I'm new here and have recenty purchased two pens, one is a Waterman Phileas and the other is a Lamy 2000 EF. I made the mistake of reading up on Parker 51's here and there and now I would like to purchase one.

Any suggestions as to where to look would be appreciated. It does not have to be a specific model year although 1957 was a good year for me being that was the year I was born. It might be nice to find something from that year. In reading it seem that there are two different filling systems. I'm interested in the more reliable system, it's just that I can't recall the name.

Any help in finding a vendor would be appreciated.

John

If you post this request in the Marketplace I'm sure you'll have some luck. Richard, OldGriz and DavidI are all reputable vendors who have been known to sell a Parker '51' or two in their time! There are others as well, but it's late Friday afternoon here and my brain has shut down for the weekend!

Just a note, however - the Washington DC Pen Show is this weekend and so the usual suspects may be quiet this weekend as they're working in the thing some folks call 'the real world' rather than this lovely virtual landscape that is FPN!

Casmi

PS Welcome to FPN!

Give OldGriz a buzz. He sell stuff.

The Marketplace is a good place to look. You should be able to get a good working pen starting at $50 and going to the moon.

I bought a Demi "51" from Bill Ackers and was quite satisfied http://www.billspens.com/ He has fixed prices.

Not knocking in any way, but several of the folks that sell here or have websites, sell absolutely beautiful and unusual pens. You will pay top dollar and they are worth it. But if you are looking for a daily working pen, you can find less expensive.

I've bought mostly off eBay, but doing that you really don't know the nib size and the condition of the pen is a cr*p shoot. I've gotten a couple real finds, but others with nice nibs and good bodies need to be rebuilt to the tune of $35-50 plus shipping and insurance both ways. Those pens will end up costing me more than $100-150 and I could have bought similar on the Marketplace for $65-95.

I'm not an expert, but believe they stopped putting year marks on the "51" before you were born. Sad to say that's not my case and I accidentally got a "51" with my year but a few months younger than I am.

Good Luck!

I would agree the Marketplace is a good place to start, I bought one here on Monday ($45) and had it in hand on Wednesday. It is a lovely aeromatic in maroon, a great functional pen. I'm definitely no expert but from what I have read the aero fillers may be the way to go unless you buy a vac from someone who really knows how to refurbish a filling system (i.e. many of the sellers here).
Nick

Hello there

See you're from Arizona. I was out that way there on family vacation to the Grand Canyon two weeks ago. Great time, did Vegas etc. put 2000 miles on a renta. We had fun !

I travel to Sierra Vista quite regularly in fact I'm scheduled to be there this Sunday on business down at Fort Huachuca.

Planning on retiring down there in the future. Hoping to purchase 5 acres down near Benson or Hereford.

Regards John

Also, let people know where you are. When I said I was looking for a 51 I was referred to a local guy who sold me my first for $35.

I just bought a Waterman Phileas....I want to try the Lamy Safari fountain pen.

Yep with the DC show winding up you should be able to find one restored on the Marketplace - post a want to buy ad and I'm sure you'll get some responses. I'd try to narrow down what you want, probably the most available and least expensive pens seem to be the grey (navy and dove), cordovan and black colors, aero fillers and fine or extra fine nibs with lustralloy caps. My first was a cordovan aero with a lustralloy cap that I still have and use with some regularity.

Great choice. The 51 is the greatest FP ever made imo and practically everyone else thinks so too.
I prefer the more modern aerometric filling.
They are usually used and in variable condition.
If it doesn't write the way you like, you can have a nib person adjust it.

There are many beautiful areas around Sierra Vista. The dragoons are spectacular. It is crazy hot much of the year as I'm sure you know but still a good area for hiking (I can hike to about 100F, then I really start dragging!). The San Pedro River is a very beautiful area that is deservedly preserved - great riparian area with a lot of birdlife. Of course you are not far from the Chiricahuas - one day I may retire down here.
All the best,
Nick