Collecting In Difficult Times

[Bruce Day]

Many Parker collectors also like old cleaning rods. These are also not costly and hunting for them can be kind of fun.

Photo 1 shows a C M Powers cleaning rod made by the Fairies Manufacturing Company of Decatur Ill. Powers was a first rate trapshooter around the 1900's and a Parker shooter. One of our members has his AAH Pigeon Gun. They came in a box in a bag and come apart as you see it. The boxes and bags are rarely found but the rods can be found with a bit of searching.

Photo 2 shows other types of rods. BGICO was a Bridgeport company that supplied cleaning tools to Parker. You can find them in hickory, rosewood, ebony, the latter can be costly. Then there are ones from Marbles, Outers and others that are all interesting to collect and more fitting to a Parker than one of these fluffy plastic light sabers.

Photo 3 shows various inexpensive Parker paper, all reproductions and all available. These are easy to find and are often passed off for the originals, which are rare and costly. Its interesting to have some of this and these run maybe $15-20 each.

Others have various low cost items that are fitting for collecting on a budget and maybe they can post pictures. You don't have to be wealthy or spend a lot of money to have a nice Parker collection.