The New Parker 51 -- photos and first impressions

[Welch79Spence]

On 8/5/2025 at 2:34 PM, donnweinberg said:

 

I had my doubts about the "New" 51 before I decided to buy one, and I really gave it some time but I was very disappointed with it. If I were to rate it on a 5-Star scale, it would get a single star. And that's just because its a stylish looking pen.

 

It should be called the "New Parker 21" because that is what it reminded me of. And that is not to bash the vintage 21's - they were great pens! A couple of my favorite fountain pens are old 21's. But the original 21 was basically intended to be a lower-priced version of the 51, right? When I first picked the New 51 up, that was the instant impression I got: The lighter in weight, thinner plastic of a 21.

 

And that didn't discourage me, that was just an observation. I was more interested in how well it would write. And that was the true disappointment. It wouldn't have bothered me at all if it felt like I was writing with a 21 - but the new 51, with a fine point nib, I purchased was terrible. Horrible! I have never been more disappointed with a pen before, ever!

 

If the nib would have performed properly, it probably would have produced a very fine line. Extra fine. I prefer a standard fine line, even leaning a little on the medium side. And, again, if my new 51 would have given me a smooth, extra fine point line when I used it, I could have lived with it. But it didn't matter what I did, I couldn't get the ink to flow properly in that new 51.

 

When I first inked it and noticed the poor flow, I figured I should have taken the time to give the nib section a quick flush and let it dry before I used it, but I was too excited to do that. I wanted to try it out right away!! 😄

 

Maybe that is where the problem lay. Maybe its my fault the pen didn't work right. It had probably been sitting in the box, even being brand new, for a few years and it should have been cleaned prior to use. But whatever it was, I couldn't get it to write in a way in which any type of writer, regardless of their personal preferences, would deem acceptable. 

 

Cartridges and converters. I tried all of the different converters I have. Parker inks at first, then a couple different brands. Letting the pen set in several different positions after inking it, hoping it just needed some extra time for the ink to circulate or prime. Several cleanings, thinking that something was plugged up somewhere inside the pen and just needed to be flushed out.

 

I let the pen sit and dry for 10 days after flushing it so it could dry completely and there wouldn't be a chance of anything interfering with its ability to write. It didn't matter what I did or didn't do to it, I simply couldn't get it to write properly. The best it could do was write like most fountain pens do when they are using their last drop of ink and you still have one more sentence left to write. A dry, light, scratchy line...

 

As you can probably tell, it was extremely frustrating 😑 lol. Sometimes it amazes me that you can spend $2 or $3 on a disposable, or a cheap fountain pen and it will began writing as soon as you try to use it. And it will never let you down until you have used up every drop of ink. You can use it daily or let it set for a month - or even longer - and pick it up and use it right away. 

 

And you can also pay ten or twenty times more (and a lot higher!) for a nicer looking, refillable fountain pen and it can be nothing but a headache for you. It makes me wonder why I bother sometimes lol.

 

After I tried everything I could think of, I emailed the seller at the store I ordered the pen from to see if they had received similar complaints about any other 51's he had sold. Or if he had any suggestions on what I could do to get my pen to work. I explained the problem and, to my surprise, he graciously offered to issue a full refund and he even sent a prepaid shipping label so I didn't have to pay to mail it back myself. I didn't ask him to do that or even expect it!

 

Thankfully, I refrained from smashing that damn pen into a dozen pieces in my darker and more frustrated moments 😆. 

 

Yet, after all of that, I have still considered trying my luck with a New 51 w/ a medium nib. There is no way I could have that kind of bad luck twice, is there?? But I always talk myself out of it.

[donnweinberg]

Hi, Welch79Spence.  A terrible experience, for sure.  It happens sometimes, even with more expensive pens.  You may have gotten a "lemon.”  I’m glad the seller is giving you a full refund. In the future, you may want to try a “brass shimmy,” a small, thin brass sheet, and carefully place it between the tines of the nib, rubbing between the tines.  Sometimes, that solves the problem, but sometimes it doesn’t.  I haven’t had any problems with my multiple new 51 fountain pens, but I have all of them in medium nibs, which I prefer over fine nibs.  Actually, I really like broad nibs, but they aren’t offered in the new 51s.

[VacNut]

I just bought a 51 Aerometric pen and pencil with a fine nib for $35. It came with the 51 clam shell vintage case. I flushed it and it works perfectly.

 

Sorry to hear about your problems. I guess new isn’t always better.

[inkstainedruth]

Wow!  You sure got a great deal!  Nice going!

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Glenn-SC]

Funny, I have two of the new 51s and they both write perfectly.  Great pens. 
[I’ve also tried a dozen Birdsplat fountain pens (some offered for me to try by very proud owners) and only one could even write a continuous and consistent line.  Go figure!]

[donnweinberg]

9 hours ago, Glenn-SC said:

Birdsplat fountain pens

 

What are they?

[Glenn-SC]

1 hour ago, donnweinberg said:

 

What are they?

My point is that everyone’s opinion is based on their experiences and knowledge.

[DKV-fountainpen26]

Hello, 

I just started with a modern Parker 51 and mine is horrible frankly. It skips a lot, I would have expected a lot more for the price. I tried everything already, but it still skips? 

In case I would get a refund: should I go for a vintage Parker 51 or a new Sonnet? 

Thanks a lot! 

[Estycollector]

16 minutes ago, DKV-fountainpen26 said:

Hello, 

I just started with a modern Parker 51 and mine is horrible frankly. It skips a lot, I would have expected a lot more for the price. I tried everything already, but it still skips? 

In case I would get a refund: should I go for a vintage Parker 51 or a new Sonnet? 

Thanks a lot! 

Here is a source for a vintage one, Parker "51" – Dedicated to Parker "51" Pens

[Beechwood]

3 hours ago, DKV-fountainpen26 said:

Hello, 

I just started with a modern Parker 51 and mine is horrible frankly. It skips a lot, I would have expected a lot more for the price. I tried everything already, but it still skips? 

In case I would get a refund: should I go for a vintage Parker 51 or a new Sonnet? 

Thanks a lot! 

 

If you have tried the basic such as flushing with warm soapy water and then the same with clean water, also tried different inks especially waterman or Parker, then try a good quality paper. If there is still an issue, go get a refund.

 

Personally, I would avoid a Sonnet as I would a rabid dog but that is just my prejudice borne out of experience.

 

IMHO the cheaper Parkers are much better than their more expensive siblings.