Parker 51 — what is the appeal?

[Aysedasi]

I use Diamine and Herbin regularly in mine.  

[corgicoupe]

I am currently using Diamine Majestic Blue and Onyx Black in all my Parkers and Esterbrooks. I like the Private Reserve American Blue and Velvet Black [particularly for sketching] inks but only use them on converter pens. Pelikans only get Pelikan Royal Blue. Diamine Registrar's ink is only in my Esterbrook Estie for documents.

[NumberSix]

One night, I accidentally left a Vac 51 uncapped on my desk. The next morning, I expected it to be dried out and needing water or something to get it going. 

 

Gave it a try. It did indeed stall -- for about half a letter -- and then it was writing again like it hadn't been uncapped for 8+ hours. 

 

These pens are tanks. 

[inkstainedruth]

While I would not put a "permanent" ink like Noodler's Kung Te Cheng or Heart of Darkness in any of my 51s, I have put "standard" Noodler's inks like Purple Heart in the Plum Demi with no ill effects.  Mind you, I'd be a little more careful with something with a finer nib (the Plum Demi has a medium nib) or with any of the 51 Vacs.

@NumberSix -- That is really impressive.  What was the ink in the pen?  And what was the nib with on that 51 Vac?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[NumberSix]

36 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

While I would not put a "permanent" ink like Noodler's Kung Te Cheng or Heart of Darkness in any of my 51s, I have put "standard" Noodler's inks like Purple Heart in the Plum Demi with no ill effects.  Mind you, I'd be a little more careful with something with a finer nib (the Plum Demi has a medium nib) or with any of the 51 Vacs.

@NumberSix -- That is really impressive.  What was the ink in the pen?  And what was the nib with on that 51 Vac?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

It was a medium nib. I forget the exact ink, but I am pretty sure I only ever ran 4001 Royal Blue, Quink Washable Blue, and Quink Blue-Black in that pen. 

 

Probably it was Quink Blue-Black. 

[es9]

8 hours ago, corgicoupe said:

Diamine Registrar's ink is only in my Esterbrook Estie for documents.

 

Not worried about corrosion to the steel nib?

[corgicoupe]

I'm assuming that the stainless steel should be reasonably corrosion resistant and the gold plating should provide some additional protection.

 

I also have some Diamine in a 1948 Parker 51 Aerometric that I picked up in Sanibel Florida for $5.00, so I don't worry much about that one. It's a desk pen, so I bought a $5.00 Lustralloy cap for it. Both are used for checks and documents.

[corniche]

Hello Everyone, 

 

It has been asked, what is the appeal to the 51?

 

When it comes to the attraction to the Parker 51; I think it's a parallel question to one asking about Faith.

 

To those who believe (those who see it); no explanation or analysis is necessary. To those who do not believe (those who do not see it); no explanation or analysis will suffice. 

 

There you have it.

 

- Sean 

[FarmBoy]

What is not to like about this pen?

[Aether]

It's in those of your hands and not those of mine!

 

[PithyProlix]

You just have to hold a decently working one in your hand and write with it. Then after you've owned it for a while you will see that it starts right up and keeps working - every time. No fuss, no muss. The typical nibs are not expressive but that suits certain types of writing, especially the types that have the pen in your hand for a long time, writing a lot. Or the types of writing where you just want to focus on the task at hand, rather than focus on the physical act of writing. You can forget about the pen and write away (right away).

If you don't get the appeal after that, then I can't help you.

[Aysedasi]

4 hours ago, corniche said:

Hello Everyone, 

 

It has been asked, what is the appeal to the 51?

 

When it comes to the attraction to the Parker 51; I think it's a parallel question to one asking about Faith.

 

To those who believe (those who see it); no explanation or analysis is necessary. To those who do not believe (those who do not see it); no explanation or analysis will suffice. 

 

There you have it.

 

- Sean 

 

I think this is probably the most accurate comment in this thread so far...... 

[como]

Another version of the explanation 😏:

 

Parker 51 fans: She is Angelina Jolie. She doesn't have to charm YOU!

 

Parker 51 skeptics: Right, except that she ISN'T!

[TheRedBeard]

8 hours ago, corniche said:

Hello Everyone, 

 

It has been asked, what is the appeal to the 51?

 

When it comes to the attraction to the Parker 51; I think it's a parallel question to one asking about Faith.

 

To those who believe (those who see it); no explanation or analysis is necessary. To those who do not believe (those who do not see it); no explanation or analysis will suffice. 

 

There you have it.

 

- Sean 

Perfectly said, Sean 🙂

Absolutely agree.

[corgicoupe]

4 hours ago, Aysedasi said:

 

I think this is probably the most accurate comment in this thread so far...... 

I was planning to say the same thing.

 

BTW, I've only been to Petite Le Mans

[es9]

9 hours ago, corniche said:

To those who believe (those who see it); no explanation or analysis is necessary. To those who do not believe (those who do not see it); no explanation or analysis will suffice. 

Precisely. 

[corniche]

Hi Aysedasi, Red Beard, CorgiCoupe & ES9,

 

Thank you all for your kind words. 

 

- Sean 

[sansenri]

There's lots you can say on the 51, but it has that one special (or simple) quality: it just writes.

[corniche]

1 hour ago, sansenri said:

...it just writes.

 

Yup. That, too.  

 

- Sean 

[mitto]

Well, there are pens. But for me - and for many others, I believe- the P51 is 'The Pen'.