I recently reacquainted myself with a 51 aerometric that my older sister bought for me second hand from a pawn shop to do my Leaving Certificate (Australia) in 1960. I recall I used it through university and only recently pulled it out of a 'miscellaneous' draw. It had scratches on the gold top - from a motor cycle accident in the 70 when it was in my shirt pocket- but after a decent flush, titworked well. It had the bottom of the barrel broken off, but I found a replacement so now I will disassemble it and give it a good reco, and it will be my go-to pen for as long as I work.
The P51 was an excellent design. The aerometrice still work without any maintenace/refurbishment and they are 60 plus years. Good nibs - nice and smoot, do not dry out even when left uncapped, No skipping, no hard starts, no drying out ALWAYS WORKS, almost indestructible. The 1/10 refers to the thickness of the 14k gold on the metal cap. The only thing they need is a nice clean out occasionally. It is a great starter pen if you want to get into vintage pens. I would recommend the aerometric first, as the vacumatics need sac replacements, and it is not a trivial task to get it fixed. The aerometrics use a plexiglass sac, that seems to work for ever.....
I love 51s. Mine is a refurbished "special", which means it is one of the less expensive models. It has an XF "octanium" (stainless steel) nib. That there was such a variety of them and that there are so many of them around still is testament to how well they were received. Remember, all fountain pens eventually become vintage. I received my first fountain pen as a gift in 1960 It would be classed as vintage now. I suppose it is as vintage as I am ;-) BTW it is a Parker 45 and still writes well.
Nice honest review. I had heard about and seen these pens for years and didn't quite get what the big deal was... Then I found the Chinese version - called a "Hero" - on Amazon for $6 and thought, what the heck, I'll try it out. ANYWAY, I fell in love with the way the pen feels in my hand, and that only increased the more I wrote with it. I was hooked! So last month, on my birthday, I went to a local pen show and bought a proper 1955 Parker 51. I can't put it down. It's the best qualities of the Chinese pen, but with a gold nib and MUCH nicer feel. I use it to write and draw with extensively (I'm an artist by profession). So, like you, I was kind of "underwhelmed" at first, but came to really appreciate the pen much later -- and more for tactile reasons than visual, although now I love the way they look too. Thanks for what you do -- your reviews are wonderful!
Nice review. Pen lovers should experience the classics. This pen was revolutionary when it was first introduced. Modern design for the 40's. The 1/10 12K is rolled gold or gold filled. This is better than plating as it is thicker, actually 1/10 of the thickness is 12k gold. If you want a rare color with a rare nib it will take some looking. The hunt will be worth it.
Nice review for the modern pen person. BTW: yours has what is called a "rolled gold" cap. "Functional" is a good way to describe it. It was developed when Fountain pen as practical/necessary tool was at its height. Considered by many as the ultimate user pen, even now. It is the only vintage pen that i always have one in my EDC, inked, along with a couple moderns. It and in a lesser number its predecessor, the Parker Vacumatic (celluloid pump filler, and perhaps among the top 5 prettiest vintage production pens) are my favorite vintage users. Uber reliable. Re the Parker 51 aerometric. Body is lucite, sac is "plyglass". You can still rinse out a flea market find 51, fill it and write with it, usually. The only moderns i trust to work as much as my 51's are my Lamy 2000, Pelikans, Pilots/Namikis and Sailor 1911's. Enjoy.
I think parker 51 are the best fountain pens that have ever been produced, the aerometric are practically bullet proof and the vacumatic are wonderful as well. I use both mine a lot.
The R Gold means rolled gold and the R Gold further means that the pen was made in UK/England and not in the USA. The USA pens are marked, in contrast, as Gold Filled (or just GF).
The dark blue aerometric filler with a gold-filled cap is kind of my ideal for this model of pen. I don't suppose your friend has another he'd be willing to part with?
They can be great daily users. Buying one on Ebay is tempting but you always run the risk of buying a pen for which there is nothing wrong, other than the fact that you simply do not like writing with it.
1/10 gf means the weight of cap is 1/10 12 k gold. Many vintage ie old pens havethat gf is the higher end. Plated or steel is the lower even if the actual pen is the same. Its interesting.
I recently reacquainted myself with a 51 aerometric that my older sister bought for me second hand from a pawn shop to do my Leaving Certificate (Australia) in 1960. I recall I used it through university and only recently pulled it out of a 'miscellaneous' draw. It had scratches on the gold top - from a motor cycle accident in the 70 when it was in my shirt pocket- but after a decent flush, titworked well. It had the bottom of the barrel broken off, but I found a replacement so now I will disassemble it and give it a good reco, and it will be my go-to pen for as long as I work.
The P51 was an excellent design. The aerometrice still work without any maintenace/refurbishment and they are 60 plus years. Good nibs - nice and smoot, do not dry out even when left uncapped, No skipping, no hard starts, no drying out ALWAYS WORKS, almost indestructible. The 1/10 refers to the thickness of the 14k gold on the metal cap. The only thing they need is a nice clean out occasionally. It is a great starter pen if you want to get into vintage pens. I would recommend the aerometric first, as the vacumatics need sac replacements, and it is not a trivial task to get it fixed. The aerometrics use a plexiglass sac, that seems to work for ever.....
I love 51s. Mine is a refurbished "special", which means it is one of the less expensive models. It has an XF "octanium" (stainless steel) nib.
That there was such a variety of them and that there are so many of them around still is testament to how well they were received.
Remember, all fountain pens eventually become vintage. I received my first fountain pen as a gift in 1960 It would be classed as vintage now. I suppose it is as vintage as I am ;-) BTW it is a Parker 45 and still writes well.
Nice honest review. I had heard about and seen these pens for years and didn't quite get what the big deal was... Then I found the Chinese version - called a "Hero" - on Amazon for $6 and thought, what the heck, I'll try it out. ANYWAY, I fell in love with the way the pen feels in my hand, and that only increased the more I wrote with it. I was hooked! So last month, on my birthday, I went to a local pen show and bought a proper 1955 Parker 51. I can't put it down. It's the best qualities of the Chinese pen, but with a gold nib and MUCH nicer feel. I use it to write and draw with extensively (I'm an artist by profession). So, like you, I was kind of "underwhelmed" at first, but came to really appreciate the pen much later -- and more for tactile reasons than visual, although now I love the way they look too. Thanks for what you do -- your reviews are wonderful!
+Anthony Zierhut thankyou, i'm glad you have found a good one to enjoy. I'm always impressed by people who can draw with fountain pens.
I came back to this because of all the (2021) over the new Parker 51. I love 51s and I wish you would make videos again. I really enjoy your insights.
Nice review. Pen lovers should experience the classics. This pen was revolutionary when it was first introduced. Modern design for the 40's. The 1/10 12K is rolled gold or gold filled. This is better than plating as it is thicker, actually 1/10 of the thickness is 12k gold. If you want a rare color with a rare nib it will take some looking. The hunt will be worth it.
+chrisrap52 thanks fr the additional info. I need to make a start to look
Nice review for the modern pen person. BTW: yours has what is called a "rolled gold" cap. "Functional" is a good way to describe it. It was developed when Fountain pen as practical/necessary tool was at its height. Considered by many as the ultimate user pen, even now. It is the only vintage pen that i always have one in my EDC, inked, along with a couple moderns.
It and in a lesser number its predecessor, the Parker Vacumatic (celluloid pump filler, and perhaps among the top 5 prettiest vintage production pens) are my favorite vintage users. Uber reliable.
Re the Parker 51 aerometric. Body is lucite, sac is "plyglass". You can still rinse out a flea market find 51, fill it and write with it, usually. The only moderns i trust to work as much as my 51's are my Lamy 2000, Pelikans, Pilots/Namikis and Sailor 1911's. Enjoy.
+jay moynihan thankyou for your great knowledge on these pens.
I think parker 51 are the best fountain pens that have ever been produced, the aerometric are practically bullet proof and the vacumatic are wonderful as well. I use both mine a lot.
Nice review. I love the Parker 51. My father had a couple, but have been lost over the years. I need to get one for my own use.
+Dave Horan Me too now.
I have two Parker 51's. I find them lovely pens to write with.
Great... Nice to move out of your comfort zone at times... Good that you didn't change your introduction
+Shub99 thankyou
Eversharp symphony is a beautiful elegant pen. You should try one of those if you like vintage
I just picked a 51 up in a charity shop in England for £30.
I love it.
The R Gold means rolled gold and the R Gold further means that the pen was made in UK/England and not in the USA. The USA pens are marked, in contrast, as Gold Filled (or just GF).
The dark blue aerometric filler with a gold-filled cap is kind of my ideal for this model of pen. I don't suppose your friend has another he'd be willing to part with?
My P51 is same with your type here, but if i write to left , ink is not flow good, what wrong?
They can be great daily users. Buying one on Ebay is tempting but you always run the risk of buying a pen for which there is nothing wrong, other than the fact that you simply do not like writing with it.
+David Durfee ive bought two others from ebay and had bad experiences unfortunately
Hello, do you know of an ink that is similar in color to your hair in this video? (mix of blue and purple) Thank you!
Love your channel. 🤗
Very nice review , thanks.
1/10 gf means the weight of cap is 1/10 12 k gold. Many vintage ie old pens havethat gf is the higher end. Plated or steel is the lower even if the actual pen is the same. Its interesting.
why they (Parker) don't produce new of this type of pen anymore!
I have two parkor 21
I love it ..
Some new pens will be Vintage one day
really nice pen, was thinking of getting one myself but way to expensive! have you dyed your hair? you look like a peacock
+Lesley smith201 There is definitely a peacock resemblance.
try a Parker 75!
+vinyljunkie64 I will have a look
good luck!
1/10 12k means by weight that part is 1/10 of the weight is 12k