Saw your video. Bought the pen on eBay. Surprised at how much I like it. About 70 years old, restored. You're correct: "It just writes." Small, lightweight, and I have big hands. So that's a problem for me, but one I'm willing to accept. I got.the same model pencil and I'm glad I did. It's good to have an old fashioned mechanical pencil, though I still have difficulty getting the lead seated. Thanks for your work. It's proven very helpful to me.
No matter what the experts say for me it's simply the best. Been writing for me for over 40 years, daily with no fails (except if I forget to ink it, obviously). been everywhere, travels with me and always performs. I'm an architect and even use her to sketch, reverse writing give a extra fine line perfect for shading. I've got dozens of fountain pens but this is the one always with me, always inked.
@@jameskeener7251 Indeed. there are now some ways to convert the pen for converter use, but I keep mine original precisely because of the inking process, and let's be honest to keep it original. I have some other "Parker 51" Chinese made, Jinhao 911, 85, 86, Hongdian 901, and they all perform well and use the converter style filling. but I just can't stay away from my beloved Parker 51. It may seem that I'm a Parker fan, I'm not particularly, but my second choice always goes for my Parker 45 flighter, another wonder pen who is with me for more than 40 years, always writing, never let me down.
Parker 51 was also manufactured in Argentina by "Parker Argentina S.A." (Parque Patricios District) for many and many years. It was the same as the original but with legends in Spanish. Here, in Buenos Aires, the color "English green" was created,: deep green almost black. At first many pieces were imported from the USA but then everything was entirely manufactured in Argentina.
I have the same one in black. Got it from Dad. He got it from his parents before going to Vietnam for the war. After 50 years unused I rinsed it out and it's perfect
Thank you! This is probably the most-recognized and well-known of all vintage fountain pens. I own several, and I love them all. A few years ago, Her Majesty the late Queen was seen on TV news signing official documents. The vintage fountain pen folks went crazy when you could see it was a vintage Parker “51” she was using! There is simply no substitute for quality.
Good, straight to the point review of an outright classic. This is indeed the Parker 51 ‘Special’; the only 51 with a steel nib as far as I know. The others are all 14k. I have one of these same Special 51 pens in slate grey with a gold filled cap. It’s true these are absolutely dependable, durable pens that write first time every time. The steel nib on this pen is very smooth and pleasurable to use. And I think the 51 has an obviously understated but quite undeniable beauty of its own.
I think at some point after someone has bought all the cool modern & appealing looking pens, a Parker 51 is a must. It looks good enough but performs 100% of the time. Something that can't be said for new modern pens. Everyone needs a very dependable pen & this one is that for sure.
@@Doodlebud ...I agree to the tee. I have very many modern, pricey, stylish and frankly, excellent pens that are arguably worth the price I paid for them. But many expensive pens can occasionally be let-downs, too. A pen must write well and reliably all the time. That’s non-negotiable at any price point But I also have a fondness for old, vintage classics like these. I have several old/vintage Aurora and Sheaffer pens that are my pride and joy, still. If you haven’t already done so, I reckon you’d also like and enjoy the Parker 45, 65, and 75. Also, the Parker 21, an uncannily similar looking to the Parker 51, but of slightly inferior overall build quality, less than half the price, but still a very dependable, decent daily carry and writing pen. Thanks for your brief, excellent review here.
I think it has beautiful styling and i like the snap caps more and more now. It would have been nice if you'd written in reverse but maybe another time 🙏🏻. Great review as always! 👍🏻😊
Looks like a Standard Mk1. The 'Special' had a hoop filler and an Octanium nib. However, over the years parts, which are interchangeable across a number of models, were swapped around. So it is quite possible to have a Mk1 body with a 'Special" nib. Similarly you cannot be sure that the cap is original to this pen. All that said, none of it matters because they are great pens!
Have to look around online to find a vintage one for sale. Very common pen so some stores that sell vintage pens carry them, ebay, pen meets, etsy, forums, etc
Parker’s octanium: probably -mostly made of stainless steel- is just stainless steel (and there you already have what, 3 to 5 or so different metals from iron over chromium and nickel to molybdenum), and trace amounts of other metals to get to 8…😜😂 According to the website parker75 it’s 40% cobalt, 20% chromium, 15% nickel, 15% iron, 7% molybdenum, 2% manganese, 0.15% carbon (not a metal…), and 0.04% beryllium…
I don't have enough knowledge to know the different between US & UK pens (and if there is one). The teal blue color can show up different depending upon my camera/screen VS your screen you're viewing with. I try to make it look accurate on my end, but depending on the auto adjust the camera on my phone does it changes. The only way to have an accurate talk about color is with calibrated 6K viewing booth and/or a spectrophotometer (not easy). I used to work in the pre-press printing industry and lengthy conversations have been had about "color."
@@dzunglv Parker 51 was also manufactured in Argentina by "Parker Argentina S.A." for many years. It was the same as the original but with legends in Spanish. Here, in Buenos Aires, the color "English green" was created, deep green almost black. At first many pieces were imported from the USA but then everything was entirely manufactured in Argentina.
I could be wrong I believe special referred to the composition of the nib materials. Don't think I've heard of a Parker 51 standard before... Curious 🤔
I agree; all my Specials also bore the word "special" on the filler. There were some limited number of Specials produced at the very end of the Special model production which were fitted with gold nibs, because the factory had run out of the steel alloy nibs.
It is a standard. Someone swapped either the point or the sac guard/filler unit. Have to see the feed and breather tube inside, and also the cap end jewel.
Saw your video. Bought the pen on eBay. Surprised at how much I like it. About 70 years old, restored. You're correct: "It just writes." Small, lightweight, and I have big hands. So that's a problem for me, but one I'm willing to accept. I got.the same model pencil and I'm glad I did. It's good to have an old fashioned mechanical pencil, though I still have difficulty getting the lead seated. Thanks for your work. It's proven very helpful to me.
No matter what the experts say for me it's simply the best. Been writing for me for over 40 years, daily with no fails (except if I forget to ink it, obviously). been everywhere, travels with me and always performs. I'm an architect and even use her to sketch, reverse writing give a extra fine line perfect for shading. I've got dozens of fountain pens but this is the one always with me, always inked.
So long as there is one drop of ink in the pen, it will come out the nib perfectly. It just flat out works
I am enamored of the inking process. It is by far the easiest to use of any I've found. Squish, squish. And it's done.
@@jameskeener7251 Indeed. there are now some ways to convert the pen for converter use, but I keep mine original precisely because of the inking process, and let's be honest to keep it original. I have some other "Parker 51" Chinese made, Jinhao 911, 85, 86, Hongdian 901, and they all perform well and use the converter style filling. but I just can't stay away from my beloved Parker 51. It may seem that I'm a Parker fan, I'm not particularly, but my second choice always goes for my Parker 45 flighter, another wonder pen who is with me for more than 40 years, always writing, never let me down.
Parker 51 was also manufactured in Argentina by "Parker Argentina S.A." (Parque Patricios District) for many and many years. It was the same as the original but with legends in Spanish. Here, in Buenos Aires, the color "English green" was created,: deep green almost black. At first many pieces were imported from the USA but then everything was entirely manufactured in Argentina.
Argentinian Parker 51 and 61 pens are wonderfully made. Very subtle differences in manufacture. I have a number of these magnificent pens.
I have the same one in black. Got it from Dad. He got it from his parents before going to Vietnam for the war. After 50 years unused I rinsed it out and it's perfect
Thank you! This is probably the most-recognized and well-known of all vintage fountain pens. I own several, and I love them all. A few years ago, Her Majesty the late Queen was seen on TV news signing official documents. The vintage fountain pen folks went crazy when you could see it was a vintage Parker “51” she was using! There is simply no substitute for quality.
Good, straight to the point review of an outright classic. This is indeed the Parker 51 ‘Special’; the only 51 with a steel nib as far as I know. The others are all 14k. I have one of these same Special 51 pens in slate grey with a gold filled cap. It’s true these are absolutely dependable, durable pens that write first time every time. The steel nib on this pen is very smooth and pleasurable to use. And I think the 51 has an obviously understated but quite undeniable beauty of its own.
I think at some point after someone has bought all the cool modern & appealing looking pens, a Parker 51 is a must. It looks good enough but performs 100% of the time. Something that can't be said for new modern pens. Everyone needs a very dependable pen & this one is that for sure.
@@Doodlebud ...I agree to the tee. I have very many modern, pricey, stylish and frankly, excellent pens that are arguably worth the price I paid for them. But many expensive pens can occasionally be let-downs, too. A pen must write well and reliably all the time. That’s non-negotiable at any price point
But I also have a fondness for old, vintage classics like these. I have several old/vintage Aurora and Sheaffer pens that are my pride and joy, still.
If you haven’t already done so, I reckon you’d also like and enjoy the Parker 45, 65, and 75. Also, the Parker 21, an uncannily similar looking to the Parker 51, but of slightly inferior overall build quality, less than half the price, but still a very dependable, decent daily carry and writing pen.
Thanks for your brief, excellent review here.
I think it has beautiful styling and i like the snap caps more and more now. It would have been nice if you'd written in reverse but maybe another time 🙏🏻. Great review as always! 👍🏻😊
Looks like a Standard Mk1. The 'Special' had a hoop filler and an Octanium nib. However, over the years parts, which are interchangeable across a number of models, were swapped around. So it is quite possible to have a Mk1 body with a 'Special" nib. Similarly you cannot be sure that the cap is original to this pen. All that said, none of it matters because they are great pens!
Thanks for the info. My knowledge of vintage pens is next to zero at best.
You're fine. Every one can't know everything.
It’s a wonderful pen. No doubt about it.
GOAT ♥
51 Forever
Good job please keep making
Thanks so much I really do appreciate the feedback!
This is most likely a mid 50s Parker 51 Standard. After 1960 the black end of the sac guard was gone. And on a 51 special the filler is different.
Where can i buy one?
Have to look around online to find a vintage one for sale. Very common pen so some stores that sell vintage pens carry them, ebay, pen meets, etsy, forums, etc
@@Doodlebud I already searched on those you mentioned but no result.Thanks for your feedback.
Parker’s octanium: probably -mostly made of stainless steel- is just stainless steel (and there you already have what, 3 to 5 or so different metals from iron over chromium and nickel to molybdenum), and trace amounts of other metals to get to 8…😜😂
According to the website parker75 it’s 40% cobalt, 20% chromium, 15% nickel, 15% iron, 7% molybdenum, 2% manganese, 0.15% carbon (not a metal…), and 0.04% beryllium…
Ike used this model to sign agreement to end WW2
Is this made in USA or UK. Do you think Teal blue USA version has different color with the UK version?
I don't have enough knowledge to know the different between US & UK pens (and if there is one). The teal blue color can show up different depending upon my camera/screen VS your screen you're viewing with. I try to make it look accurate on my end, but depending on the auto adjust the camera on my phone does it changes. The only way to have an accurate talk about color is with calibrated 6K viewing booth and/or a spectrophotometer (not easy). I used to work in the pre-press printing industry and lengthy conversations have been had about "color."
@@Doodlebud I see. Thanks for your informative answer. It is very very clear!
@@dzunglv Parker 51 was also manufactured in Argentina by "Parker Argentina S.A." for many years. It was the same as the original but with legends in Spanish. Here, in Buenos Aires, the color "English green" was created, deep green almost black. At first many pieces were imported from the USA but then everything was entirely manufactured in Argentina.
Isn't that a standard 51? The Special had a squeeze bar at the end.
I could be wrong I believe special referred to the composition of the nib materials. Don't think I've heard of a Parker 51 standard before... Curious 🤔
I agree; all my Specials also bore the word "special" on the filler. There were some limited number of Specials produced at the very end of the Special model production which were fitted with gold nibs, because the factory had run out of the steel alloy nibs.
It is a standard. Someone swapped either the point or the sac guard/filler unit. Have to see the feed and breather tube inside, and also the cap end jewel.
How much does it cost in India...
I have no idea how much a thing costs in India. I'm sure if you look online you can find a price.
Thanks