Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: Parker 51 wide or narrow channel?

  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2020
    Location
    Santiago, Dominican Republic
    Posts
    5
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Parker 51 wide or narrow channel?

    I dissassembled my P51 for cleaning and servicing. When puting it together again i could not remember if the nib and feed align with the wide or narrow channel of the collar. I searched but some people say it goes with the wide one, others with the narrow and others say the aligment does not matter.
    Whats your opinion/experience/ knowledge on the matter?
    Last edited by Inkedfingers; January 23rd, 2020 at 05:46 AM.

  2. #2
    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    11,400
    Thanks
    6,872
    Thanked 10,361 Times in 3,977 Posts
    Rep Power
    24

    Default Re: Parker 51 wide or narrow channel?

    SBRE Brown says line up the narrow channel with the top of the feed. Here
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

  3. #3
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2020
    Location
    Santiago, Dominican Republic
    Posts
    5
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Parker 51 wide or narrow channel?

    Thank you Chrissy. Yes that's one of the videos I've seen saying it is the narrow one. And I think is right. In fact when you observe the collector closely one can think that the ink will flow even if it is no aligned with the feed/nib, as the collector fins will distribute the ink all over the circumference so the feed will receive ink and hence the nib anyway.

  4. #4
    Senior Member Ron Z's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2019
    Location
    Western Pennsylvania
    Posts
    610
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 1,082 Times in 395 Posts
    Rep Power
    5

    Default Re: Parker 51 wide or narrow channel?

    The Parker repair manuals from the era say that their research showed that it really didn't make any difference which channel was on top. Having said that however, I put the big one on top, and have for the last gazillion years.

    Visit Main Street Pens
    A full service pen shop providing professional, thoughtful pen repair....
    Please contact us by email, and not PM for repair inquiries.

  5. #5
    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    11,400
    Thanks
    6,872
    Thanked 10,361 Times in 3,977 Posts
    Rep Power
    24

    Default Re: Parker 51 wide or narrow channel?

    I must admit that when I took the hood off of one and cleaned it, I put it back together exactly how it was when I removed the hood rather than ensuring I was lining up one of the channels with the feed.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    SFO USA
    Posts
    1,375
    Thanks
    13
    Thanked 1,113 Times in 573 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Parker 51 wide or narrow channel?

    Note that Parker stated the go/no go gauge should be used and if within tolerances the orientation didn’t matter.

    It says some other fun stuff too. Follow Rons suggestion.

  7. #7
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2020
    Location
    Santiago, Dominican Republic
    Posts
    5
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Parker 51 wide or narrow channel?

    Thanks to all. I'll go for the wide one, as Ron says.
    And maybe will try different orientations to see if it makes a difference, before shellac.

  8. #8
    Senior Member Ron Z's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2019
    Location
    Western Pennsylvania
    Posts
    610
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 1,082 Times in 395 Posts
    Rep Power
    5

    Default Re: Parker 51 wide or narrow channel?

    Quote Originally Posted by Inkedfingers View Post
    Thanks to all. I'll go for the wide one, as Ron says.
    And maybe will try different orientations to see if it makes a difference, before shellac.
    It won't.

    Visit Main Street Pens
    A full service pen shop providing professional, thoughtful pen repair....
    Please contact us by email, and not PM for repair inquiries.

  9. #9
    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    11,400
    Thanks
    6,872
    Thanked 10,361 Times in 3,977 Posts
    Rep Power
    24

    Default Re: Parker 51 wide or narrow channel?

    Quote Originally Posted by Inkedfingers View Post
    Thanks to all. I'll go for the wide one, as Ron says.
    And maybe will try different orientations to see if it makes a difference, before shellac.
    I never shellacked my hood on and never had a problem with it.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

  10. #10
    Senior Member Ron Z's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2019
    Location
    Western Pennsylvania
    Posts
    610
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 1,082 Times in 395 Posts
    Rep Power
    5

    Default Re: Parker 51 wide or narrow channel?

    Quote Originally Posted by Chrissy View Post
    I never shellacked my hood on and never had a problem with it.
    You're lucky. I've had many 51s come through the shop with complaints of inky fingers because the threads were not sealed. You might be able to tighten the hood enough that it doesn't leak, but that also puts stress on the threads, both hood and barrel, and on the edge of the hood, which can lead to stress cracks. Using shellac or thread sealant seals with without that stress.

    Visit Main Street Pens
    A full service pen shop providing professional, thoughtful pen repair....
    Please contact us by email, and not PM for repair inquiries.

  11. #11
    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    11,400
    Thanks
    6,872
    Thanked 10,361 Times in 3,977 Posts
    Rep Power
    24

    Default Re: Parker 51 wide or narrow channel?

    It used to screw on without needing to be too tight, just two or three normal turns, and it was always perfectly OK. It wasn't shellacked on when I got it, and never leaked any ink from anywhere, so I never worried about it.

    That was before I sold it. I don't have any Parker 51's now.
    Last edited by Chrissy; January 28th, 2020 at 11:26 PM.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

  12. #12
    Senior Member calamus's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Location
    Redwoods Rainforest
    Posts
    1,330
    Thanks
    1,155
    Thanked 1,385 Times in 587 Posts
    Rep Power
    8

    Default Re: Parker 51 wide or narrow channel?

    I don't have any 51s and can only do the simplest of repairs at this point, so I'm not stating this as anything other than a question that those with more experience will hopefully answer, but mightn't silicone grease on the threads secure them well enough that shellac wouldn't be necessary?
    Quid rides? Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur. — Horace
    (What are you laughing at? Just change the name and the joke’s on you.)

  13. #13
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    SFO USA
    Posts
    1,375
    Thanks
    13
    Thanked 1,113 Times in 573 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Parker 51 wide or narrow channel?

    Quote Originally Posted by calamus View Post
    I don't have any 51s and can only do the simplest of repairs at this point, so I'm not stating this as anything other than a question that those with more experience will hopefully answer, but mightn't silicone grease on the threads secure them well enough that shellac wouldn't be necessary?
    I know of one person that desires grease on the hood as a method because he likes to change nibs to suit needs. Acknowledged by that person it doesn't work well, that hoods spin and that they can leak ink but if you are willing to take that risk for the benefit of having a loose hood then go for it.


    I've not found it a problem to use shellac or a rosin based sealant in the few years I've been playing with 51s.

  14. #14
    Senior Member awa54's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2019
    Location
    Vermont, USA
    Posts
    207
    Thanks
    37
    Thanked 86 Times in 55 Posts
    Rep Power
    5

    Default Re: Parker 51 wide or narrow channel?

    Quote Originally Posted by Chrissy View Post
    It used to screw on without needing to be too tight, just two or three normal turns, and it was always perfectly OK. It wasn't shellacked on when I got it, and never leaked any ink from anywhere, so I never worried about it.

    That was before I sold it. I don't have any Parker 51's now.

    Don't later versions have an o-ring seal on the hood threads?

    Rosin based sealant is pretty easy to make and can be purchased as well, if you don't want to tackle mixing your own.
    David-

    So many restoration projects...

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •