Can We Use Cheap Or Chinese Nibs With Parker 51?

[rizo]

Are there cheap nibs suitable for Parker 51? I see that the Wing Shung 618 and other clones, have nibs tha look very similar to Parker 51 nib.

Do you know?

[Inkling13]

Akaik nope.

[dvalliere]

Why would you want to do that?

[mariom]

The P51 nib has a very specialised design under the hood which no other pen matches, no matter what it looks like on the outside.

 

But as other have noted, why would you want to? Do you have a pen with a busted nib? if so, look for a busted pen with a good nib. P51 nibs are pretty tough.

[mitto]

Yes, one of my 51 arrived with a cheap Chinese gold plated nib marked KINSIN. The nib also fits some of my hooded nibbed Hero desk pens.

 

Then I saw, some time ago, the same nib listed on ebay with the description that it was a Chinese made replacement 51 nib.

Edited February 12, 2018 by mitto

[richardandtracy]

Mariom, I cannot agree with you about the 'Very Specialised Design under the hood'.

The nib fits around a feed in a small cylindrical tube. That is far from 'Very Specialised Design'. The collector is a very clever bit of design thinking for the time, but the nib itself and the way it fits in a cylindrical tube was novel, but not particularly specialised, and is precisely what the Chinese hooded nib clones have copied exactly. On the P51 hood I changed, the diameter up the hood where the nib sits was constant and while there were some small internal machining marks, there were no grooves. Tuning the nib to the tube diameter, and ensuring it sits in the right place to get the correct wetness is a bit of a task, but it is not beyond the wit of man to tweak a tubular nib of approximately the right size and move the ebonite feed so that it works properly.

 

Having said that, to answer the OP's question: I have not tried it. Instead, I have put a P61 nib in a P51 after modifying the nib with a file, and made my best writing P51 by doing so ( https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/62073-parker-61-nibs/?p=603472 ). One reason I have never even considered it, is because the Chinese tubular nibs are all fine/extra fine, and Medium is the smallest I like.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[mariom]

Mariom, I cannot agree with you about the 'Very Specialised Design under the hood'.

The nib fits around a feed in a small cylindrical tube. That is far from 'Very Specialised Design'. The collector is a very clever bit of design thinking for the time, but the nib itself and the way it fits in a cylindrical tube was novel, but not particularly specialised, and is precisely what the Chinese hooded nib clones have copied exactly. On the P51 hood I changed, the diameter up the hood where the nib sits was constant and while there were some small internal machining marks, there were no grooves. Tuning the nib to the tube diameter, and ensuring it sits in the right place to get the correct wetness is a bit of a task, but it is not beyond the wit of man to tweak a tubular nib of approximately the right size and move the ebonite feed so that it works properly.

 

Having said that, to answer the OP's question: I have not tried it. Instead, I have put a P61 nib in a P51 after modifying the nib with a file, and made my best writing P51 by doing so ( https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/62073-parker-61-nibs/?p=603472 ). One reason I have never even considered it, is because the Chinese tubular nibs are all fine/extra fine, and Medium is the smallest I like.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

 

Possibly Richard, but it still begs the question "Why would you want to?"

 

Also, are there many - or indeed any - Chinese P51 clones which replicate the design to the point that the nibs are interchangeable.

Edited February 12, 2018 by mariom

[JayKay3000]

Just because you can, doesn't always mean you should.

[FarmBoy]

Richard is on to something. I’m stuck at Why?

[richardandtracy]

I agree, the 'why' is a difficult one. Steel, not too good quality, nib in one of the best pen bodies you can get.

 

Maybe if you want to make your own...

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[Chrissy]

Don't they sometimes have these already? They are called Octanium.

[Flounder]

OP, of the multifarious Chinese pens I've handled with tubular nibs, none were of a diameter large enough to fit around a Parker 51's feed.

 

Your best bet for an inexpensive 51 nib is an Octanium (steel) with fine tipping.

[Chrissy]

One day I will get rid of my Octanium nib and treat myself to a gold one that would be correct for my pen. It's not a 51 Special, so it has obviously had a replacement nib for some reason.

[Flounder]

One day I will get rid of my Octanium nib and treat myself to a gold one that would be correct for my pen. It's not a 51 Special, so it has obviously had a replacement nib for some reason.

 

I imagine the reason went something like this:

 

Original owner - "Dear Parker repair department, I've bent my nib. Kindly furnish me with a replacement."

 

Parker - "Certainly, valued customer! Gold for ££ or steel for £?

 

Original Owner - "STEEL"

[Chrissy]

 

I imagine the reason went something like this:

 

Original owner - "Dear Parker repair department, I've bent my nib. Kindly furnish me with a replacement."

 

Parker - "Certainly, valued customer! Gold for ££ or steel for £?

 

Original Owner - "STEEL"

 

That may be the scenario.

[CS388]

I had a 616 apart and the nib design looked very similar, but didn't try a swap.

 

OP, of the multifarious Chinese pens I've handled with tubular nibs, none were of a diameter large enough to fit around a Parker 51's feed.

 

 

I think Flounder's answer rings true.

 

I can understand that 'why' has become the dominant question, in this thread - but OP asked 'can'?

Maybe it's plain curiosity, rather than a statement of intent?

 

I once made a Chinese arrow clip fit a P51 (with a bit of hammering and drilling of the clip ring).

Why? Served as a temp pocket holder until I could find a replacement clip (51 had a broken clip). And cost pennies. And was fun to do.

 

Enjoy.

Edited February 13, 2018 by CS388

[Jerome Tarshis]

On the subject of Octanium nibs, I'm not sure replacing one with a gold nib would be treating oneself. There is at least a small (but vocal) minority of 51 fans who believe that, on the average, the Octanium nibs are preferable.

 

This is mentioned in the Shepherds' book on the 51. It was first discussed with me by a knowledgeable person about 15 years ago, when Roger Cromwell explained that point of view. I have since heard it from others who have what a lawyer might call standing. And, whatever the Shepherds themselves think, they mention the opinion.

[mitto]

On the subject of Octanium nibs, I'm not sure replacing one with a gold nib would be treating oneself. There is at least a small (but vocal) minority of 51 fans who believe that, on the average, the Octanium nibs are preferable.

 

This is mentioned in the Shepherds' book on the 51. It was first discussed with me by a knowledgeable person about 15 years ago, when Roger Cromwell explained that point of view. I have since heard it from others who have what a lawyer might call standing. And, whatever the Shepherds themselves think, they mention the opinion.

You may be quite right as some of my Octanium nibs (on my S21s) are the best writing nibs. Nonetheless, an Octanium nib on a non-Special 51 somehow doesn't feel right.

[Jerome Tarshis]

You may be quite right as some of my Octanium nibs (on my S21s) are the best writing nibs. Nonetheless, an Octanium nib on a non-Special 51 somehow doesn't feel right.

 

Yes. I owe Chrissy and the board, if not an apology, a clarification. From the viewpoint of a collector seeking authenticity, replacing that Octanium nib in the regular 51 is a step up. An occasion to congratulate the owner.

 

It is only in the matter of smooth writing that the Octanium nib might be thought better. And my 51s with medium or wider gold nibs are all smooth enough to be going on with.

[Flounder]

I would also like to perpetuate the belief that Octanium nibs are smoother, in fact far better in every way to the gold nibs.

 

_{Mostly to keep the gold ones all to myself}.