I have a Parker 51 sitting on my desk. I never really warmed up to it. The nib seems broad although very smooth, and when it sits for a while there is ink pretty much everywhere - all over the nib and inside the cap. This with the pen on it's side. It looks good, but the cap is a polished chrome color and the jewel is a solid black plastic. I think this was a lower-grade 51.

Now, I *just* bought a 51 from the sales forum - a black Aero with the frosted look cap;

http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...mp;#entry513186

Looks a lot different than my cap, otherwise pretty close but for color. Am I overly optimistic? Am I one of those benighted souls that Just Doesn't Get the 51? Will I be disappointed again, or is it possible this is *THE* 51 for me?

So, clue me up! Or is this one destined to be Sales Forum fodder?

If the cap jewel is black you have a 51 Special.. a lower price version of the 51 that used an octanium (insted of gold) nib....
IF the pen is leaking ink it sounds like an air leak somewhere, most likely from the sac... So it sounds like a trip to the restorer for that pen...
The one you just purchased is a standard 51, that is a good deal and I am sure you will be happy with it...

Tom

Yep, I bet you feel differently soon, Mike. That nib looks like it's in pretty nice shape.

I'm on my 5th 51 - two demis, one full aero, one full vac and one very clean 51 special.

I find the nib on the 51 special to be very very good - there's not a huge difference for me between it and the gold nibs.

Your previous 51 does sound like it needs cleanup per Tom's suggestion.

Consider the nibs in rendering judgement. Some 51s are almost needle-like XF nibs. The mediums are nice, not too big. Get the nib matched to what you want to see on the page/feel when writing. Or, like me, have a range if you "like it different ways on different days."

I'm a true believer when it comes to the 51s. I waited far too long to own one! And bought far too many ballpoints and rollers in the interim.

51S? I knew that, come to think of it




Thanks! And hi Griz - been a while since I last posted

There's something not right with the one you've got. I've got a three desk 51s, and they spend the whole day standing the wrong way up without anything coming out of them unasked. It needs a looking at.

As to width-- they vary. It's a good chance the one on its way will be fine.

edit-- wow, get called away in mid-type, and everyone says the same thing, better

I'm waiting for my fourth 51 to arrive (hopefully on Friday!). I'm addicted to these pens!

OK! I get it! I'll go on faith here and see how it when it arrives. Thanks!

Fourth .... you piker...
I am looking at 10 Vacs that I am getting ready to restore...
8 Aeros that I need to clean out so they write...
And I have about 12 others done and writing....
Not to mention my Vacumatics....

4.... you got a long way to go Bill....

You might be either, but I haven't had a problem with a 51 and leaking. 61's with converters yes - especially after a flight. The 51 seems to me to be ttally reliable and will go any place wothut a hassle. As always keep it either full or empty for flying and don't flick it! You'll get many years of trouble free writing.

I live for "51"s. Of course, I live for Vacumatics, too. If it isn't right, get it fixed.

Often it all depends on the nib ...

After posting, I realized that wasn't an "or" question!

I went through a few 51's before I realized it just isn't the pen for me. There is no one size fits all in the Fountain Pen world. The thing is I wanted to love it, or them actually. But I have finally resigned myself to the fact that they just aren't for me.

I hope to have that many one of these days!