Parker 51
1947
About This Model
The Parker 51 is generally agreed to be one of the genuinely iconic fountain pens, for its timeless design, revolutionary construction, efficiency, unparalleled durability, and for being a great writer. It is also among the most sold pens of all time, having been available from 1941 until the early 1970’s, manufactured in plants around the world, and sold millions. Within each major model there are myriad combinations of color, cap, and other details that have made collecting 51s a serious sport around the world. 51s are available in two lengths: the typical 51 is 5.4" long, but demis, a half-inch shorter in cap and barrel, were also produced. They are excellent writers, hold a great deal of ink, and are great shirt/jacket pocket pens. Parker 51s are readily available today, although some of their colors and cap patterns are rare.
About This Pen
A Parker 51 in Tim’s Bargains? There’s a first time for everything…this is a good MKI Vacumatic 51 that has two flaws that are both noticeable: the nib end of the hood is pretty deeply stained, and the gold-filled cap has a few small dents and its plate is wearing off the cap. That’s the bad news. The rest is all good news! It’s a 1947 “T7” pen, made in Parker’s transitional factory, with a gold-filled cap, in dove grey. It’s also a MKI, a Vacumatic filler. The grey is very nice, showing very little wear; it polished up well, the stain notwithstanding. The best guess about the stain, which was also apparent in the ink collector under the hood, is that permanent ink containing iron gall was used for a long time, then dried in the pen and left its stain in the lighter colored plastic. The pen fills well. The gold-filled cap polished up very well, and while the blemishes are apparent, they are not disfiguring. The cap holds firmly but turns freely. Additionally, the cap has a professionally executed personalization, initials LGS separated by dots. The 1953 Octanium nib, probably from a later MKIII pen, writes a fast smooth fine. This is a perfect “first” 51, a great writer, will last forever with daily use, and is unusually affordable.
Price: $70 Sold