Help An Amateur Pen Collector Identify Some Parker Pens...?

[theodore94]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm new to FPN and I'm definitely not a fountain pen expert. I prefer ballpoints (gasp) but I've had the good fortune of finding some Parker pens and I need help getting some information. I think their Parker 51's...? If you could provide any information as well as any advice for how to care for them, how to store them, etc. please let me know!

 

Thank you!

 

So here's Pen #1

Doesn't appear to be used; there's no ink inside the pen or anything.

Bought it for $38 at a flea market (hoping that was a good deal!)

 

 

Here's Pens #2-4

They have all been used before, but they still look really nice

I bought the red and the black from the same guy for $1 each (yard sale) and the blue one for $20 (flea market)

 

 

Right now I'm keeping them in a leather case originally intended for colored pencils (another yard sale find). Is that a good way to store them? Should I remove the ink when storing them?

 

Let me know if you need another camera angle to help me.

 

I love these pens and I'm so fortunate that I came across them. Great addition to my collection.

 

Thanks for your help!

[Tylerjordan]

First one is a Parker 45.

 

The last three all look like Parker 51 pens. The bottom two seem to be Demi models. Could possibly be a 51 Special or a 21 in there but it is hard to tell

because the clips aren't showing; the first might be a 21 since the clip looks like a flat clip from that angle. Are all the nibs gold? They might even have a number right on the cap or if you unscrew the back end there is possibly a PARKER 51 i.d. right on the filling mechanism.

Edited August 10, 2014 by Tylerjordan

[Chrissy]

I agree. 1st pen is a 45, other 3 look like 51 types, but we would need to see the clips and the filler units to confirm whether they are authentic Parker 51's

Edited August 10, 2014 by Chrissy

[Florida Blue]

The last three are all different versions of the Parker 21.

 

It's a little hard to tell from the pictures but I believe:

#1 & #3 are regular 21s (pictures of the clips would help to date them) and if pen #2 has a gold clip it is a 21 Super DeLuxe.

 

Yes, don't store pens with ink in them. When you are finished, flush them out, allow them to dry and then put them away until the next time you want to use them.

[bsenn]

I think the 3 pens are 21's. Unscrew the barrel, put the tip in an inch of water, and keep squeezing the bar and changing the water. Let soak overnight with the tip in an inch of water. Repeat until clean.

 

21s are decent pens if they aren't cracked.

 

For the 45, soak the tip also. If there is a converter inside (unscrew the barrel, is there something inside you can pump or turn?) do the same thing ad the 21, rinse and repeat.

 

Brian

[perth]

The last 3 aren't 51's, judging from the shape of the hood and nib.

[icardoth]

The last three are all different versions of the Parker 21.

 

 

+1

[theodore94]

Thanks for your help guys. I can try to take more pictures of the pen. Could you suggest what I should get a picture of in order to help you identify them? Keep in mind I'm new and I don't know really anything about pens.

 

Also does anyone know if I got a good deal? They're really nice but I want to know if I should buy others at the same price if I come across them again.

[Hooker56]

+1 on the 21's. They all look to be in great shape. Great price on the 21's a little below market on the 45.

 

Great finds Theodore!

 

Welcome to FPN

Clayton

[Mike 59]

Hi theodore94, If you think that you won't be using a pen say, at least once in a couple of weeks, then probably better to not leave ink in it.

Pens like these do need to be used often to work at their best, the hooded nib designs were made like that to stop the nib drying out if unused, but even these have a limit.

To identify your pens, it would be useful to have views of the clips on the caps, and also views of the printing/stamping on the filler section inside the barrel.

For instance, there will normally be the model number and some filling instructions on the metal filler. This varies amongst models and years of manufacture, and will give clues to the years that yours were made.

The blue '45' in the box will take the modern Parker Quink cartridges, or the metal 'squeeze' filler that you have, ( a cartridge converter or 'CC') to use ink from a bottle.

With all of these pens you need to use only ink designed 'For fountain pens', and water will clean the ink out of them.

If you don't have any ink, then any of the popular office suppliers will stock Waterman inks, Parker Quink, Pelikan and Cross inks, at least, any of these will work well.

One common type of ink to avoid is 'India ink', it's useful ink in artwork and the pens designed for it, but it will dry out inside the feed in your Parker pens, and would be very difficult to clean.

Cartridges are easy and quick to change, but are far more expensive to buy, (per ml ), whereas bottled ink works out cheaper in the long run. If you get into using these pens often, you will find that a bottle will not last as long as you thought it might !

Many more brands of ink, and colours, are available, some only from online dealers.

Edited August 11, 2014 by Mike 59

[theodore94]

Okay. I took some more pictures.... maybe this will help us.

 

Pen #1

 

 

Pen #2

 

 

Pen #3

 

 

Pen #4

 

 

 

(BTW the pictures make it look like the pens are cracked but they're not! They're in really nice condition and #1 is probably new.)

 

Thanks everyone!

 

[theodore94]

Okay I just tried cleaning the pens with the instructions provided by bsenn. The tips are currently soaking in a cup with about one inch of water in it.

 

The red and black pens both cleaned up nicely. The blue pen's pouch is still pretty black. Any ideas on how to clean it better?

 

Also, I was wondering how you guys can tell the difference between Parker pens. I go to a lot of yard sales and flea markets looking for pens and I wanted to know if there was anywhere I could learn to identify / lookup pens as I find them?

 

Thanks again.

[Florida Blue]

I believe pen #2 is a 21 Super, pen #3 is a 21 DeLuxe (because it has a gold plated clip) and pen #4 is a 21 Mk 1 version.

 

Once the pli-glass sac is stained with ink there is really no way to get it clear again.

 

Parkerpens.net is a really great source to identify Parker pens.

[theodore94]

Just took a look at Parkerpens.net... really cool site. I will definitely use it to identify future yard sale finds!

 

Do you have any idea on the age range? what defines the model? the value of each model? Thanks again for all your help.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Congrats!

 

I haz a jealous.

[Florida Blue]

 

Do you have any idea on the age range? what defines the model? the value of each model? Thanks again for all your help.

 

The 21s are probably all from the 1950s. To figure out model differences and value you need to read up on FPN and different sites around the web. Little things like clips, cap jewels, filler sleeves (the metal cage around the sac) can determine model and age. There were several versions of the 21. The 45 stayed about the same throughout it's 40+ year production run, but there are small differences that can determine age.

 

Looking at sold eBay listings and the FPN classifieds can assist in determining value.

[theodore94]

Florida Blue, thank you for all your help. You're helping a new guy out.

 

Is there any reason for the vast differences in price? I went on eBay and looked up the pens. The 21's seem to be selling anywhere from $10 to $40 or $50. And the 45 seems to have about the same range. Can you explain the differences (i.e. what should I be looking for when buying similar pens?)

 

Thanks again!

[perth]

It's basically demand and the perception of how valuable a gold nib is. Even though there shouldn't really be a difference between gold and steel nibs in a hooded configuration, some people prefer having gold nibs anyways. Also, the 51 seems to have a better reputation due to its popularity.

 

I'm no expert, but there are many differences between 51-type pens. The Parkers that may be confused for them often include the 17, 21 and 61, which are wholly different models.

[Mike 59]

Another reason for the large range of prices asked for any brand of pen, is the condition they are sold in.

Some pens were given as presents many years ago and were never used, most pens are used, and so are slightly less valuable and some are sold as spares, due to damage.

Generally the commonly bought pens in any era will be the cheapest in the range, so there are more about, the 'deluxe' versions are rarer as fewer people would have bought them at that time.

But it doesn't follow that the cost makes any pen a better pen to write with, the cheapest can be, or with some know-how, can be made to be, as good as any other to write with.

Edited August 12, 2014 by Mike 59

[Florida Blue]

Florida Blue, thank you for all your help. You're helping a new guy out.

 

Is there any reason for the vast differences in price? I went on eBay and looked up the pens. The 21's seem to be selling anywhere from $10 to $40 or $50. And the 45 seems to have about the same range. Can you explain the differences (i.e. what should I be looking for when buying similar pens?)

 

Thanks again!

 

You're welcome

Prices vary depending on the type of pen and the condition. The regular 21s are known to crack pretty easily especially in the hood and those won't fetch much as a parts pen. 21 Supers are very good pens and much better quality (in terms of plastic and features like a collector and real hooded nib). They are as close to a 51 without buying a 51. Those pens are the ones that go for $40 or $50 in my experience.

 

For 45s, gold nibs (as perth stated) adds value and the Deluxe versions (as Mike 59) are a little more expensive than the plastic capped "Arrow" 45s. Unusual nibs like a broad, stub or oblique always adds a lot of value to a vintage pen.