Incoming Parker 51

[Skullring]

Ian (Shandy) had recently started a post with his new beautiful MKIII Parker 51. http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=120503
I put Brian bjpens on ebay in my favorites and a couple of weeks later I am the proud owner of my own Hunter Green Parker 51 pen and pencil set.


The pencil is a Liquid Lead made from around 1955-1962. There is a good article here about them at PenHero. http://www.penhero.com/PenGallery/Pa...LeadPencil.htm


The Liquid Lead refill looks like a simple ballpoint pen refill that contained a graphite paste. Liquid Lead only lasted for about 7 years before it fell out of production.


The nib is a fine Octanium (steel alloy) but it writes on the medium side. It is an incredibly smooth writer with no skipping or scratching.



The metal cap gives the pen a nice heavy balanced feel when posted.



The trademark Parker arrow clip with black jewel.



This is a handwriting sample with Waterman Florida Blue ink. You can see some pretty good shading.



I could not be more pleased. It is an aerometric (squeeze filler) it holds a great charge of ink of about 30 drops. I found this one at a great price and is one of my favorites in my collection now. I would say it is easily the best writer. The nib is super smooth and has a sweet spot no matter how you hold it. It is easy to understand why they were in production for over 40 years and there is still such a following. Check out Parker51.com for some great info on them. http://www.parker51.com/index.html

[Numismatist]

Very nice vintage piece! Congrats

[sunburst]

Congrats, Phillip!
I've been eyeing on bjpens too but no luck so far.

[Lion]

Phillip, what a great find and enjoy your time using the fountain pen.....

[2careless]

Congratulations Phillip for such a nice find!
How are you going to get new supply of the liquid lead?

Also, this is a very nicely written review. Maybe we should start a review thread.

[shandy]

Phillip, I am so glad it got to you in a nice speedy fashion...If only mail coming from the States to Canada moved as quickly!

I am so glad you are happy with the pen, they really are wonderful writers eh!

Mine has taken up almost prime writing time as it is so easy to use and such a great writer.

I was at the local pen club meet the other day and one of Brians friends has some lovely 51's and he is holding for me an early vacumatic version with a medium broad nib in black.

Lovely handwriting sample as well

I think you and I both can see why when you ask serious vintage collectors what they use as a daily pen the response is usually a 51!

Oh yes. I have found a wonderful product that buffs the plastic up beautifully, Pollywatch, the same stuff used on watch crystals!

[STEELINOX]

Cool Classic !

[Skullring]

Originally Posted by Numismatist

Very nice vintage piece! Congrats

Thanks Chris. I am loving it.

Originally Posted by sunburst

Congrats, Phillip!
I've been eyeing on bjpens too but no luck so far.

Thanks Joji. Keep your eyes out for bjpens he only puts a few pens every couple of weeks out on ebay but you can count on them being top notch. He is a fellow pen lover so you can count on them being as described clean and ready to ink up.

Originally Posted by Lion

Phillip, what a great find and enjoy your time using the fountain pen.....

Thank you Leo. I am having a great time with it. I was happy to find it.

Originally Posted by 2careless

Congratulations Phillip for such a nice find!
How are you going to get new supply of the liquid lead?



Also, this is a very nicely written review. Maybe we should start a review thread.

Thanks Kai. The sad part is that I will probably not find any liquid lead refills. You can find them but they are usually very expensive since they were only made from 1955-1962 they are in short supply. Brian had listed the pencil as not working but it is nice to have a matching set. I have read where some people have converted them to use ballpoint cartridges. http://www.penlibrary.com/html/Parker_LiquidLead.html. Thanks for the complement on the review I would love to see more of them.

Originally Posted by shandy

Phillip, I am so glad it got to you in a nice speedy fashion...If only mail coming from the States to Canada moved as quickly!

I am so glad you are happy with the pen, they really are wonderful writers eh!

Mine has taken up almost prime writing time as it is so easy to use and such a great writer.

I was at the local pen club meet the other day and one of Brians friends has some lovely 51's and he is holding for me an early vacumatic version with a medium broad nib in black.

Lovely handwriting sample as well

I think you and I both can see why when you ask serious vintage collectors what they use as a daily pen the response is usually a 51!

Oh yes. I have found a wonderful product that buffs the plastic up beautifully, Pollywatch, the same stuff used on watch crystals!

Thanks Ian. If you had not posted such a great review of your Rage Red MKIII I would not have become interested in Parker 51's. This is my first 51 but will not be my last. I really could not believe how nicely this pen writes.

I am looking forward to seeing your black vacumatic when you get it. My handwriting is getting better. I have been printing for years and I am just getting back into cursive writing. It is much easier when you have a great pen with a beautiful ink.

Originally Posted by STEELINOX

Cool Classic !

Thanks Steve.

[shandy]

Thank you Phillip. I am looking forward to the Vacumatic one as well, though I personally think the Aerometric should be the standard filling system, so reliable, rarely if ever wears out and a breeze to fill!

I am also so happy you have a vintage. There is a whole world of vintage out there that are such bargins. You got an incredible deal on that one. And it just shows one can get an incredible pen for very little.

I think I it were me I would get a ballpoint or rollerball for the liquid lead so as to be able to use that one as well!

[Lion]

Phillip, I understand that the liquid lead is expensive and hard to find but it would sure be fun to have it so your set is totally complete. Of course I'm not saying you should use it but to have it would make for a great display!!!

[Skullring]

Originally Posted by shandy

Thank you Phillip. I am looking forward to the Vacumatic one as well, though I personally think the Aerometric should be the standard filling system, so reliable, rarely if ever wears out and a breeze to fill!

I am also so happy you have a vintage. There is a whole world of vintage out there that are such bargins. You got an incredible deal on that one. And it just shows one can get an incredible pen for very little.

I think I it were me I would get a ballpoint or rollerball for the liquid lead so as to be able to use that one as well!

Thanks Ian. I am certainly going to focus on vintage for a while. I am looking forward to finding a good Parker Vacumatic. I really could not believe how good this 51 writes.

I think I will find a rollerball or ballpoint to put in the liquid lead pencil so that it is functional. There is a spring inside above the refill so it would be a great writing pen. I don't know how much I would write with a ballpoint with all of these great fountain pens in the house.

Originally Posted by Lion

Phillip, I understand that the liquid lead is expensive and hard to find but it would sure be fun to have it so your set is totally complete. Of course I'm not saying you should use it but to have it would make for a great display!!!

Leo there are some liquid lead refills out there market price at the time was about 50 cents now you can find them for $33 http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-PARKER-L...item1c111351a3

It would be nice to have one just for the sake of curiosity. I would of course have to write with it to see how it feels.

[Shangas]

So which one of those did you land?

[Skullring]

Hello Shahan.

Never landed the P51 Mustang. I wish I had it is a hellova plane.

[shandy]

Originally Posted by Shangas

So which one of those did you land?

Shahan, That is the exact 51 I am about to purchase..Wonderful to see the advert!

[Shangas]

Welcome, guys.

I got three Parker '51's myself. One Flighter, two black & gold.

[Skullring]

What is the difference in the Flighter Shanan?

[Shangas]

The Flighter model came out in 1949. It was brushed stainless steel with a gold arrow-clip and a gold cap-band. It was an aerometric model. Looks like this:



There's also the much handsomer Parker '51' Signet, which looks like this:



The Signet was 14kt gold-filled instead of brushed steel.

[daveathall]

Phillip that is a beauty, many congratulations, I love the deep colour, enjoy that stunner for many, many years.

[Tombstone]

I love Parker Pens I have several. I would never dream of buying another non Parker brand pen. Enjoy your beautiful 51.

[sunburst]

Originally Posted by Skullring

Thanks Joji. Keep your eyes out for bjpens he only puts a few pens every couple of weeks out on ebay but you can count on them being top notch. He is a fellow pen lover so you can count on them being as described clean and ready to ink up.

Will keep my eyes on it as I've been looking for Vacumatics.
There's lot of vacumatics out there but getting them without seeing
one can be hit or mis due to the transparency issue.
Looks like "bjpens" is the way to go

[shandy]

Originally Posted by sunburst

Will keep my eyes on it as I've been looking for Vacumatics.
There's lot of vacumatics out there but getting them without seeing
one can be hit or mis due to the transparency issue.
Looks like "bjpens" is the way to go

I know there are many good honest sellers out there but knowing Brian personally and having purchased a few pens from him now his integrity is second to none. you won't go wrong with his stuff.

If anything he tends to play down the condition. I know the Vac I have is a thing of beauty, the transparency is amazing and the nibs on those things are pure joy to write with!

[sunburst]

Originally Posted by shandy

I know there are many good honest sellers out there but knowing Brian personally and having purchased a few pens from him now his integrity is second to none. you won't go wrong with his stuff.

If anything he tends to play down the condition. I know the Vac I have is a thing of beauty, the transparency is amazing and the nibs on those things are pure joy to write with!

Ian, the one you got has an amazing transparency!

[Skullring]

Originally Posted by daveathall

Phillip that is a beauty, many congratulations, I love the deep colour, enjoy that stunner for many, many years.

Thanks Dave.

Originally Posted by Tombstone

I love Parker Pens I have several. I would never dream of buying another non Parker brand pen. Enjoy your beautiful 51.

Thanks Richard. I am very impressed with Parker. Next on my list is a Vacumatic.

[Lol-x]

Nice handwriting man

[Skullring]

Originally Posted by Lol-x

Nice handwriting man

Thanks Steve. I am working on it. I have lots of room for improvement.

[JBat]

Congrats on the 51 Phillip. Between you, Ian and the rest of the folks on this sub-forum, I'm becoming corrupted for all things fountain pens. I'll have to look into picking up a vintage pen like that at some point.

[shandy]

Originally Posted by JBat

Congrats on the 51 Phillip. Between you, Ian and the rest of the folks on this sub-forum, I'm becoming corrupted for all things fountain pens. I'll have to look into picking up a vintage pen like that at some point.

Yippee! Another vintage convert
I really hope you do get a nice vintage John, I think you will really enjoy it

[Skullring]

Originally Posted by JBat

Congrats on the 51 Phillip. Between you, Ian and the rest of the folks on this sub-forum, I'm becoming corrupted for all things fountain pens. I'll have to look into picking up a vintage pen like that at some point.

Thanks John. I have been bitten by the bug too. There are plenty of good vintage pens at good prices out there. I really could not believe how good this one writes. After about the 5th word when the ink had made it all the way down the nib I thought wow this is the one I have been looking for.

Make sure you post some pictures when you find your vintage pen.

[JBat]

Originally Posted by shandy

Yippee! Another vintage convert
I really hope you do get a nice vintage John, I think you will really enjoy it

After seeing all these Parker 51's I think that'll be the pen I go after. Pretty amazing history and all you read is good things about them.

[JBat]

Originally Posted by Skullring

Thanks John. I have been bitten by the bug too. There are plenty of good vintage pens at good prices out there. I really could not believe how good this one writes. After about the 5th word when the ink had made it all the way down the nib I thought wow this is the one I have been looking for.

Make sure you post some pictures when you find your vintage pen.

Will do!