PDA

View Full Version : Back in the '51' saddle again..



ianmedium
June 5th, 2012, 05:35 PM
Hi Folks. Received my ebay win today, a Parker 51 special in black with a medium octanium nib. I payed only $23 for it. The seller was honest in his sale. He mentioned some marks on the section and that he had not tested it.

When I opened the package this afternoon I was greeted with a nice, honest Parker 51 Special. There are indeed a few marks on it that won't polish out but I gave the pen a buff anyway and it shined up nicely. The ink sac is perfect and functioning and after a flush with warm soapy water followed by clear the pen writes like a dream!. No leaks, in fact the only thing wrong are the marks. This is a perfect work-a-day 51 and it is so nice to be writing with one again!

The cap is not the normal shiny one fitted to specials, looks more like lusterloy, no 51 marking on the cap, just parker and made in USA with the Parker symbol above it.

Even though this is a user grade pen there is something really special about having a 51 I feel, I love it!

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010077.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010079.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010080.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010081.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm225/ianmedium/L1010078.jpg

KrazyIvan
June 5th, 2012, 09:55 PM
Congrats on your find. Enjoy it in good health!

ianmedium
June 5th, 2012, 10:17 PM
Thanks Ivan, I love ebay finds like this. I was thinking of getting a Hero 1000 but then saw this and thought why get an imitation when I can get the real thing!

Now just counting down to the end of the week when my two Tuscan Dream Stipulas arrive!

peterpen53
June 6th, 2012, 03:08 AM
Looks exactly like mine, that used to be my father's, including the marks on the section! Mine has a dent in the cap too. It just has a slightly different filler and is not marked 'special'. Still writes like a dream, though. I feel these 51's are much better pens than any modern Duofold I own.
Enjoy it!

Cheers,
Peter

manoeuver
June 6th, 2012, 10:33 AM
I prefer a pen with nicks and marks on it. I'm not afraid to put it to work.

ianmedium
June 6th, 2012, 04:14 PM
Thanks guys. On FPN it was suggested I could get a new section body for it but to be honest I am not going to bother. Firstly the marks are not visible in normal use as my fingers are there or the cap is one and secondly as someone who loves vintage watches for the patina I love this pen wears it's history with pride. I can only begin to imagine the stories this pen could tell!

peterpen53
June 7th, 2012, 12:38 AM
You're absolutely right! I don't intend to ever sell my pen and putting on another section would make it a totally different pen. No way!

Maja
June 7th, 2012, 09:50 AM
You're absolutely right! I don't intend to ever sell my pen and putting on another section would make it a totally different pen. No way!

+1 Exactly!
Congratulations, Ian, on your new pen! Looking forward to seeing the P51 Special, your Stipula Passaporto in ebonite, and the Stipula Tuscan dreams pen(s) at our next pen club meeting on the 21st :cool:

grandmia
July 21st, 2012, 05:15 PM
Hi Ian...When you come back to little ol England get in touch and ill make them marks disappear if you want.....

anaximander
July 22nd, 2012, 07:37 AM
Nice find! Congratulations on a lovely pen.

ianmedium
July 23rd, 2012, 08:33 PM
Thanks Anaximander. Steph, I would love that! I am hoping that when I return I will be living up North so I am going to be in your neck of the woods, thank you! I also received my new 1944 51 Vac today and will post some pictures on the thread I started about that. Oh yes, Steph, I managed to watch the video on my iPad, as per usual another great video, also, I subscribed to your eBay store so expect a bid from me sometime soon!!

pajaro
August 10th, 2012, 06:22 PM
I have had a number of 51s and have a couple of dozen now. I have replaced the hoods sometimes if the point were broken off, but that's the thin end of the wedge. Then you get tempted to get a new barrel, then a new nib, then a Kullock conversion with new fantasy hood, barrel and maybe cap. Then. . .better left as is. Enjoy it for the great pen it is.

fountainpenkid
December 7th, 2012, 02:12 PM
The 51 special was one of the pens that famed collector Rick Krantz sent me for free...along with a Parker VS and an Esterbrook J! I liked it, but in the end, the Aurora 88 appealed to me more...(I just sold mine though...it was geting my hands too inky!)