WTB Unbeautiful Parker 51

[reprieve]

For my money, the main advantage of the aero is that it is easier (faster) to flush out. That's especially relevant if you change inks a lot.

Which is exactly why I prefer aerometric fillers. Vacumatics are a pain in the you-know-what to flush. That doesn't mitigate the cool factor, but it does make me think twice before inking one up.

[reprieve]

I want an aero because both of my grandparents had aeros, and I was allowed to help fill them sometimes as a child. Not write with them, but fill them. I was allowed one squeeze, and everytime I'd see one of them write with their pen, I would think "I'll get to squeeze it again soon in the ink bottle."

I can't think of anything that would trump that for me, honestly, but I'm enjoying learning a lot about this all the same.

That's a great story.

I've really enjoyed reading through this thread. There's some excellent information here. Good luck finding a beater 51. Hopefully Rick Krantz has something for you--he's great to deal with.

[AdaByron]

Yes -- I was hoping for a pen, but even if I don't get that out of this post, an education about it from people who know what they are talking about is at least as valuable. And when I do get my pen--and regardless, I know I will have one eventually--I will enjoy it even more for knowing more about it. I already know I am going to like it here.

[mhosea]

But I think Rick's post set us all thinking. Pen sellers aren't usually as candid as Rick is[snip]

I don't know if Rick wants to be thought of as "unusually candid" or not. He may be. But you might want to go back to Rick's post and see if that's really the one you're thinking about.

[Rick Krantz]

The aero I have (that I am sure I have)....

good connector

breather replaced with plastic breather tube.

and even a beater gets a 1 year warranty.

only problems I see short term.....

1) jewels (I don't have any good ones... ) either you get a missing jewel, or I can affix one, that will stay quite a long time.
2) barrel (black) it's needs the threads relieved at the end, hard to explain, but it will not affect it cosmetically, nor will it affect the function.

otherwise, should be a good reliable pen.

personally, I was always for the ease of an aerometric, they are so much lesser maintenance than a vac fill

but I use a vac fill everyday, I kinda prefer them anymore.

you did specify what you wanted for the reasons you listed, so that is what we are aiming for!

Rick

[Rick Krantz]

Yes -- I was hoping for a pen, but even if I don't get that out of this post, an education about it from people who know what they are talking about is at least as valuable. And when I do get my pen--and regardless, I know I will have one eventually--I will enjoy it even more for knowing more about it. I already know I am going to like it here.

Don't worry, I think I got you covered.

[Rick Krantz]

But I think Rick's post set us all thinking. Pen sellers aren't usually as candid as Rick is[snip]

I don't know if Rick wants to be thought of as "unusually candid" or not. He may be. But you might want to go back to Rick's post and see if that's really the one you're thinking about.

yeah, i don't follow this post or reply, but hey.... everyone should be candid and upfront on this stuff. I certainly try my best.

[Laura N]

But I think Rick's post set us all thinking. Pen sellers aren't usually as candid as Rick is[snip]

I don't know if Rick wants to be thought of as "unusually candid" or not. He may be. But you might want to go back to Rick's post and see if that's really the one you're thinking about.

Sorry! Was that you? Then it was you who was unusually candid. All credit to you.

But Rick is awesome, too.

I on the other hand am crazy busy at work, and sleep-deprived, and having a bad day to boot. So I am an idiot.

[Jon Szanto]

I am unusual, and I am candid, but I am rarely unusually candid.

I have two 51s, and specifically have one aero and one vac. I like it that way. And one is boring (yes, Laura, BORING!) and one is a beaut. A boring beaut, but whatta ya gonna do?

I just know Ada will find the perfect pen, and that makes me happy, and I'm glad she has joined FPG. THIS is what it's all about, right kids? <happy dance>

[Laura N]

I am unusual, and I am candid, but I am rarely unusually candid.

I have two 51s, and specifically have one aero and one vac. I like it that way. And one is boring (yes, Laura, BORING!) and one is a beaut. A boring beaut, but whatta ya gonna do?

I just know Ada will find the perfect pen, and that makes me happy, and I'm glad she has joined FPG. THIS is what it's all about, right kids? <happy dance>

Jon, I love you, but sigh.

On the other hand, point taken.

"Boring" is fair.

[Rick Krantz]

I got less than 15 parker 51's in my collection

all vacumatics....

mostly all double jewel and first years tho

[AdaByron]

Thank you all for the invaluable (truly) information on this pen. Happily, I now have a very nice restored Parker 51 aerometric pen, wonderful specimen. It came to me through mysterious, unexpected, and almost magical machinations. So I got one that was a good writer AND beautiful. But I do agree, there are no unbeautiful Parker 51s. Now I can play on the Parker group.

Diamine Blue Black (I had done a blue black shoot out in anticipation of getting this pen from some source) and it's inked up as we speak.

I didn't know my request was a false alarm, but am so glad I posted it. I learned so much, and I think you all.

[Jon Szanto]

Congratulations! I suggest spray-painting the barrel and dimpling the cap with a ball peen hammer to add character.










(Just kidding...)

[Laura N]

Congratulations! I suggest spray-painting the barrel and dimpling the cap with a ball peen hammer to add character.

[Jon Szanto]

Precisely. Well, except for the barrel.

(Man, I love those hammered caps...)

[Rick Krantz]

is that one I did?

it looks familiar...

[Laura N]

is that one I did?

it looks familiar...

You did!

[Rick Krantz]

I thought so. I can recognize them pretty well when I see them.

I need to make some more. I haven't found any beat up sterling caps for a while now.

last one I was going to attempt, was a coronet cap, but in sterling, sorta maintain the frosted part in the arrow pattern, and the shiny smooth part, well if you know what a coronet cap looks like you get it.

anyway, I figured it was going to take around 1000 taps all precise and equal, spaced in a proper grid. I had it ready, made my first tap, great! then went to place the second one and messed it up. Needless to say, that coin silver cap was turned into a hammered cap as well. Sold it at DC, someone was happy to get it.

[Jon Szanto]

anyway, I figured it was going to take around 1000 taps all precise and equal, spaced in a proper grid. I had it ready, made my first tap, great! then went to place the second one and messed it up. Needless to say, that coin silver cap was turned into a hammered cap as well. Sold it at DC, someone was happy to get it.

Classic "quit while you're ahead"!

[Rick Krantz]

anyway, I figured it was going to take around 1000 taps all precise and equal, spaced in a proper grid. I had it ready, made my first tap, great! then went to place the second one and messed it up. Needless to say, that coin silver cap was turned into a hammered cap as well. Sold it at DC, someone was happy to get it.

Classic "quit while you're ahead"!

yeah, really. I wanted to make the coronet for my own use. I will eventually figure it out, or find a silversmith that is good enough to do what I want. I spent days figuring the pattern out, and measuring. I guess my skill set only includes hand hammered at this point. I think if you could make an adjustable tool to stamp a pattern, then allow for the convergence of the cap, you could make it happen. it is more complex than one would think. The originals were engine turned, so you are trying to introduce a different means of processing to yield a similar result. I doubt I will ever have the chance of a real coronet 51 cap, I don't even know of one for sale presently or in the not so distant past, I heard of a pencil that might have sold for $5K, so they are rare and expensive. Silver with the frosted field and the bright areas would be so beautiful tho....