From what I have gathered, there are a ton of vintage pen collectors/users here. It seems like the Parker 51 is the must have vintage pen. Can anyone help me learn more about it.

What years was it produced? Why is it so popular? Are there different versions that write differently?

Also, if I decided to take the plunge, what can I expect? Is it a pen that I can use daily (I have no interest in just collecting one.)

Where do you recommend that I find one? What is a reasonable price? (I am looking to keep it under $100.)

For those of you that have read my posts, you know that I like silver trim.

Feel free to share your love story with this pen!

I have a 1950 P51, green with Lusterloy cap, with a smooth fine nib. Of my many pens it is my favorite. It is not the prettiest or the most expensive. It is not a showy pen that grabs attention when you pull it out to use it. It is the most reliable pen I have ever used. I can pick it up after a few weeks of neglect and it starts right up with no priming or cussin'.

Richard Binders site, www.richardspens.com, has some excellent historical data on the 51. I bought mine at a pen show for $65, it is definitely a user. Check the green board over at Pentrace. There are a few of them for sale now, I believe.

Happy hunting,

Larry

Macuser,

The Parker "51" is indeed one of those "must-have" pens. It was a very significant pen, both in terms of numbers produced, and the effect that it had on subsequent fountain pen designs. There were a lot of "51"s produced, so it is relatively easy to find one that fits your needs.

Used "51"s can be found for as little as $50 to $75 if you're looking for a good "user" pen. If you don't mind spending a little more, you can find some pretty nice pens in the $100 range. If you are looking at something that is closer to mint condition, or one of the more rare models, be prepared to spend $150 or more.

There were two main filling systems that were employed on the "51"s: the vacumatic filler and the aerometric filler. The vacumatic fillers were produced first, with the aerometric fillers coming later. I personally like the aerometric fillers a lot better. It's a simpler design, and easier to work with, IMHO.

The other thing to realize with "51"s is that the vast majority of the pens out there (at least in the U.S.) came with fine nibs, or fine/medium nibs. It's somewhat more difficult to find a medium/broad nibbed "51", and they're usually a bit more expensive than one with a fine nib.

Here are some good links to get more info on the Parker "51"s:

Richard Binder's "51" primer
Rick Conner's "51" page on PenSpotters.com
Parker 51.com - an all-inclusive site for "51" information.

Good luck with your search! The "51" is a great pen and there are at least a few of us out there who consider them as our all-time favorite fountain pen.

TMann

Just a quick comment on reliability; I've had a 51 aeromatic since I was in High School, used it daily through college, and it went into semi-retirement when I was given a Parker 75 when I got my Bachelors Degree.

I've kept it inked throughout the years and it's still in use.

There's a book by David Shepherd called Parker "51".
You can buy it through on line pen vendors.

Regards,
j

Thanks for starting this post! I was interested in the Parker 51 too because the hero 100 (the Parker 51 clone) was really comfortable and smooth!

I just wish it was still in production today. In my opinion, the cap design of the current Parker 51s are , which turns me away from purchasing a brand new one. Usually, I like to purchase brand new pens, but this is an exception where I can't get a new one. I was looking into the Parker 100 too (another fatter clone), but I heard from people it's not that good? Is that true?

The modern Parker 51 and 100 are, to some extent, "51" lookalikes, but quite different functionally.

The "51" wasn't just a masterpiece of styling; it also used new materials (one of the first to use acrylics), and it had a new way of handling the supply of ink to the nib. Instead of the conventional feed, Parker used a thingy called a collector which, in conjunction with the hood, forms a large and very well controlled reservoir of ink. This is why the "51" is so practical; the collector takes a lot longer to dry out than the average conventional feed, so you don't have to cap the pen every time you stop writing, which means the "51" is the ideal note-taking pen. For this kind of purpose, the fine or medium-fine rigid nib that you usually get on an American pen is just right, too. English "51"s are a bit more likely to have medium or even broad nibs.

The thing started a vogue for hooded nibs, but most of the contemporary imitators, and the modern 51-alikes from Parker (and Parker's original "21") have a hood around a conventional nib and feed assembly. Of course, a conventional feed can be extremely good, but when Parker first introduced their new system, it was a real advantage as a lot of feeds weren't that good at evening out the ink-supply.

The original "51" is also a very light pen, which is part of its practicality.

The point about the "51" is that you can get a magnificently practical piece of history and design landmark for less than US$100. A vintage pen that, with any luck, will be trouble free (especially an Aerometric; Vacumatic filling pens do need to have their diaphragms changed from time to time, but the vast majority of Aerometrics just need to be filled up, even if they've been neglected for 20 years). If you want one, you want an original.

Some people prefer pens with Visible Nib Gold, or exotic flex nibs, and they're nice too. The "51" isn't "the best pen ever made"; but Parker did hit a superb balance of qualities for an every-day working pen.

Best

Michael

Betty, I have a Parker 100, black and gold, with a medium nib. It is a large pen, but very well balanced and one of the best writers that I own. My only complaint about the pen is that the cap doesn't fit as tightly as I would like. Parker would probably fix that for me, but I don't want to send it off for repair right now. Pam has a great price on these pens too.

Larry

Whilst the Parker "51" may not be the best pen ever made it is sure in the top three!

This is coming from a Parker "51" nutter

My first real fountain pen was a "51" and I have loved them ever since. I ALWAYS have a minimum of two inked and ready, one with a fine nib and one with a medium. The fine is great for notes and annotating, whilst a medium or broad is better for writing.

From a writing standpoint there is nothing between a Vac and an Aero filler. From the filling point an Aero is far easier to live with and is liable to work no matter how long it has been left. Just last week a friend showed me a box of pens that came from his Aunt's estate. In amongst some very interesting stuff was an English 51 that had not been used for upwards of maybe 30 years, but I flushed it through a few times in some tepid water and then filled it with some Parker Washable Blue Quink and it wrote straight away. Had it been a Vac, I would have sent it away for service first.

I believe there are two types of people in this World, those who get on with Parker "51"s and those who can't stand them.

As to modern varieties, I would not buy the new "51" SE as that is a poor example, the true successor is the Parker 100 IMHO, so why don't I have one? Well simple economics, for the cost of a 100 you can buy one really mint "51" and still have change or two or three user grade "51"s. So in the end I would rather write with the classic.

There is certainly a difference in the nibs from the US and England, my perfect combination is a US fine nib and an English medium. On my desk today I have a fine nibbed "51" customised for me by Ralph Prather in Cedar with a polished silver cap and another Vac which I swapped out the XF nib I bought it with for a medium, again in Cedar Blue but with a GF cap. Right now my collection is balanced in that I have 5 each of fine an medium nibs in "51"s so I always have my ideal pair.

Just as a note, I monitor the prices of the "51"s for sale and right now the prices are quite high, probably due to the holiday season, so if I was selling it would be now, but for buying, the end of January when the bills roll in might be the time to get a bargain.

Jim

Check the antique stores.
Since the 51 is not as "Flashy" as the celluloid pens or those with the big visible gold nibs, unless you find a 51 with a gold cap, you can find them pretty cheaply. Around here 51s (when found) go for $20-$25.
Just to peak your interest, last Summer I found a first year, two jewel, plastic pluger Vacumatic filler, with a sterling silver cap for $4.

Just got my Parker 51 in the mail yesterday! It was a vac, but I loved it anyhow. However, if it does get clogged up, I would have no way of repairing it.

But anyway, a very smooth writer. Either I haven't tested it out much yet or my writing sensitivity isn't up there with the experts yet, but I think there's little difference between the 51 and a Hero 100. Both write incredibly smooth! The Parker 51 is a tiny bit heavier, but it doesn't really make any difference to me, yet.

Still, I'm incredibly happy to own something classic that I can really use instead of just collect. This is my first vintage anything

I have one coming that I spent $25 for including shipping.
I am also trying to talk a buddy out of one he has that he does not use at all... in fact he is not even a FP user... it is just sitting in a coffee cup on his desk... He does not ever remember where it came from... Might be time to discuss this with his wife... You know tell her about all the garbage he has on his desk that he does not use...
It is a 1948 Navy Grey and appears to have a medium nib...
This would be a real nice pen for me since it was made the same year I was
Of course being ex Navy myself, the color is also a plus...

I have two "51"s and use them extensively day to day. Both are decidedly user grade and both cost me less than $100, one was IIRC $30 and is a great writer. Both are smooth and reliable aero fillers. They are about as practical a daily user as you can find. I particularly like mine for note taking and document editing as I don't have to put the cap back on if I am not writing for a few minutes.

Not the prettiest necessarily when compared to some of the great vintage celluloid pens, but certainly practical and reliable. I am definitely a convert and a true believer.

All of this talk has gotten me excited to start looking for a 51. I will wait until after the holidays, but it is on my list for 2006!

Hi all, I got one. Not into vintage so trying to sell it. It was given to me because everybody knows I like FPs. The barrel is dark blue and the cap is gold color, probably gold plated. It's filled by squeezing a bar and letting the ink in. Anybody interested, please do PM me.

Hello Jim from Swindon

(A town where my father lived for a time as a boy, but whose traffic scares me now)

I put scare quotes round "t.b.p.e.m." because I don't think there is such a thing. A "51" is no good for traditional roundhand calligraphy -- or at least a typical "51" -- since you need flex for that. And if you want a pen that is bright and colourful to cheer you up, the "51" won't do that, either.

OTOH, I think you can say confidently that no better pen has ever been made than the "51" -- just different.

Michael

who has a slightly compulsive aversion to simple rankings with a clear "best," probably from having spent a lifetime marking exams

Hello Michael,

Greetings from Swindon, my adopted home town, having lived here since '86. Know what you mean about the traffic, 20 years ago we were amazed about how little traffic there was having moved from South London. Today it's 'Hell on Earth' out there!!

As a designer and engineer I appreciate classic, simple design and that is where I believe the "51" scores. Forget flashy finishes and colours, does it function as it should? Now certainly the "51" Aero fits that requirement better than almost any other pen. You can drag one out of a drawer after many years, flush it out and have a high chance it will work.

I accept your comment about caligraphy, but that is a specialised use and I don't agree with the one tool fits all theory.

I know what you mean about exam marking, my late father was a schoolmaster and City and Guilds Examiner. We had many a happy debate about objective and subjective evaluation over the years. Now what you need to do is check your MBTI, a quick search will find a basic site. Reveals more about how you see the world and relate to it.

Jim

Hi,


Sorry that I can't comment...

I am waiting for a Black Vacumatic 51 and a Midnight Blue Demi Aerometric 51 in the mail.

Dillon

You ordered yourself one too? I just received an EF vac. one that I really LOVE! Such a nice fine smooth writer

I just received my first '51' today! It's a black, Aero, lustraloy and medium nibbed '51' from DWL. I am so wonderfully impressed with this pen! The nib is smooth, the filler is great and the size fits my hand wonderfully. Oddly, after only a day of use, I already know this will likely see more use than any other pen in my collection. I'm happy....and off to write more

It might be a must have for it's position in the history of pens but to be fair it is a pen that is either loved or hated :doh: It looks like a transition to a rollerball such that people who don't like hooded nibs would pass immediately.

The Parker 51 I have is a Vac., so does that mean it was manufactured from 41-48? That said, it's just amazing that a pen that old still looks so new in all aspects. The pen is at least 57 years old! Wow!

I hope to receive a 1960 mint Parker 51 black barrel in the mail within a few days. It will be might first of the mint Parker 51. I expect to be on a quest to get all the aeromatic colors--- I like the vac caps... but prefer to have a less fussy aeromatic. When does collecting end????

Wow, you've put that limbo bar really low!!! I don't think I can do that!

I have four restored P51s Vacumatics still for sale in the Marketplace for under $100. The pics are not the best, but the pens are in excellent shape and I guarantee my pens (I'll fix any problems whatever it takes).

http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...t=0#entry135756

I have recently read the Shepherd Parker "51" book and highly recommend it for anyone interested in fountain pens, not just the Parker "51". It shows just how much care and effort went into making this pen (i.e., $250K in 1930s dollars).

The aerometric fillers are highly regarded for their reliability and ease of use and cleaning. The aero sac was designed to last 30 years but they are often still going strong and replacements are easily available.

I, however, just love Vacumatic "51"s (I have a 1Q 1942 cedar blue with coin silver cap in my pocket as we speak). They work great and are not that hard to fix with some practice. They just feel like important bits of history in my hand and write very, very well....

Steve

Let this quotation and this picture be a warning to all you Parker 51 newbies.....a slippery slope indeed.

How time flies

Nice there Ryan!

I am still holding steady at 2 but thats only because the cedar/midnight blue pen I seek has eluded me

No kidding! I'm pretty sure I just bought nearly half of that collection from you on the 'Bay!

Don (whose descent into the world of fountain pens has assumed a breakneck pace with his discovery of vintage pens....)