Most Beautiful Pen Is...

[Brian C]

Danitrio, Nakaya, Platinum, Pilot listen up! The most beautiful pen was created in 1939 by some uptight American working for the Parker company. That's right, like many that have come before me I have discovered the wonder known as the Parker "51". I love this pen!

Edited October 29, 2010 by heraclitus682

[Federerfan]

Danitrio, Nakaya, Platinum, Pilot listen up! The most beautiful/zen pen was created in 1939 by some uptight American working for the Parker company. That's right, like many that have come before me I have discovered the wonder known as the Parker "51". I love this pen!

 

 

I couldn't agree more. I received my first "51" about a month ago after acquiring it on ebay. I can't wait to get another. I will tell you that the Hero 100 is very good alternative for everyday use. I bought one at www.isellpens.com, a great merchant and supporter of FPN.

[zenshrink]

This is my own bias but as Zen Buddhism is my religion, I have a reaction when it is invoked merely as an aesthetic.

 

I'm sure this wasn't done on purpose and I understand what you mean.

 

Zen means meditation in Japanese.

 

Shibui is a quality of quiet stillness.

 

Wabi/sabi are terms denoting an aesthetic of simplicity and "poverty."

 

Just a clarification.

[Brian C]

I apologize. My original post has been edited.

[zenshrink]

Thank you. No apology needed. Had a bad day. Meant it more as a bit of education. I appreciate your kindness. Fountain pen collectors are nice people.

[goodguy]

Not really sure if beautiful is the right way to describe the P51.

I think classic is a better description.

The P51 has a very clean efficient design that inspired many designers.

Beautiful pen?

I think Montblanc Peter The Great is more suited to the criteria of a beautiful pen.

 

By the way as much as I respect the P51 classic design I think the Montblanc 149 is the classiest pen ever designed but thats my taste.

[voop]

Thank you. No apology needed. Had a bad day. Meant it more as a bit of education. I appreciate your kindness. Fountain pen collectors are nice people.

 

Zen is a term which, in the west, is generally abused to mean either simply "Japanese" or "minimalistic, pure and uncluttered style". I gave up trying to educate folks on the correct use a decade ago, recognizing that it was a lost cause....

 

But, in the vein of what the original poster meant, I think that the Pilot M90 is a serious contender to the Pilot 51 in the "minimalistic, pure and uncluttered style"-category, even coming out ahead. They are also both excellent writers

 

But the most beautiful? No, I am not sure that "minimalistic, pure and uncluttered style" equates "most beautiful". There are many many pens as beautiful, albeit in different ways.

[bassopotamus]

I don't know about beautiful, but I'll be darned if it isn't about the most functional. Nice writers, good feel, and I left one uncapped for 10 minutes during a meeting, and it started right back up with out even a little hesitation.

[Parse Error]

it's a classic, but now it's trite.

[penrivers]

Right on, for me beauty is function,more than form. But Parker 51 has the pretiness of both requirements.

I have 3, a grey , a cordovan and this one I have in front of me, black barrel, gold cap, over my desk.

Whenever I see at it I feel uneasy, I mean I dont deserve this wonderful machine. Greetings. This is an answer to Bassopotamus.

Edited October 29, 2010 by penrivers

[freewheelingvagabond]

Parker 51 is most functional, and looks classy. Beautiful? Not sure.

I tend to think of Delta Dolce Vita over size.

[Bo Bo Olson]

A classic can never be trite, be it the 1959 Ford Galaxy, a P-51 air plane, or the P-51 pen.

 

Seeing the Sheaffer New Balance from 1931 is still in production...well a clone variation, called the MB 146-149, you have to have the New Balance in you beautiful pens.

 

I like the classic Parker -75 as most beautiful...in that I bought it over a Snorkel in 1970.

Back when I was a kid in the 50-60's, the Snorkel was The Pen, the P-51 second....as Adult's pen...grail for a 10 year old....still have not got one.

[Fuddlestack]

it's a classic, but now it's trite.

 

Certainly, in the manner that Shakespeare is full of clichés.

[Silvermink]

At the risk of being lynched, I find the Lamy 2000's design more timeless than the 51's. I think the 51's locates it pretty definitely in time, and it doesn't look "modern" to me, really.

 

I kinda wish the 51 was of a size to work for me, but I might be buying a 100 next month.

Edited October 29, 2010 by Silvermink

[Parse Error]

it's a classic, but now it's trite.

 

Certainly, in the manner that Shakespeare is full of clichés.

I don't particularly like Shakespeare either. =P

[penrivers]

A classic can never be trite, be it the 1959 Ford Galaxy, a P-51 air plane, or the P-51 pen.

 

Seeing the Sheaffer New Balance from 1931 is still in production...well a clone variation, called the MB 146-149, you have to have the New Balance in you beautiful pens.

 

I like the classic Parker -75 as most beautiful...in that I bought it over a Snorkel in 1970.

Back when I was a kid in the 50-60's, the Snorkel was The Pen, the P-51 second....as Adult's pen...grail for a 10 year old....still have not got one.

Talkin about Sheaffers classics, maybe I am wrong but I always tought that Targas were out of production many years ago, like the Esterbrooks, but last week checking Montgomery pens I saw Targas sets been selled, I think probably

they are NOS or hopfully they are in production again.

[ethernautrix]

I know Nakaya. Nakaya is my favorite pen. Parker 51, sir, is no Nakaya.

 

 

Off whom am I riffing? Anyone? Anyone?

 

Seriously, though, I have Parker 51s, and they are darned good pens. Definitely a classic model.

 

Parker 51 is utilitarian beauty while Nakaya is (how to put this? it's hard to find the words...) utilitarian and aesthetic beauty. It's clumsy wording, I know, but it's late and I'm starting to shut down....

 

But! To each his own. Carry on!

[Tsujigiri]

I know Nakaya. Nakaya is my favorite pen. Parker 51, sir, is no Nakaya.

 

Haha, couldn't agree more. "Beautiful" is one of the worst words I can think of to describe the 51, and it's not really comparable to the other brands listed. I think my Lamy 2000 is a great pen, but I'm not delusional enough to claim that it's beatiful. Elegant and effective, but not beautiful.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Geha 725 Goldschwing, (Gold Wing) '68-72. Then DM 395 or 100 silver dollars (1 oz silver per dollar)...What's silver now? $24 an oz?

 

It is the most beautiful pen I own, perfect balance, semi-flex B nib. Rolled gold trimming.

 

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/Goldschwingnib-2.jpg

 

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/2003g.jpg

 

Mine is the black and gold pen, but it comes with a rolled gold cap too.

 

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/Goldschwingnib-1.jpg

 

It is the battling for second place by me as best pen. The MB 234 1/2 Deluxe (52-55 only) whose looks I've come to love, has a KOB nib....and I'm into the '50's semi-flex obliques...

I got to get this 725 in oblique and who knows the battle may go to the Geha. If so, then the rolled gold cap.

 

It will help if you increase your screen size...I obviously screwed up somewhere along the line.

Edited October 29, 2010 by Bo Bo Olson

[Brian C]

To continue my praise of this wonderful pen I will now write something I doubt anyone will believe, but it's true. I left two 51's uncapped all night. One was bone dry as expected. ONE STARTED RIGHT UP!