Parker 51 disappointment

[Kevan]

3 Esterbrooks, an old Sheaffer snorkel, an assortment of Heroes and Wing Sungs, Jinhaos, Moneteverde Prima, 3 Pilot 78G's, a Pilot Knight, Noodler's Flex and Ahab, 2 Kaigelus, a Baoer, an assortment of Dukes, a TWSBI 540, a Dollar Piston Filler, 2 bespoke Ranga eyedroppers. Oh, and a Sailor 1911.

Writing quality wise (not construction) The Parker 51 is smooth, but not amazing. I've had Heroes and the Dollar and the Pilot Knight all write as good. If there is a difference with the Parker, it's negligible. It is my honest opinion that Parker 51's have inflated reputations because they are vintage and go for premiums on Ebay.

[Kevan]

Kevan is now in big trouble with Brian! Quick, run.

Ask me if I care. One thing I would genuinely like to see is a blind-test of a Parker 51 vs. anything else among a group of non-FP connoisseurs. It's a good pen no doubt, but worth the premium price? Not in my opinion.

[jkingrph]

I probably have 12-15 Parker 51's and they all write good. One was my fathers and is over 50 years old, and has never been worked on, still draws up ink and writes good. Before I got back into fountain pens it along with a Shaeffer lifetime cartridge pen I got back in the mid '60's would often stay dry for 8-10 years at a time then ink them up and they would write as if new.

[Legion]

Ask me if I care. One thing I would genuinely like to see is a blind-test of a Parker 51 vs. anything else among a group of non-FP connoisseurs. It's a good pen no doubt, but worth the premium price? Not in my opinion.

I like the way they write, but the thing I love, particularly the Aeromatics, is that they are bullet proof. If I find one in an antique store, or on ebay, chances are all it will need is a flush out and it will work fine. Most other vintage pens will probably need a service and some parts. And in Australia that will cost more than the pen.

[brianw]

From your post I see you are partial to exposed nib pens. I also have many exposed nib pens which I dearly love. The "51" is a utilitarian pen. A nib like a nail, still writing after 60 plus years. Not very expressive in nib styles unless you are lucky to get one in a stub or italic.

All the pens you have could easily write as well. The "51" was made as a "only pen" for a lot of people. I have had all of the pens you have listed above except for the 540. The chinese pens except for a Kaigelu have all failed. either in the tipping material giving away, leaking, or just falling apart after 2 or 3 years.

As for a premium. Yes they are not as "cheap" as they were a couple of years ago. But I did pick up a nice Gold capped 1947 pen and pencil set for 40.00 last week. (that was shipped) and it works perfectly

[Kevan]

I probably have 12-15 Parker 51's and they all write good. One was my fathers and is over 50 years old, and has never been worked on, still draws up ink and writes good. Before I got back into fountain pens it along with a Shaeffer lifetime cartridge pen I got back in the mid '60's would often stay dry for 8-10 years at a time then ink them up and they would write as if new.

But is it worth $90? That's a personal opinion that will differ among different people. I look at it like a Fatboy. I have a Fatboy. I like using it. But does it shave significant;y better than any razor I have? Significantly better than other Gillette adjustables? Not really. SO I don't think it's really worth the price it's going for now.

[Kevan]

From your post I see you are partial to exposed nib pens. I also have many exposed nib pens which I dearly love. The "51" is a utilitarian pen. A nib like a nail, still writing after 60 plus years. Not very expressive in nib styles unless you are lucky to get one in a stub or italic.

All the pens you have could easily write as well. The "51" was made as a "only pen" for a lot of people. I have had all of the pens you have listed above except for the 540. The chinese pens except for a Kaigelu have all failed. either in the tipping material giving away, leaking, or just falling apart after 2 or 3 years.

As for a premium. Yes they are not as "cheap" as they were a couple of years ago. But I did pick up a nice Gold capped 1947 pen and pencil set for 40.00 last week. (that was shipped) and it works perfectly

If I could find one for $40, I'd jump right on it.

[brianw]

Kevan check out this thread for some comparisons...http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/fo...t-pen-shootout

[Doc4]

... to be honest Parker 51's aren't amazing. They write well, but not significantly better than other pens I've used.

"Oh, wait until Brian sees this ..."

I would be interested to know the other pens you have used

"Yes! Come on Kevin, please say TWSBI ... please say TWSBI ..."

... an assortment of Heroes and Wing Sungs, Jinhaos, ... Noodler's Flex and Ahab, 2 Kaigelus, a TWSBI 540, ...

"muffled laughter".




Ah well, mileage is allowed to vary, and all that.

[Kevan]

Thanks for the link. Fortunately my experience with my Heroes is opposite to Henry's and yours. I have 3 616's, a 100, and a "Trek" (329?) A few of them are from 2009, the rest are from 2010/11. I haven't had a problem with any of them and the 616 is my daily pen, along with the Dollar. The filling systems are fine. Sure, they're light-feeling plastic construction but for under $5, I don't care. All of them are butter-smooth but the 616's are the best for me. For $5, it's great.

And I think that's the difference...they're cheap. So if they're crap, it doesn't really matter since I have backups. The most expensive one was the all-steel 100 at $30, and I bought that because it resembled a Parker ballpoint that my grandmother once owned.

I don't dislike the Parker 51. I was excited to write with it the first time because of its reputation. But when I did, I said "This really isn't any better than my 616." And I did a side-by-side. I couldn't detect much of a difference except the Hero's line was a bit fatter. YMMV I guess.

[Legion]

Thanks for the link. Fortunately my experience with my Heroes is opposite to Henry's and yours. I have 3 616's, a 100, and a "Trek" (329?) A few of them are from 2009, the rest are from 2010/11. I haven't had a problem with any of them and the 616 is my daily pen, along with the Dollar. The filling systems are fine. Sure, they're light-feeling plastic construction but for under $5, I don't care. All of them are butter-smooth but the 616's are the best for me. For $5, it's great.

And I think that's the difference...they're cheap. So if they're crap, it doesn't really matter since I have backups. The most expensive one was the all-steel 100 at $30, and I bought that because it resembled a Parker ballpoint that my grandmother once owned.

I don't dislike the Parker 51. I was excited to write with it the first time because of its reputation. But when I did, I said "This really isn't any better than my 616." And I did a side-by-side. I couldn't detect much of a difference except the Hero's line was a bit fatter. YMMV I guess.

The Hero's line was fatter than the Parker? That's unusual. All my Hero's have had very thin lines, I thought that was standard, and is one of the things I like about them (I have to write small in margins a bit).

The 616 is OK for the money. I use those at work where pens seem to disappear quite often. And I have the same metal 100 which you have, and that's the one I keep on my desk at home for writing small notes. I have to say though, I can tell a difference in the smoothness of my Parkers. They are the pens I will reach for when given a choice. And they always start immediately, even if unused for weeks. I can't always say that about the Chinese pens, which seem to dry out a lot faster. I'm not sure why.

[Kevan]

In my experience, Wing Sungs have thinner lines (more like that of a Parker 21) and Hero has a slightly fatter line, especially with Herbin or Diamine inks.

[oc_in_fw]

"Yes! Come on Kevin, please say TWSBI ... please say TWSBI ..."

Do you think Daniel Day Lewis would be the star in the Nib remake "There Will Be Blood II- TWSBI is better than the 51"?

(I am running and hiding now)

[brianw]

Do you think Daniel Day Lewis would be the star in the Nib remake "There Will Be Blood II- TWSBI is better than the 51"?

(I am running and hiding now)

This is definite proof that the heat in Texas addles the brain and causes hallucinations.

[mdevine]

I had misplaced my Parker 51 some time last year. I've been using a B&B LE for the most part since then.Saturday, I was cleaning out my walk in closet and found the Parker had fallen into an old shoe. I figured that I'd have to flush it out. I was pleasantly surprised that it wrote as if I had filled it with ink that morning. I've over a dozen fountain pens, most much more expensive than the 51, and it performs better than any of them. I haven't had any success with the cheap Chinese pens. I find that they leak and bleed at inorportune times.

Mike

[Jimmy James]

For sheer writing experience, give me the Triumph nib on a Sheaffer Snorkel over the 51 any day. I am convinced that as go vintage lovers, there are Parker 51 people and Sheaffer Snorkel people in much the same way there are Elvis people and Beatles people. I'm a Snorkel person.

There is a lot to be said for the 51. I own three (a vac Demi, an aerometric that was my first "real" pen and is about to be sold, and a 51 Special). I don't use them all that often.

[oc_in_fw]

This is definite proof that the heat in Texas addles the brain and causes hallucinations.

Oh, I would never say a TWSBI is better than a 51. The only thing I don't like is the hooded nib- but I have never heard anything bad about the writing quality. The TWSBI on the other hand...

[mdevine]

For sheer writing experience, give me the Triumph nib on a Sheaffer Snorkel over the 51 any day. I am convinced that as go vintage lovers, there are Parker 51 people and Sheaffer Snorkel people in much the same way there are Elvis people and Beatles people. I'm a Snorkel person.

There is a lot to be said for the 51. I own three (a vac Demi, an aerometric that was my first "real" pen and is about to be sold, and a 51 Special). I don't use them all that often.

I enjoy my Snorkel, and it was the best deal I ever made on a pen ($5 at a flea market, new in the original box). However, I find it finicky compared to the 51. Also, I have to fill it twice a day where the Parker lasts me two days on a fill.

Mike

[brianw]

Just like there are Ford lovers versus Chevy Lovers, there are the Shaeffer lovers and the Parker lovers. But those Pelikan people are just plain weird !

[oc_in_fw]

Just like there are Ford lovers versus Chevy Lovers, there are the Shaeffer lovers and the Parker lovers. But those Pelikan people are just plain weird !

Unfortunately, about the only Pelikan I can afford right now is Brilliant Black