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

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

    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?

    IMG_20191123_142709654.jpg

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    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which 51's did you decide to keep in your collection?

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

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

    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)

    Last edited by azkid; November 23rd, 2019 at 10:18 AM.

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

    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.

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    Senior Member guyy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which 51's did you decide to keep in your collection?

    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.

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    Senior Member migo984's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which 51's did you decide to keep in your collection?

    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.

    A20A6C72-E3F5-48D0-946E-ED79737AE77D.jpeg

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    Senior Member christof's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which 51's did you decide to keep in your collection?

    I kept only one too...


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

    Parker "51" DJ all colors von -C.M.Z-

    Parker 51 Aerometric Farben von -C.M.Z-

    Parker 51 Mk II & III all colors... von -C.M.Z-
    Last edited by christof; November 23rd, 2019 at 11:00 AM.

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

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

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

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

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

    as far as I know not.

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

    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.



    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.

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

    These


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

    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.

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

    Quote Originally Posted by amk View Post
    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?

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

    Quote Originally Posted by FredRydr View Post
    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?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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

    Quote Originally Posted by penmainiac View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by FredRydr View Post
    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?


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

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

    What is sumgai?

    Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

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

    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

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    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
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    Default Re: Which 51's did you decide to keep in your collection?

    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.

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

    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.

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