Engraving A '51

[tripcode]

So my parents have decided to buy me a 51 for Christmas. Knowing that I don't intend to ever sell the pen, and that I intend to keep it for the whole of my life, and pass it down to my children, would it be easier for an engraver to engrave the barrel or the cap? If anyone has any experience with this, please, by all means, share it.

[ANM]

Nearly every pen I have. I told myself that it would be THE ONE but none of them turned out to be the one pen to rule them all. So even though you have plans to keep this one forever, it may not be as good as you dream it will be. Having said that, if you must engrave the pen, do it on the cap. You can always replace that part easier than the barrel if you ever do the unthinkably and get rid of it sometime in the future.

Edited November 14, 2012 by ANM

[FarmBoy]

Well, I'm going to vote barrel. With the exception of a few rare colors, barrels seem easier to find than good caps of late.

 

I'd also be inclined to run it a while before deciding any given pen is THE pen.

[humsin]

I don't like engravings. Period.

[rochester21]

Neither do i. One thing i learned regarding fountain pens is that price and what other people say/ what you expectations are will not always match the experience with the pen itself. Predicting the future is another endeavor which i don`t necessarily encourage. Also, what practical difference will it make to your kids if the pen is or isn`t engraved with your name, since they will know it belonged to you? Chances are they won`t even use it, and will end up on ebay, like many others.

Edited November 14, 2012 by rochester21

[tripcode]

Neither do i. One thing i learned regarding fountain pens is that price and what other people say/ what you expectations are will not always match the experience with the pen itself. Predicting the future is another endeavor which i don`t necessarily encourage. Also, what practical difference will it make to your kids if the pen is or isn`t engraved with your name, since they will know it belonged to you?

 

I've already got a cheap, user 51 ($25 at an out-of-the-way antiques store ), which I like quite a bit, so I'm expecting the one they're getting me to be as good as that one.

 

As far as the name thing goes, I suppose I should clarify that I'm not going to have it engraved with my name, but rather decorative patterns, like you'd see on a gun. You make a great point about the name, though.

[Glenn-SC]

It will be your pen, do with it as you wish!

 

I have collected many engraved pens and engraving doesn't both me.

 

One of my favorite "51"s is "Bess's pen" that I bought from her Grand Daughter. It has a beautifully engraved script "B" on the cap.

It was special to Bess, it was special to her Grand Daughter, and now its special to me!

[hari317]

Go ahead and engrave it. It is your pen.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Back in Silver Dime days, engraving a pen was a mark of Class. One got such pens upon retirement or round birthday. It was a mark of respect.

That was back in the day of one man, one pen, and perhaps a family pen...the old one. A middle class family the wife had a nice pen too. A Three Pen Family.

 

It also prevented the pen from joining some one's collection.

Barrel would be best. I do have them engraved on the cap, but the cap is plastic.

Yes you will be keeping your P-51...so go for it.

 

Yes, you will if you sell it lose 15% of what it could have brought.

Do go to the very best engraver. Gold leaf or something similar in the Engraving is Class.

 

I have and will in the future buy engraved pens, if I can get a make and model with the nib I want, cheaper.

I am going to be using it, and I have enough nerve to take it with me...should I show the pen, it's the pen and nib that are of interest not the previous owner. If I need too, I'd say it was some one's favorite pen.

 

Vintage pens are not new, as is.

 

Yes, get the best to engrave your pen. Carry it proudly.

[Paddler]

Not everyone looks upon his possessions as investments to be sold later. Have the pen engraved the way you want it. The whole pen, if that is what you want. If you can't afford to sink it, don't buy the boat.

[PAKMAN]

Most engraved 51's that I seen were engraved on the body of the pen. The only ones I've seen that were engraved on the cap were ones that had a special autograph area on the cap for engraving.

[ANM]

"If you can't afford to sink it, don't buy the boat?" Does that mean you also should not buy a house you can't afford to burn or a car you can't afford to crash?

 

IMO if you buy something that was made before you were born and my last for future generations and have value to them, you should have some sense of responsibility to maintain it as well as possible. It isn't just about making a profit.

[MKeith]

Not everyone looks upon his possessions as investments to be sold later. Have the pen engraved the way you want it. The whole pen, if that is what you want. If you can't afford to sink it, don't buy the boat.

 

I agree. I have several pens including 51's which I will never sell and intend to pass on to my children and grandsons. If you wish to engrave your pen do so and don't look back.

Edited November 15, 2012 by MKeith

[Brian-McQueen]

Come on guys, it's just a Parker 51. It's not like he's engraving a silver repousse Waterman or something like that. Unless it's a particularly rare color or cap, there are thousands and thousands more of them out there. Just look at how many black or burgundy aerometrics are on ebay right this moment for sale.

 

I have seen engraved caps, and think that would be better for engraving fancy patterns on. If you have some money to burn, there are even folks who can take a sterling silver cap in terrible shape, de-ding it, polish it smooth, and engrave a design in it for you.

 

Anyway, the engraving can be easily done on the plastic or the cap. Just make sure you do your research to find a good engraver.

Edited November 15, 2012 by RobertNFrappuls

[ANM]

You are right. There are thousands of 51's. Of course there are thousands less than there used to be and in the future there will be thousands less than there are now. On the other hand I have a Rembrandt etching. There are thousands of those too and heck they still have the plates so they could make more if they wanted to. I think I'll take some Bay State Blue and draw a mustache on Mary. It's MY print. I can do whatever I want. I don't ever plan to sell it either.

[mirosc]

Of course there are thousands less than there used to be and in the future there will be thousands less than there are now.

And so the value of our own non-engraved pens will definitely rise. Thus we recommend that he should engrave his pen. Get the drift?

 

Seriously:

I don't think that your example is valid. The Rembrandt is not meant for getting a moustache with BSB, that's not part of the culture of those past times, nor is it part of our common culture these times. But it is not only common for pens to have an engraving, they are even made the way so that you can put an engraving on it. So: I think it's perfectly legitimate to engrave that pen. I don't see a problem if he wants to.

 

My personal opinion:

I don't like engravings on pens and don't buy pens with engravings. I even hate the imprints - I never understood why all those sellers and buyers think it adds quality to a pen if there's a crisp and strong imprint. It just makes the pen more ugly for me.

I have only one exception, but a quite exquisite one: I have a Wahl-Eversharp Doric where all previous owners have engraved their names on the pen. So I am going to engrave my name, too. I think it's part of this pen's history.

Edited November 15, 2012 by mirosc

[Glenn-SC]

I think I'll take some Bay State Blue and draw a mustache on Mary. It's MY print. I can do whatever I want. I don't ever plan to sell it either.

 

I agree with you 100%

 

The print is yours and if it makes you happy to do so draw away!

[Ernst Bitterman]

I'm not a huge fan of engraving out of hand, but I'm also sentimentalist enough to say go right ahead in the circumstance indicated. I'd ask your engraver of choice whether it's easier for them to handle steel or Lucite. As indicated above, most "51" engravings are on the barrel, but the cap can be quite striking:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/takematsu/WatermanConquestcap.jpg

(not a "51", but you can see the effect)

[ANM]

It is an etching, not a print and because I'd like to does not mean I should. But OK. If anyone asks why Mary has a blue handlebar, I'll tell them Glen said I had his permission. I'll take the credit for the horns on Joseph.

[nxn96]

I'm of two minds on this subject. On one hand, some of my more treasured writing instruments are those engraved with the name of a family member. It does create a "connection" with a family member no longer here. On the other hand, when I'm looking for pens on eBay or at a pen sale, I tend to shy away from them when they're engraved or otherwise personalized. So, I guess my thought would be: if it matters for resale, not so good an idea; if it's to commemorate a special occasion and the pen will likely never be sold, why not?

 

Hope this helps.