In keeping with the
Bexley Pen Company's philosophy of creating
pens "reminiscent of the Golden Age of Fountain Pens," the Bexley
original is a replica of the original
Parker Duofold fountain
pen (of "
Big Red" fame).
Around the same time the Bexley Original came out, Parker released a
"new" Duofold. However, Parker's was a new VW
Beetle/old Beetle--it modernized the Duofold considerably. However,
Bexley's piece, when put along side a Duofold from the 1920s is
indistinguishable, save for materials. The Original uses modern
acrylics in a variety of patterns.
Where Parker's new Duofold used a cartridge/converter fill mechanism,
the Bexley Original used a button-fill mechanism. It had a blind
cap that hid a button. Pressing the button flexed the pressure
bar. This in turn compressed a bladder inside the pen. Releasing
the button, a vacuum is created, drawing ink from a bottle. Though
this once was a common mechanism on fountain pens, when the Original
was produced (the early 1990s), it had become rare.
The Original certainly keeps with the Bexley philosophy: it is a
vintage fountain pen created today. Though the modern Parker Duofold
is certainly a great pen, and works well, it doesn't capture the
spirit of the original Duofold as well as Bexley's piece.
Personally, I don't have to choose--I have a 1929 and 1995 Parker
Duofold, and a Bexley Original.
Sources:
http://www.bexleypen.com