Trying This 51 (And Variants Thereof) Thing Again

[Florida Blue]

I got the pen and it's really, really smooth, though I think the jewel is missing (it's got an indent in the end and a little hole), unless this cap style isn't supposed to have one.

That indent is the cap jewel

 

The 21 Supers never had the plastic jewels like the 51. They had either a convex or concave stainless steel jewel.

 

The 21 Super is a great pen and I feel like they are often undervalued and under-appraciated considering they were not too far from the quality of a 51. Enjoy! My 21 Super is also red.

[xwingrox]

The 21 Supers are great toss about pens. I think of them as akin to Lamy Safari's whereas the 51 would be more like a Lamy 2000. The 21S is more fragile too - I've cracked two hoods before just by accidentally over tightening.

[Silvermink]

That indent is the cap jewel

 

The 21 Supers never had the plastic jewels like the 51. They had either a convex or concave stainless steel jewel.

 

The 21 Super is a great pen and I feel like they are often undervalued and under-appraciated considering they were not too far from the quality of a 51. Enjoy! My 21 Super is also red.

 

Huh, okay. Thanks for confirming.

[richardandtracy]

Personally, I think the P21S, being not quite the same size & having a shorter barrel-connector thread isn't quite as good as a P51. Also the edge of the cap can be sharp & scratch the hood more easily.

Apart from that, I like the pen almost as much as a P51. That is to say, I much prefer the P61 to either...

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[OcalaFlGuy]

I also have a 51 Vac that I've been afraid to test without a pro giving it a quick going over at least, and a full repair job if necessary....

 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Ruth it's a P-51 not a hand grenade.

 

Give 'er a test flight. See if it'll take up some water and expel it. If it does, you might try the Uber Soak n' Flush (pinned topic) to get it as clean as you can with taking it all apart. Then fill it up and test fly it At Home.

 

I fully agree that I wouldn't carry it Far from home until I KNEW it had a good diaphragm in it. I think though, even worst case, you'd end up with a leaky pen or one that won't fill versus any exploding pen Defcon 5 inkcident. I Would probably keep it away from that lightly colored silk pen wrap until it gets that new diaphragm in it though.

 

There is some method to my madness here. Hopefully you could get it clean enough (soaked and flushed) to at least fill. Then you can critique the pen (flow, etc) so that you can give the repairperson some clues if you need it wettened up, tines aligned, smoothed or ?

 

I think Danny Fudge is having some health issues but I'd check with him as to if he's still taking in work as he was by far the most inexpensive person doing vac restores. Though he doesn't consider himself a nibmesiter, Danny can and does do minor nib adjustments. If Danny isn't taking in work, check with Farmboy, he's been known to help us FPNers out with wonky pens.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl