Parker 51 Photo Thread

[VacNut]

On 11/13/2025 at 7:42 AM, donnweinberg said:

 

But some great caps.  😃

Parker tested numerous modifications to the 51 during its long production. Different caps is just one of the distinctions. The caps and some of the barrels in the photo are at a minimum solid 14K, as are some of the fixtures. Parker tested several methods to make flexible 51 nibs, for flexi fans. There are some really interesting adaptations. I recall seeing a 51 integrated nib and hood model and a music nib, once…

[Carguy]

I have had the missing setting ring issue with a Kullock pen before, but I had no resource to put it right so I just threw the barrel away.

[Carguy]

3 hours ago, VacNut said:

Parker tested numerous modifications to the 51 during its long production. Different caps is just one of the distinctions. The caps and some of the barrels in the photo are at a minimum solid 14K, as are some of the fixtures. Parker tested several methods to make flexible 51 nibs, for flexi fans. There are some really interesting adaptations. I recall seeing a 51 integrated nib and hood model and a music nib, once…

I have a few unique nibs but all of my caps came from Kullock or were standard Parker use. I’d kill to find an Empire cap.

[Carguy]

23 hours ago, Carguy said:

Yeah, I mean really, is THAT all you’ve got?? What a piker….jeez! 😂🤣😇

FB, I certainly hope you know that I was teasing you. No intent to be insulting.

[VacNut]

5 hours ago, Carguy said:

I have a few unique nibs but all of my caps came from Kullock or were standard Parker use. I’d kill to find an Empire cap.

There are many around. Maybe a second or third job to pay for your hobby?!?! You can find one if you are willing to part with some of your Kullock 51s.
 

I was just speaking with another pen collector that the 51 Fish Scale Cap is more uncommon than an Empire Cap. A Presidential 51 is even more uncommon than either cap. The caps are just not as flashy.

 

IMHO, the 51 Rainbow, Watermelon, Fish Scale, and Gold Cap with a light-sand blast cap band are all more understated and attractive.

 

[donnweinberg]

17 hours ago, Carguy said:

I have had the missing setting ring issue with a Kullock pen before, but I had no resource to put it right so I just threw the barrel away.

 

I hear you.  What I do is keep the barrel just in case and/or because I hate to throw that kind of thing away.

[samba]

Here is the photo of five P51 Aerometric Custom I'm currently using! 😊 

[VacNut]

1 hour ago, samba said:

Here is the photo of five P51 Aerometric Custom I'm currently using! 😊 

Excellent pens.

You cannot go wrong with an Aerometric 

[VacNut]

I have to ask. If Kullock parts do not always fit together well, are subject to cracks, need DIY modifications, and may differ in size from pen to pen, are they relatively low priced?

A working Aerometric is £40 or $55.

[Carguy]

By and large, I have had good luck with his parts. He simply wasn’t very precise in his production, but some of his colors were amazing and never made by Parker. His caps re usually Parker made with modified finishes that look great. The other parts just look great.

 

In answer to your question, yes, I have found them to be priced accordingly. Now with the tariffs however, I haven’t bought anything in months.

[donnweinberg]

20 hours ago, VacNut said:

I have to ask. If Kullock parts do not always fit together well, are subject to cracks, need DIY modifications, and may differ in size from pen to pen, are they relatively low priced?

A working Aerometric is £40 or $55.

 

Their parts often do fit together, but I just wanted you all to be aware that they sometimes don’t.  As you can see from photos I’ve posted above, you can assemble very interesting and nice-looking Parker 51s using Kullock parts.  Their prices vary quite a bit, depending on the part and its rarity.  I’ve spent up to $25 for a section, but if it didn’t fit, they replaced it at no charge.  They are very nice to deal with.  You can negotiate up to a point, and the more you buy, the better the accommodations.  

[Barry Gabay]

23 hours ago, samba said:

Here is the photo of five P51 Aerometric Custom I'm currently using! 😊 

Beautiful photo. Thank you for sharing. 

[VacNut]

1 hour ago, donnweinberg said:

 

Their parts often do fit together, but I just wanted you all to be aware that they sometimes don’t.  As you can see from photos I’ve posted above, you can assemble very interesting and nice-looking Parker 51s using Kullock parts.  Their prices vary quite a bit, depending on the part and its rarity.  I’ve spent up to $25 for a section, but if it didn’t fit, they replaced it at no charge.  They are very nice to deal with.  You can negotiate up to a point, and the more you buy, the better the accommodations.  

Thank you to the two of you for clarifying.

 

[christof]

On 11/13/2025 at 3:51 PM, christof said:

 

 

 

 

...still looking for an affordable Presidential.

 

I came a little bit closer to this. I recently got this pen:

 

cap and clip are marked: 14K

pens date code is: 48

the sac guard is made of aluminum and "6 times" imprint. 

 

 

According to Ernesto Soler, this is a Parker "51" Aerometric with a solid gold Heirloom cap.

 

Quote

Solid Gold 14k caps with 4 circles going around the cap and 14k clips.  This was the new solid gold pattern introduced for the plain arrow clip in 1947.  Model was sold as “Heirloom” by Parker.  Pattern carried into the aerometric series.   

 

... the only solid gold caps made in the aerometric series besides the all gold Presidentials. Only made for about 2 years. Very hard to find and much rarer than the gold caps of the vacumatic series.

https://parker51.com/index.php/caps-home/caps-page-4/

 

 

[Carguy]

Nice!

[donnweinberg]

Very beautiful.

[christof]

Thank you!

[donnweinberg]

I recently purchased from Ariel Kullock’s firm in Buenos Aires, the following 4 Parker 51 pens in 2 different colors:

 

DARK MUSTARD: 2 pens

                  

 

SURF/CARIBBEAN GREEN: 2 pens

                  

 

I already had one of the Dark Mustard models, purchased at the BWI Pen Show about 4 years ago, and I love the color.  So, now I have 3 in that color.  Kullock’s team told me that the Surf or Caribbean Green models (the color looks the same) were made from Parker 61 material.  I was told that all four pens had been manufactured by Kullock quite awhile ago and were rediscovered while going through old stock.

 

At some point, I may try to substitute a wider nib on one or more of these pens, but first I’ll see how well they write with their current 14k nibs.

 

[donnweinberg]

I also assembled a Dark Grey 51 Vac DJ.  I purchased the hood, barrel, and blind cap (BC) about 2 months ago from a nice eBay seller, but the back of the barrel lacked a “setting ring,” as a result of which I couldn’t properly install a filler pump and diaphragm.  I was able to buy a few setting rings from Ariel Kullock’s team in this latest shipment of parts.  I very carefully screwed in one of those setting rings into the back of the Dark Grey barrel, using a jeweler’s tapered burnishing tool.  Then I installed the filling mechanism in the back (including a red anodized aluminum pump over which the diaphragm was fitted) and a collector/feed/nib in the front.  Finally, I centered the hood over that in the typical manner (with a very thin sheen of silicone grease on the barrel threads).  Here are some photos of the final assembly.  

 

            

 

I also used one of my own clutch rings with the GP center band, plus an English 14k broad nib.  There’s another version of the Kullock dark grey that is not polished, and I have a few of them, but this one came fully polished.

[christof]

Beautiful pens, specially the caribbean green! Congrats.