Parker 21 Aerometric Filler Removal

May 1, 2014

I'm sorry if this is a common almost silly question. I used the google search and found lots of entries about removing the nibs on a Parker 21, some things on disassembly of of the actual aerometric filling mechanism.

Question #1: But I didn't see anything on the removal of the filling mechanism from the body of the pen. In looking around at pictures, I think it is threaded, so should unscrew. Is this correct?

Question #2: Also, again just to make sure, does it follow the "lefty loosy" rule? If if the nib points to my left, and the top of the pen to my right, I'd turn the filling mechanism away from me. Is that correct?

I've cleaned most of the ink out of the pen, but I do notice when the pen is water, I see a little bit of ink coming from where the filling mechanism attaches to the pen body (just above the barrel threads). I'd guess that I may need to replace the sac as perhaps the fix there is not as good as it should be.

Question #3: What size sac for the Parker 21 aerometric filling system? Is is the same as the Parker 51?

I see old threads and I'm unsure whether a straight sac is needed or a tapered sac. The current sac on the pen is black (not from ink, but it's rubber). The chart at Pendemonium for a Parker 51 says a 17 ½ tapered.

As an aside of that, David Nishimura's site Vintage Pens does have new "Pil-Glass" sacs for Parker 51's aerometrics. My other Parker 21 does have that kind of sac. So maybe on that I've answered my own question. But I want to be certain.

Thanks in advance!

Cheryl, pen surgeon novice-in-training

May 2, 2014

I'm in the middle of restoring a 21 myself (using it as a test case before tackling some 51s), I've heard that going down a size from a tapered sac will make a straight sac work (so that the necks are roughly equivalent), I've got both the P51 sac and a straight 16 sac so I'm going to try and take it apart this weekend and see, I'll report back here.

May 2, 2014

I've been doing more research, and as far as I can tell, the aerometric P21 is very similar to the P51 in their construction. Better materials in the P51 certainly, but very similar designs. Originally I thought the sac protector/filling mechanism was maybe threaded but apparently it's just fit onto the assembly with a bit of shellac (there was a special name for this in the videos, but the unit to which the hood connects to, and the barrel threads onto). So heat is necessary to remove it. Same with the hood.

Note: apparently some sac protectors are threaded according to one video.

For those who follow on, I've found these resources (available on the date posted).

A video on replacing a P51 sac

How to remove Parker 51 Cap Jewel and Hood

How to remove Parker 51, Collector, Feed, and nib

How to service a Parker 51 aerometic. Assembly

This last is the third part of the series which one of the other videos as the second.

There may be other videos.

There's also a Parker repair manual one can find at http://pensac-store.com/repair_book.html and perhaps other sites.

Good luck WirsPlm! I'll be following right behind you in a week. (It's been years since I've actually owned a hair dryer.)