Parker 51 Photo Thread

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

… is that redband demonstrator authentic!?!

 

wow. 

[VacNut]

2 hours ago, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

… is that redband demonstrator authentic!?!

 

wow. 

Meh…there was a stash of red band parts that were converted into pens. Are they any less authentic, than if Parker made the pens? I don’t fault anyone willing to build a red-band 51 from Parker parts, but the clear case looks like NOS. That said, most Red-Bands show little use. I would certainly notify a buyer, on the possible history. I do not know the answer.

 

How many 51 Demonstrators did Parker make, and how many were found “out in the wild”?

What is a Kullock?
 

A hobbyists values accordingly.

 

[Glenn-SC]

On 4/5/2025 at 11:35 PM, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

fascinating! are there pics?...

 

Here’s a picture but I do not know from where I copied the photo, the photographer, or the provenance of the pen ….

[donnweinberg]

10 hours ago, VacNut said:

Please keep in mind the Parker Books are a good beginning resource, but more information about Vacumatics and 51’s have come to light since the books were written. Mr Shepard attends the London Pen show regularly. He is always glad to speak with collectors.

 

The books would be very different if they were written today.

 

I didn’t know that, so thank you for that information. 🙂

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

52 minutes ago, VacNut said:

Meh…there was a stash of red band parts that were converted into pens. Are they any less authentic, than if Parker made the pens? I don’t fault anyone willing to build a red-band 51 from Parker parts, but the clear case looks like NOS. That said, most Red-Bands show little use. I would certainly notify a buyer, on the possible history. I do not know the answer.

 

How many 51 Demonstrators did Parker make, and how many were found “out in the wild”?

What is a Kullock?
 

A hobbyists values accordingly.

 

Good points

45 minutes ago, Glenn-SC said:

Here’s a picture but I do not know from where I copied the photo, the photographer, or the provenance of the pen ….

Wow. Nice. 

[VacNut]

1 hour ago, donnweinberg said:

 

I didn’t know that, so thank you for that information. 🙂

“Trust, but validate.” just like all things on the internet and with AI.
Collectors are always discovering more information.

That said, “Don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story.”😂😂😂

 

[Estycollector]

2 hours ago, Glenn-SC said:

Here’s a picture but I do not know from where I copied the photo, the photographer, or the provenance of the pen ….

Looks like a photo from Parker51. 

[VacNut]

Nice color, but the wide gold band is suspicious. It is below the clutch ring so there is no real need for it. Parker usually didn’t go for adornment, just for the sake of adornment. Installing it would either require a two-piece barrel or cutting a grove into the barrel and crimping the gold band onto the barrel.

[Dillo]

20 hours ago, VacNut said:

Clear Demonstrators are always cool.

 

 

 

 

 

Out of curiosity, do your Parker-made Vacumatic demonstrators show a lot of very fine cracks in areas that have been stressed? The one I have has a lot of very fine cracks here and there that I can see if I hold it up to the light.

[Glenn-SC]

30 minutes ago, Dillo said:

 

Out of curiosity, do your Parker-made Vacumatic demonstrators show a lot of very fine cracks in areas that have been stressed? The one I have has a lot of very fine cracks here and there that I can see if I hold it up to the light.

My 61 demo is nothing but cracks.  

[Glenn-SC]

11 hours ago, Estycollector said:

Looks like a photo from Parker51. 

Thanks!!  That’s exactly where I found it.  

11 hours ago, VacNut said:

Nice color, but the wide gold band is suspicious. It is below the clutch ring so there is no real need for it. Parker usually didn’t go for adornment, just for the sake of adornment. Installing it would either require a two-piece barrel or cutting a grove into the barrel and crimping the gold band onto the barrel.

As pointed out on the Parker51 website, the original patent, 2,223,541, has, in fact, two barrel trim rings!

[VacNut]

That’s interesting. The patent shows lines at that location, but doesn’t call it out unlike all the other parts. I will have to ask around. 

 

https://patents.google.com/patent/US2223541

 

 

[VacNut]

10 hours ago, Dillo said:

 

Out of curiosity, do your Parker-made Vacumatic demonstrators show a lot of very fine cracks in areas that have been stressed? The one I have has a lot of very fine cracks here and there that I can see if I hold it up to the light.

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.

[Carguy]

Not the best picture of my 51 collection, but here it is….

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

Wow. I’m insanely jealous of that collection! 

[donnweinberg]

Carguy, that’s the largest P51 collection I’ve ever seen.  I’ve got about 100 51s (and parts to make more), but it looks like you have more, with so many beautiful Kullock (and the like) 51s.  Congrats!  

[Carguy]

I haven’t counted but I quit trying to keep up with Mitto and his legion. Most of mine are run of the mill pens or ones I put together from parts, but I do love my Kullock creations. Now I just need a Torelli, a Prather, and a Mustard DJ.

[donnweinberg]

1 hour ago, Carguy said:

Now I just need a Torelli, a Prather, and a Mustard DJ.

 

I see Mustard DJ versions on eBay from time-to-time.  Also, you can find one or more at Ernesto Soler's site, Parker51.com.  He also has a single-jewel Mustard 51, says it is much rarer than the DJ Mustard, and is asking over $600 for it.

[Glenn-SC]

3 hours ago, Carguy said:

Now I just need a Torelli, a Prather, and a Mustard DJ.

Bexley?

[Carguy]

3 hours ago, Glenn-SC said:

Bexley?

I actually have a Bexley currently inked, a beautiful copper swirl color that I was lucky to get.