Parker 51 carnage

[ethernautrix]

Ryan Roossinck - LOOK AWAY!

 

Okay, first let me explain (and please don't take my other pens away from me). This is what I think happened.

 

This pen, this Parker 51 with the perfect nib, was safely ensconced in a leather pen case with three other pens. I had used the pen at work in the morning, and it was fine. You know how it is when you find a pen with the nib, what a joy it is to use, even for the shortest notes. Later in the afternoon, the pen case was on my desk. I swung around on my chair or dropped folders or there was some other minor disturbance around my desk, and the pen case dropped approximately 30" to the floor.

 

GASP!

 

No, not really. Cos all it means when your pen case falls from a low height is ink in the cap.

 

So I uncapped each pen to check for ink spillage, and there was nothing on the first three nibs. Which in itself was unusual. I figured I was lucky. I took the P51 out and tried to take the cap off. It wouldn't budge. I mean, it felt glued on.

 

The arrow had been amputated from the cap before I got the pen. So I twisted the cap, or tried to, and I couldn't.

 

So I tried to, ah... um... bottlecap-opener loosen the cap. I mean, I leaned the stub of the amputated arrow on my desk and applied leverage.

 

It didn't work.

 

I got a little frustrated.

 

I was pulling, tugging, trying to twist, yanking, I might have tried to bottle-opener it on my teeth. Probably not, but maybe, I can't remember.

 

Then, trying to turn the cap, I heard a KEEE-RACK! But! The cap was loose! I was able to take the cap off! A piece of plastic hung on a like loose baby tooth. I clicked that back into place.

 

The nib... I wish I could get the cap off to show you the nib. It was the nib version of Linda Blair in The Exorcist. A little out of alignment.

 

BUT IT WROTE! It still wrote!

 

It felt weird, having to hold the pen in a way to accommodate the twisted nib, but it still wrote. It was just the almost-unnoticablyest scratchy; nothing to prevent me from using the pen.

 

An hour went by. I was still shaken by the experience.

 

Then I got a bright idea.

 

If I put the cap back on tightly and twisted THE OTHER WAY, I could fix the nib!

 

And this is what happened:

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2210/2779337147_81345f980f_o.jpg

 

And I can't get the cap off.

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/2779337315_52cc1f90c5_o.jpg

 

 

God, I'm so embarrassed.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited to fix the tenses.

Edited August 20, 2008 by ethernautrix

[johnboz]

Oh, the humanity!

 

That's pretty strange. The situation you described should not have produced that! Maybe it was fate. You would have used this pen so much you'd start to neglect your other pens. Then you'd start to neglect the meaningful relationships in your life: "Do I want to go out tonight? No, I've got to, umm, wash my hair tonight. *don't worry, Precious, I won't leave you alone tonight*". Is that what you wanted? Did you really want it to come to that? I didn't think so.

 

Still, the poor pen didn't deserve to be snapped in half. Maybe just a bent nib, but that carnage? Fate works in mysterious ways.

[dcwaites]

I, too, have dropped my P51 Special onto the floor, and jammed the cap on. Of course, it was in front of somebody I was trying to show off the pen to.

Fortunately, a couple of minutes of gripping and twisting and the cap came loose with no harm. I suspect that the warmth of my hand caused the cap to expand just that teenly little amount it needed.

 

In your case, it looks as though the only permanent damage is to the barrel. It shouldn't be too difficult to get a replacement one (he says, writing in ignorance...).

 

So long as the nib isn't permanently damaged, it should be possible to get it re-aligned properly.

I bought one P51 where the nib had no tipping at all. I was able to get a replacement nib for $20, put it in myself, and now have a beautiful writer.

 

The filler hoop assembly should just reattach, perhaps with the appropriate adhesive (Shellac?).

 

I was going to say that it is just a pen. But the way you wrote about the incident says that, to you, this is an important pen. You need to decide if you want to repair it, or put that money into a replacement P51. Not now, though. That will be a rational decision, and you can put that off till later.

 

 

[daenghafez]

Oh dear, what a lost to a beautiful pen.. Really sorry to hear that.. Do you have a duplicate to the damaged pen?

[edbollix]

Think of the fun you'll have finding your next 51... Always look on the bright side of life... (Whistling part).

[rroossinck]

Couldn't help it, Lisa honey...had to look.

 

Shoot me a note. I might be able to help. At very least, I can probably point you towards someone who's got a barrel. All is not lost.

 

 

[PrawnBoy]

Prawnboy keeps is "51" close to him.

 

I'm sorry for your loss! It looked like such a pretty colour too.

[gyasko]

To get a jammed cap off a 51, it's better to hold the pen loosely, like a drumstick, and tap around the cap where it is stuck on the barrel. That often works for me. If it doesn't, a little warm water usually does the trick. Patience is of the essence.

[J English Smith]

Ah, shoot, ether. Well, you need a new barrel, and the rest can probably be fixed up. If the hood is not broken, the nib can just be re-alligned.

 

Looks like it was a teal blue special - is that right?

 

I recently got a replacement 51 barrel in the teal blue from parker51.com - Ernesto Soler - I bet he can get the parts you need. While you are at it, you could add a clip for the cap too. His prices were very reasonable!

 

What a weird thing. You'd think the pen case would have cushioned the blow. Well, you had the pen well protected, it was just fate.

 

-Joe

[Shangas]

Sweet mother of Jesus!

 

*Faints*

[JRodriguez]

Wow ... I'm so sorry to read this. I really hope someone is able to fix it up for you, especially given how much you seem to have been digging how its writing characteristics.

[ethernautrix]

Thanks for the sympathy, guys. You-all.

 

Ryan, I know you couldn't help but look, but I had to warn you. I (inadvertently) destroyed that pen so soon after it became mine, you know? And it was... I gotta say, a little humiliating. I mean... put the cap back on and twist in the other direction?! What was I THINKING?! It's as if I channelled Lucy Ricardo!

 

Shangas - Your response made me laugh and laugh. I'm still laughing. Thank you.

 

Joe, dcwaites, Ryan (again), JRodriguez -- I don't think this pen is salvageable. I mean, the nib was slightly out of alignment before I further mangled it. Actually, it's sortv like Schrodinger's cat at the moment. Is it dead? Or is it still kicking and screaming? Ryan, I'll send you a note, but I gotta work on this other thing (a work thing), and it's already later than I'd planned.

 

I'm okay. I hope I haven't offended the Parker sensibilities of the Parker experts.

Edited August 20, 2008 by ethernautrix

[skybird]

When you do a number on a pen you really do a number on a pen!!!

I don't wanna shake your hand ;-))

Next time - if you do it again (and we all jam the odd cap), hold the barrel, wrapped in a cloth, in your hand and gently heat up the cap with your hair dryer. Expansion is a wonderful thang!

I had to do that with a 21 which arrived across the world having probably been mishandled by the posties.

[Pete]

Okay... so I guess that "defies description" does equal "was in an explosion"

 

I still think you've got a chance, 51s are pretty tough. Assuming the nib is alright, all that pen needs is a barrel, an arrow clip... and a new owner. Kidding, Ive killed a few 51s myself. Killed one I got off ebay just the other day, as a matter of fact. You won't be seein that pen round here anymore.

[Shangas]

Shangas - Your response made me laugh and laugh. I'm still laughing. Thank you.

 

Glad I could make someone laugh over this.

 

What a horrible thing. You think there's a new barrel out there somewhere? Or is it possible to glue the old one back together?

[mjb30]

I feel sick

[SMG]

Lisa, don't worry, it will be fixable. The most important part of the equation is the nib, and it is most likely fine inside the vault of a cap. Barrels and hoods are easy to find, again ask Ernesto at parker51.com.

 

Shangas, it is not likely that that barrel is one which can be glued together. Lucite basically does not solvent weld or glue at all. I know Ron has had some success with Tenax, but I recall that he was not totally satisfied with that either. Really, as the barrel is probably available on the market somewhere there should be no reason to try to glue this one.

 

If you need help with the pen Lisa, let me know. I would be glad to get it working again for you if you can find a barrel.

 

Cheers,

Sean

[lancekatigbak]

GASP!

[ethernautrix]

Thanks again, Ryan, and thanks, Sean. I think I'm just going to leave things as they are for the time being. I have other priorities: car that won't start and a road trip to plan in YIKES! pretty soon! (No itinerary, so that part's taken care of. But budget allocations have to be made.)

 

I've got this P21 Super that I'm enjoying very much... and am being careful with. If the cap gets stuck, I'll use heat not brute strength and cartoonish antics to loosen it.

 

I'm sure I'll get another P51 eventually. I'm good with being patient.

[CraigR]

Great gads of gobblety gloop, that is one messed up pen. I am so sorry that happened to you. You may be able to gather some parts and put the pen back into serviceable condition. My concern is if this pen is worth fixing as opposed to purchasing another. You mentioned the cap was without clip. Broken barrel. Nib and feed are in unknown condiiton. Sometimes, these pens just need to be allowed to pass away. You now know that you like 51's that write well. I think you''ll have another soon and that isn't bad. /Craig