My Grandfather, who was a great collector and user of Parker fountain pens, died 3 months ago. At the reading of his will, it transpired that he left collection of foutain pens to me. His logic for doing this, it seems, was that I was the only one of his immediate family who still used a fountain pen (even if I was using a bunch of Vectors, and recently a couple of Frontiers that I've had for donkies year), so I should get them.

I received two of his boxes today. Most pens are metalic looking on the outside. So far it's 2 35litre containers full of Parker fountain pens. Half of one contains unopened samples of Vectors, Frontiers, Parker 25s, 45s. The remainder of the box contains 2 boxed examples of Latitudes, Insignas, Elipses and Inflections and a whole bunch of Sonnets in a huge variety of styles and colours. The second box countains boxed examples of 51s, 61s and a huge number of 75s in a variety of styles. I'm due to receive another box of 75s, so work on the assumption I've got a lot of variety there.

When he died, my grandfather told me to stop using a "cruddy 2-bit Frontier" (his words not mine) and "select a pen that'll last me a lifetime" (this despite the fact that my current pen's been going strong 8yrs). I can see what he means and want to honour his wishes, but I've been a little unsure of where to start. I do a lot of writing by hand, so I have to ask, given this pens I've just mentioned, is there one pen that you would recommend to someone who's new to all this and who's wanting to "move up in the pen-world?"

Incidentally he has 1 cheap Waterman fountain pen and 3 Sensa fountain pens in the boxes too!

I suggest using a 51.

I would strongly suggest hanging on to ALL your Grandfathers pens!
I have my grandfathers pen. And while its not the most expensive pen I own, it is my most valuable!

Hold on to them.

(I would not respond to requests to sell them privately!)

All of them. I would let not one of them go. If he was an avid collector and left them to you, I would carry on his legacy. As far as a daily writer goes, you can't beat a 51, but hey, I'm partial to Sonnets as well.

Whee!
As said, start with a "51" and maybe a 75, and a 45, a nice range of wonderful pens. Also as said, don't sell anything! No matter how much I plead. Wait at least a year before releasing any.

It sounds like there are a lot of pens, and perhaps at some point you might want to send some of them to new homes, but since they don't cost you anything to keep, they won't go bad, there is no rush. Just make certain they are in a safe place. A vault's not required, just not a place where 15 roommates and their friends wander in and out. Sorry I don't know your age or situation.

You'll sort through them, perhaps several times, but don't spend your entire life figuring these pens out. Little by little you'll get an understanding for what you have and what you want to keep for your own use. These were a gift. And once you receive a gift you can do with as you choose, you are not required to care for these pens for the rest of your life. Keeping more than 1 or 2 "51"/75s is a luxury. One or two of these pens will last the rest of your life, so keep more because you like/love the variety and joy each extra one gives you.

Enjoy!

I'd say try several of them and see what suits you. It may be a 51 or a Sonnet but you decide what you like best buy writing with them. What works for everyone else may not be what works for you. If after you give them a go you find that you like more than just one then you can start a rotation of your favorites.

Best regards,
NB

After thought: I can only imagine that He used and enjoyed his pens and would expect that you would do the same with them, which is why he left them to you.

Keeping more than 2 "51"s is a bare necessity!!!!!
You need to keep 20 or so ...

My favourite Parkers, in order, are 51s, Sonnets and 75s. If it was me, I would select a nice one of each and use them regularly, to get a feel for them.

Don't rush. You have a lot of pens there, and it will take some time to get to know what you have. If you need to know about any of them, take photos and put them on the FPN. There are many here who could tell you about them.

My suggestion would be to use a small sample of each type in a rotation. That way you should be able to get sufficiently used to each type to be able to decide which you prefer.

Don't miss out on the P61, I personally think they are even nicer to write with than the P51.

One other thing. I'm dead jealous! I'm sorry your grandfather died, but you have been given a wonderful legacy.

Regards

Richard.

I would give them all a chance; pick a few of them, fill and use them for a week or so; do the same with the rest. You'll probably end up with some favorites.

Juan in Andalucía

The "51" is the pen I would be using everyday if I had to choose from that assortment. But I would definitely keep all of the pens.

Hang onto at least one of each type. You may find some that you wind up using less than others, but they all stand as a cross-generational connection.

And just imagine how your grandchildren will feel when they get the that kind of a collection!

Dribble them onto eBay - you're not going to use them all.
But give them a bit of a cleanup - its a shame to let them lie around in an old tin.
The boxed ones, if they are minty, will do the best, the others - dunno - my collection is the higher end 51 - 61 and the Duofold range old and new...........

I'd hang onto them for a while, until you're familiar with what you want out of a pen. You can put some of the low end pens up for sale if you are so inclined, but I wouldn't get rid of the better ones.

If any of the better pens are uninked you'll face a dilemma. Some people collect uninked pens, and I think that these people serve a useful function, keeping pristine examples of these pens around. You sound more like a user (like me), so you'll have to decide if you want to keep these around uninked, or sell them off to collectors who would keep them pristine. Though I'm a big advocate of "its your pen do what you want with it" I'm of the opinion that vintage uninked high end pens shouldn't be inked (though I can't say I wouldn't prove myself a hypocrite if I got my hands on an uninked 51 flighter). Obviously, I'm not talking about the vectors or frontiers, but the 51s or 61s, which, by the way, are the type of pens I'd recommend using first.

First thought: You've said that many of the pens are metallic, and you have lots of 51s. If you find a 51 flighter, that's a fabulous collector's pen!

If I were you I'd spend some time sorting through all the pens of one type, to see what they all are. Taking the 51, for example - you'll likely find different filling systems, various imprints, cap and clip designs, and different colour plastics. Check out the nibs - some will have big tips, some small, some might be stubs (different line width in different directions) and some might be italics. within those nibs, some will write very wet lines, some very dry, and everything in between.

So, what I would suggest is choose a model you like, and from there find an example you like - the nib size which suits you, the colour you like, the cap you like best - and narrow it down like that. Hopefully, you'll find more than one you love!

Can we see some pictures of this hoard?

Collectors can sometimes go over the top. Unless you are seriously into getting a complete collection of them, get rid of the Vectors - keeping one of each primary colour to use for travel and note-taking, i.e. the places you are most likely to loose a pen.

If possible, I would try to find THE ONE pen to honour your grandfather and get it engraved. This could be the fabled "fligher" steel 51 (if you've got one), or a silver grid pattern 75.

Then, as most people suggest, spend time trying the other pens and nibs. As time goes by you'll discover what you like to use, and what you like to have for the collection's sake (unless you want to travel light through life).

Finally - and most important - sell any extra flighter "51"s privately to me.

Have fun!

I use a bog-standard lustraloy/red 48 (I think) for my daily writing tasks. It may be a bit small. I have a couple Duofolds that come out for ceremonial uses - we posed with one at our wedding. Couldn't use it to sign the register because there is a special ink here that must be used on legal documents for marriage, baptism, and death certificates. Likewise we had to pose with a dummy copy of the register as it is against the law to photograph the official register.

Take your time finding out what is there - catalogue the collection, take pictures, add to the legacy and improve the gift your grandfather left you. Then there will be something even more special for the entire family to share in the future and you may pique the interest of a future generation by having a cool collection. Perhaps even create a handwritten journal with examples of each pen and a picture pasted in it, perhaps with pictures of the family dating back to grandpa's day.

Condolences and congratulations. Thanks for sharing.

-edited for spelling

Reflecting my personal weakness(es): Any of the 75's, but especially the silver grid, the lapis lazuli, or the red jasper. The 75 is the best pen Parker ever made, the acme of their manufacturing history. Everything else led up to it, and after it, it was all downhill.

I personally lean toward the "51" and find the 61 very nice, would love to try a 75, as I tend to rotate the pen a bit and the 75's with a rotating nib would be nice (although I don't like C/C pens much).

You can spend quite a while playing before you decide, of course, but I suspect you will land just about where I do for a simply useful pen -- I'm on a trip at the moment, and have with me a "51", a 61, and a Platinum Preppy converted to eydropper (with Noodler's black, Hero Blue-black, and Polar Blue, respectively) in them.

Parker fine nibs are nice, too, although I actually prefer Sheaffers in fine.

Peter

Firstly you need to sort and classify what you have, which sounds like the collection that any of the Parker nuts that frequent this 'er place would give their eye teeth for.

Whatever you do take your time and don't rush it Sort yourself out a nice example of each type, flush them out and fill a couple up. Then just enjoy writing with them! You may find that some of the older pens like "51" Vacs, might need a bit of professional restoration and if so there are loads of people around here who can help you.

I would have at least three inked up at once, try a "51" Aero, a Sonnet and a 75 as a starter. But as been said here earlier don't ignore the 61s. What a great legacy

Jim

Thank you all for your comments and advice. I'm currently using a Parker 75 that my Grandfather used a fair bit.

I think I'll keep the pens, I'm inclined to make an effort to learn more about them and possibly grow the collection, I don't think he would have wanted them gathering dust somewhere (or be divided).

Knowing about Parker 75s would seem to be a logical place to start given he has given me a huge number of them, but that having been said, I could make a case for going in a completely different direction, so I just don't know what I'll do at the moment!

If anyone has any advice, feel free to let me know!

That's great that you are keeping them together!

If you get a chance, Jim, post some photos of the collection. That way we can help you ID what you have faster, and point out gaps in the lineup for you to add - time and inclination permitting.

I focus on Parkers and so do many, many here.

The Parker 75 was my first "purchased" Parker in the 70s, and it is a great place to start. I still use mine but have gravitated to 51s and 45s for the time being.

I would love to see the pictures.

I see that you've gotten a lot of advise (it's cheap) and I agree with it. In terms of quality and value the 51's, 61's and 75's are classics. The Sonnets are newer but also nice. In terms of monetary value, checking E-bay and other pens sites will give you a sense of what they are worth, but I suspect that their connection with your grandfather will make them worth far more to you. Try them all to find your own personal favorites. In my own experience, the pens that got handed down to me through the family are worth far more to me than the pens that I've picked up on my own. Jeff