Jump to content

Starting A Parker 51 Collection


Danwrites

Recommended Posts

Dear all,

 

I would like to start a 51 collection, and would be happy to hear what the best way is to go about it.

 

Also, I am looking for a 51, with a medium/fine nib (in good shape), with a diamond. Something that will not get me into trouble with the missus:)

 

I don't have a premium account, so the market place here is out of bounds for me :)

 

Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 7
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • sirgilbert357

    3

  • FarmBoy

    2

  • Florida Blue

    1

  • Danwrites

    1

Top Posters In This Topic

I didn't think you needed a premium account to buy here.

 

Best bet is to go to an auction site and bid on all 51s. I bid a fixed amount on each one and take what comes. Sometimes you get and sometimes you don't.

San Francisco International Pen Show - The next “Funnest Pen Show” is on schedule for August 23-24-25, 2024.  Watch the show website for registration details. 
 

My PM box is usually full. Just email me: my last name at the google mail address.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In my opinion the best way to start a collection is to decide what you want out of it first. A "collection" can have a theme from the very beginning or just grow, evolve and be refined as time goes on and you buy whatever you want. I personally never try to "collect" things though. I just buy what I like and when I start to feel the hobby needs limitations (usually due to financial investment), I set ground rules and stick to them.

 

With my watches, it's no more than ten (I have 9 now) and nothing over 1,000 dollars (subject to change if finances allow in the distant future). Within that, I buy whatever I like! And when I hit ten, there is a "one in requires one out" rule.

 

With pens, I've already limited myself to ten. But dollar amounts are hazy...the most I've spent is 155 so far and while I love the pen, it was hard to justify to the wifey on our "100 bucks for Christmas presents to each other" budget!!

 

Maybe just buy what you like in the beginning...your collection will find its own focus as time goes by.

Edited by sirgilbert357
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I didn't think you needed a premium account to buy here.

 

Best bet is to go to an auction site and bid on all 51s. I bid a fixed amount on each one and take what comes. Sometimes you get and sometimes you don't.

But not all at once, right? LOL. It would be funny (or not) if you win several at a time!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

But not all at once, right? LOL. It would be funny (or not) if you win several at a time!!

All at once. You plop in a bid on all of them one after the other so you have auctions ending all the time. You stop when the Post Office inquires if there is something going on.

San Francisco International Pen Show - The next “Funnest Pen Show” is on schedule for August 23-24-25, 2024.  Watch the show website for registration details. 
 

My PM box is usually full. Just email me: my last name at the google mail address.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Excellent choice for a collection~

 

If it were me, I would make a daily ritual out of 1. Scouring FPN & FPgeeks classifieds for good deals, and 2. Scouring eBay. I agree - every 51 you're interested in, bid on. Decide on a number that is comfortable to pay, and bid it on all of the 51s. It's a numbers game, so you're bound to get some at good prices with enough perseverance.

 

I also agree that maybe start small - start by buying 1 that you really really like, then go from there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

All at once. You plop in a bid on all of them one after the other so you have auctions ending all the time. You stop when the Post Office inquires if there is something going on.

LOL, or when you run out of money! Guess if you have the cash to pay for all of the auctions (if you win all that you bid on) then it's not a problem! I know that's not likely to happen, but that would be just my luck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Have you ever written with a Parker 51 before?

 

If not, I might just try one to start with and see how you like it before starting a collection of them. Some love the hooded nib and others do not.

 

I would suggest getting a basic black model with a Lustraloy cap. The earlier Vacumatic 51s (1941-46) were the versions with the blue diamond on the clip. You can probably find a nice, restored, user-grade example for around $70 or so in the classifieds.

Parker: Sonnet Flighter, Rialto Red Metallic Laque, IM Chiseled Gunmetal, Latitude Stainless, 45 Black, Duovac Blue Pearl Striped, 51 Standard Black, Vac Jr. Black, 51 Aero Black, 51 Vac Blue Cedar, Duofold Jr. Lapis, 51 Aero Demi Black, 51 Aero Demi Teal, 51 Aero Navy Gray, Duofold Pastel Moire Violet, Vac Major Golden Brown, Vac Deb. Emerald, 51 Vac Dove Gray, Vac Major Azure, Vac Jr. Silver Pearl, 51 Vac Black GF Cap, 51 Forest Green GF cap, Vac Jr. Silver Pearl, Duovac Senior Green & Gold, Duovac Deb. Black, Challenger Black, 51 Aero Midnight, Vac. Emerald Jr., Challenger Gray Pearl, 51 Vac Black, Duofold Int. Black, Duofold Jr. Red.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33494
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26624
    5. jar
      jar
      26101
  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o
  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More
  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...