Parker 51 VS Parker 45

[fpnnm]

May I inquire if you yourself have had a chance to compare the P45 to the P51?

 

Edit: the question for Mr leicamaster.

Edited September 30, 2009 by fpnnm

[Aysedasi]

An easier delineator might be - you are offered both pens in the same condition at the same price, which do you pick?

 

Would not be without one - what more would you want.

 

 

A P51 - every time!

[Ernst Bitterman]

An easier delineator might be - you are offered both pens in the same condition at the same price, which do you pick?

 

That's slightly disingenuous, since a 51 and a 45 in equivalent condition wouldn't come up at the same price: NOS 51 for $80 = GIMME! NOS 45 for $80 = Are you nuts?

 

If the price is an indicator of condition, tho', there's going to be some prices where you're going to get a much better pen in the 45 than a in the 51-- if you have $35 to spend, will you get a 45 or a 51 in better shape?

[leicamaster]

May I inquire if you yourself have had a chance to compare the P45 to the P51?

 

Edit: the question for Mr leicamaster.

 

 

Yes I already have a 45 and prefer the 51 by far!

[fpnnm]

Thank you for the reply. I think I agree about the 51. I would still say though, that for the usual price range of the 45 w/converter, it is a great bargain.

[MLKirk]

 

Yes I already have a 45 and prefer the 51 by far!

 

Nice thread. Good opinions. I prefer the 51 and nearly always have one inked up and available (favorite user is my Teal aerometric loaded with Waterman's South Sea Blue ). However, as stated many times, the 45 is much undervalued, underappreciated and neglected.....but it will have its day. There are quite a few styles to choose, some difficult to find.

 

A while back I passed up a 45 flighter set at an antique store. It's one of the few "Kick Myselfers" I passed up. Guess I was feeling a bit too haughty that day. I have a bunch of 45's but no flighter. Maybe I'll have to start putting one in the rotation.

 

On a different note, my Teal user has been a 51 Special for years but recently found a standard 51 in Teal. It has become my new user but don't know for how long. It's a '49 with the chrome plated sheath or sleeve; very susceptible to corrosion and plating separation which has begun.

[Ghost Writer]

Both of these models are fine pens. As already mentioned in the thread, there are certain aspects to each that make one more favorable to the other depending on what one's priorities are. Finding a nice example of either model should not break the bank and bodes well for owning both. However, in response to the orginal questions - if I could only own one then it would be the 51.

Edited October 1, 2009 by Ghost Writer

[leicamaster]

 

Yes I already have a 45 and prefer the 51 by far!

 

Nice thread. Good opinions. I prefer the 51 and nearly always have one inked up and available (favorite user is my Teal aerometric loaded with Waterman's South Sea Blue ). However, as stated many times, the 45 is much undervalued, underappreciated and neglected.....but it will have its day. There are quite a few styles to choose, some difficult to find.

 

A while back I passed up a 45 flighter set at an antique store. It's one of the few "Kick Myselfers" I passed up. Guess I was feeling a bit too haughty that day. I have a bunch of 45's but no flighter. Maybe I'll have to start putting one in the rotation.

 

On a different note, my Teal user has been a 51 Special for years but recently found a standard 51 in Teal. It has become my new user but don't know for how long. It's a '49 with the chrome plated sheath or sleeve; very susceptible to corrosion and plating separation which has begun.

 

My 51 is also Teal. Its a UK medium nib which is by far the smoothest nib I have ever tried. I have that one and a very very very fine nib P51 aeromatic. Its waaaay to fine for my liking so its in use with my moleskine. How do you know the difference from a special and a regular because the fine nib one has a nib which sticks out a bit more. I know the special had a steel nib but I cant really notice anything on this one.

[MLKirk]

On a different note, my Teal user has been a 51 Special for years but recently found a standard 51 in Teal. It has become my new user but don't know for how long. It's a '49 with the chrome plated sheath or sleeve; very susceptible to corrosion and plating separation which has begun.

 

My 51 is also Teal. Its a UK medium nib which is by far the smoothest nib I have ever tried. I have that one and a very very very fine nib P51 aeromatic. Its waaaay to fine for my liking so its in use with my moleskine. How do you know the difference from a special and a regular because the fine nib one has a nib which sticks out a bit more. I know the special had a steel nib but I cant really notice anything on this one.

 

I believe the Special was made in the USA but was not offered in the UK. It had an Octanium nib, an 8-metal alloy. The standard 51 had a gold nib. Here's a photo with the Special on the bottom. Note the filler differences, most obvious.

P-51 Special & Standard

Check out the other photo, which shows some of the diffences in the filler sheath imprint. Apologies for the dark color than the Teal should be. My camera is not color balanced and I was in a bit pressed for time.

Edited October 2, 2009 by MLKirk

[welch]

Consider the market and the competitors:

 

- the Parker 51 was the high-end pen, always intended to be the best of the Parkers, and was the world-champion pen from 1941 onward.

 

- Parker 45 was the mass-market "school pen". It's clever component design went into the great Parker 75.

 

A proper question would be:

 

- Parker 45 or Lamy Safari? I'd take the 45 any day. "Design has no calendar", said Dom Doman, who designed the 45 and 75. The 45 has a better shape, better grip, more sensible nib, section, and feed. The Safari handles like a post-modernist joke: over-long cap, finger-pinching grip, peculiar clip, section and nib sold as one unit, extra-price for a converter. The Safari is not bad, but the 45 had every Safari design idea, implemented the idea in a better way, and all in 1960.

 

- Parker 51 (restored) or Lamy 2000? Parker 51, of course.

 

 

On the other question: if you had $25 to spend, would you pick an eBay 45 or 51? Take two or three 45s. It is hard to make a 45 stop unless you flatten it with a hammer or toss it into a fire. That same $25 gets you a "P51 for parts".

[Glenn-SC]

- Parker 45 or Lamy Safari? I'd take the 45 any day. "Design has no calendar", said Dom Doman, who designed the 45 and 75. The 45 has a better shape, better grip, more sensible nib, section, and feed. The Safari handles like a post-modernist joke: over-long cap, finger-pinching grip, peculiar clip, section and nib sold as one unit, extra-price for a converter. The Safari is not bad, but the 45 had every Safari design idea, implemented the idea in a better way, and all in 1960.

I have never had a 45 write as well as a Safari.

45s are made of softer plastic that deforms and stains.

The Safari nibs replace faster that a 45 and can be had in more more flavors.

 

On the other question: if you had $25 to spend, would you pick an eBay 45 or 51?

I'd take the $6 "51" I got at an antique store.

If I couldn't find a $25 "51" I'd rather buy a pencil and save for a "51" I could afford.