Parker 51 Photo Thread

[donnweinberg]

16 hours ago, Glenn-SC said:

Bexley?

 

I have one Bexley-made Parker 51 Aero in a yellow color.

 

 

It has a 14k broad stub nib.

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

41 minutes ago, donnweinberg said:

 

I have one Bexley-made Parker 51 Aero in a yellow color.

 

 

It has a 14k broad stub nib.

Oh. That nib.

 

nice pen too!

[inkstainedruth]

On 4/7/2025 at 10:52 PM, Glenn-SC said:

My 61 demo is nothing but cracks.  

I only have two 61s that *didn't* develop cracks -- the 61 Flighter (which is of course metal bodied) and a black one I picked up a while back for a whole whopping two bucks at an estate sale company's "showroom" sale (I think they run sales there if there isn't a lot of stuff at the sale, so it's just easier to move it -- of course, they still start those sales at 7 AM ET on Saturdays...).  

It's sad in a way -- if Parker had made 61s out of a better grade of plastic, the way they did for 51s?  Those might still be on the market today (and possibly even were BETTER sellers for Parker than 51s were).  But they used the same grade of plastic that they did for 21s (and the one of those I own ALSO developed cracks) and for the 41s (I got lucky on mine in that I found it in a shoebox full of mostly ballpoints at an estate sale -- I could have paid five bucks for the entire contents of the box -- and because it HASN'T cracked; I use it sparingly as a precaution but it really is a lovely writer).  

Because the capillary filler system is BRILLIANT.  I'm always bemused by the fact that Parker's answer to the influx of ballpoints on the market was the 61 (the simplest fill system out there) -- while Sheaffer's answer was the Snorkel (the most convoluted fill system on the planet...).  And don't get me wrong -- I love my Snorkels -- but they're NOT cheap to get repaired....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Glenn-SC]

Just a photo (or two) to show the cracks in my 61 Demo …..

[Dillo]

On 4/8/2025 at 8:43 AM, VacNut said:

Are you referring to the Crystal-type Demonstrators, or the Striated Demonstrators? 
Fissures sometimes show up in the clear laminations of Vacumatics, but one has to look carefully to see them.

 

Specifically the Lucite Parker "51" demonstrators. I should have been more clear. I was stuck in my head.

 

My Parker "51" demonstrator (genuine Parker production) has a lot of fine cracks around the diaphragm seat and where the collector presses into the mouth of the barrel. I don't use it because it is full of very fine cracks. It's more of a display piece

[VacNut]

That looks pretty bad. There is little staining, so it hasn’t much use.

Did you take it apart or did you buy it that way?

[VacNut]

Is there a black sleeve inside for the photo?

[Glenn-SC]

My 61?

I never used the pen because of the cracks. 
The black tube is the Teflon coated capillary unit.  

[jchch1950]

The cracks on the Parker 61 are a problem, and the main reason to keep them in a box The other is the fact that the small arrow tends to run away with the washing water used to clean the pen. The design and filling mechanism are incredibly good. I don't know if the plastic in the Argentinian version was the same.

[VacNut]

At least there are plenty of 61 hoods and arrows available 

[jchch1950]

4 minutes ago, VacNut said:

At least there are plenty of 61 hoods and arrows available 

Yes, they are . The problem is to install them because some of the used pens had the section glued in previously repairs or cleaning.

[donnweinberg]

8 hours ago, jchch1950 said:

The problem is to install them because some of the used pens had the section glued in previously repairs or cleaning.

 

Right.  The best advice I’ve seen when there is no glue and when one wants to restore a 61 is to use some rubber cement to secure the hood.  That way, some moderate heat can loosen the hood.  But, once a hood has been glued (e.g., super glue), forget about it.

 

13 hours ago, Dillo said:

My Parker "51" demonstrator (genuine Parker production) has a lot of fine cracks around the diaphragm seat and where the collector presses into the mouth of the barrel.

 

Right.  When restoring the 51 Vacs, it is easy to over-tighten the filler unit and/or to fit into the upper barrel a collector that has too-tight a fit.  When there is a certain amount of friction resistance placing the collector, I’ll use a little bit of either diaphragm lubricant or silicone grease to help ease the collector into place.  However, some barrels just resist, so I keep trying different 51 collectors in the hope that at least one will fit; there are subtle-enough differences among some “identical” collectors.  I have found that the Kullock 51 Vac barrels present the most frequent difficulties in that regard; they tend to be a bit thicker and thus to have smaller openings at the barrel top.

[Carguy]

I have learned how to take a 61 apart and it’s a pain! But…l have been able to do it without cracking one yet.

 

As for the collector, I have snapped off more than I care to admit by trying to force them into place!

[Dillo]

In my case, the cracks are more like fine crazing. It follows the pattern of the material and the imperfections in the shape. I do believe it came that way from Parker based on some of the clues I had when I was working to make it presentable. There wasn't any presence of ink anywhere in the pen. I don't think it was used, just kept around for display.

[VacNut]

22 hours ago, Glenn-SC said:

My 61?

I never used the pen because of the cracks. 
The black tube is the Teflon coated capillary unit.  

I don’t collect 61’s and maybe this can move over to 61 thread, but why would you need a demonstrator for a capillary filler? Don’t you unscrew barrel and dip the filler into ink?

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

1 hour ago, VacNut said:

I don’t collect 61’s and maybe this can move over to 61 thread, but why would you need a demonstrator for a capillary filler? Don’t you unscrew barrel and dip the filler into ink?

probably for the same reason they make demonstrator cartridge pens like the 45: just to show it off, is my guess  

[VacNut]

The Demonstrators were meant to be for salesmen or counter displays. What are they showing off? The nib and feed from a 20 year old feed design? Just silly.

[Glenn-SC]

8 hours ago, VacNut said:

The Demonstrators were meant to be for salesmen or counter displays. What are they showing off? The nib and feed from a 20 year old feed design? Just silly.

The technical design of Fountain Pens has been stable for 60, 70, or 80+ years. No one needs a demonstrator, but I can think of a few reasons why someone would want one.

1) Because the buyer is 20 to 30 years old and has never seen how any fountain pen works.

2) Because the owner wants to be assured that their pen is working or is working correctly.

3) Because some people just want to see things work. 

4) Because you can see the ink level in the pen. 

5) For the same reason, they make blue pens or black pens or white pens, it’s different.

6) Because it’s cool.

[FarmBoy]

The only reason is marketing. 
 

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

13 hours ago, VacNut said:

The Demonstrators were meant to be for salesmen or counter displays. What are they showing off? The nib and feed from a 20 year old feed design? Just silly.

Showing off a filling system with absolutely no moving parts?… I mean, that IS pretty cool.