Parker 51 Help In Aging And Type

[mayfair_40]

Hello

I found this pen in an old box. The case has L2. It's burgundy and silver and made in England.

There is no date that I can see or dots. I'm using tablet to take pictures which are not great. It has Parker 51 filling and operating instructions but does not say if vacuum or are type or does it state if Demi. I had initially listed on eBay to sell but when I noted the lack of knowledge I had to remove listing to save me trouble if I have done it incorrectly t. I thought I would be sensible and see if this band of colleges of pen enthusiast could shine some light on this parker51 for me

Many thanks in advance.

[mitto]

It is a 51 aerometric in blood red made in England some time after 1952. Not a demi. Would you show us the nib and the filler shroud/sac protector in full?

[mitto]

Also see for a single digit date code after the word 'ENGLAND' on the barrel.

Edited November 11, 2016 by mitto

[mayfair_40]

Thank you so kindly for your reply. I have tried to take some better pictures for you. I cannot unscrew the part where the big is stored. As this is an old pen , I did not want to start pulling and tugging parts. The box and instruction s look in great condition and I thought best I leave well alone as I don't know what I'm doing. Would it be possible to get estimate on how much to sell this for? Is eBay good platform or is there a more suitable place. Christmas is coming and my grand children have long lists for Santa!

Once again many thanks for your kind assistance.

[mitto]

Well, you have a good condition English aerometric 51 in good color (English only Bloody Burgundy) along with box and papers. I dont know about prices of English 51s in England (as you reside in England) but it should bring you good money from sellers outside England if in case the nib is in good shape and the filler is in working order (meaning it draw water when you saueeze it). If everything is ok with the pen it should be sold somewhere between $80-$130 on ebay.

 

Best.

Edited November 12, 2016 by mitto

[mayfair_40]

Dear mitto,

Thank you so kindly for taking time and effort to write reply. I do not have ink but I did soak in water to try and clean. If I pump the pen water does fill. I watched on utube about warming and turning the sheaf off to expose nib etc to clean through. I am abit worried on damaging but I think it's the only way I can check its not damaged. In your opinion as a collector would I be wise to leave alone for a collector or should I warm up pen to unscrew and clean and then try to sell. It would then give me idea of the age as I gather the date is on the nib. Many thanks

[mitto]

If you dont feel comfortable disassembling the hood, please DONT. Just flush the pen with water repeatedly till you see clear water coming out. It is not necessary for you to tell the year of production of the pen in the description. Just say it is a Mk1 English aerometric 51.

 

 

Best.

Edited November 13, 2016 by mitto

[pen lady]

Lovely pen. If you think the "papers" are original to the pen, sometimes there's a date code at the bottom of the last page. Maybe not these numbers, but it would look something like - 8/49. That would help with dating the pen if you can't read the date code on the barrel. Best of luck.

[mayfair_40]

Many thanks for your input pen lady. There was not a code there either. It has become like a detective mystery which I love! The metal cover came off when I was trying to remove the hood. So I have given up trying find the exact date as,i"m quite like a dog with a bone. I don't want to knaw this nice fountain pen up so I'm putting it back in the box and leaving well alone. Thank you and mitto for help most appreciated. I would of loved to have written with this but Christmas beckons so I must sell. I just did not want to list an item without knowing the facts .once again many thx

[PaulS]

it looks a nice pen, and wish you luck in selling. Some information that I'd suggest was purely for personal interest, and not to be included in your auction advertisement, since we can't be sure of it's accuracy, could be....................

 

the black stub end on your filler casing is more likely to suggest 1950s

 

the parker halo logo i.e. the oval pierced by arrow appears to have been added to caps from 1960s onwards

 

the model designation in the form of '51', was added to caps from 1964 onwards.

 

assuming your cap lacks the logo and model No., and has the black stub end to the filler (which is appears to have), then it's not unreasonable to suggest your pen is c. 1955 give or take a few years, but not wise to be specific like this in your sales blurb, since we can't be certain.

 

Believe that Newhaven did produce a very few dark burgundy 51s, but since again it's difficult to be sure of colours on the pc screen, then best not to go down the road of worrying about colour issues. When you do sell, perhaps a good idea to say 'no returns'.

[welch]

(1) I think Mitto is right about the price range. I would have said, "At least $75". EBay auctions are unpredictable, but, like Mitto, my guess would be $80 - $130.

 

(2) Do not try to take off the "hood". That's the part wrapped around the point. They were usually held on by a sticky sealant that melts at a temperature a little below the temperature at which "plastic" melts. Parker service technicians -- about 60 years ago -- could wave a Parker 51 above an open flame, at just the right height, and unscrew the hood. Unless you are one of them (and most have died off by now), their technique would be a great way to start a fire. I have bought about two dozen P51s and each one had the hood firmly attached. Just flush, with plain water, and you are fine.

[inkstainedruth]

What does the writing on the sac sleeve say? That may help to narrow the time frame down a bit. IIRC, if it doesn't say "Use Superchrome ink" it was made after 1956. I think that the time frame may also be narrowed down by whether it says to press the bar 4 times (i.e., vs. saying 6 times). Also, I have which I've been told is a late Mk II Aerometric (dates to the early 1960s), because the end of the sac isn't black plastic the way my 1950s (and 1949 Plum Demi) have. But it's definitely not a Mk III because that's when you get the cartridge models (like on Parker 45s).

Ruth Morrisson aka instainedruth

[mitto]

What does the writing on the sac sleeve say? That may help to narrow the time frame down a bit. IIRC, if it doesn't say "Use Superchrome ink" it was made after 1956. I think that the time frame may also be narrowed down by whether it says to press the bar 4 times (i.e., vs. saying 6 times). Also, I have which I've been told is a late Mk II Aerometric (dates to the early 1960s), because the end of the sac isn't black plastic the way my 1950s (and 1949 Plum Demi) have. But it's definitely not a Mk III because that's when you get the cartridge models (like on Parker 45s).

Ruth Morrisson aka instainedruth

The English aero 51s production started in 1950. So the sac guard on all English aero 51s says 'peess ... four times'. Also, there were no Mk111 aero 51s with C/C filling system.

 

Further, the English aero 51s make no mention of usage of any type of ink, whatsoever, on the sac protector.

Edited November 16, 2016 by mitto

[pajaro]

Two countries separated by a common language.

 

Parker51.com has much info relating to the details on the pens and how they narrow down the time frame of manufacture.