Apparently, I Got It... ? Backwards...

[octatonic]

Apparently I got it backwards...?

 

So THIS is a '51' Vac?...

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Parker-51-Vacumatic-Pen-Maroon-w-Silver-Two-Tone-Top-/201446893941?hash=item2ee72ba975

 

and THIS is a '51' Aerometric?...

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Parker-51-Aerometric-Fountain-Pen-Pencil-Set-1940s-Canada-/171967097205?hash=item280a09a975

 

 

I stand corrected...?

 

Now that there is the World Wide Super Highway, you think that it would be easier to discern these things...

 

 

LOL-apologies in advance, long day of teaching........

Edited October 13, 2015 by octatonic

[jdllizard]

I bought a "Vac" from that site recently that turned out to be an Aerometric, but after correcting the seller, I kept it anyway cuz it was a nice color and in great condition. Well that, and I got it for a bargain BIN (even for a Aerometric).

[ANM]

Well technically, both work on the vacuum principle but his vac is really an aerometric. You knew that. That real vac that he does admit is a vac in the text, has a non Parker replacement plunger and the whole offering looks in low average shape. Also his discussion of a blue diamond clip vs a star clip is a waste of text. All P51 vacs had the blue diamond until they stopped using that on all their pens. No P51 was made with a star clip.

Edited October 13, 2015 by ANM

[mitto]

The aero pen has the "press 6 times" instructions on the aluminium(?) sac guard with long arrow clip on the cap. So a first year (1948/49) aerometric pen.

[inkstainedruth]

The headers in the listings are backwards. The first listing is for an Aerometric, as Mitto said. The second listing, for the pen and pencil set, is a 51 Vac because it's got the blind cap and plunger.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[mariom]

Also of note is the color. Looks distinctly Plum in the close-up of the sac guard.

[pajaro]

Also of note is the color. Looks distinctly Plum in the close-up of the sac guard.

 

The filler sheath puts it as an early aero. You could hope it's plum and bid on it as a speculation.

[OcalaFlGuy]

I'd try and Find Out if it's Plummer or not, and Then bid.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl-There Are usually ways

[mariom]

I'd try and Find Out if it's Plummer or not, and Then bid.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl-There Are usually ways

Not really interested in the pen - the exchange rate and shipping to Australia pretty much kill it as a deal for me.

[mitto]

Not really interested in the pen - the exchange rate and shipping to Australia pretty much kill it as a deal for me.

 

 

Same here , mariom. I have never ever bought a pen from eBay sellers.

[jdllizard]

Also of note is the color. Looks distinctly Plum in the close-up of the sac guard.

The filler sheath puts it as an early aero. You could hope it's plum and bid on it as a speculation.

 

I can positively confirm that it is indeed a Plummer!

 

I didn't exactly get a bargain on it, but now I have both of my favorite 51 colors. A Forest Green, and a Plum (as well as a handful of other 51's, both Aerometric and Vacumatic).

[inkstainedruth]

I can positively confirm that it is indeed a Plummer!

 

I didn't exactly get a bargain on it, but now I have both of my favorite 51 colors. A Forest Green, and a Plum (as well as a handful of other 51's, both Aerometric and Vacumatic).

It may not be a bargain, but it's also not out in the nosebleed seats either. If it really is a Plummer, it's not that much more than I paid for mine a couple of years ago. What's the date code on it? All the listing showed was the engraving on the barrel, not the original imprint.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[jdllizard]

It may not be a bargain, but it's also not out in the nosebleed seats either. If it really is a Plummer, it's not that much more than I paid for mine a couple of years ago. What's the date code on it? All the listing showed was the engraving on the barrel, not the original imprint.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

The date code dates it to the 3rd quarter of 1948 (8.), and according to Richard Binders site, it is a MKI. They only produced 2 colors of MKI's in the USA that are shades of red or dark red, one is Burgundy, the other is Plum. I already had a burgundy and this one is definitely not the same in a side by side comparison, plus in person it looks just like an eggplant color.

 

As for the engraving, I'm pretty sure with a bit of patience I can make it disappear.

[inkstainedruth]

The date code dates it to the 3rd quarter of 1948 (8.), and according to Richard Binders site, it is a MKI. They only produced 2 colors of MKI's in the USA that are shades of red or dark red, one is Burgundy, the other is Plum. I already had a burgundy and this one is definitely not the same in a side by side comparison, plus in person it looks just like an eggplant color.

That's how I knew mine was really Plum -- I put it next to a burgundy 51 Special and a black 51 Vac. I think mine's 1st quarter '49, but I'd have to double check my inventory notes. I *could* just go upstairs and pull it out of the canister of pens in rotation, but I don't want to wake my husband up -- he has to get up at zero dark thirty these days to go to work, and this week is one of the 44 hour weeks; he works a 9-80 schedule to begin with (and because of a last minute doctor's appointment for his ear infection, and the plumbers rescheduling us until Tuesday, he has been trying not to lose hours...).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[ANM]

For me, it's hard to tell some P51 colors under artificial light. I thought a pen I was buying was black but as soon as I looked at it in the sunlight, I could immediately tell it was not black or red or blue, but plum.

[mitto]

For me, it's hard to tell some P51 colors under artificial light. I thought a pen I was buying was black but as soon as I looked at it in the sunlight, I could immediately tell it was not black or red or blue, but plum.

 

Ahh ! That elusive color keeping people running after it. I wonder what is the use of a color that can't show itself.

[pajaro]

Ahh ! That elusive color keeping people running after it. I wonder what is the use of a color that can't show itself.

 

I have wondered this myself. Eventually I came to use only the midnight blue and keep the other dark colors in a pen tray.

 

My father's 51 was midnight blue. I bought one just like it and I find it is my favorite 51 color. I now have several in midnight blue. Backups in the pen tray. I have to take the trays outside to tell the colors apart or use a flashlight.

 

Plum, burgundy, black and forest green, not so interesting.

[inkstainedruth]

 

I have wondered this myself. Eventually I came to use only the midnight blue and keep the other dark colors in a pen tray.

 

My father's 51 was midnight blue. I bought one just like it and I find it is my favorite 51 color. I now have several in midnight blue. Backups in the pen tray. I have to take the trays outside to tell the colors apart or use a flashlight.

 

Plum, burgundy, black and forest green, not so interesting.

I wanted a Plummer simply because I like purple. If it had been a common color I still would have wanted one -- because I like purple. Ironically, my favorite color is actually blue, but a Midnight Blue Aero has eluded me (my first Aero was Teal, with a rolled gold cap, after getting the Burgundy 51 Special). Also ironically, I'm not a big fan of black pens -- yet I keep acquiring them because that's what is most available: that's how I ended up with my first 51 Vac, my first 45, my first 61, and the Aero with the really smooth EF nib. Amongst other pens....

And after that thread about what turned out to be a a Yellowstone with a 14K cap, I'm sure that I'd want that color even less than black.... If I find one in the wild for cheap -- really, really cheap -- I'd probably buy it, but only to resell it. (If I ever find a Vac Golden Web in the wild for cheap, I'd be posting "Who wants it? And do they want me to pick it up for them, or yell 'Road trip!' to come buy it themselves?"

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[claudewick]

I can positively confirm that it is indeed a Plummer!

 

I didn't exactly get a bargain on it, but now I have both of my favorite 51 colors. A Forest Green, and a Plum (as well as a handful of other 51's, both Aerometric and Vacumatic).

So it was you that outbid me!!! Damm you!! (just kidding... lol). But it's true, you outbid me by a few cents...

[mitto]

I have wondered this myself. Eventually I came to use only the midnight blue and keep the other dark colors in a pen tray.

 

My father's 51 was midnight blue. I bought one just like it and I find it is my favorite 51 color. I now have several in midnight blue. Backups in the pen tray. I have to take the trays outside to tell the colors apart or use a flashlight.

 

Plum, burgundy, black and forest green, not so interesting.

 

Yes, the midnight blue is the best aero 51 color. I have just two in that color. Both came in pristine condition with gold caps. Both are fitted with medium nibs. Though I like my forest green too. The F. Green has a broad nib and is a very good writer too.