Parker 51 As Edc?

[welch]

You think I would take such a find (Parker 51 with blue diamond, gold filled cap, gold nib, pristine condition) to school at this point? I mean, a Special sounded viable, but something like this certainly is NOT.

 

Sounds like a P-51 vacumatic, a pen that requires a bit more care than the aerometric. Use the 51 Vac at home.

 

Consider a Parker 45, the first successful cartridge/converter, Parker's replacement for the Super 21. The P-45 should be less expensive...price was about $5 in 1961, when the P-51 was selling for about $15. The 45 is designed to be taken apart by the owner, and the parts are interchangeable. Don't like the nib? Buy another...nibs unscrew, just like the Esterbrook. A current Parker converter will work in a 1965 P-45. There are many P-45's available on EBay, and should be: Parker made them from 1960 - 2008.

[Sasha Royale]

I still use my father's Parker 51, from the early 1950's. There was one sac replacement in 1970, I think. It was a Pliglass sac. I cannot speak to "knock around" durability. However, daily use durability is another matter. The Parker 51 was good enough for my Dad, and Mr. DeGaul, and Mr. Eisenhower.

[pajaro]

Patience. Choose one in good condition, and choose an aerometric model. Then you should have only to flush it and fill it. Then it will give years of use, without a trip to a restorer.

I NEED TO GET MY HANDS ONE OF THESE THINGS

[Flounder]

While it's a nice idea, I think a cartridge pen with a bunch of carts in your pen case would be more practical. At school, you likely hand write a lot more than most folk during the course of a day, in an environment where bottled ink is also unlikely to be available.

Edited December 11, 2017 by Flounder

[pajaro]

While it's a nice idea, I think a cartridge pen with a bunch of carts in your pen case would be more practical. At school, you likely hand write a lot more than most folk during the course of a day, in an environment where bottled ink is also unlikely to be available.

 

+1. I used some Sheaffer cartridge pens my mother bought through grade school until I started using ballpoints. These Sheaffer cartridge penswere more practical, because if the pen were lost or stolen less was lost. Losing, breaking or having a Parker 51 bought these days stolen is a much bigger loss. I think it's a pen for a senior in high school or a college student at least. I didn't buy a 51 until I had graduated the university and had gone into the Air Force. Then I bought a new pen and pencil set. 1970.

[mitto]

A Parker 45 would be the best pen for junior grade school students as well for seniors keeping in view the possibility of theft.

Edited December 11, 2017 by mitto

[surprise123]

Well I want to keep a reliable writer for home use, and I found a nice Blue Diamond Vac. Buy?

[mitto]

Well I want to keep a reliable writer for home use, and I found a nice Blue Diamond Vac. Buy?

Buy without hisitation if it is restored. If not, keep the cost of restoration as well the wait for restoration in mind.

[welch]

Buy without hisitation if it is restored. If not, keep the cost of restoration as well the wait for restoration in mind.

 

(1) As Mitto says, a P-51 Vac is a beautiful fountain pen, but will, at least need a new rubber diaphragm. Unless you know the pen has been restored, add the cost to your idea of the price. See websites of Josh Lax and Indy Pen Dance (among others) for typical restoration costs.

 

(2) As Mitto, Flounder, and I suggest, look for a Parker 45 as your school pen. I used one from 7th grade until I graduated. I re-filled each morning and carried a couple cartridges just in case. Never needed a cartridge, though. A P-45 is easy to find, should be reasonably priced, and they survive.

[mitto]

I still have, in my possession, the P45s that I used in school in mid 60s and in college in late 60s-early 70s. It is a reliable classic cartridge / converter pen and as welch said above it is easily available, reasonably priced as well easy to maintain. You may get one with a 14k gold nib. A flighter (all steel body) version would be almost industructible.

[surprise123]

Does a p45 take modern converters? If so, I am totally sold.

[surprise123]

Because I hate cartridge only pens...

[surprise123]

But are there any Parker pens that resemble the 51 that are cheaper?

[Arstook]

The later P45 models made in the late 90s and early 2000s take modern converters. And again,new old stock or near mint Super 21s are stupidly good pens.

[mitto]

All P45s without exception take all type of of Parker converters - the squeeze converter, the slide converter and the current production piston converter.

Edited December 12, 2017 by mitto

[welch]

(1) Any Parker converter will fit a P-45, as Mitto says.

 

(2) Any Parker format cartridge will fit. Nowadays, that's Parker-made and Aurora cartridges. Aurora makes great ink.

 

(3) The Parker Super 21 is a bit like the P-51, but only a 51 is as good as a 51. Best pen ever made, and the aerometric is the best choice for a pen that will almost certainly write with only a flush. Any pen bought "used" might need to be tuned, and inexperienced sellers might not know a "fine" from an EF or a medium. Probably best to buy from someone who restores pens, or from someone at a pen club or a show.

[AL01]

But are there any Parker pens that resemble the 51 that are cheaper?

 

Ah Hem...

 

Parker 21, Parker 61, Parker 45, Parker 75, (if ya squint ya eyes hard 'nough.) (And the Parker 100, but nobody talks about those.)

 

But in regards to Parker, that's really it.

 

The 21 Super is, (as of now), my favorite hooded nib pen, (which sounds like heresy), but I just like the feel of the softer plastic and I think it is better balanced than any, (aerometric), P51. (The nib and feed in the Super 21 are the same as a Special 51)

 

THAT BEING SAID those sons a guns crack like there is no tomorrow.

.

The Parker 61 kinda sorta feels like a Sheaffer Snorkel without the ribs on the section. It is a SUPA sexy pen in real life, but the plastic has scarred my eyes and hands foreva. (Maybe I will try it out again, who knows.)

 

The Parker 45 is beloved by many... And I love that pen too. You see, I had the PERFECT AND I MEAN PERFECT nib on a Parker 45 CT. (14k, F.) But the plastic did its thing. And it broke my heart. BUT my has a 45 and it has held up quite well, so whatever you do, get a pen thats in real good shape.

 

The Parker 75 is a pen that I have held when I was a child, and have dreamed about ever since. But the feed design is really similar to a 45, (which is similar to a 51/ Super 21.) If you think that the "post - modern" Parkers are ya thing, then do check this pen out.

 

 

So which pen would I get?? Well, the 21s and 45s are dirt cheap and are easy to find in good shape. The 61s are really dirt cheap, (more than the 45s but rememba: it has a 14k nib), but are slightly harder to find in good shape. The 75s are the most expensive, but it also suffers from the least amount of plastic issues.

 

But remember, your mileage may vary. And I really do hope you don't have to deal with plastic problems as I have...

 

Take Care, Al.

 

P.S. - FOR the pens that are known to have plastic issues... ALWAYS look at the hood. If the plastic looks warpy or something like that; then don't buy it. The plastic should have a 'flow' to it.

 

EX: GOOD PLASTIC

 

 

BAD PLASTIC

 

 

(Sometimes it will be less obvious than this.)

AURORA 88 BABY!!!

Edited December 12, 2017 by AL01

[mitto]

I buy 61s in bad shap (for $15-25) mainly to extrac the super smooth nibs on them to use these in my P51s. A P51 with a P61 nib is a joy to use. One has to make a lil bit modification to make the 61 nib fit a P51.

[Venemo]

Does a p45 take modern converters? If so, I am totally sold.

 

Yes, and some Parker 45 versions even come with a squeeze converter. A piston converter will fit too.

 

THAT BEING SAID those sons a guns crack like there is no tomorrow.

.

The Parker 61 kinda sorta feels like a Sheaffer Snorkel without the ribs on the section. It is a SUPA sexy pen in real life, but the plastic has scarred my eyes and hands foreva. (Maybe I will try it out again, who knows.)

 

P.S. - FOR the pens that are known to have plastic issues... ALWAYS look at the hood. If the plastic looks warpy or something like that; then don't buy it. The plastic should have a 'flow' to it.

 

I have a 51 which has a "bump" on its hood, and a 61 which has a hairline fracture on the barrel threads. So both are prone to failure, but by the feels of it, the 51 feels much sturdier than the 61.

On the other hand the 61 is prettier and the capillary filler is way cooler!

 

BTW, ALWAYS tell your classmates to use very little pressure. I tell people that and my pens are jus' fane.

 

I always tell people to not use any pressure at all, but the apply some pressure regardless

[AL01]

Oh yeah, both pens are prone to failure, but the P51 is made out of a very very very robust material.

 

Now....

 

If you look at the barrel diameter on the P61, it is quite thick.

 

But that's polystyrene...

 

I know somebody that loves his 61s more than 51s.