages (pure fact from English themselves can watch it here on TH-cam) makes no difference Bol ball its o sound anyway not aaa