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Thread: Considering a Parker 51 mechanical pencil for daily use

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    Default Considering a Parker 51 mechanical pencil for daily use

    Hey,

    I'm considering a parker 51 mechanical pencil to match my FP and I'm wondering if there are any cons regarding fragility of plastics/internal parts of this particular vintage mechanical pencil. Not thinking of tossing on desk and use like a cheap $5 mechanical pencil of course but still, what are your experience with vintage mechanical pencils? Ok for daily use?

    Thanks for any input.

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    Senior Member christof's Avatar
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    Default Re: Considering a Parker 51 mechanical pencil for daily use

    I am using a Parker 61 propelling pencil nearly every day. It's very sturdy but also elegant and ergonomic. I use pentel 0.9mm 2B HI polymer lead.

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    Default Re: Considering a Parker 51 mechanical pencil for daily use

    very good, thanks. The Parker 51 is very sturdy but wasn't sure about the mechanical pencil.
    cool signature by the way

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to MRusso For This Useful Post:

    christof (October 1st, 2021)

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    Default Re: Considering a Parker 51 mechanical pencil for daily use

    One of my favorite vintage mechanical pencil is the Esterbrook J.
    It is both robust and looks cool.

    I haven't used a Parker 51 pencil yet, but I'd be really surprised if Parker made something for their flagship product that is subpar compared to the Esterbrook.
    - Will
    Unique and restored vintage pens: Redeem Pens

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    Default Re: Considering a Parker 51 mechanical pencil for daily use

    The pencils of the 51 and 61 range are really great and classy writing instruments. I think that they outclass many modern mechanical pencils.

    The internal parts of these pencils are sturdy and well engineered and rarely cause problems.

    The plastic of the dove grey 51 Vacumatic pencil discolours easily and can become quite brittle too. But any other plastic from the Vacumatic or Aerometric period will do fine as a pencil for daily use.

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    Default Re: Considering a Parker 51 mechanical pencil for daily use

    Great, oh, by the way I found out the mechanical pencil is of twist mechanism. Reading what I can find about it, it seems the click mechanism can be faulty but not finding much about the twist mechanism. It's a bit counter-intuitive to twist on a mechanical pencil but eh, so looking forward to match my P51 pen. If it works and is solid I could live with that.

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    Default Re: Considering a Parker 51 mechanical pencil for daily use

    Which Parker 51 do you have?

    The twist/rotary (Vacumatic era) and clicker (Aerometric era) pencils are well made. The rotary pencil is the period-correct companion for a Parker 51 Vacumatic but if you have a grey or blue coloured P51 Vacumatic it might be difficult to find a perfect colour matched 51 rotary pencil.

    You possibly already found this webpage with interesting background info:
    http://parker51.com/index.php/51s/pencils/

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    Default Re: Considering a Parker 51 mechanical pencil for daily use

    Quote Originally Posted by jos View Post
    Which Parker 51 do you have?

    The twist/rotary (Vacumatic era) and clicker (Aerometric era) pencils are well made. The rotary pencil is the period-correct companion for a Parker 51 Vacumatic but if you have a grey or blue coloured P51 Vacumatic it might be difficult to find a perfect colour matched 51 rotary pencil.

    You possibly already found this webpage with interesting background info:
    http://parker51.com/index.php/51s/pencils/
    Yes I've seen that page and from the looks of the pencil it seems like it is a 1950's Parker 51 Special Aerometric rotary pencil (companion to Parker 51 Aeromatric?) Mine is a 51 Aeromatric from 1948 (I checked engraving on the nib).
    Here is the vendor's shot.
    mpencil.png
    is it really a Vaccumatic pencil? It seems pretty much like a match to my 51 (below)
    my51.jpg

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    Default Re: Considering a Parker 51 mechanical pencil for daily use

    I'd say that, because of the broad cap band, it is a transitional pencil.

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    Default Re: Considering a Parker 51 mechanical pencil for daily use

    intriguing. It appears to be 1950's aeromatric on the body but vacumatic on the cap.

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    Default Re: Considering a Parker 51 mechanical pencil for daily use

    according to the Parker "51" book (page 45) these caps came with the first Aerometrics in 1948.
    Last edited by christof; October 1st, 2021 at 01:04 PM.

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    Default Re: Considering a Parker 51 mechanical pencil for daily use

    Quote Originally Posted by MRusso View Post
    intriguing. It appears to be 1950's aeromatric on the body but vacumatic on the cap.
    The cap of the pencil is definitely Aerometric, not Vacumatic. The barrel with the smooth nozzle on the front is typical for a P21 pencil but is indeed also found on the P51 Special pencil. But the cap band is not P51 Special.
    If it is a transitional pencil I would expect that it has the typical nozzle of either the P51 Vac or P51 Aerometric pencil, not the nozzle that came later in the 1950s.

    Anyway, the pencil visually fits with your P51 fountain pen. In fact, if it is a transitional pencil it would fit perfectly with your very early (1948) Parker 51 Aerometric.
    Last edited by jos; October 1st, 2021 at 02:02 PM.

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    Default Re: Considering a Parker 51 mechanical pencil for daily use

    I have had two of the early "40's models. The loading mechanism is a pain. If you want a vintage mechanical pencil that is bomb proof, get an Autopoint Rocket that matches your Parker. I've posted some threads in the pencil section. Someone said once the most rare Autopoint is the one that doesn't work...LOL!!
    Attached Images Attached Images

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    Default Re: Considering a Parker 51 mechanical pencil for daily use

    I have mechanical pencils to match my P51 Aeros, they are "click" actions and function perfectly.

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    Default Re: Considering a Parker 51 mechanical pencil for daily use

    dammit, someone snatched "my" pencil from the auction!

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    Default Re: Considering a Parker 51 mechanical pencil for daily use

    For what it is worth...........

    P51 Aero retractable pencils are rather good, possibly the best pencil made.

    Have collected a few in the past along with the twist activated version.

    Of the two I would take the retractable very time.

    Simple design, never seen one that does not work correctly.

    Sold all my collection...........early this year

    I doubt that there is a better classic / vintage pencil ever made.

    Passing through...........
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    Default Re: Considering a Parker 51 mechanical pencil for daily use

    beautiful.

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    Default Re: Considering a Parker 51 mechanical pencil for daily use

    The P-51 pencil works fine. I now use an Autopoint .046, but the 51 is oplenty good enough. Only problem I had was fine an "orphan" that works. In a set, the pencil usually works, but the lone 51 pencils usually arrived broken. The aerometric era pencil, the push-down, often has lost it's grabbing ability. One push and the lead slides out. The twist pencils, from the 51 Vac, are more likely to work.

    All use the .036 / .9mm leads, which are still easy to find.

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    Default Re: Considering a Parker 51 mechanical pencil for daily use

    welch,

    Read your comment with interest.

    Thank you.


    In my experience both retractable and twist activated P51 Aero pencil work just fine unless they are damaged.

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    Default Re: Considering a Parker 51 mechanical pencil for daily use

    In my experience, lots of pencils from the mid-20th century are excellent. Generally a nice size and nicely weighted, they often work especially well with B lead. Parker 51s are great (both types), so are Sheaffer's, Waterman, Esterbrook, Montblanc and many more. I think they were definitely made to be used, and used a lot!

    I like to have sets for my favourite pens, so I have lots of vintage pencils. They are all great. My favourite, just because they can be a little harder to find, is a barely used PFM pencil that came with my chalk marked PFMIII.

    Have fun!

    Ralf

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