Parker 51 Special Waiting for Sumgai (EBay)

[welch]

If you've wanted a Parker 51 but worried about the price, here is a mis-identified Parker 51, probably a special, at a "buy it now" $55. Seller thinks it is a "Parker Sonnet Matte Black Lacquer Super Chrome Ink Fine Pen". Superchrome, of course, was Parker's heavily saturated ink, intended only for their 51.

The cap shines as if it is a P51 Special. Clip suggests either the full-51 aerometric or the Special, so the filling system probably will work with only a flush.

Pen is missing the cap jewel, but these are usually available for about $10 on Ebay. The Special should have a black jewel, but cream-colored jewels are legal. I have a P-61 jewel in a 51 Special...a smaller jewel, but shellac holds it well.

From the pictures it is hard to tell the nib gauge, but looks to be either a fine or a medium.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Parker-Sonnet-Matte-Black-Lacquer-Super-Chrome-Ink-Fine-Pen/132426580464?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

[pajaro]

You could look on Parker 51.com to see the timeline. I don't know how long Parker stamped "Superchrome" on the filler sheath. The cap seems to have lost its jewel. I don't understand the seller's use of matte black. Unless maybe it has an aftermarket hood and barrel. There is a bluish reflection in the cap in some pics.

[azkid]

"Superchrome" appeared 1948 to 1956 according to parkerpens.net

[welch]

You could look on Parker 51.com to see the timeline. I don't know how long Parker stamped "Superchrome" on the filler sheath. The cap seems to have lost its jewel. I don't understand the seller's use of matte black. Unless maybe it has an aftermarket hood and barrel. There is a bluish reflection in the cap in some pics.

I think the seller doesn't know anything about the P51. He calls it a Sonnet. "Matte" probably means it's not shiny, which is no surprise for a P51 or 51 Special.

[pajaro]

I have matte black Sonnets, and I wasn't going to make conjectures about the seller's thoughts or put words into his processor. The sellers do the best they can in areas of which they know little. Still, if they are going to sell things and make a profit, it does behoove them to know their stuff. I have seen an aftermarket 51 barrel and hood lacquered matte. It was kinda sorta underwhelming. The bluish reflection was another uncertainty. Some 51 colors look quite dark in poorer light settings. I was conveying that uncertainty. Everyone can draw their own certainties based upon the probabilities.

[FredRydr]

So who is willing to ante up the $55?

[welch]

Ha! It's still waiting, as are a few more 51 Specials at BIN prices around $50.

[proteus]

Missed this post, late reply

Hello welch,

Did you never buy the P51 Special you wanted ?

I would be very interested to know why you wanted one.

A while back I bought a Demi version only because I thought it was very unusual.

(1952 -1954 - the nib is not dated )

[welch]

Missed this post, late reply

Hello welch,

Did you never buy the P51 Special you wanted ?

I would be very interested to know why you wanted one.

A while back I bought a Demi version only because I thought it was very unusual.

(1952 -1954 - the nib is not dated )

Ah. I wanted to suggest a less-expensive pen for anyone who does not already have a Parker 51. I have a couple dozen of all sorts. It's my everyday pen. However, it took me a year or more of blundering through EBay, each time wondering why my $40 or $60 "find" would have a worn down nib, a bent clip, leaks around the plunger.

Then I found a P-51 Special with plenty of tipping on its medium nib. Eureka! (Later learned to search for English 51's with a generous medium nib)

Most recent purchase: a black English 51 medium+ with a clear dent in its rolled-gold cap. Bidding started at $49 (or equivalent in GBP) and no one else bid. Lesson learned: look for sumgai bargains among pens that the seller mis-labels or that have some cosmetic problem.

Incidentally, a wise person said they had heard that Parker had given extra tipping to the "octanium" nibs in the Special to compensate for extra attention ("electro polishing") on the full 51 nibs. Might by myth, but my octanium nibs have looked a lot like the one you pictured.

[proteus]

welch

Many thanks for your reply, I read it with great interest.

Have alot of P51's and have had a good look at some of them.

I think you are right about the Special nib tipping.

About 15% to 25 % more.

Never realised that before.