I am looking for a good heavy duty, daily use parker. Is parker 51 or 21 better than the other?

Sir Agravain

I'd go for the 51. Many choices, but I prefer the Vac (holds more ink) and the Double Jewels (strictly personal choice).

Aeros require less (virtually no) maintenance, but I think a new diaphragm every few years is little to ask.

Heavy Duty? The objective answer is the 51.

If heavy-duty is what you want, I'd go with the 51, for sure. The 21 was just a less expensive, post WWII version of the 51. And I couldn't agree with telltime more ... the Vac is where it's at!

"51" everytime, the plastic on the 21 is very fragile and good ones are liable to be expensive, more than a good user "51" in many cases.

Just my .02 worth

From the repair guy's perspective - the 51, hands down, without question.

My opinion is that there isn't a 21 that hasn't cracked, isn't about to crack, or hasn't at least given some thought to cracking in the near future. Once they do crack, it's nearly impossible, of not flat out impossible to repair, so you replace the part... if you can get it off of the doner pen without cracking. For this reason I have an intense dislike for the 21. The 51 on the other hand is very reliable, writes well and is nearly bulletproof. You do find cracked ones on occasion, but it's not all that common.

Cool! Thanks for the help. I will definately go with the 51.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Sir Agravain

My anecdotal experience with all of one 51 and all of one 21 runs contrary to what you hear here, but I think that just means I had bum luck with my 51 (cracked hood) and really good luck so far with my 21.

If you need to buy one to last you a while, buy a 51. If you kind of think you might want a pen of this sort but aren't sure, perhaps buying a 21 for cheap and riding it as far as you can would be the better option. I have to admit it only makes sense that the 51 would be the better long term performer.

I am borrowing a Parker 51 Demi from a friend to see if I like it. I much prefer the silver caps to the gold ones but I am unclear about the possible color choices. Any advice?

Thanks,

Sir Agravain

Black and burgundy are the most common, all the other colors are harder to find (read more expensive). The Demi in aerometric configuration is both shorter and smaller in diameter than the standard or Special. The vacumatic Demi (1947 only?) is shorter, but the same diameter and looks a bit strange because it has the standard size cap.

Peter

When 21s are good, they're pretty darn good. I've a red one that I use with great regularity, and is one of my smoothest fine-point pens, I had a green one that was in good shape and I occasionally regret selling it... and I've got a black one with a cracked barrel and the point munged up, and a hood which resists removal. I've actually had less success with 51s found in the wild in terms of condition (scraped, dull, missing a tine), but I grant my experience is less broad than others. Don't turn away a 21 without a look, tho'. COuld be worth it.

My father has a 21 that writes at smooth as butter but I really like pens with a historical background.

Sir Agravain

Here is Ernesto's site:

http://parker51.com/

On the left, you will find links to caps and colors (along with a wealth of information and even some pens for sale). Colors were changed a little (mainly a couple added) between Vac era and Aero era... Caps also changed a little (namely the blue diamond clip disappeared).

As far as caps, you have a few choices. Ernesto's site has many pictures of most of them along with how common/uncommon they are. Like anything else, the more rare it is the more expensive it is. And just because one says common, some are more common than others... But if his description says less common or rare, it will be expensive.

Most vacs (which I personally prefer) are single jewel pens (I personally collect the less common, but more expensive, double jewel), and a good restored one will be fairly easy to find in most colors, but some are EXTREMELY rare (again, check Ernesto's site). Sometimes, they are rare because they weren't a particularly desirable color back when they were manufactured, so you may not even like that elusive color (until you're truly hooked and must have it to complete your collection!!).

I'd recommend starting with whatever color barrel tickles your fancy and a fairly common cap (make sure you get a cap in as good of condition as possible). There are several reputable sellers that can help you with whatever your heard desires once you know what you want.

Best wishes...

- Devin

My starter would be a Mustard Single Jewel set with Coronet Heirloom Caps.
Seriously though, the 21 can be a really nice pen. I found a nice Mark I Deluxe in a little antique store for $25. Cap is in good shape and no cracks whatsoever on the barrel. It is a great writer, and I use it frequently. All I had to do when I got home was give it a good flushing and it started writing with a nice wet fine line.

Telltime, that site is wonderful. I hadn't been able to find a good all purpose site for parker 51s before. Thank you very much!

Sir Agravain

I'm sure Ernesto will be pleased with your reply. You are more than welcome. For what it's worth... I bought my first ever "51" from Ernesto right off this site. It is an India Black DJ w/a Heritage (Windowpane) cap. Ernesto is wonderful to deal with and, obviously, knows his stuff.

The pen will likely be going up for trade/sale soon... I have managed to aquire a PRISTINE set of the same color and cap. I have convinced myself that I don't need two, but I haven't convinced myself to part with it just yet. Soon, I imagine, but I'd probably prefer to trade.

Wow! Telltime, can I relate to that statement ... just haven't convinced myself to part with it just yet. It's funny how attached one can become to one's pens.

I fell in love with a Pelikan M200 (with a lovely Binderized cursive italic nib) when, as luck would have it, a Namiki VP (Sesenta) happened into my life with the help of a little eBay magic. My pen budget required that something had to go ... so I sent it off to a fellow FPN'er who tried it out, loved it as much as I did and has decided to keep it. That was A LOT less painful than listing it for sale and selling it outright. This is a dangerous habit ...

Just to update, I found that my first 21 (a non-Super model) has a cracked hood now.

So much for the older 21s. Perhaps I'll try to repair the hairline crack some day.

As long as we're discussing Ernesto's Parker51.com site I wanted to let you know I just bought two of the New Old Stock Parker 21's from there and I am in love with the pens. I wasn't sure which to go with so I picked up a Fine and a Medium nib - turns out I like them both. I've always been nervous about carrying a fountain pen in my pocket because of a previous experience with a gushing Parker Vector. I haven't left the house without one of the 21's inked and ready to travel.

I know I'm going to be getting a 51 someday. I'm pretty sure I"ll be going to Ernesto to buy it. Until then, I'm glad I got the 21's.

Let's play fair and make the distinction between the Parker 21 and the 21 Super. The regular 21s are rather mediocre pens...they work well in a rudimentary sort of way. But they do have self-destructive tendencies. The 21 Super is a whole 'nuther animal. Virtually identical to the 51 Special (and the spiritual successor of the Parker 41). I've found the 21 Super to be a great daily user at a very modest investment.

Mike

I know you weren't necessarily speaking to what I wrote, but that's exactly why I pointed out it was my non-Super that has the cracked hood. It was a very good writer, so I'm a bit bummed. I also have a 21 Super that came from Ernesto when he was selling NOS 21 Supers. It's outstanding, and the plastic does seem more durable than on the older 21. I haven't used my Super enough because I have a ton of pens, but it has worked very well whenever I have picked it up.

Have now bought over a dozen NOS Super 21s, including several sets with the jotter. IMO cannot beat the quality, capability, and price!! FINE nib writes fine with me, smooth even written line. Just a touch shorter than the 51. Can get 2 or several more of these for the price of just one good utility 51. No excuse not to have a Super 21! Further, if gotten from Ernesto Soler, he's an A+++ seller i highly recommend both.. Pictured is a grey Super 21 above a 51 for dimensional and other comparison.

I found a Parker 21 Special going for a few pennies in a junk market, and it's a great pen. I've also found a couple of Parker 51s, two on eBay, one in a junk shop. None of the 51s has written as well as the 21 did straight away: we'll see whether the 51s improve after D***o has finished his work on them.