Parker 51 Mk1 Section Types Question

[truthpil]

Hi Everyone,

 

I've been trying to find a straight answer on this but have been unsuccessful.

I need to replace the damaged hoods on a couple of my 1950s aerometric Parker 51s, but don't know whether to get the "recessed" hoods which have space inside for an o-ring or the non-recessed ones which simply have threading.

 

Does it matter which kind?

Do you have to replace a hood with the same type that was originally on the pen?

I'm hoping it doesn't matter, because I'd rather not take the pen apart to find out what kind it has.

 

Thanks for your help!

[Erik Dalton]

I tried putting a washer hood on an early non-washer hood pen. It didn't fit. I'm not sure if later in the fifties things get more interchangeable or not..

[FarmBoy]

Not all combinations work. Key is determining which connector you have.

[truthpil]

Not all combinations work. Key is determining which connector you have.

Awww nuts, that's what I was afraid of. Can I tell what type of connector without removing the hood?

Edited May 27, 2017 by TruthPil

[mitto]

Yes, one has to remove the hood to know what kind of connector the pen has. Another way to know for sure the pen has a straight threaded hood with no recess for the O ring is to look at the sac guard of your pen. If it has the press 6 times inscription the hood would be the non-recessed one.

[truthpil]

Thanks mitto,

 

This pen is made in England, has the 'press 4 times' indication and no mention of 'superchrome' on the sac guard, and there is a hole at the end of the barrel. The whole pen is equally warn so seems to be all original parts and I'm guessing then that it was made around 1958-59. Is it too much to assume then that the hood has an o-ring inside?

[mitto]

Firstly, 51s produced after 1950 would have the recessed hood and the corresponding connector.

 

Secondly, there appears no mention either of usage of any ink whatsover - neither superchrome nor Parker - on the English 51s nor the origin of the pen. Even the 1st year (1950) production English 51s don't have the mention of any ink and/or the 'MADE IN ENGLAND' phrase.

 

Thirdly, as far as I know there were no English 51s with the press 6 times inscription. Even the 1st year production pens appeared with the press 4 times inscription.

 

Regards.

Edited May 27, 2017 by mitto

[pajaro]

When making conversions of Parker 51 hoods and barrels to Ariel Kullock hoods and barrels, I found in a couple of cases that the Parker hood had an O-ring in a recess, and I don't think any of the Kullock hoods would accommodate the O-ring. Those conversions worked perfectly well, without leakage, and the Kullock hoods fit well.

 

If you haven't removed the hood to check what you have before ordering a hood, good luck to you and the Red Sox. You will have to remove the hood eventually. Trying to predict the hood type needed based on the visible characteristics of the pen is imprecise. The chances are, however, that your hood will not be the O-ring type of hood. Some people do like to roll the dice.

Edited May 27, 2017 by pajaro

[truthpil]

Thanks for the helpful information!

 

So it sounds like it's possible for non-recessed hoods like the Kullock ones to fit on a pen that originally had a recessed hood with o-ring, but it's not possible in the opposite case.

 

I guess there's no way of getting around it...looks like this 51 hood assembly has a date with some hot water...

[FarmBoy]

Thanks for the helpful information!

 

So it sounds like it's possible for non-recessed hoods like the Kullock ones to fit on a pen that originally had a recessed hood with o-ring, but it's not possible in the opposite case.

 

I guess there's no way of getting around it...looks like this 51 hood assembly has a date with some hot water...

Avoid hot water. Use a hair dryer.