Why do Parker 51s cost so much?

[Penguincollector]

4 hours ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

 

  👍🏻The Specials are great writers.  Mine's been inked for months now.

 So good. I should ink mine soon. I really like the black jewel on the cap, more than the ones on the regular caps.

[Bo Bo Olson]

On 10/18/2023 at 4:49 AM, FarmBoy said:

A steel nibbled Esterbrook Estie retails for 175.

OMG, fifteen years ago, $15 is what a used Estie cost....and every noobie was told get an Estie or a Safari, until everyone got an Estei and drove the price  up to $30.

[Sailor Kenshin]

8 minutes ago, Bo Bo Olson said:

OMG, fifteen years ago, $15 is what a used Estie cost....and every noobie was told get an Estie or a Safari, until everyone got an Estei and drove the price  up to $30.

But Esties are at least easy to restore.  

[FarmBoy]

The Farmboy is speaking of the modern incarnation of Esterbrook. 
 

but original J series pens are often seen in the 75 range with a steel nib. 

[inkstainedruth]

2 hours ago, Bo Bo Olson said:

OMG, fifteen years ago, $15 is what a used Estie cost....and every noobie was told get an Estie or a Safari, until everyone got an Estei and drove the price  up to $30.

And I picked up a couple of Esties recently (a black LJ and a grey mackerel J -- both with 9xxx nibs) for $10 and $5 respectively, at an estate sale company's showroom sale (plus some no-name lever filler with a hooded nib for an additional $5) plus sales tax....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[VacNut]

I picked up a functional MK1 51 for $20 and another for $35 at a weekly flea market.  I splurged on the later. Since the cap was pristine. The treasures are out there, just not everyday.

[Bo Bo Olson]

I bought from a neighbor who knew I collected fountain pens, a P-51, black and 'silver' made in England, two Flighters a 15 made in France, and 51 made in the USA, for €20, she paid €4 for each.

 

Add a silver  P-75 as my first fountain pen (that didn't get stolen) back in '70/71,

A '37 Vac, and some three P-45's...I suddenly have a collection of Parker's, including a P-21 English designed (bottleneck body) and made. And a few Flighter BP and a couple Jotter BP and MP's and a P-75 silver one BP/MP with both a regular jotter filler and it came with a mechanical pencil jotter style apparatus, that I still have, with it's lead.

That hatched P-75 BP/MP was not called the Classic when i bought it, it was refereed to as a P-75 BP.