Parker 51 - First Year?

[gweimer1]

I just got this one today. The imprint is nearly gone, but I believe this is a first year Parker 51 vac. I'll know more when I replace the diaphragm and take the hood apart to check the nib. The two things that make me think this is a first year pen is the aluminum barrel jewel, and the clip has the larger diamond, along with the reverse stamping of "Parker" visible under the clip.

 

What do the experts say?

 

 

[T1Love]

What's the filling mechanism look like?

[Ron Z]

The reverse stamping on the clip may or may not be found on the first year pens. The first year clutch goes all the way down to the inner cap. You'll also find the imprint on the end of the blind cap, with no imprint on the barrel. The filler is usually a Speedline filler, but sometimes that has been replaced.

[jdllizard]

I'm no help other than to say I'd love to find a double jeweled P51, from any year of production.

 

Beauty of a pen there Gary.

[gweimer1]

The clutch does go all the way into the cap. The filler has been replaced with a standard vacumatic filler, and the imprint on the blind cap is nearly gone.

[Florida Blue]

If there is an imprint (even if weak) on the blind cap then it should be a 1st year 51.

 

Aluminum jewels do appear on 1942 51s as well. Congrats!

[Venemo]

This pen is in remarkably good state, despite its age! Does the cap really not have any dents or scratches? It's awesome.

 

(My 51 also doesn't have a jewel at the end of the barrel, but mine's an aerometric filler from 1950.)

Edited October 2, 2015 by Venemo

[gweimer1]

The cap has a number of little dings in it, and initials engraved on the back. If you look closely, you can see them in the second picture.

 

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. Now comes the job of seeing how well I can purty this one up.

[OcalaFlGuy]

I'd like one just like that. Very nice Gary.

 

Good Luck on it being a FY.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[JotterAddict62]

Nice pen you have. Yours looks in better shape than the set I have. I had to replace the hood and barrel on mine. Went from a date code of 6 to 8. The caps on both pen and pencil ding/dent free.http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f239/Jotteraddict62/002_zpskctso2ov.jpg

[Ron Z]

If it had a date code of 6, the pen wasn't a first year pen, but just a double jewel pen, or at the very least it had a replacement barrel. First year was 1941. First year pens did not have the imprint or date code on the barrel, but on the blind cap just below the tassie. Later double jewel pens moved the imprint to the barrel below the clutch ring.

[JotterAddict62]

If it had a date code of 6, the pen wasn't a first year pen, but just a double jewel pen, or at the very least it had a replacement barrel. First year was 1941. First year pens did not have the imprint or date code on the barrel, but on the blind cap just below the tassie. Later double jewel pens moved the imprint to the barrel below the clutch ring.

I know that mine is not a first year set Ron.

[JotterAddict62]

Computer error

Edited October 2, 2015 by JotterAddict62

[Ron Z]

I know that mine is not a first year set Ron.

 

Sorry, I didn't gather that from your comment.

[JotterAddict62]

I just got this one today. The imprint is nearly gone, but I believe this is a first year Parker 51 vac. I'll know more when I replace the diaphragm and take the hood apart to check the nib. The two things that make me think this is a first year pen is the aluminum barrel jewel, and the clip has the larger diamond, along with the reverse stamping of "Parker" visible under the clip.

 

What do the experts say?

 

 

Sterling silver cap?

[gweimer1]

Yes, sterling silver.

[jinzo1988]

I realize I am crazy lucky at times. I have two of these - a his and hers set in black that are tastefully engraved with names. (I don't mind names, especially on a first year pen). Both are first year with clear blind cap imprints. They do have standard pearly plastic jewels rather than metal jewels. One has a sterling silver cap, the other has a coin silver cap.

 

Your pen is really NICE!!!

[JotterAddict62]

Yes, sterling silver.

Cool !!

I'm still on the lookout for one myself to match the SS pencil that I have.

[kirchh]

The jewel appears to be silver.

 

--Daniel

[gweimer1]

The jewel appears to be silver.

 

--Daniel

 

The blind cap jewel is aluminum, I believe. The cap jewel is plastic. Did they make silver jewels?