Parker 51 Vs. Parker 61

[classenigma]

http://file.vintageadbrowser.com/ugl8vh8fsq9psj.jpg

 

http://myoldadz.com/images/carlsandburgparkerpens19570921.jpg

 

http://myoldadz.com/images/dorisdayparkerpen19571026.jpg

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7204/7120194035_a5c47f351e.jpg

 

Herbert Hoover/Carl Sandburg/Doris Day/Bob Hope

Edited February 28, 2013 by classenigma

[ps4ever]

It certainly didn't eclipse it. The 51, as has been said so often, was probably the best fountain pen ever made, or one of them. The 61 was a nice idea, and actually works extremely well. But it doesn't stand up well to abuse. For the careful user, who keeps it filled, handles it carefully, and follows the instructions provided by Parker (speaking here of the capillary filler), the pen works very well and does exactly what it is supposed to do, and does it exceedingly well. When the user deviates from this pattern however, problems ensue, and those are what you here about. My 61 set is my favorite pen as well as mechanical pencil. Both operate fantastic. But that is because I got a NOS set, knew about the problems with the 61, and followed the instructions for the pen. But when consumer products are evaluated, part of the credit is assign to how well they hold up when the user isn't as careful with it as should be, or doesn't follow instructions properly. As far as that goes, the 61 was too fragile. The capillary system, however, is almost ideal for a daily use pen. It is neat and clean, and has no moving parts to wear out. It was really a better pen than the Snorkel in the no-mess filling competition, but the 61 ended up with the bad reputation.

[pajaro]

"Eclipsed" is a word that makes a big statement. Having, in the opinion of some, a better nib than the Parker 51 does not mean the 61 eclipsed the 51.

 

No pen Parker has made since the 51 has eclipsed the 51. Or come close. Parker could with reasonable sincerity advertise the 51 as "the world's most wanted pen." Never true of the 61, or the 75, or the Sonnet, or the current version of the Duofold. As Tony Fischier explains on parkerpens.net, one reason why Parker developed the 75 was that the 61 was a disappointment in the marketplace after the 51.

 

The 51 was a well-designed and well-made pen, but its desirability arose from more than that. It stood in the public mind for American know-how and an open and strong social system and above all it stood for the America that played such a large part in winning World War II. The good America. The 61's years of production were 1958-83. Not the same perception of America, or of fountain pens, during those years. (And I speak as one who was an adult when the 61 was introduced.)

 

After reading this again, I have to say I like it better each time I read it. It gets right to the heart of the matter.

 

I have tried many pens, thinking sometimes, that some of them might eclipse the 51. It has never happened in my experience, but I have found a couple of pens that were almost as good as a 51, but they fall down in some way, large or small.

[Flounder]

Duh-doy!!

 

The 61 has a cool little arrow pointing out the nib orientation! It's all like, "Oh, this is IT! We're getting things DONE right here!".

[Chouffleur]

Duh-doy!!

 

The 61 has a cool little arrow pointing out the nib orientation! It's all like, "Oh, this is IT! We're getting things DONE right here!".

The "cool little arrow" had a purpose. It let you know where the damn hidden nib is. My first (of two) 51s had the hood chipped away a bit in an "aftermarket" modification. By no means is this the only time I've seen the modification. So it may not "eclipse" the 51 but in this one area it is demonstrably "better". ;-)

[DustyR]

"Eclipsed" is a word that makes a big statement. Having, in the opinion of some, a better nib than the Parker 51 does not mean the 61 eclipsed the 51.

 

No pen Parker has made since the 51 has eclipsed the 51. Or come close. Parker could with reasonable sincerity advertise the 51 as "the world's most wanted pen." Never true of the 61, or the 75, or the Sonnet, or the current version of the Duofold. As Tony Fischier explains on parkerpens.net, one reason why Parker developed the 75 was that the 61 was a disappointment in the marketplace after the 51.

 

The 51 was a well-designed and well-made pen, but its desirability arose from more than that. It stood in the public mind for American know-how and an open and strong social system and above all it stood for the America that played such a large part in winning World War II. The good America. The 61's years of production were 1958-83. Not the same perception of America, or of fountain pens, during those years. (And I speak as one who was an adult when the 61 was introduced.)

 

Most of the things we buy, collect and use are embedded in webs of history and social relations. To miss that context means missing an important piece of what makes them what they are. This was a great post, and I'm glad to find it now, even if I'm a little late... ;-)

 

Thanks.

Edited March 4, 2016 by DustyR

[pajaro]

Maybe the 51 set people's expectations so high that nothing could meet them. Really the 61 I have works pretty well, but the nib is too broad. The capillary filler works well. I write too slowly, and the ink blobs. Medium and broad nibs on 51s are collector's items to me. Ink blobs again.

[drsarmadqureshi]

Hello Every One

I am also a fountain pen enthusiast and a collector and have so far managed 30 fountain pens in my collection over the years. The problem in Pakistan is that you don't find pens other than Parker, Sheaffer and Cross at good stores. Waterman is available at a few places and I found Lamy Al Star and Pilot Metropolitan just accidentally. In expensive pens you can find Montblancs and that's all. No Sailors, Platinums, Diplomat, Lamy 2000, TWSBI, etc are available here.

Any ways, I have little story to tell. My mom gifted me a dark green barreled with a silver cap Parker 61 in 1987, which was gifted to her by her Dad back in 1958 when he returned from UK after completing his PhD. Unfortunately, he died in 1959, so my mom had a lot of emotional attachment to that pen. It reminded her of her Dad, and she presented me the pen when I joined one of the most prestigious institution in Lahore, Pakistan for medical studies.

I knew that how my mother feels about the pen, so I also made up my mind to keep that pen with me and gift it to my eldest kid when he or she grows up enough to understand its emotional value. However that did not happen as I lost that Parker 61 within 6 months, a mystery that remains unsolved in my mind as to how I could lose it as I did take a lot of care in keeping it safe. Any ways I was heartbroken on losing it and felt really guilty. I apologized to my mom for not being able to take care of the pen and moms as they always are, just hushed the matter with a wave of her arm and asked me not to think about it and to concentrate on my studies instead.

So life went on, I always had that guilt on my mind but then nothing could be done about it. Years went by and when I was able to earn a living for myself, I really wanted to get a Parker 61 and gift it to my mom, but as luck would have it I was never able to find a Parker 61 again anywhere in Pakistan, in all major cities. More time passed on, I got entangled in to my job and got married and had a family and burdened with more and more responsibilities, and I bought many pens but Parker 61 always eluded me. As time went on, my guilt lessened and I forgot about the Parker 61. My mom also passed away in 2017 and the chapter of Parker 61 ended with her.

However today, I went to a very old pen shop in a very old and traditional bazaar of Lahore for getting my Parker IM Insignia repaired, by the way this was the closest pen to a Parker 61 that I could find. So while I was talking to the guy in the shop, he suddenly brought a box out of some where and asked me to have a look. I looked inside and Lo and Behold, a Parker 61 was sitting inside the box in all its glory. He said that he showed me this pen because I looked like a pen enthusiast. I cant explain how I felt at that particular point, as it was a little too late for my Mom, but sight of this pen suddenly evoked the memories of all those years that were left behind. I simply asked him the price and got it.

[Matlock]

Lovely story with a happy, if poignant, ending.

[drsarmadqureshi]

Thanks Matlock. Cheers

[CS388]

Pleased you got your 61 back (so to speak). Great story. Thanks.

 

Had a couple of 61's over the years. I found it difficult to take plastic pens seriously, after the Lucite of the 51's.

I know it shouldn't reallly make much difference, it's just an outer casing, but, to me it's a different ball game.

[mitto]

Hello Every One

I am also a fountain pen enthusiast and a collector and have so far managed 30 fountain pens in my collection over the years. The problem in Pakistan is that you don't find pens other than Parker, Sheaffer and Cross at good stores. Waterman is available at a few places and I found Lamy Al Star and Pilot Metropolitan just accidentally. In expensive pens you can find Montblancs and that's all. No Sailors, Platinums, Diplomat, Lamy 2000, TWSBI, etc are available here.

Any ways, I have little story to tell. My mom gifted me a dark green barreled with a silver cap Parker 61 in 1987, which was gifted to her by her Dad back in 1958 when he returned from UK after completing his PhD. Unfortunately, he died in 1959, so my mom had a lot of emotional attachment to that pen. It reminded her of her Dad, and she presented me the pen when I joined one of the most prestigious institution in Lahore, Pakistan for medical studies.

I knew that how my mother feels about the pen, so I also made up my mind to keep that pen with me and gift it to my eldest kid when he or she grows up enough to understand its emotional value. However that did not happen as I lost that Parker 61 within 6 months, a mystery that remains unsolved in my mind as to how I could lose it as I did take a lot of care in keeping it safe. Any ways I was heartbroken on losing it and felt really guilty. I apologized to my mom for not being able to take care of the pen and moms as they always are, just hushed the matter with a wave of her arm and asked me not to think about it and to concentrate on my studies instead.

So life went on, I always had that guilt on my mind but then nothing could be done about it. Years went by and when I was able to earn a living for myself, I really wanted to get a Parker 61 and gift it to my mom, but as luck would have it I was never able to find a Parker 61 again anywhere in Pakistan, in all major cities. More time passed on, I got entangled in to my job and got married and had a family and burdened with more and more responsibilities, and I bought many pens but Parker 61 always eluded me. As time went on, my guilt lessened and I forgot about the Parker 61. My mom also passed away in 2017 and the chapter of Parker 61 ended with her.

However today, I went to a very old pen shop in a very old and traditional bazaar of Lahore for getting my Parker IM Insignia repaired, by the way this was the closest pen to a Parker 61 that I could find. So while I was talking to the guy in the shop, he suddenly brought a box out of some where and asked me to have a look. I looked inside and Lo and Behold, a Parker 61 was sitting inside the box in all its glory. He said that he showed me this pen because I looked like a pen enthusiast. I cant explain how I felt at that particular point, as it was a little too late for my Mom, but sight of this pen suddenly evoked the memories of all those years that were left behind. I simply asked him the price and got it. parker 61.jpg

Interesting story, Dr. Sahib. Was the repair shop in Anarkali in Lahore? And, to be exact, was it 'Life Pen Company?

[drsarmadqureshi]

Absolutely correct.

Since you are into pens, what other shops have you seen in Lahore or any other city where you can find good pens other than Parkers, Sheaffers Cross or Watermans ?

I mean I would like a Pelikan or a Diplomat or a Sailor in my collection but buying it from online retailers costs double.

Edited February 28, 2019 by drsarmadqureshi

[drsarmadqureshi]

Pleased you got your 61 back (so to speak). Great story. Thanks.

 

Had a couple of 61's over the years. I found it difficult to take plastic pens seriously, after the Lucite of the 51's.

I know it shouldn't reallly make much difference, it's just an outer casing, but, to me it's a different ball game.

 

Thanks for liking the story. Cheers

[mitto]

Absolutely correct.

And Mr Hasnain was the person who sold you the pen? The 61? Am I correct?

Edited February 28, 2019 by mitto

[mitto]

Absolutely correct.

Since you are into pens, what other shops have you seen in Lahore or any other city where you can find good pens other than Parkers, Sheaffers Cross or Watermans ?

I mean I would like a Pelikan or a Diplomat or a Sailor in my collection but buying it from online retailers costs double.

What other brand/make pens would you like to have, Dr. Sahib? I have also pmed you, Dr. Sahib.

 

PS.

I am sorry I couldn't read your post to the end. But I can say you can find all the pens that you mentioned while in Pakistan. Both used as well new.

Edited February 28, 2019 by mitto

[Driften]

Hello Every One

....

 

 

Thanks for the story. It might not be the same pen, but it will bring back memories of your parents every time you use it. Congrats on finding a 61 that can bring the memories back...

[Glenn-SC]

Had Parker used the same plastic as Sheaffers, we might have a different view of the 61.

 

And had Sheaffer used the same plastic as Parker used on the "51s" we might have a different view of the of the Balance IIs in the 90s.

[Glenn-SC]

The 51 was a well-designed and well-made pen, but its desirability arose from more than that. It stood in the public mind for American know-how and an open and strong social system and above all it stood for the America that played such a large part in winning World War II. The good America. The 61's years of production were 1958-83. Not the same perception of America, or of fountain pens, during those years. (And I speak as one who was an adult when the 61 was introduced.)

 

I never heard any of the "American know-how and an open and strong social system" or "America's part in WWII" as the reason for the "51s" popularity.

And since the "51" came out prior to WWII I would doubt that premise. And Waterman and Sheaffers could easily make the very same claims.

[drsarmadqureshi]

 

 

Thanks for the story. It might not be the same pen, but it will bring back memories of your parents every time you use it. Congrats on finding a 61 that can bring the memories back...

 

Thanks a lot. You are absolutely correct.