Parker 51 - I Need To Spruce It Up

[Cause]

I was given a parker 51 aeromatic from a friend of my mothers when she heard I liked fountain pens, it had been lying around the house for years unused. At first I was not a huge fan of the pen but I recently began to use it more since I needed to keep an extra pen filled, with a different coloured ink. The pen fills and writes beautifully! I am liking it more and more.

One thing bugs me though, the pen is from 1953 and while for a 63 year old pen I must say I am immpressed the pen shows its age in some ways. The barrel is pretty much good but could maybe do with a nice polish (how do you polish plastic/resin pens?). The cap is where the real problems show. Its a rolled gold pen cap which shows a few spots where the gold has come off or tarnished, a few minor dents. Can I use a metal cleaner like Brasso on the cap?

Ill try add some pictures later.

Edited September 23, 2016 by Cause

[Ron Z]

You should not use Brasso on the cap. It is one of the harshest metal cleaners out there. Pots yes, pens no.

 

I prefer to use a Sunshine cloth because it does an excellent job, but it is dry and doesn't leave cleaner in corners like under a clip and all that. I've seen residue from Simicrome or Flitz cause corrosion when not removed. But if you must use a paste polish, it should be Simicrome or Flitz.

 

To polish the barrel, a pen polish is best, unless you have a buffing machine and the right compounds.

[ac12]

It is an OLD pen, don't expect to get it to look like it just came out of the box.

I have heard of horror stories of people trying to polish up old pens, only to make them look worse.

 

And I would NOT use a buffing machine. The wheel rotates too fast for a novice (like me) to safely use. Hand polishing is slow, but safer.

 

I use a 'sunshine' cloth and Novus #2 polish; which one I use depends on the pen.

[woleizihan]

+1 for the Novus #2 and I think it works best with Novus polishing cloth.

[pajaro]

In the Parker forum there is information about cleaning 51s. I have 51s from at least as far back as 1946, and most of them look pretty good. I have now mothballed all my 51s and put the unboxed ones in a tray and put them away with the Sonnets. In the tray most of them look pretty good and hold their own with the newer Sonnets, including one midnight blue 51 I used for forty-six years. Look in the Parker forum in the first threads, and I think you will find some detailed information.

[Monbla]

Having over 30 51s that I've used for almost as many years, I've always used Wright's Silver Polish. It's a paste which polishes precious metals and will also put a shine on the acrylic that 51s are made of. It will not remove scratches but these are just part of the "patina" of a vintage pen

[Buzz_130]

The Parker "51" is a user's pen. The lucite is strong and durable. The hooded nib is reliable, and the collector that provides a reliable source of ink has few modern equals. The clutch design of the cap is amazing and, in my opinion, is better than most of the screw-type caps used today. The aerometric filler is easy to use and holds weeks worth of ink, for my normal usage. You have a pen you will be able to hand down to your children.

 

Yours has some wear, but that's ok. Enjoy the writing experience with a pen designed for users.

 

Buzz

[Sasha Royale]

Don't polish you Aerometric Parker 51. Wipe it with a soft cloth, sometimes dampened with water. Keep it clean.

When you become 63 years old, don't try to look 23 years old. Your Parker 51 has dignity and character. Cherish it.