Is it worth it? Parker 51 2021 Edition

[crescentfiller]

10 hours ago, Carguy said:

I’d prefer green bean casserole. I hate mayo…..

 

But the casserole dish has a screw on lid...?

[Carguy]

Why is it screw on?? I liked the old way that it just pushed on…..guess I don’t like green bean casserole anymore!

 

Actually, that’s not true because I made some for dinner tonight…..

[Dip n Scratch]

I was tempted until I saw a Navy Grey 51 Demi (medium) I had the nib swapped for a Fine after it arrived to match my black 51.

A genuine P51 nib looks rather like a quill, except it is formed of sheet steel rolled into a tube. Looks very strong.

The removed nib says 'PARKER', 'OCTANIUM' & 'USA'. No mark to denote tip size that I have seen.

I do have the Wing Sung 601 visual likeness to a vac 51. It is a piston-filler, no diaphragm.

[bunnspecial]

On 5/10/2022 at 5:32 PM, Dip n Scratch said:

I do have the Wing Sung 601 visual likeness to a vac 51. It is a piston-filler, no diaphragm.

 

I have a 601-or at least I think that's what it is-and I'd definitely class it as a Vacumatic type filler even if it's not 100% identical to the Parker and definitely not a piston filler.

 

The older 601s used a latex diaphragm that I think IS a Vac Deb-sized diaphagm(same as used in the 51 and most second-gen Vacumatics).

 

I haven't pulled mine apart, but if I'm not mistaken the only change is that they've eliminated the diapragm in favor of an O-ring seal. It still fundamentally works like a Vacumatic-push the plunger and it pushes air out the breather tube, then release it and it sucks ink back in. Press again and it pushes more air out and sucks more ink in up to the point that the ink is to the top of the breather tube.

 

The Edison draw filler works the same way although it's not spring loaded(you have to manually pull the plunger back up).

 

Incidentally, Edison use to offer a Vacumatic-type filler that AFAIK was effectively a Vacumatic clone but all brass rather than aluminum or aluminum and plastic. It installed and removed with a Vac wrench, and was billed as serviceable by anyone who could service a Vacumatic(even though Edison warranties for life). The draw filler was an attempt to design a filler in the spriit of the Vac that would also place nice with any ink you could throw at it rather than following the usual cautions that come with latex rubber diaphragms(or sacs).

[bunnspecial]

I meant to say in my previous post before getting sidetracked(something my wife accuses me of often!) that I'd given in and bought one of the new 51s, or rather two of them.

 

Someone on r/pen_swap listed a pair-one in black and one in blue-and the pair of them weren't much more than a single new one. I also padded it with...well...we won't say how many bottles of ink from this same seller, but that's a different topic.

 

I've only inked them and scribbled with them a bit, but I certainly don't think they're a bad pen. In hand they feel different to me than an original, and definitely lighter, but still are a nice handling pen. If you like broader nibs and live in the US, the F on a modern 51 is a lot wider than a typical US-production vintage 51.

 

Now if only I could manage to remember not to try and pull the cap off.

[inkstainedruth]

10 hours ago, bunnspecial said:

Now if only I could manage to remember not to try and pull the cap off.

The only way I trained myself to not do that with ANY pen is to *assume* that they're screw-on caps.  I've gotten odd looks on occasion from people at my local club who are then going "It's a pull off cap!" but I figure that's WAY safer than the other way round....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[bunnspecial]

5 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

The only way I trained myself to not do that with ANY pen is to *assume* that they're screw-on caps.  I've gotten odd looks on occasion from people at my local club who are then going "It's a pull off cap!" but I figure that's WAY safer than the other way round....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

In general I default to this...

 

But for a pen that you pick up and it looks like, feels like, and is even called a Parker 51, if you've used them very much(which I know you have) the general screw-off rule is easy to over-ride when you handle something that in your head should be a slip ca.

[inkstainedruth]

Good point.  Yet another reason why I'll stick to the vintage 51s and not the reboot "Sonnet in sheep's clothing" ones.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Glenn-SC]

5 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

"Sonnet in sheep's clothing"

So the “vintage” “51” is a “sheep”?

 

And which version of the “51” is the “chosen one”?

The Vac version? Aerometric? Red Band? C/C? Lucite?  Injection moulded?

Are we starting class wars on the “51”?

[Glenn-SC]

I have a current production Deluxe “51”’ in Plum. 
The pen works great. 
The nib is smooth and and puts down a wet medium line.  It starts every time I uncap the pen and put it to paper.

Can anyone ask more than that from a pen?

The question is “Is it worth the money?“

I have cheaper pens that write as well. 
I have used (and have owned) far more expensive pens that have written more poorly. 
I have a $10 Jotter BP that writes a consistent line every time it touches the paper.  I have a $5 Pilot G2 that writes a consistent line every time it touches the paper.  By that logic any pen that costs more than $10 is a waste of money. 
Fine. Should I comment that a $30 Lamy Safari is a waste of money compared to my G2 or Jotter BPs?

IMHO the current production “51” is worth the cost, without backhand slaps that and vintage pencils will write just as well. 

[Checklist]

I think @Glenn-SC is on the right track here.  I am not at all interested in the new 51 because I don't like the cost for a c/c filler and the screw-on cap, and I don't want to push a pen I love out of the way for a newcomer.  All of those are peculiar to me.  I do not look down on someone choosing the re-release and can understand why some might prefer it.  To each, their own; let them enjoy it, even if you think it's a lazy knockoff of a great pen.

 

On the other hand, if someone doesn't like the new 51, why make them out to be a snob and a purist?  (After all, if you're not a snob at some level, you're not on this forum.  It's pretty much the price of admission.)  Parker is not what it was (like most American pen companies), and many of us are disappointed (and a little insulted) and trying to call them out on this forum.  I enjoy my modern Sonnet but don't put it in the same league as my vintage 51 or my 61.  Let us say as much while you enjoy your modern 51.  Most of us won't bother you for liking it.

 

If that's too much to ask, there's always Twitter for you.

[Aysedasi]

Buoyed by Glenn's recent post, I took the plunge.  I always knew I would, it was just a matter of time before curiosity got the better of me.  When I saw the Premium Collection on the FPH site and saw that there was a bright red one, I thought, yes, that's the one for me.  Once it was released, it arrived very quickly - today.  I haven't tried it yet.  It feels very light and like others, I'll have to get used to the screw cap.  But it does look very pretty....  better than my quick phone photo suggests.....

[bunnspecial]

On 5/19/2022 at 9:30 PM, Checklist said:

I enjoy my modern Sonnet but don't put it in the same league as my vintage 51 or my 61. 

 

My modern Duofolds are some of my favorite writing pens-period. I put them on the same level as my MB 146 and 149s, which from me is a high complement.

 

The Sonnet is a pen I've never really clicked with, although I've only had one(sold it and the matching pencil to a friend, who loves them). I love the 75, and as I mentioned I've been enjoying my new 51s even though I haven't used either a ton yet. Them getting serious writing time has been pushed off by a broad oblique burgundy marble Duofold that I also recently aquired...

[Aysedasi]

Well, the pen writes well.  I bought the medium nib, but it's a little on the fine side for my tastes.  It's a shame (as it is too often these days) that there's no broad nib option.  But it looks great and feels very nice in the hand.  I'm pleased with it.  

[Glenn-SC]

33 minutes ago, Aysedasi said:

Well, the pen writes well.  I bought the medium nib, but it's a little on the fine side for my tastes.  It's a shame (as it is too often these days) that there's no broad nib option.  But it looks great and feels very nice in the hand.  I'm pleased with it.  

Nice looking pen.  I got the Plum as it is a less common color for me, but I like that Rage Red. 

[inkstainedruth]

On 5/16/2022 at 6:24 PM, Glenn-SC said:

So the “vintage” “51” is a “sheep”?

Okay, apparently you're not familiar with the phrase "a wolf in sheep's clothing"....  Which basically means "something that is pretending to be something else...."

In this case, I meant that the reboot is basically a Sonnet DESIGNED to look like a 51.  If you like how Sonnets write, that would be one thing.  But I mostly have NOT been impressed with the quality of modern Parkers, with the exception of the Vector model (and most of mine are UK production).

I'll stick to the vintage 51s, nearly all of which cost less than the not-Lucite barrel reboot pens (often a LOT less, even with repairs on the 51 Vacs).

YMMV

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Aysedasi]

Ah, but my new P51 actually writes, unlike every Sonnet I ever owned.......   

[Glenn-SC]

21 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

Okay, apparently you're not familiar with the phrase "a wolf in sheep's clothing"....  Which basically means "something that is pretending to be something else...."

In this case, I meant that the reboot is basically a Sonnet DESIGNED to look like a 51.

It means “something dangerous pretending to be something harmless or innocent”.  
So the “modern/current” “51” is dangerous and the “vintage” (whatever year/model/design that means) is benign. Huh?

So the 2022 Ford Mustang is not a “real” Mustang because (except for some nuts, bolts, or screws) 99% of the parts don’t fit on the 1964-1/2 Ford Mustang?

What?  Ford makes the Mustang model and they have changed it continuously over the last 60 years.  Some changes I’ve liked and some I haven’t.  But the are ALL real Mustangs.  (Even the mechanically unreliable Mustang II.)
 

Again, the OP’s question was on the value of the current “51”.  Not ‘is the the current model an exact copy of the “original” ‘ (whatever that is) or if any parts are interchangeable. I don’t understand some peoples’ need to insult or damn a current design because it does not match their vision of the “original”. 

[Aysedasi]

I did quite a bit of writing with mine this morning and it writes very well.  Starts first time (unlike my long forgotten Sonnets) and lays down a consistent ink line.  It also looks very smart.  I haven't actually compared it alongside one of my 'original' P51s because I don't need to and I don't really see any point to the exercise.  It's a nice, very good looking pen that works well.  It wasn't cheap and yes, I could have probably picked up a couple of original P51s for what I paid for it, but I didn't buy it because I just wanted another P51....

[upupup]

I very much wanted to get the new 51 when I first got wind of its release, but it wasn't locally available here in the Philippines, and buying it online from out of the country just wasn't my thing.  I remember I even contacted the exclusive country distributor about this and it was evident that they did not have plans to sell the pen here, not then, not now, and most probably not in the future. 

 

As weeks passed and the more I read about the characteristics of the new 51,   I realized that I did not want the pen anymore -- the deal-breaker being the combo of "threaded metal cap screwing onto the threaded plastic barrel".    In the end, I ended up just getting a vintage 51 when the opportunity came to acquire one locally.   No regrets so far.