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
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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
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.
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...
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.
My favourite "51" of my collection is this cedar blue first year Vacumatic DJ with plain silver cap:
https://live.staticflickr.com/8056/8...1a0757e7_z.jpg
but my favourite daily user is this black Aerometric Special
https://live.staticflickr.com/569/20...c5767b0e_z.jpg
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/4332/3...d7c3ab90_k.jpg
Thanks! I would want the cocoa, then. What filler did the Yellowstone have?
And they look really cool, arranged by color.
thank you!
the yellowstone is a Vacumatic too.
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
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 :) )??
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.
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.
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/7492/1...7669209a_k.jpg
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/4657/3...a192d59a_o.jpg
Christof,
The breadth of your collection continues to amaze me. :thank_you2:
Thank you Fred!
Thank you christof. :) Sorry to go off topic to a 61 question. :focus:
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.
Attachment 69905
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.
Midnight Blue aerometric, US medium nib, simple brushed steel cap. I have it. It will be in my pocket tomorrow morning.
The 51 Mk III in burgundy with medium nib and rolled gold cap.
A Buckskin Beige double honey jewels with a Heirloom two-tone solid 14k cap and a broad nib ground to an 8mm cursive italic.
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/...ba57123c_k.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...de669388_k.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a9bbcda6_k.jpg
I thought the second pen might have been black. I agree, the sterling caps are my favorite, and I like the double jewel pens.
Note it is a first year pen.
51s seem timeless for me.
Maybe I should get another.
absolutely!
They are...
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ea2fb9e0_c.jpg
..and one of the best fountain pens ever.
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.
I filled my only 51 today with R&K Verdigris. The wide nib empties the 51 a bit too fast.
Attachment 70211
Here’s a question: did every single 51 made feature an arrow clip?
As far as I know.