Parker 51 Worth It?

[scully012]

I don't want to cause a riot among the Parker lovers here with the title question, but it is a serious question from someone new to fountain pens.

 

Over the past few weeks I got the idea that I would like to acquire a Parker 51 for daily use, as it seems to get fantastic reviews and it is a very interesting design. So, off to ebay I go, looking for something that would be a reliable daily user that isn't too expensive (for me, that's about $50). After being the unsuccessful bidder on a number of auctions that skyrocket at the last second well above what I am able to spend, I have begun to wonder if there is another pen that would be a better fit for my situation. So after looking at other more inexpensive Parkers, such as the 21, I can't seem to understand why certain models (such as the 51) are much more expensive than others even though they seem to be designed very similarly.

 

So my question is, is there a significant difference in performance between pens like the Parker 21 and 51 to justify going after one over another? Is the 51 smoother than the 21, more durable, or just more desirable to collectors? If someone can convince me it really is a much better pen, I guess I'll keep an eye out for one that is within my price range, otherwise I may just consider it a lost cause (for the time being).

 

Thanks in advance for your replies!

[icardoth]

You cannot compare the 51 with the 21 in any way. The 21 is a good school pen, but the plastic is brittle, the nib is not gold and the filling system is simpler. The Super 21 can be the closest match, but it's still an inferior pen. You *must* go for a 51.

[dds51968]

Save a few more dollars, and keep your eyes out in the classifieds here. Look for our members Penfisher or Farmers Mum, they regularly have fully restored, nice quality 51's in the $75 range.

 

It's a worthwhile investment.

 

They are great pens made from an era when made in the USA meant something special.

 

David

Edited June 27, 2014 by dds51968

[OcalaFlGuy]

If you are patient and put some effort into it you can get a clean black or gray likely Aero on Ebay for $50.

 

It may require a couple weeks of persistence.

 

Just a few weeks ago I remember 4 that I knew of that went for $60 or less shipped. A couple of them in the 40's. [EDIT] In fact, 3 of them went to FPNers.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

Edited June 27, 2014 by OcalaFlGuy

[Keyless Works]

You should go for the 51. If you buy a lesser pen like the 21 you are still going to want a 51. I have gotten good "untested" ones for $40 or less. I don't want to recommend "untested" pens BUT you have a better chance of getting a working one with a Parker 51 than any other fountain pen I am aware of. They are ultra durable...my aerometrics still have their original sac.

Edited June 27, 2014 by Keyless Works

[inkstainedruth]

I got a 21 before I got my first 51, dated to the early 1950s as far as I can tell. It's a decent writer, in good shape (no cracks), and a great price -- $17 US plus tax (about a third of what I paid for my first 51). But having the 21 also made me understand just how much better a 51 Aerometric would be. Remember -- everything about the design of 51s was for a reason, to make it a superb writing instrument. They're not flashy pens. They just... work.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Gentleman]

Scully...

 

First, welcome to the great addiction!

 

I love my 51 for so many technical and design benchmarks -- the durability of its construction, the superiority of it's materials (when compared with so many other "mainstream" implements of it's era, the reliability of it's ink flow, that sweet hooded nib, to name a few -- but I believe there is another, less-discussed factor.

 

For me, the 51 represents the pen of my father and his generation. It was -- IS -- a fine writing implement that both a working-class guy and a white-collar professional could each use and enjoy and possess with pride. Versions and "appointments" and prices varied, so as with the old General Motors auto lineup, one could get an intro-level "Chevy" model, or upgrade to splashier versions with dressier appointments like silver or gold cap.

 

Should you hassle to procure one? Maybe not. Is it equal, technically, to other mass-produced Parkers? The procession of seasoned collectors and pen professionals I've read over the past two years seem to argue that few other pens from Parker come anywhere close to it's quality.

 

No doubt, dozens of other FPN regulars will argue on behalf if what they consider competitive and maybe even "better" pens. I personally love the hell out of my Lamy 2000 and Studio, Pelikan 805, Edison Beaumonts and a couple of others.

 

 

But it's the 51 that I carry every day, and use everyday, without a moment's stalling. For me, it's both a generational connection and appreciation of an extraordinarily well-crafted tool.

[pajaro]

Looking for a decent pen like a Parker 51 on a budget takes patience. It is possible to find one at a low price, but it is getting harder because of inflation. If you are going to throw up your hands in surrender because of snipe bids, go ahead and become an Esterbrook user. The Waterman Kultur is a great pen available within your budget also. You could also hang in there and wait for the chance to pounce on a 51. Use a sniping program, and load it up to bid what you want at the last second. The worst that can happen is that the snipe will fall short. You could load up a lot of auctions in the snipe program and use the program to monitor pens you are interested and, near the end, load a snipe bid. This way, your bid doesn't become a target and other bidders might be lulled into overconfidence.

[pajaro]

If you buy a 21, make it a Super 21.

[OcalaFlGuy]

I have strained my eyes until they bleed lately scoping down on P-21 Super hoods on Fleabay.

 

It's a bummer that I'm noticing Too severe shrinkage in a lot of even the Last rendition of the Super.

 

A couple lately have been really nice looking until you got to the hood. Then if you look close in the crappy pics you can see the deformed contour isn't right. (And people are still bidding high money on them. )

 

Sad. The clean unhosed Super I had was a nice pen.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[Sasha Royale]

The Aerometric filling system is more durable than the older Vacumatic system. However, the nib end gives great writing.

The ink flow through the P51 is legendary. The hooded nib minimizes exposure to air and nib drying. Turned nib-up, all

the ink immediately drains back into the reservoir. Nice to know, if carrying a fountain pen onto a commercial airliner.

 

In the post-WWII years, $10 bought two week groceries for a family of four. Anyone who could afford $10 for a Parker 51,

got one >>>> Eisenhower, DeGaul, William Holden, my Dad.

 

$80 to $100 should get you a nice one. I think you will like it a lot. If not, someone will take it off your hands for nearly that

price. Your risk is $10 or $15.

 

Good hunting.

[Komitadjie]

Hang in there on the 51! I picked up a brown one with a stainless cap in great shape, just needed a really good cleaning. I ended up replacing the breather tube 'cause I'm a clumsy lummox, that was my fault, not the pen's. It was a lot of fun to pull apart and get a feel for how it all works, then clean the heck out of it and put it back in order.

 

It's currently filled with Noodler's Fox, doing drawing-markup duty at work. By far the best pen I've ever used for that, and the shrouded nib does a very good job of not drying out while I sit and ponder something with the cap off.

[Effin1]

I just recieved 2 P 21's in a job lot and both had cracked hoods. I've had lots of P 51's and yet to have a cracked hood. The most common breakage for me on a 51 hood is a missing tip. I would definitely hold out for a 51 as Bruce says if you search hard enough on E Bay you will find 1 in your price range. I will have a look through my last job lot to see if I have 1 available.

[my63]

The 51 is a very good pen it just works as a piece of design and as a pen they don't look out of place today.

You could also look at the 61 although in the UK prices have started to rise but there are still bargains to be had.

Have you tried using apps that look for spelling mistakes in listings and look for listings that end mid week.

 

Good luck

 

Michael

[pajaro]

If you don't think the 51 is worth it, buy something else.

[scully012]

Well, I think the answer is clear; a 51 is indeed worth it! So that is what I'll be going for (with some help). I'm looking forward to finally trying one of these out, so thank you all for the help pointing me in the right direction!

[gweimer1]

I just got my first 51 in the mail last night. I put ink in it just this hour, and I'm now a believer! This pen glides across the paper. I started my new obsession about a month or so ago when I decided I needed a fine point. I found a functional 21 on eBay for $9. It's a little rough, but it writes well. That led me here....and a purchase of 2 Parker 45s....and becoming more interested in the 51.

 

Parker 21 - it's a good functional pen

Parker 45 - I have one that I really love, and has been my daily pen

Parker 51 - I felt the difference immediately. Definitely a pen to own. (I got a '50, 14K fine, burgundy w/jeweled cap)

[ParkersAndPaper]

When I was in college I got it in my head that I wanted to use a fountain pen. I've always been an old fashioned kind of guy (wet shave, automatic watch, go to church). Anyway I bought a Yafa from Office Depot. It was trash. I went to the internet to see what pen I should buy and saw that the Parker 51 seemed to be king. Of course as a 20 year old undergraduate who was also working full time I didn't have a lot of money so I bought a 21 on ebay that turned out to be a 21 Super.

 

The 21 Super got me through school, few years of work, then grad school. Once I finished grad school I decided to finally buy the 51 that I so desired. The 21 Super doesn't even compare. I have a meager collection of 20 or so pens, and the 51 is the one that is always inked. I've used Parker, Waterman, and various Noodlers inks in it, and it's never had a problem. I've even considered selling the entire collection and just keeping the 51. To me, it's pen perfection.

 

 

 

Best part? Someone on ebay labled it as "pen". It had blurry pictures, and no description. I bit thinking it was either a 21 super or 51 (the pictures were too blurry to tell). When I got my pen in the mail it was a MINT dark blue Parker 51. I snagged it for $21.00 after shipping!

[pajaro]

There is a difference between the 21, 21 Super and the 51 that you can feel in each case. On the other hand, the 21 Super has the same Octanium nib found in some 51s and 51 specials. You can feel the materials difference, and you can feel the difference in capping and uncapping.

 

The next generation of Parkers, with the 45 and 75, has always felt different and somehow less substantial to me than the 21, 61 and 51. I quit liking parkers after the 51 until I found the Sonnet, which has a nice feel.

 

The 51 is the one I like best. A comfortable and useful pen with smooth or toothy writing quality as you like, and not so expensive, so that you don't get to the point where you don't want to risk it, like the Duofold.

Edited June 27, 2014 by pajaro

[furious]

The "51" is the bee's knees! Really, nothing else comes close for a daily writer, esp. in the workplace, that will not garner pretentious stares from colleagues and/or the general public. It is truly a fine writing instrument that, to this day, blends in with the maddening crowd.

 

Plus, if it's good enough for General Ike, it's good enough for me.

 

You may have to be very patient on the Bay and elsewhere to acquire a working example for less than $50 though.

 

Edit: adding that the only detractor is that a 51 doesn't fit well in my shirt pocket. Sits too high, but most pens over 5.25 inches have that problem.

Edited June 27, 2014 by furious