Parker "51" Nib Replacement

[CraigR]

I have a 1946 Parker "51" that is in very good condition with the exception of a broken nib. The tines are snapped just about even with the feed, one a little longer than the other. Close inspection of the feed does not show any damage. The pen came to me in this condition as part of a lot of pens found at an antique store.

 

My question is: do I order a "custom" nib from one of the nibmeisters - such as a stub or italic - or do I search for a suitable donor pen, maybe with a cracked barrel, to provide a nib.

 

I am a bit bored with the standard fine nibbed "51"s that I have and would like to venture into the more creative ones. Do they have some with flex added?

 

Suggestions invited!

 

Craig

[OcalaFlGuy]

It sounds to me like that nib is toast but it's hard to tell without pics. Having a tine with it's tipping clipped off is one thing, having a tine Itself clipped off is

another thing.

 

I would suggest you get a Medium nib from someone and have it ground. That will give you as wide a CI/Stub as you really can use All The Time in daily writing. If you aren't a Gold snob and want the absolute cheapest way out, have a Medium Octanium nib ground. The Octanium nibs can be had for around $15 and it'll write just as nicely in a 51 as any Gold nib will.

 

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

 

[pajaro]

Depending on how much pizazz you want from an italic or stub, you might well want a broad stub or italic. With the medium italic you get a certain amount of line variation, but the broad cursive italic, italic or stub delivers a more pronounced line variation. The broader it is, the more noticeable the line variation.

 

I am going to amend this post to add that it is possible to make a 51 nib a BIT flexy. The tubular nature of the nib fights this and you have the hood to contend with, but material can be removed from the nib, and users who would be determined to do anything to put flex into every pen In existence have reported good results. I would regard this with a pound of salt.

 

If you really want flex in a pen that looks like a 51, you might look for one of the Conway Stewarts from the 40s that look like 51s. They have an open, flexy nib. My Conway Stewart 87 looks like a 51 and has a similar sac. Clear sac. It writes flexy, which is of little use to me, but the line is nice and fine.

Edited June 30, 2014 by pajaro

[balson]

Depending on how much pizazz you want from an italic or stub, you might well want a broad stub or italic. With the medium italic you get a certain amount of line variation, but the broad cursive italic, italic or stub delivers a more pronounced line variation. The broader it is, the more noticeable the line variation.

 

I am going to amend this post to add that it is possible to make a 51 nib a BIT flexy. The tubular nature of the nib fights this and you have the hood to contend with, but material can be removed from the nib, and users who would be determined to do anything to put flex into every pen In existence have reported good results. I would regard this with a pound of salt.

 

If you really want flex in a pen that looks like a 51, you might look for one of the Conway Stewarts from the 40s that look like 51s. They have an open, flexy nib. My Conway Stewart 87 looks like a 51 and has a similar sac. Clear sac. It writes flexy, which is of little use to me, but the line is nice and fine.

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xUIQXMnd53w/U7MbQevB5ZI/AAAAAAAABOc/FpaOMjBX5m8/s1600/parker+51+dip+nib+comparison.jpg

 

i don't think the tubular nature of the nib is what prevents it from flexing well. they make dip pen nibs that are roughly the same size and shape that flex very easily. the one in the picture is a really fine wet noodle.

 

the biggest issue with adding flex to a 51 is that it will likely lead to the hood cracking. i have run across some english parkers with semi flex nibs where the hood has broken off.

[OcalaFlGuy]

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xUIQXMnd53w/U7MbQevB5ZI/AAAAAAAABOc/FpaOMjBX5m8/s1600/parker+51+dip+nib+comparison.jpg

 

i don't think the tubular nature of the nib is what prevents it from flexing well. they make dip pen nibs that are roughly the same size and shape that flex very easily. the one in the picture is a really fine wet noodle.

 

**the biggest issue with adding flex to a 51 is that it will likely lead to the hood cracking.** i have run across some english parkers with semi flex nibs where the hood has broken off.

 

Sorry, but I disagree. The vast majority of the tine in your dip nib pic ISN'T tubular shaped.

 

P-51 nibs Were designed tublular for Extra rigidity. (Read extra NON-flex)

 

I do agree with the ** statement. I don't think hoods broke off due to any (non-existent) factory flex nibs, they broke off from being dropped on the nib

and that pushing the nib up and into the hood, chipping the tip off.

 

I have seen some of the few 51 nibs Pendleton Brown has added Semi-flex to. I am genuinely curious how they have worked out for their owners

in the long run. I would not be surprised if there were some issues that cropped up with them. The P-51 was NOT designed to have a flex nib in it.

(IMO)

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[pajaro]

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xUIQXMnd53w/U7MbQevB5ZI/AAAAAAAABOc/FpaOMjBX5m8/s1600/parker+51+dip+nib+comparison.jpg

 

i don't think the tubular nature of the nib is what prevents it from flexing well. they make dip pen nibs that are roughly the same size and shape that flex very easily. the one in the picture is a really fine wet noodle.

 

the biggest issue with adding flex to a 51 is that it will likely lead to the hood cracking. i have run across some english parkers with semi flex nibs where the hood has broken off.

 

A well deserved result.

[pajaro]

Not trying to be mean about this, but it does seem that flexy pen enthusiasts seem to want to make most everything into a flexy pen. Some pens, like the 51 are a challenge to make flexy, because flexy writing wasn't planned into the design. Rather than trying to make unsuitable pens flexy, why not buy a pen with a flexy nib designed in? There are good pens like that. My Conway Stewart 87, $80 near mint, looks like a 51 until you uncap it, and then you see the flexy open nib.

 

Writing with this CS 87 looks a bit odd for a lefty like me. The flexing is opposite of a righty's.