As the topic title asks, are there? Are they marked with a date code as well?. Would it be the same as the US pens? I'd be grateful for any information on "51"'s made in the UK. You all know where I'm heading with this, I own one and just want to get a capsule bio on the English Parker "51".

The pens themselves were the same, though I believe the English versions may have kept the date codes for a while longer than the US versions. They also didn't offer all of the colors as the US pens. Most of the caps were the same, though there were several that were unique to the English models and they also offered a silver and silver plate bodied version. I'll need to check my '51 book later to see what I missed. Jeff

the cap on my american one says parker, the cap on my UK one pays aprker, made in england an "P51" twice...other than that could not tell the two apart.

The main differences in the pens are cosmetic in terms of markings, colours and cap types. The real writing difference you will find is in the nibs. Whilst in the UK the preference is for a Medium nib, in the US it seems that the Fine nib is the most common. The tipping on a UK nib will normally be more generous, which means that a UK M can almost be classed as a US B.

I have refitted a couple of my US Vacs with UK M nibs, which suit me better, the US fine nibs are sought after in the UK as they are not as plentiful as they are in the US.

Buy a few of each and compare and contrast

this thread is just in time! i received my first english 51 yesterday and it is a dream to write with. It was an Oblique medium nib that glides on paper. Very nice experience. The cap is an rolled silver one with 6 parallel lines and then a space. Are these nibs and caps easy to come across? It is my 3rd 51 and i am totally happy with them.
Nikolaos

I own a US made "51" which is out for nib work right now so I can't compare it to the UK made one I just picked up last week. I saw no date codes on the US one and I see none on this one. The only real difference I remember seeing is on the underside of the US nib, on the feed, there is embossed a tiny letter F. This pen was suppose to be a fine nib and I don't know enough about these pens to know that if the nib designation was put on the feed like that. It could be a mold number also, for the feed. The US pen gushed ink on the paper and wrote like a paint brush. Certainly not a fine nib. The UK version has not been marked on the feed. This pen was bought without knowing what the nib size was. Turns out to be a wonderful fine that is fairly dry, the way I'd have wanted it if I had a choice, and puts down in my opinion, a true fine line. I should mention both are Aerometrics. Is that what the letter means on the feed?

They are unusual more that rare, more so in the US as they were only made in Newhaven with that particular cap, the nib is probably the greater rarity.




Never seen one marked like that, which means nothing, usually the only marks are on the nib and you have to remove it to see them.

Jim

This is true of the Parker 25s...

The UK ones have a smaller font and the date code. However the US ones (although made in England stamped on them) have no date code, plus the font is larger.

I will try to take a few snaps of my pens.

Thanks
deano

Thanks a lot Jim,

here are a couple of pics of the cap and nib. The nib shot is made with the help of a magnifying glass and it is not that clear.
Nikolaos

51s have a charm on their own and they work! I wonder if Parker were to
re-make their old pens, how much would they cost? Wouldn't you all would
love a brand new double jeweled Cordoban? To fall in LOVE

from Richard's site

When I get it back I'll attempt to photograph this. But now I'm thinking I wish I had it in hand before I posted about the "F" marking. I'm not confident now I saw it on the pen. Oh, I saw it on a pen alright, just not sure it was the "51".
I'd like to see a "51" affectionardo come thru right now and say "yes, I've seen that before." Richard, HELP!