Parker 51 - Sprung Nib, Something Else, Or Just Me?

[evyxmsj]

Hey all!

 

I'm dipping my toe into the world of vintage pens: starting with a lovely Parker 51 purchased online. I am finding the writing experience a bit frustrating at the moment, and I am not sure if it's a problem with the pen or if it is just me.

 

Symptoms

The line variation is very wide: light pressure seems to be quite dry, from my limited experience; a bit more pressure yields a lot of ink. I am not generally heavy handed, but the result is a blotchy scrawl (see pic below). Although I admit my handwriting is scawly normally, it's not quite as blotchy .

 

http://i67.tinypic.com/xfcmlz.jpg

 

User error is of course a possibility, but in the context of my (admittedly non-vintage) FP experience, it just doesn't feel right. Is it a nib replacement job, or am I using a strange grind/worn tip somehow? I can try to get a pic of the nib under a loupe tonight.

 

Any help would be appreciated!

 

Edit: it's an aerometric, on Rhodia A5 stapled, with Waterman Florida Blue (or whatever they're calling it now).

Edited July 10, 2017 by evyxmsj

[mitto]

If it is your first 51 and if you are not familiar with removing the hood and disassembling the nib,feed and collector on the pen, you need not try mending the nib. There could be a variety of reasons leading to malefunctioning of the 51 nib. Tines adjustment, nib feed adjystment and nib hood tip adjustment are a few.

 

Clear close up pictures would be helpful, though.

[pajaro]

Pics would help. I would try some flushing of the pen to get rid of any junk. The 51 I use most writes a nice fine line with light pressure, but more pressure yields a heavier line, but never blotchy. You might try flossing the nib.

[josepllcs]

Parker 51 nib is rigid and the FP is not designed to excerpt pressure when writing, since you run the risk of breaking the hood (end part).

[pajaro]

The pressure doesn't make the nib flex. With the usual light touch, I get a usual fine line. Writing more carelessly, I might unconsciously put on a small amount of pressure, which seems to put down a little more ink, making the line look wider. Since I have been writing with this 51 in this way for forty-seven years, I don't expect the hood point will break. I am not meaning any great bearing down here, just gradations of almost nonexistent pressure.

 

I still think a flush and nib flossing would help.

[Mike 59]

The 51's nib and hood design does not allow for much variation in line width.

The nib is unusual in that it is almost a tube of metal, which obviously does not want to bend or flex, and the nib goes through the hood with very little clearance, so not allowing much movement either.

So writing with little pressure should give the line width of the nib, i.e. 'fine', 'medium' etc, but pressing down more would only give slightly more ink flow.

[pajaro]

The 51's nib and hood design does not allow for much variation in line width.

The nib is unusual in that it is almost a tube of metal, which obviously does not want to bend or flex, and the nib goes through the hood with very little clearance, so not allowing much movement either.

So writing with little pressure should give the line width of the nib, i.e. 'fine', 'medium' etc, but pressing down more would only give slightly more ink flow.

Yup. That's what I wrote.

[evyxmsj]

Thanks for your help! Sorry for the slight delay: pics below. Re the last one, I've already realigned the tines. I'd say the line/ink variation is pretty impressive, so there must be something wrong.

 

I've previously tried flossing the nib with some thin plastic, but there's not a lot of the slit I can floss! I flushed with warm, soapy water, but I guess there's no harm in doing that again.

 

It's really hard for me to tell, but it looks below like one of the tines is slightly longer than the other. I can't tell if this is an optical thing or not, it doesn't help that (I think!) the phone camera + loupe combo mirrors it. By eye, I can't quite see it, but what I can see is what appears to be a twist in the tip. What do you think?

http://i66.tinypic.com/34smlvc.jpg

http://i68.tinypic.com/2hd78k4.jpg

http://i65.tinypic.com/20hajyx.jpg

http://i63.tinypic.com/2lx8okw.jpg

[evyxmsj]

One more below. What I meant about twisted is that if one were to look at the tip dead on, down the length of the pen, the slit is not quite perpendicular to the nib, if that makes sense.

 

Funny how the last photo of the first post suggests the nib is not centred with the hood/feed, but the other photos seem ok.

 

http://i66.tinypic.com/2rwqauh.jpg

[ac12]

Tines are out of alignment.

The nib of the 51 can be difficult to adjust. Because of the hood design, you have limited access to the nib. Be careful, you don't want to damage the tipping, by trying to adjust the nib by pushing on the tipping.

[Wolverine1]

Where are you located at? If you are anywhere near London, you ought to make a trip to Portobello road and find the booth/shop where you have a person named Harry, I dont remember his last name. He could look at your pen and fix it for you. Alternatively, you could try the Battersea Pen Home, check their website and give them a ring. Best of luck.

[evyxmsj]

Thanks all for your replies!

 

Where are you located at? If you are anywhere near London, you ought to make a trip to Portobello road and find the booth/shop where you have a person named Harry, I dont remember his last name. He could look at your pen and fix it for you. Alternatively, you could try the Battersea Pen Home, check their website and give them a ring. Best of luck.

 

 

Whilst I am geographically not far from London, the prospect of me getting that way any time soon is sadly distant! I might look into the Battersea Pen Home, though I am tempted to try to fix it myself as I like tinkering. But I'll see what, if any, the recommendations here are.

 

Tines are out of alignment.

The nib of the 51 can be difficult to adjust. Because of the hood design, you have limited access to the nib. Be careful, you don't want to damage the tipping, by trying to adjust the nib by pushing on the tipping.

 

Thanks for your reply. As I mentioned, I've already realigned the tines per pic 4 (to no great improvement sadly). Unless you're referring to another misalignment?

[corgicoupe]

Thanks all for your replies!

 

 

 

 

Whilst I am geographically not far from London, the prospect of me getting that way any time soon is sadly distant! I might look into the Battersea Pen Home, though I am tempted to try to fix it myself as I like tinkering. But I'll see what, if any, the recommendations here are.

 

 

 

Thanks for your reply. As I mentioned, I've already realigned the tines per pic 4 (to no great improvement sadly). Unless you're referring to another misalignment?

I think the tines in 4 are out of alignment. The upper one is to the right of the lower one.

[evyxmsj]

I think the tines in 4 are out of alignment. The upper one is to the right of the lower one.

 

Thanks for your reply, but as I posted, I've already fixed it (and it wasn't the problem).

[mitto]

Good that you got the problem fixed. Enjoy writing with your 51.

[evyxmsj]

Sadly, I haven't, the original problem remains

 

If anyone has any ideas?

 

(I've attempted to delete the nib photo face-on above as I think it's confusing everybody!)

Edited July 15, 2017 by evyxmsj