Which 51's did you decide to keep in your collection?

[top pen]

From what I've read at least the 51 is considered a must for any collection. I've had probably a dozen pass through my hands that I've restored or tidied up. But I've kept only the 1st one I bought a Mark II red with parker 51 lustraloy cap. A fairly uninspiring pen.

Up to that point I'd only bought modern pens. Making the fact I'd got it at quite a low price I think £33. For a pen that was in mint condition quite surprising. I've come across more interesting pens however I'm bit too attached to this one to warrant switching it.

With the 51 being available in it's thousands which ones have you kept?

50783

[FredRydr]

I kept only one 51, a black vac double-jewel with stub nib and hand-hammered sterling cap.

[azkid]

I have purchased two, both aeros.

First, a Custom, was a sumgai find in an antique store early in my journey (send from right below)

Liked it so much I got a second, a Special, after a year or so (far right below)

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191123/c0a30963c0553f2538dd3e1101b5201b.jpg

[Fermata]

I only have three 51s now, all Vacs, just looking for a Medium aero now as it happens. Sold a lot over the years and given a few away, I am not one for the flashy variants, I like the purity of design of a basic model.

I was offered a mint and unused 51, the seller wanted a large amount of money but I couldnt see the point other than as an investment.

[guyy]

I have a few keepers : a couple sumgai first years, a dj cordovan with a nice smooth nib, a flighter with a nib tuned by Nagahara, a cocoa with a stub, and a black vac with a broad stub. That last one is one of my favorite writers in my stable.

There’s also one that i lost: an English teal aero with a gf cap. It was my first 51 and i still miss it.

[migo984]

I have had a few over the years, selling some, giving away a few and keeping just 3:

- a very battered burgundy/rolled gold aeromatic, medium nib. Bought by my late dad for my mum, from the NAAFI, when he was stationed in Aden.

- a sumgai, with a fat factory stub nib, found in a local charity shop. I paid the £7 asking price, but felt guilty so went back next day and made an extra donation.

- this one: a third quarter 1942 cedar blue vac, with an almost pristine sterling silver cap.

50784

[christof]

I kept only one too...


...of every color and model! (and there are still some missing.)

https://live.staticflickr.com/5818/21858892876_5d2b2284cc_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ziAxio)Parker "51" DJ all colors von -C.M.Z- (https://flic.kr/p/ziAxio)

https://live.staticflickr.com/962/27230623407_93b43c63e4_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Huh4D2)Parker 51 Aerometric Farben von -C.M.Z- (https://flic.kr/p/Huh4D2)

https://live.staticflickr.com/1757/28582258238_875aac4d53_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/KxHxzQ)Parker 51 Mk II & III all colors... von -C.M.Z- (https://flic.kr/p/KxHxzQ)

[Fermata]

Thats a lovely selection Christof, there are some stunners there.

[Chuck Naill]

Outstanding collection. I just got a Wing Sung 601. This clone has the ink window. Did Parker ever produce a 51 with a window?

[christof]

as far as I know not.

[jar]

At least one is a Keeper. There are others but they are just pens.

First quarter first year 51 my Dad gave my Mom as an engagement present.

http://www.fototime.com/88BDC37701598D8/standard.jpg

Sterling cap with teeth marks as my younger siblings used it when teething. Some have said that I did too but as first and best son that is of course silly. I would NEVER do anything like that.

[Wahl]

These

https://i.imgur.com/D6L9rDw.jpg

[amk]

I've kept them all. My favourite is a grey aero with a wide nib that I picked up for one euro at a sale. My second favourite is my 'kintsugi' that had a huge barrel crack which I filled with resin mixed with gold powder.

I have a Bexley ebonite 'fantasy' 51, both aero and vac Kullock demonstrators, and a few more in black. Most are user grade, and that's fine by me, as I use them.

What I want, of course, is a mustard, or a cocoa, or a big fat italic nib. But they're not coming my way. I have much better luck with 45's.

[top pen]

I've kept them all. My favourite is a grey aero with a wide nib that I picked up for one euro at a sale. My second favourite is my 'kintsugi' that had a huge barrel crack which I filled with resin mixed with gold powder.



Can you show it?

[penmainiac]

I kept only one 51, a black vac double-jewel with stub nib and hand-hammered sterling cap.

Would you know a reasonable price for a P51 double jewel vac?


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[Farmboy]

I kept only one 51, a black vac double-jewel with stub nib and hand-hammered sterling cap.

Would you know a reasonable price for a P51 double jewel vac?


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Price will depend very much on color and cap. Figure they would start around 200 and go up from there.

[Linkinyeah]

What is sumgai?

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[Linkinyeah]

I have answered my own question. Apparently us fountain pen geeks have are own vocabulary. It's cool that urban dictionary even recognizes it. I am sure most people here were aware of this, but I was not so I thought I would share.

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sumgai

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[FredRydr]

Well, like Wikipedia, that Urban Dictionary definition is only partly accurate. The Nipponeseish sumgai is used in reference to a fantastic find or buy, and it's sort of in context of hearsay. For example, "I heard some guy found a Montblanc 139 at a yard sale," or "Did you hear some guy snagged a Waterman Tree Trunk in a flea market for $40?" (The latter is true.) Now sumgai has evolved to be the great find or buy itself, either adjective or noun.

[pajaro]

I intend to keep my first, midnight blue pen, the plum set, the demi cocoa set and the Ariel Kulloch pens, five of them and one 51 with one of the gooey green and black fantasy barrels.

[Ron Z]

I have four. I've had more, and sold many more, but have kept just 4...

#1 - a blue cedar Vac 51 with a sterling cap. My first 51, and the first vacumatic filler I restored. I've had it for about 30 years now.
#2 - a Navy blue aerometric with a gold filled cap. It has the name E M Hare on it - the deceased husband of our neighbor across the street. Ruth wanted me to have it. She was a good neighbor, and I keep it as a reminder...
#3 - a gray English made Vac, lustraloy cap, given to me by our Pastor in Syracuse. Ken is a great guy, and had quite an influence in my life.
#4 - a Forest Green aerometric, with a lined silver cap. I think someone removed the gold... its still in the stamping. The cap is all wrong, but I like it. I've had and sold the green 51s 4 or 5 times. I decided to buy one more, and keep it, just because I like them.

[Sheptonian]

This dozen to start with...

[penwash]

The beat up, scuffed and therefore more endearing ones.

Such as this :)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49901969061_0392da1da0_z.jpg

* Plus all the pretty and pristine ones I restored found new homes quickly :D

[Chuck Naill]

The beat up, scuffed and therefore more endearing ones.

Such as this :)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49901969061_0392da1da0_z.jpg

* Plus all the pretty and pristine ones I restored found new homes quickly :D

I have two 1942 51's that resemble yours. Thanks for posting because I like the ones that have been well loved the best.

[FredRydr]

This one, which has an uncommon broad stub nib:

56644

[guyy]

Very nice, Fred.

This would be my ideal 51: black, with the silver cap & the broad stub. I would even tolerate the vac filler for that combo.

[FredRydr]

Very nice, Fred.

This would be my ideal 51: black, with the silver cap & the broad stub. I would even tolerate the vac filler for that combo.
I agree on the filler, but I wanted two jewels. The cap was hammered and the pen was assembled to spec.

[penwash]

My keeper 51 would probably always be the Vac filler.

I have a grey one, a gift, it has an Octanium stub nib.

I should write more with it.

[pajaro]

My keeper is the Midnight Blue medium I bought when I went in the US Air Force in 1970. Fifty years of use now. Just like my Dad's 51, the reason for buying it. Navy Blue, Air Force 1549 Blue. The best pen I have ever used. Perfect writer, slightly wet. never dries out, never leaks. Never had the hood off. Fifty years, and all the other pens have imperfections.

[CS388]

My keeper is the Midnight Blue medium I bought when I went in the US Air Force in 1970. Fifty years of use now. Just like my Dad's 51, the reason for buying it. Navy Blue, Air Force 1549 Blue. The best pen I have ever used. Perfect writer, slightly wet. never dries out, never leaks. Never had the hood off. Fifty years, and all the other pens have imperfections.


Astonishing story. Congratulations on the half century 51.

My English Burgundy aeromatic has proved to be a keeper, while others have come and gone - it's the unbending reliability.
I mean, all the 51's I've had (and still have a handful) are reliable - but this one will write in almost any circumstances - and keep on writing until I'm done.

Stay safe, all.

[pajaro]

Most 51s are very good pens. Many that I bought in stores and from yard sales were quite good, and most of the ones I bought on ebay were great. One fell apart and I had to reassemble it. I have had better luck with secondhand 51s than with most other pens. The new one, and a few others I bought that had never been inked were mostly flawless, except for a couple that were miserly with ink flow. Most of the 51s I have had are aerometric fillers. I have a few vacs that have perished sacs, and I think I will keep them as examples only and not fix them.

[NumberSix]

Over the last few months, I have sold off or traded/gifted away almost all my vintage Parkers (51s, 45s, 21s) - not because I didn't love most of them but because I just didn't see the point of having so many I wasn't using.

I kept:


Vac 51 - black with gold-filled cap
Special - with gold nib



Both of those pens have been restored in the last couple of months, at parker51.com. Not inked at the moment.

Also, Parker 41 and oversized Vacumatic w/ matching pencil. The latter pen is currently on its way to Danny Fudge because it's aesthetically perfect but won't write.

At some point I will pick up another 21 FP & Pencil set, and I might look into another 45 Flightier. I confess I kinda miss the 51 Demis I had, too. But even if I get one of each of those three, it will still be a lot fewer than all the Parkers that have run through my collection, vintage and new.

[guyy]

At some point I will pick up another 21 FP & Pencil set, and I might look into another 45 Flightier. I confess I kinda miss the 51 Demis I had, too.

Demis are nice in that they’re a better fit for many shirt pockets than the full size 51s.

[NumberSix]

Demis are nice in that they’re a better fit for many shirt pockets than the full size 51s.

Very comfortable to use, too, even in my big clumsy hands.

[pajaro]

Over the last few months, I have sold off or traded/gifted away almost all my vintage Parkers (51s, 45s, 21s) - not because I didn't love most of them but because I just didn't see the point of having so many I wasn't using.

I kept:


Vac 51 - black with gold-filled cap
Special - with gold nib



Both of those pens have been restored in the last couple of months, at parker51.com. Not inked at the moment.

Also, Parker 41 and oversized Vacumatic w/ matching pencil. The latter pen is currently on its way to Danny Fudge because it's aesthetically perfect but won't write.

At some point I will pick up another 21 FP & Pencil set, and I might look into another 45 Flightier. I confess I kinda miss the 51 Demis I had, too. But even if I get one of each of those three, it will still be a lot fewer than all the Parkers that have run through my collection, vintage and new.

I have moved on many of the 51s I had too. I still have some, because many had interesting characteristics, date codes, colors or the way they came to me was interesting. I don't care if I use such pens or not. You don't have to use all of them, some are just dustables that make me smile when I examine them.

[NumberSix]

I have moved on many of the 51s I had too. I still have some, because many had interesting characteristics, date codes, colors or the way they came to me was interesting. I don't care if I use such pens or not. You don't have to use all of them, some are just dustables that make me smile when I examine them.



My current Vac was also the first Parker 51 I bought, on eBay. I was in love with it instantly and even used it as my One Pen One Month at one point. It was sold to me as "restored" and worked great for quite awhile. I don't know if I just got lucky, or if I killed the diaphragm by running ESSRI in it for a bit. But eventually it needed to go in for repairs.

Tim a P51.net said: "The nib and cap are Canadian. The barrel is US..Other parts….no way to tell. It was probably a Canadian pen repaired in the US, hence a US marked 1948 barrel with the original 1946 Canadian nib.. Whatever,…makes no difference to writing function..US, UK and Canadian parts are interchangeable."

I originally asked about replacing the cap, which is a little bit worn. In the end, I decided I preferred my ancient little Franken51 with the worn cap. It's my favorite FP that I have ever used, and the cap gives it character. I have purchased fully restored and shiny 51s from dealers for twice what I paid for the Vac. But none of them made me as happy as this one does.

I have not had it 50 years like you have. But it's special enough to me. :bounce:

[bunyip]

I have only one Parker 51, which I have not yet decided to keep. I bought it as something on which to practise before working on a friend's inherited 51. I mainly like the burgundy colour. It has a "lustralloy" cap and is in excellent condition so it was a little bit of a bargain, I think.

[usk15]

After all 51's I had, I decided to keep a Flighter with left oblique broad nib:


https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49498480643_902e66bd9f_b.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49499232692_6689a96177_b.jpg

[RobJohnson]

https://fpgeeks.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=56901&d=1604657343

Nice nib too

https://fpgeeks.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=56902&d=1604657358

[pajaro]

I have moved on many of the 51s I had too. I still have some, because many had interesting characteristics, date codes, colors or the way they came to me was interesting. I don't care if I use such pens or not. You don't have to use all of them, some are just dustables that make me smile when I examine them.



My current Vac was also the first Parker 51 I bought, on eBay. I was in love with it instantly and even used it as my One Pen One Month at one point. It was sold to me as "restored" and worked great for quite awhile. I don't know if I just got lucky, or if I killed the diaphragm by running ESSRI in it for a bit. But eventually it needed to go in for repairs.

Tim a P51.net said: "The nib and cap are Canadian. The barrel is US..Other parts….no way to tell. It was probably a Canadian pen repaired in the US, hence a US marked 1948 barrel with the original 1946 Canadian nib.. Whatever,…makes no difference to writing function..US, UK and Canadian parts are interchangeable."

I originally asked about replacing the cap, which is a little bit worn. In the end, I decided I preferred my ancient little Franken51 with the worn cap. It's my favorite FP that I have ever used, and the cap gives it character. I have purchased fully restored and shiny 51s from dealers for twice what I paid for the Vac. But none of them made me as happy as this one does.

I have not had it 50 years like you have. But it's special enough to me. :bounce:

The ones that are special to you make you happy. It has been that way for me. It's not necessarily about value. It could be about ones you have that are like ones some loved one had or ones that you sought for a long time like a plum. They are the ones with a story of some kind. They are just special.

[pajaro]

https://fpgeeks.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=56901&d=1604657343

Nice nib too

https://fpgeeks.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=56902&d=1604657358

Nice stub, or is it an italic? Nice.

[RobJohnson]

A stub, makes me smile every time I use it.

[mana]

All of them? 😅 Have eight full size aerometrics, one demi and one vac. Two of those are safe queens (mint black and burgundy with gold filled caps, the other has a nice stubby M and the other a Cursive Italic BB), the others from mint to user grade pens with EEF to B nibs and Lustraloy caps of various sorts.

One of my daily user pens is a black 51 Aero with a lustraloy cap and Cursive Italic Broad nib, it is a backup to my vintage Pelikans and offers a different kind of writing experience. It is in good nick but I also keep it in use without worrying too much. It is kind of my "personal pen" and I plan on letting the slow natural wear and tear that it accumulates throughout the years of use to show for posterity.

[corgicoupe]

I only have three. The first, a cedar blue aerometric with Lustraloy cap, date code 1950, was given to me in 1951 when I graduated from grammar school. The second, a black Vacumatic with RG cap, dated 1946, was my Dad's pen that I inherited 31 years ago today. The third is a cordovan Vacumatic with a Lustraloy cap, date code T6, that I purchased from a pawn shop because it has a fine nib. Oops... almost forgot the black Aerometric desk pen, date code 8, that I got for $5 at an antique/junk store. I added a base, but it still dried out so I bought a Lustraloy cap and it sits upside down in the holder.

[pajaro]

At least one is a Keeper. There are others but they are just pens.

First quarter first year 51 my Dad gave my Mom as an engagement present.

http://www.fototime.com/88BDC37701598D8/standard.jpg

Sterling cap with teeth marks as my younger siblings used it when teething. Some have said that I did too but as first and best son that is of course silly. I would NEVER do anything like that.

Something like your siblings' teeth marks should make that pen even more precious.

[Motomachi10]

Parker 51 Flighter was bought 50 years ago second-hand to take notes at the University long seminars.

[Sailor Kenshin]

I only ever had two, both extremely user-grade aerometric gray-ish, and I think one's a Demi.

[rff000]

I only had one P51--a 1947 Vac. I first got it on Ebay for only $13, then had a new diaphragm put in for $30 more. That was more than a decade ago. Recently the pellet cup broke and I wasn't sure if wanted to repair it at all, but I went ahead for $60 more, which included $20 for postage, now bringing my grand total to a whopping $103, a far cry from my original great bargain of $13. I justified this by feeling that I want at least one Vacumatic, since this was the only one I had. But, that logic was changed when I saw a brand new Wing Sung 601 Vac for only $8, including postage. I couldn't resist and now I have an old P51 that cost a total of $103 and a new Wing Sung that cost a total of $8. For now, I'm only using the Wing Sung. I'm afraid something else may go wrong with the P51 and then I may be tempted to incur another repair bill. I still can't figure out how I can get a similar new pen from China for only $8, including postage. True, it was a special for new registrations and the regular price was closer to $25.