Here is a nice Parker 51 Demo.... I have been trying to clean the collector for a couple of day, but no go... badly stained.... I will eventually get a new clear collector to put in the pen....
This one came with a batch of pens from an eBay auction.

Oh, I forgot to mention... this is not an Argentine Demo... the body is marked Parker 51, Made in USA with a .8. date code... this one is the real deal..... A US made Demonstrator....
I have it restored, but I just can't seem to bring myself to ink this one....

Way to go, Tom! Those demos are just awesome, and I think the US-made ones are quite rare, no?

Tough call on inking it....it would be nice to preserve and show off....but also fun to watch the ink swash around in there .

Enjoy!

P.S. I've recently acquired a vac tool, so watch for me on ebay :ph34r: Seriously though, I may have to email you with some questions if I get stuck during my first repair.

The question of inking it is driving me nuts... I tested the nib before cleaing it completely and restoring it... and it is butter smooth....
The US made clear demonstrators are fairly rare from what I have been told and they apparently only came with lusterloy caps (according what I have read in the Parker 51 book). This one has the right transition cap for the date of the pen.
Since I have 2 Argentine demonstrators (one still uninked), I think I am just going to sit and stare at this one...

Congratulations on the find. You're good. I would ink it immediately and write with it!

If you were to use a washable blue ink, and cleaned the pen thoroughly more often than you would with an ordinary pen, you might be able to use the beautiful thing and know that it could be brought back to cleanliness/purity.

Enjoy it, however you choose to

Michael

Griz,

That is just awesome, but a question, would it have had a clear collector? I seem to remember reading somewhere, probably Ernesto's site, that Parker advised the dealers to use blue ink in the Demonstrators. Is the collector stained then or was it made from dark lucite?

Jim

PS I hate you :bunny1:

LOL!

According to the pictures in the Parker 51 book they came with clear collectors.
This is a copy of the directions Parker sent the dealers about Demonstrators.
"The Parker "51" can not be sold lying in the pen case. It must be DEMONSTRATED! Have your salespeople show your "51" Demonstrator to all comers, and have it filled with Parker's speed-drying "51" ink in the BLUE or GREEN color so interior parts will remain visible. The Black will obscure them"

I originally filled my Argentine Demonstrator with green ink, but was not that happy. It is now filled with Noodlers Navajo Turquoise and it looks real cool and besides I love that color... it such a brilliant blue with no greenish tonality, very close in color to the Brahmin Blue from the Boston Show, but not as opaque.


AHHHHHH now you've hurt my feelings and I have to go back to eBay and find something to make me feel better.