Which 51?

[Farmboy]

If you could have a 51 of any configuration, which one would it be?

Cap, color, filler, etc. for simplicity let’s try to limit the choices to a period correct production pen.

FB

[Jon Szanto]

I don't know for certain if the cap is appropriate for the pen, but... Cedar Blue with aerometric filler, paired with a window-pane gold cap. Ideally an M nib, as most 51 nibs have been far too narrow for my comfort. I have almost this pen, but not: a demi in aerometric with the 'five-lines' cap, and a full size vacumatic with a lovely 'wavey lines' cap, both in Cedar Blue. I have no idea how rare/expensive the window pane caps are.

[bunnspecial]

I have to admit to already having a nearly perfect one for my taste, even if not particularly exotic-

A Cedar Blue Vac with a very nice chevron band sterling cap.

The only thing I dislike about this particular pen is its sort of scratchy XF nib. I'm tempted to switch it out with a stub I just bought, but am not sure how correct it is on that pen and wonder if I should maybe just drop an ordinary F or MAYBE M on it.

Although I've not had any super exotic 51 colors other than a demi coco, I think Cedar Blue may just be my favorite of the ones I have owned. Between the Lustaloy, Gold Filled, and Sterling caps I like the latter best as they are a nice dress-up from Lustaloy but at least I think on the Cedar Blue complements the pen very well. I do have a liking for the wartime gold filled silver caps, and they get bonus point because they're often so ugly "in the wild" that someone who doesn't know what they are often knocks down the price on them...

[FredRydr]

Double jewel black with hammered sterling cap. Guess it has to be vac-fillumatic. After culling my 51s, it's the last one I have, with a B nib.

[christof]

My favourite "51" of my collection is this cedar blue first year Vacumatic DJ with plain silver cap:

https://live.staticflickr.com/8056/8414302750_1d1a0757e7_z.jpg


but my favourite daily user is this black Aerometric Special

https://live.staticflickr.com/569/20516452274_f0c5767b0e_z.jpg

[Sailor Kenshin]

I am no 51 expert. But what I would want is something with Fine nib, aero fill, and some pale color that isn't gray. Did they make a buckskin or coco?

[christof]

I am no 51 expert. But what I would want is something with Fine nib, aero fill, and some pale color that isn't gray. Did they make a buckskin or coco?

There was both. Buckskin beige and Cocoa. Cocoa was an Aerometric color:

https://live.staticflickr.com/4332/37248467992_bdd7c3ab90_k.jpg

[Sailor Kenshin]

Thanks! I would want the cocoa, then. What filler did the Yellowstone have?

And they look really cool, arranged by color.

[christof]

thank you!
the yellowstone is a Vacumatic too.

[Farmboy]

Yellowstone is also called Mustard by some but refer to the same color.

Note the very nice cap on that example. Is it 8 or 9 spires?

FB

[christof]

It’s 9.
I didn’t know that there were two different. Now I’am curious
about the history behind (…except the number of spires :) )??

[Jon Szanto]

It’s 9.
I didn’t know that there are two different. Now I’am curious
about the history behind (…except the number of spires :) )

Does this style have a name, and is this one of the “Empire” caps?

[pajaro]

The one I like best is a midnight blue with Lustraloy cap, aerometric with medium nib. Ironically it is the first one I bought. It keeps on working, fifty-two years later.

[Ron Z]

After buying and then selling 3 other forest green aerometrics, I concluded that I really wanted to keep a forest green. I had a silver cap that had the gold stripped off of it, but the lustraloy is nice. Two others that will stay - a gray UK made MK III that our pastor in Syracuse gave me, and the blue with a GF cap that had belonged to our neighbor's husband. All others have been sold.

[christof]

Does this style have a name, and is this one of the “Empire” caps?

Unfortunately, I don't have another source than the Parker "51" book. The book calls all 14k gold caps "Heirloom" and this specific pattern is called: Empire state (icicle). (But I think that Empire State is a name that was given by collectors.)

...but the really cool thing is, that Empire Caps are two tone (yellow and rose gold)

https://live.staticflickr.com/7492/16317204775_797669209a_k.jpg

[Chrissy]

I wonder if that's the same Heirloom cap that I've seen on a Parker 61 once before?

[christof]

I wonder if that's the same Heirloom cap that I've seen on a Parker 61 once before?

Parker 61 cap were different, although the term Heirloom was used as well:

Heritage cap; silver and yellow gold

Legacy cap; nickel and silver

Heirloom; rose gold and yellow gold

https://live.staticflickr.com/4657/38981028525_04a192d59a_o.jpg

[FredRydr]

Christof,

The breadth of your collection continues to amaze me. :thank_you2:

[christof]

Thank you Fred!

[Chrissy]

Thank you christof. :) Sorry to go off topic to a 61 question. :focus:

[jar]

A first quarter first year Cordovan with the Sterling cap that was a wedding present from an officer to his new bride before he left on a four year all expenses paid North African, Italian and Persian Gulf vacation and that has tooth marks from when the cap was used as a pacifier for at least one young son who was teething.

69905

[manoeuver]

If I could have any 51 I do believe it would be a 61. I need the arrow on top. those rainbow caps are awesome, I had one briefly.

[welch]

Midnight Blue aerometric, US medium nib, simple brushed steel cap. I have it. It will be in my pocket tomorrow morning.

[pajaro]

The 51 Mk III in burgundy with medium nib and rolled gold cap.

[MKeith]

A Buckskin Beige double honey jewels with a Heirloom two-tone solid 14k cap and a broad nib ground to an 8mm cursive italic.

[christof]

Just to celebrate this thread, (sort of as a counterpart to the "anti-51" thread) I took a few more photos of my favourite:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52078802480_72ba57123c_k.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52078283646_23de669388_k.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52078341588_2ca9bbcda6_k.jpg

[christof]

and again two pics:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52099463345_dc9f9b1fcc_k.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52097935322_b10928d284_k.jpg

[FredRydr]

and again two pics:
The same pen?

[christof]

and again two pics:
The same pen?

Yes.

…I know, it‘s boring.

[FredRydr]

I thought the second pen might have been black. I agree, the sterling caps are my favorite, and I like the double jewel pens.

[Farmboy]

Note it is a first year pen.

51s seem timeless for me.

[FredRydr]

Maybe I should get another.

[christof]

absolutely!

[christof]

51s seem timeless for me.

They are...

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51659743413_1eea2fb9e0_c.jpg

..and one of the best fountain pens ever.

[Farmboy]

I grabbed a Navy Grey Vac with a beat up gold filled cap today.

In my pocket untouched all day. Left it on my desk as I walked out.

Tomorrow is another day.

[FredRydr]

I filled my only 51 today with R&K Verdigris. The wide nib empties the 51 a bit too fast.

70211

[Jon Szanto]

Here’s a question: did every single 51 made feature an arrow clip?

[Farmboy]

As far as I know.

[Seattleite]

Here’s a question: did every single 51 made feature an arrow clip?

There are the clip-less Demi "Princess" pen models.... Bedazzled with "jewels". Don't see them very often.

Bob

[Ron Z]

[22.1033-1034.27.05]

https://i.imgur.com/cSKUC4ph.jpg

I thought you didn't like 51s, that they're all too boring.

[Farmboy]

Here’s a question: did every single 51 made feature an arrow clip?

There are the clip-less Demi "Princess" pen models.... Bedazzled with "jewels". Don't see them very often.

Bob
Yes. That qualifies I think.
They are also probably the ugliest 51s ever made.

[Seattleite]

[22.1033-1034.27.05]

https://i.imgur.com/cSKUC4ph.jpg

Does this pen have a soul? EOC asks.

I think that the soul escapes when you leave the cap off.

Bob

[christof]

Of the models made of metal, I particularly like "Rolled Silver". I think it is a rather rare model.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50780650166_50885ae116_h.jpg

Mine is NOS, so I prefer not to use it. :nono:

[Sailor Kenshin]

Here’s a question: did every single 51 made feature an arrow clip?

There are the clip-less Demi "Princess" pen models.... Bedazzled with "jewels". Don't see them very often.

Bob
Yes. That qualifies I think.
They are also probably the ugliest 51s ever made.

Now I kinda hafta see one.

[Jon Szanto]

Now I kinda hafta see one.

From the gopens.com site:


This is a 1950 Parker 51 Princess Demi Aerometric-fill in smooth gold-filled. The cap top and barrel bottom each have a large white glass crystal, and the cap is surrounded by 12 diamond shaped red glass crystals. So very rare! According to Zazove & Shepherd in their Parker 51 book (2004, p. 71), “The rarest Demi in existence…was designed by Don Doman and introduced in the mid west USA. Only a limited number were made and it never went into full production. Furthermore, it did not feature in Parker Advertisements.” Different size, shape and color jewels were used. Correct with no clip. Fitted with a Medium nib. Near mint+ (could be new-old-stock).

https://gopens.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Extraordinary-Pens-Parker-51-Princess-Demi-768x550.png

[Sailor Kenshin]

Well.

I like #8.

[Farmboy]

Of the models made of metal, I particularly like "Rolled Silver". I think it is a rather rare model.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50780650166_50885ae116_h.jpg

Mine is NOS, so I prefer not to use it. :nono:

The English all silver pens are spectacular. That it is new adds so much, the finish didn’t take a lot of abuse before it started to start to look worn.

Now we need the big daddy Presidential in that all metal shot.

[Farmboy]

Classic 51 double jewel with an uncommon nib.

[carlos.q]

I would love to get a rolled silver 51 as shown by Christof. However, I guess I'll have to settle with a 51 with a rolled silver cap. :cry:

[Sandy]

The UK P51's seem to write wider than the US ones.

My US one is on the fine side. 2 UK mediums are on the medium-broad side and one (mark III) is inbetween.

The UK ones seem to write smoother, but I think it's the width of the nib that does it.

Of the ones I have, the mark III is the ugliest, but is also the most consistent writer.

I'd suggest looking at reputable dealers who sell 2nd hand pens.

P51's come in a variety of conditions - and e-bay is a lottery - and spares/relacements for repairs can cost more than pen itself.

Better to buy one that will work well.

[FredRydr]

Keep in mind that the "51" is the world's most wanted pen. Measurably!

70338

[RobJohnson]

If I could have any 51 it would be one of the ex Eisenhower 51s. I used to have a good 51 Presidential, nice looking pen but an EF nib so it wasn't for me and a 51 is for using, especially an Aero so a regular 51 with a medium or broad works well for me.

They are an admired pen by many in 2022, can you imagine the impact in the early 40s?

[Prettypenguin]

This says it’s the gift of a lifetime. I would settle for finding one in the wild in excellent condition, regardless of color or year. All of mine are serendipitous finds and write wonderfully, but were definitely EDC for their previous owners. Although the more time passes, the more I get to know each ding. However, a blue or green aerometric with a gold nib and cap of any sort will always turn my head.

[Cyril]

I remember my younger age at school and I had a " YOUTH " pen ( similar Japanese version pen I guess ) Parker 51 style. Good writer with a gold plated nib.
I need one of these world's most wanted pens.
I have noticed how this pen writes. It is a lovely pen With many characters. Fine and Broad italic nibs are very special.

[Motomachi10]

Parker 51 Flighter. I can't find the date.

[RobJohnson]

Here’s a question: did every single 51 made feature an arrow clip?

I have seen an increasing use of a clip from another Parker on common 51s, probably because the 17/Duofold cap is prone to cracking and plentiful with clips that can be made to fit. The end result doesn't look too bad at all. The end result is still a feather clip, just not a 51 clip and not as intended by Parker, a gold clip on the brushed cap is a nice effect.

I haven't used any of my 51s for a long time, I took out a very ordinary dark red aero with a medium+ nib today, a joy to use, very smooth and perfect flow.

[pajaro]

I don't care for the Vacumatics. My experience with them is 2 to ten years before needing a resac. I thought I wanted a plum aerometric, but the color is too dark. I like the cocoa and the midnight blue, with Lustraloy caps and clear jewel. Medium or fine nib, but I have a midnight blue with a Minuskin stub.

Every First Year I have seen has the date code very worn. Of course, what would you expect after all this time? I don't imagine I will see the hundred year anniversary.

[Vacnut]

A double jewel black 51 with an one of kind cap from Parker. Fine nib.

[MikeD]

A first year Nassau Green with a solid gold cap…..a pen I’ll simply never have. Barring that, a Pan Am 51 in decent shape.

[sirtoti]

I like the green + golden combination, so I would go with a forest green insignia or signet. My P51 is actually an aerometric Dove with plain gold filled cap, not much of a beauty, but a terrific writer.

[welch]

I like the green + golden combination, so I would go with a forest green insignia or signet. My P51 is actually an aerometric Dove with plain gold filled cap, not much of a beauty, but a terrific writer.

"Terrific writer" should be the goal! The outside is just decoration.