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Thread: An interesting Parker 51 from 1957

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    Senior Member Fermata's Avatar
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    Default An interesting Parker 51 from 1957


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    Senior Member silverlifter's Avatar
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    Default Re: An interesting Parker 51 from 1957

    What's that printed around the top of the hood? Is it numbers? Letters? Intelligble?

    Awesome aftermarket mod, tho
    Vintage. Cursive italic. Iron gall.

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    Default Re: An interesting Parker 51 from 1957

    Quote Originally Posted by silverlifter View Post
    What's that printed around the top of the hood? Is it numbers? Letters? Intelligble?
    Looks to be 0 in middle, flanked by 1, then 2 (maybe etc). Looks to be something along the lines of the 75.
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

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    Default Re: An interesting Parker 51 from 1957

    This pen was sold on Ebay yesterday, I was not the buyer or seller.

    The pen was described as a 51 prototype and has a Made in USA cap, the numbers around the section include 32101, there are additional numbers on the barrel.

    The pen sold for around £440/$530

    eta

    I think Jon was on the money, the idea of an open nibbed 51 seems nuts, IMHO there is more credibility to think that this is a prototype 75 using a P51 barrel and cap as a mule.
    Last edited by Fermata; October 11th, 2021 at 12:49 AM.

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    Default Re: An interesting Parker 51 from 1957

    Isn't this rather kind of a pre-VP?

    Parker VP:

    Parker VP by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

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    Default Re: An interesting Parker 51 from 1957

    You could well be right, it looks to me to be a bit of a hodgepodge, and even that assumes that what we see today is a pen as it left the factory.

    Call me an old cynic if you like but there may have been more money in it for the seller to describe the pen as a Prototype 51 than a Prototype 75 or VP.

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    Default Re: An interesting Parker 51 from 1957

    Quote Originally Posted by Fermata View Post
    You could well be right, it looks to me to be a bit of a hodgepodge, and even that assumes that what we see today is a pen as it left the factory.

    Call me an old cynic if you like but there may have been more money in it for the seller to describe the pen as a Prototype 51 than a Prototype 75 or VP.
    Well, we do not know for what amount the pen was sold.

    But I assume that a pre-series of the VP could fetch a good price. VP's are rather uncommon pens and exceptional variants even more so.

    However, I think that at least the nib is not original. This comes from a Vac.

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    Default Re: An interesting Parker 51 from 1957

    Quote Originally Posted by christof View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Fermata View Post
    You could well be right, it looks to me to be a bit of a hodgepodge, and even that assumes that what we see today is a pen as it left the factory.

    Call me an old cynic if you like but there may have been more money in it for the seller to describe the pen as a Prototype 51 than a Prototype 75 or VP.
    Well, we do not know for what amount the pen was sold.

    But I assume that a pre-series of the VP could fetch a good price. VP's are rather uncommon pens and exceptional variants even more so.

    However, I think that at least the nib is not original. This comes from a Vac.
    The pen was sold for the equivalent of 520 euros.

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    Default Re: An interesting Parker 51 from 1957

    Oh wow!

    Then it must have been interesting for at least two collectors. I don't think anyone would spend that amount without knowing what he was bidding for.

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    Default Re: An interesting Parker 51 from 1957

    Quote Originally Posted by christof View Post
    Oh wow!

    Then it must have been interesting for at least two collectors. I don't think anyone would spend that amount without knowing what he was bidding for.
    The price soared in the last few minutes.

    No provenance was stated in the ad so I presume that none existed.

    I know that there are quite a few who follow pen history and there are some P51 Parker history buffs, I haven't seen anything like this, I thought that it might be of interest if only to try and work out what on earth Parker were thinking.
    Last edited by Fermata; October 11th, 2021 at 05:27 AM.

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    Default Re: An interesting Parker 51 from 1957

    That section looks squared off. Do I see that right?

    Sent from my moto g power using Tapatalk

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    Default Re: An interesting Parker 51 from 1957

    Quote Originally Posted by TSherbs View Post
    That section looks squared off. Do I see that right?

    Sent from my moto g power using Tapatalk

    Either squared or triangulated TS.

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    Default Re: An interesting Parker 51 from 1957

    weird

    but what do I know

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    Default Re: An interesting Parker 51 from 1957

    I agree with Christof. The section shape, the metal ring, the open nib and the timing (assuming 1957 is correct), say VP.

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    Default Re: An interesting Parker 51 from 1957

    Quote Originally Posted by guyy View Post
    I agree with Christof. The section shape, the metal ring, the open nib and the timing (assuming 1957 is correct), say VP.
    You could be right, it is difficult to know for certain especially when we are assuming that the pen as advertised is as it left Parker.

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    Default Re: An interesting Parker 51 from 1957


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    Default Re: An interesting Parker 51 from 1957

    The pen is not a 51.
    The pen is an Experimental model from the VP line made in the model shop.

    Price was very reasonable.

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    Default Re: An interesting Parker 51 from 1957

    If the pen is indeed a prototype VP, then I agree that the price is a reasonable one. I saw this listing on ebay and followed it for several days. Sounded odd that the seller described it as a rare 51 prototype which he bought years ago, but for which he had lost the paperwork. That is not how one treats documentation for a rare prototype. Additionally, I don't understand why a prototype would be set with a much older Vacumatic nib. However, I will defer to christof, Farmboy, and guyy -- all of whose judgement I trust. Interesting thread. Be well.

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    Default Re: An interesting Parker 51 from 1957

    Quote Originally Posted by Barry Gabay View Post
    ...Additionally, I don't understand why a prototype would be set with a much older Vacumatic nib...
    Thank you Barry.
    I think it's the engraving on the barrel which identify the pen as a "Experimental model, made in the model shop of Parker" as Todd it calls.

    ...and yes, threads like theese are very interesting.

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    Default Re: An interesting Parker 51 from 1957

    Just passing through...........

    It is an experiment P51 that David bought from DS in December last year

    As for value, I passed at £250, it sold £275

    I did not think it was significant enough to warrant the money asked


    Perhaps someone here needs to re check his records if he thinks that this is VP made in the Arrow Park model shop..........smiling......alot
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    Last edited by proteus; October 12th, 2021 at 02:26 PM.

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