I recently acquired a navy gray Parker 51 from Pendemonium -- some cap brassing and denting and a worn-away barren imprint meant I got it for $60. What's interesting about it is that it has the Special-style filler (with a "Parker 51 Special" imprint), but a gold nib and a gold-filled converging lines cap. Either the filler or the cap is certainly aftermarket, though I understand the gold nib is not unheard of on the 51 Special. The nib is a fine.

Appearance
Even the brassed 51 I have is very attractive; the shape is classic, to say the least. In the pocket, the 51 has a dignified and slightly understated look; the jewel and the arrow clip identify it in an attractive fashion, and there's not too much protrusion out of the pocket, since the clip is high and small. 5/5

Filling
This is my first Aerometric, so that took some getting used to, but filling is very easy (if a bit more complicated than a lever pen). The Lucite hood makes wipedown very easy; it's all very clean. 4.5/5

Feel
The feel of the pen is very good; when I post, it's good and heavy, so I get the feeling the 51 was designed to have the cap posted. The width is relatively good, though I wish it were just a little bit wider. It's clearly very durable. The only real feel problem is that the clip requires relatively vigorous force to come off. I have to say that screw caps stay on just as well without the hassle when you take them off. 4/5

Performance
Even with the fine nib, the 51 is good and smooth. It starts quickly and doesn't skip. Black Quink bleeds a lot less than with a medium Reflex, as can be expected. 5/5

Overall score: 18.5/20

Further, I'll add that I was very pleased with the service from Pendemonium. The pen arrived in very good time and was packed excellently. I'll be watching their site for a good deal on a PFM -- maybe they'll have a user-grade one someday.

Well done, JeffTL!
We need more vintage fountain pen reviews. I don't think we've had one since Mike did his review of three smaller vintage pens...and then you yourself did a review on an Estie before that in early September.

I looked up the Parker 51 on Ernesto Soler's excellent Parker51.com site as well as Tony Fischier's invaluable Parkerpens.net site (" 51" page is on the latter site is here)

Something that has always interested me about the 51's are their wonderful caps. I too have a navy grey 51 but mine is a P51 Demi. It has a lustraloy cap with a pearl cap jewel, but I am thinking of "upgrading" the cap. I know from Ernesto's site that the P51 Demis came in Lustraloy or Gold-filled caps and there are some lovely ones to choose from. Apparently the cap of the aerometric-filler Demi will not fit another a standard-sized 51. I tried it with my husband's regular-sized P51...and yep, it's true! :doh: The do look so similar in all appearances except for their length, so I was shocked to find this out...

Anyway, your review has inspired me to look for a different "hat" for my little Parker 51----thanks!

I'm certainly going to keep doing vintage reviews; I'm contemplating inking up my Esterbrook SJ at some point and taking it for a spin, and of course as I expand my collection, further reviews will be forthcoming

Hi Jeff,

Thank you for doing a great vintage pen review! And I agree with Maja that we need more vintage pen reviews here!

Would it be possible for you to add some pictures? If it is, I think that would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks again!

Warmest regards, Wim

Yes,
If you could add a pic, that would be great, Jeff. I am wondering which one of the gold-filled caps you have on your Parker 51...

Jeff,

Thanks for the review. Nicely done. I like the way you totalled the points. Great idea. I'll probably use that on the next review I do, whenever that may be. I'll be a third to the others' comments on adding pics.

Thanks,
southpaw

Here are some pictures. If anyone's curious, the Latin text in the background of some of these is the Loeb edition of Livy's Ab Urbe Condita, chapter nine of book one, lines nine through fifteen. I'm presently writing a paper on the Sabine Women and this is one of my sources.


This one is mainly to show the hooded nib and the general shape of the pen when it is posted.


Closeup of the cap


Whole-pen closed shot. The Livy actually makes a pretty cool backdrop for the pen. I bet ol' Livy would have loved a Parker 51 and a jug of Quink.


Pen in hand -- a bit blurry, because I was wrestling with the camera in my left hand.

Closeup of the cap (800K - linked for dialup users)

I hope you all enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed taking them. Close-up photography and old pens are both enjoyable to me -- so I shoot closeups of old pens

Very nice!
Those colours go together very well. My pen is a bit lighter grey, but it could be the lighting....

Thanks for posting the pics

Hi Jeff,

Thank you for the extremely quick response, and the nice pictures.
Isn´t it just great if you can combine two hobbies in one go?

Warm regards, Wim

Hi Maja,

I´ve seen pics (even a 3 in 1 pic) of at least 3 different varieties of grey 51s, so it is very well possible yours is lighter.

Warm regards, Wim

Hi,

There are several variant of the dove grey color. My own dove grey 45 is a little different It is a lighter colour,

Dillon