Streamlining

[FredRydr]

I do NOT care how iconic the venerable Parker 51 is...it bores me to death, and I never use them. In many realms, this is heresy...

Nah. It's blasphemy! You must anticipate a visit to "inquire" about your true heart-felt feelings regarding the sacred P51.

But I get the same feeling about them, and for that reason, I only have one...just to keep the inquisitors at bay. But even then, it's gotta be "different" with a broad stub nib and a hammered sterling cap.

IMG_0185.jpeg

[Jon Szanto]

But I get the same feeling about them, and for that reason, I only have one...just to keep the inquisitors at bay. But even then, it's gotta be "different" with a broad stub nib and a hammered sterling cap.

I hear you. One of mine has a Kullock body. Oh, the howls of anguish I heard...

[Chuck Naill]

I do NOT care how iconic the venerable Parker 51 is...it bores me to death, and I never use them. In many realms, this is heresy...

Nah. It's blasphemy! You must anticipate a visit to "inquire" about your true heart-felt feelings regarding the sacred P51.

But I get the same feeling about them, and for that reason, I only have one...just to keep the inquisitors at bay. But even then, it's gotta be "different" with a broad stub nib and a hammered sterling cap.

IMG_0185.jpeg

I like the hammered cap.

[Chuck Naill]

But I get the same feeling about them, and for that reason, I only have one...just to keep the inquisitors at bay. But even then, it's gotta be "different" with a broad stub nib and a hammered sterling cap.

I hear you. One of mine has a Kullock body. Oh, the howls of anguish I heard...

Didn't know about Kullock, so thank you for the tip. He likes the old Hero pistons on their 51 clones. Now I am curious is the old Hero clones were better than the 2019 Wing Sung 601.

[Fermata]

But I get the same feeling about them, and for that reason, I only have one...just to keep the inquisitors at bay. But even then, it's gotta be "different" with a broad stub nib and a hammered sterling cap.

I hear you. One of mine has a Kullock body. Oh, the howls of anguish I heard...

Didn't know about Kullock, so thank you for the tip. He likes the old Hero pistons on their 51 clones. Now I am curious is the old Hero clones were better than the 2019 Wing Sung 601.

It was pot luck with the Hero 616, some were ok, others were hopeless. I can remember using one, started ok, wrote for a paragraph and then dropped a big splodge of ink mid-word, ruined the page. I would be curious about the Vac filled 51 clone if they had more interesting nibs but, personally, I would only buy the genuine article or nothing.

[Chuck Naill]

But I get the same feeling about them, and for that reason, I only have one...just to keep the inquisitors at bay. But even then, it's gotta be "different" with a broad stub nib and a hammered sterling cap.

I hear you. One of mine has a Kullock body. Oh, the howls of anguish I heard...

Didn't know about Kullock, so thank you for the tip. He likes the old Hero pistons on their 51 clones. Now I am curious is the old Hero clones were better than the 2019 Wing Sung 601.

It was pot luck with the Hero 616, some were ok, others were hopeless. I can remember using one, started ok, wrote for a paragraph and then dropped a big splodge of ink mid-word, ruined the page. I would be curious about the Vac filled 51 clone if they had more interesting nibs but, personally, I would only buy the genuine article or nothing.

I'll probably get one at some point if I can find a 1940's model user grade that writes well and does not need to be restored. What's kept me away so far has been trying to find parts to restore.

[amk]

From France we have:

Citroen DS
Waterman Concorde and later, Waterman Carene.

I love both :-)

[stub]

Shapes. Let them vary.

[stub]

I love the 51. They are sturdy, reliable, ergonomic wonders. & they hold a ton of ink. & Crazy insane cap-off time. Functional clip. Great cap seal. Sit great in the pocket. Always ready to write (that crazy collector). Will take even some risky inks with aplomb. I really love them.

Sometimes I need to get work done. I suppose I could do that with a gel pen or roller ball. I'd rather use a 51. I have a bunch of them. I can also field strip one and restore the aeros myself, though they often, even right of ebay or etsy, need more than a soak.

I work with my pens. I use em. the 51 is a solid performer and one of the most robust pens that still give you that vintage charm and are great for distance note taking.

Good enough for Graham Green and Roland Barthes.

& yeah. I like how they look. Love the caps too. Stacked coins, converging lines, old arrow, new arrow. Love them.

[welch]

The Parker 51: ultimate in stream-lining, and also, a well designed pen. I love the locomotive-look of the Eversharp Skyline, and it is a perfectly balanced pen with a gorgeous nib, but Parker designed more into the 51.

Maybe its my age? The art-deco stuff of the 20's and 30's was still new-ish when I was a kid in the early '50s. Decoration seemed ugly, and excess decoration seemed extra ugly. Automobiles with running boards and floppy fenders seemed as modern as the buckboards and covered wagons in the westerns we saw at the movies. WW1 bi-planes compared to the P-51 Mustang.

[Chrissy]

I'm with Jon on this. I have no Parker 51 pens and I'm happy with that.

[Chuck Naill]

I'm with Jon on this. I have no Parker 51 pens and I'm happy with that.

Having read your experiences with many pens and blog, why no interest in the 51? I am beginning to question my interest as well. The Wing Sung 601 is a well made and good writing pen, but the hooded nib can slow down making quick notes.

[Chrissy]

I'm with Jon on this. I have no Parker 51 pens and I'm happy with that.

Having read your experiences with many pens and blog, why no interest in the 51? I am beginning to question my interest as well. The Wing Sung 601 is a well made and good writing pen, but the hooded nib can slow down making quick notes.

Once upon a time, many years ago, I had one that was a decent performer, but nowadays I just prefer modern filling systems so that changing ink colours is easier.

[carlos.q]

One of the two pens I usually carry with me is a 51 with an EF nib for use on cheap paper. It's the pen I also offer when someone asks for a ballpoint. Gotta love the look on people's faces!

[FredRydr]

Now, I think I'll get another one.

[pengeezer]

I'm with Jon and Chrissy on this one....mainly because I don't like the "half"look
of a metal cap and an acrylic pen.Also,I'm not a fan of tubular nibs.

John

[Seattleite]

Fountain pens are not intended to hurtle along at 300 mph like Donald Campbell's Bluebird so why reduce their wind resistance?

In the end, for poor Donald.... it was 300 mph water resistance. Rumor has it that when they searched the "Loch" bottom, all they found was an intact '51 with some nasty bite marks.

Happy New Year to all

Bob

[stub]

mainly because I don't like the "half"look
of a metal cap and an acrylic pen.

No disrespect but that is the most peculiar thing I have read on a pen forum. No knock on you. You do you, as the kids say, but metal cap w/ acrylic body is a WHOLE LOT OF PENDOM. That is an odd objection indeed. I suppose i have my own quirks too but yeah. okay. haha. That there is a new one.

[kazoolaw]

...mainly because I don't like the "half"look
of a metal cap and an acrylic pen.

You might consider the Flighter.

[Stands on Feet]

I'm amazed at the number of people that dislike the looks of the '51'. I can just hold mine and feel happy.

That's me, of course. Everybody else are welcome to their own feelings about them.