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Maccabee64 · Rookie

parker 51

watch_art · Seasoned

Well, I don't think they're a whole lot of awesome to look at, but that might be a plus to more conservative people. Personally, I really like a huge obnoxious giant nib to look at when i write. Looking at the pen is part of my fun. The nib though, while nothing to look at, is an AMAZING writing one. My 51 (a gift from another forumer) is a fantastic writer. It doesn't get much use, but it's a fantastic pen. When school starts I'll use it more for sure. The kids won't pay much attention to it.

Chthulhu · Rawr.

The P51 is a very clean design without a lot of unnecessary details tacked on, an excellent writer, very durable, and extremely reliable. It won't suit everyone's taste, naturally (no single pen will!), but it's certainly worth trying one if you get the chance.

Maccabee64 · Rookie

I see. I will pick one up for a reasonable price. I probably wont though. Firstly I am with watch art in that I really do not like the hooded nib. Secondly they are usually over $100 and i have better pens to save for than this one.

watch_art · Seasoned

eeehhh. You can find one for WAY less than $100. Mine was free for example. But $30-50 is normal from my searches on ebay. I was just trying to keep it below $25 which is asking too much... but if you were to find one with the nib you like (f/m/b) then you WOULD be happy with it as a comfortable writer. I'm just silly and picky. I like to look at stuff. I am an artist though...

Chthulhu · Rawr.

Maccabee64 wrote:

I see. I will pick one up for a reasonable price. I probably wont though. Firstly I am with watch art in that I really do not like the hooded nib. Secondly they are usually over $100 and i have better pens to save for than this one.

Note that I said "try," not "buy." If you can find your way to a pen show or other gathering of pen enthusiasts, there's bound to be a "51" you can examine.

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Maccabee64 · Rookie

not likely that i can get to either of those events, but i will attempt to buy one for a cheaper price once i get some money

-- Edited by Maccabee64 on Sunday 8th of August 2010 04:50:54 PM

Scrawler · Experienced

When I was a kid, the P51 was my sisters school pen. She was older than I, and I was jealous, because my uncle had sent it to her as a Christmas gift. He only sent me a Sheaffer. At school we had a status pecking order and the P51 was close to the top, just below Conway Stewarts. So I used her pen as dart and ruined it. I never thought about them much, until my daughter asked me to find her one for a 16th birthday gift. I managed to buy an almost pristine one from one of the pen boards and when I tried it, I fell in love. Hers was a 1957 Aerometric, but I was into older pens and wanted a vac. Then I was asked by a VIP to locate a Canadian made one as a birthday gift for another VIP. I did that and hugely overpaid on ebay for a 1946 Canadian made one. I was surprised that it came in full working condition. I had expected that I would have to get it fixed up. Then when I wrote with it, I found that I could not let it go. After that I got a US made one from 1947 with a medium gold nib. That one needed resaccing. Now I have two.

Markthetruck · Newbie

Sorry, I have over 20 51's. They are always in my roatation. I hold at least three pens for a week in my pocket and the 51 is a never fail pen. The design appears pedestrian enough. There is a reason for that. It is the original. IThe 51 was emulated by all manufacturers for generations thereafter. Many of us look at everyday objects, such as a telephone and have no question as to it's provenance. It just IS. An Iphone, a PC, a sofa. Ubiquitous and ordinary. The "51" is just such an article. It is a touchstone of design insofar as we see such an item and immediately know what it is and how it operates. If you cannot understand the affection many have for this pen, then you simply are without appreciation for the history and art of communication.