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Parker 51 Nib Markings, Or Lack Thereof

DavyJones

By DavyJones
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DavyJones Mint

DavyJones

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Calling all 51 historians!

 

I recently purchased a vac filling 51 to restore, black with a lusteralloy cap and a date stamp of T6 with one dot. Upon dis-assembly and while inspecting the nib (which is gold in color) I noticed there was no brand or 14k marking. In pictures I have noticed that 51 nibs appear to have been stamped "PARKER 14K", as would be expected. Am I looking at a possible replacement/forgery? Everything else about the pen says original. Richard's website says the "T" in the date stamp might indicate this pen was assembled in Toronto with US parts. Is this unmarked nib perhaps related to this obscure date stamp? Did anybody produce unmarked replacement 51 nibs? The nib certainly appears to be gold, by color and feel. It even flexes a bit.

"We are in a sense the Universe trying to understand itself. By Observing it we are observing what we are." - Phillip Plait

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FarmBoy Museum Piece

FarmBoy

Posted
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Early 51 nibs (pre-production through early 1942) have no markings.

T is more likely assembled in the US with some parts (most likely the barrrel) made in Toronto. You find T6 and T7. In 1946 Parker Janseville must have been tooled up to make something else on the 51 line...

 

ETA: It doesn't flex.

Edited by FarmBoy

San Francisco International Pen Show - The next “Funnest Pen Show” is on schedule for August 23-24-25, 2024.  Watch the show website for registration details. 
 

My PM box is usually full. Just email me: my last name at the google mail address.

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thatguy New

thatguy

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I would love to get some more information on this as well. I have two 1948 Parker 51s (one vac and one aero). Both nibs appear gold in color (and are stamped with the usual "Made in USA," etc.), but neither nib is stamped 14k. Is this common for Parker 51s, or should I assume the nib is made out of some other type of material? I really appreciate any information this forum can provide.

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Florida Blue Collectors Item

Florida Blue

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I would love to get some more information on this as well. I have two 1948 Parker 51s (one vac and one aero). Both nibs appear gold in color (and are stamped with the usual "Made in USA," etc.), but neither nib is stamped 14k. Is this common for Parker 51s, or should I assume the nib is made out of some other type of material? I really appreciate any information this forum can provide.

 

If it looks gold, then it is most likely 14kt gold. Parker didn't always put a hallmark on their gold nibs, which is common practice today. Many (if not most) 14kt gold Duofold, Vacumatic and 51 nibs were not marked.

Parker: Sonnet Flighter, Rialto Red Metallic Laque, IM Chiseled Gunmetal, Latitude Stainless, 45 Black, Duovac Blue Pearl Striped, 51 Standard Black, Vac Jr. Black, 51 Aero Black, 51 Vac Blue Cedar, Duofold Jr. Lapis, 51 Aero Demi Black, 51 Aero Demi Teal, 51 Aero Navy Gray, Duofold Pastel Moire Violet, Vac Major Golden Brown, Vac Deb. Emerald, 51 Vac Dove Gray, Vac Major Azure, Vac Jr. Silver Pearl, 51 Vac Black GF Cap, 51 Forest Green GF cap, Vac Jr. Silver Pearl, Duovac Senior Green & Gold, Duovac Deb. Black, Challenger Black, 51 Aero Midnight, Vac. Emerald Jr., Challenger Gray Pearl, 51 Vac Black, Duofold Int. Black, Duofold Jr. Red.

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mitto Museum Piece

mitto

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If it looks gold, then it is most likely 14kt gold. Parker didn't always put a hallmark on their gold nibs, which is common practice today. Many (if not most) 14kt gold Duofold, Vacumatic and 51 nibs were not marked.

 

Someone here says 'no' to gold color nibs on P51s without the 14k gold markning.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/285409-parker-21-nib-on-parker-51/

Khan M. Ilyas

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Florida Blue Collectors Item

Florida Blue

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Someone here says 'no' to gold color nibs on P51s without the 14k gold markning.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/285409-parker-21-nib-on-parker-51/

 

I'm only aware of three different materials that Parker used to make 51 nibs: 14kt gold, 18kt gold (for French market) and Octanium. Octanium was an alloy that featured 8 different metals and contained mostly cobalt.

 

If the pen isn't gold then it could only be Octanium, which was silver in color, and Parker did not gold plate those nibs.

Edited by Florida Blue

Parker: Sonnet Flighter, Rialto Red Metallic Laque, IM Chiseled Gunmetal, Latitude Stainless, 45 Black, Duovac Blue Pearl Striped, 51 Standard Black, Vac Jr. Black, 51 Aero Black, 51 Vac Blue Cedar, Duofold Jr. Lapis, 51 Aero Demi Black, 51 Aero Demi Teal, 51 Aero Navy Gray, Duofold Pastel Moire Violet, Vac Major Golden Brown, Vac Deb. Emerald, 51 Vac Dove Gray, Vac Major Azure, Vac Jr. Silver Pearl, 51 Vac Black GF Cap, 51 Forest Green GF cap, Vac Jr. Silver Pearl, Duovac Senior Green & Gold, Duovac Deb. Black, Challenger Black, 51 Aero Midnight, Vac. Emerald Jr., Challenger Gray Pearl, 51 Vac Black, Duofold Int. Black, Duofold Jr. Red.

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mitto Museum Piece

mitto

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I'm only aware of three different materials that Parker used to make 51 nibs: 14kt gold, 18kt gold (for French market) and Octanium. Octanium was an alloy that featured 8 different metals and contained mostly cobalt.

 

If the pen isn't gold then it could only be Octanium, which was silver in color, and Parker did not gold plate those nibs.

What if the nib on a P51 is gold color but not marked as gold? Bruce says there exist no gold nibs on P51s (and P21s) that are not markrd as gold.

Khan M. Ilyas

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Florida Blue Collectors Item

Florida Blue

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What if the nib on a P51 is gold color but not marked as gold? Bruce says there exist no gold nibs on P51s (and P21s) that are not markrd as gold.

 

Maybe he was mistaken or misinterpreted a question, but many gold Parker 51 nibs have no gold hallmark. As FarmBoy stated, the early 51 nibs had no markings at all, but were made from gold.

Parker: Sonnet Flighter, Rialto Red Metallic Laque, IM Chiseled Gunmetal, Latitude Stainless, 45 Black, Duovac Blue Pearl Striped, 51 Standard Black, Vac Jr. Black, 51 Aero Black, 51 Vac Blue Cedar, Duofold Jr. Lapis, 51 Aero Demi Black, 51 Aero Demi Teal, 51 Aero Navy Gray, Duofold Pastel Moire Violet, Vac Major Golden Brown, Vac Deb. Emerald, 51 Vac Dove Gray, Vac Major Azure, Vac Jr. Silver Pearl, 51 Vac Black GF Cap, 51 Forest Green GF cap, Vac Jr. Silver Pearl, Duovac Senior Green & Gold, Duovac Deb. Black, Challenger Black, 51 Aero Midnight, Vac. Emerald Jr., Challenger Gray Pearl, 51 Vac Black, Duofold Int. Black, Duofold Jr. Red.

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Glenn Atkins Vintage

Glenn Atkins

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What if the nib on a P51 is gold color but not marked as gold? Bruce says there exist no gold nibs on P51s (and P21s) that are not markrd as gold.

 

"plated" is what you're missing.

 

Glenn

Triumph Vintage Pens

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OcalaFlGuy Museum Piece

OcalaFlGuy

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Posted (edited)

What if the nib on a P51 is gold color but not marked as gold? Bruce says there exist no gold nibs on P51s (and P21s) that are not markrd as gold.

 

 

 

"plated" is what you're missing.

 

Glenn

 

Spike and point to Glenn.

 

Bruce never said there were no unmarked 51 or 21 nibs. Bruce Did Say there were no Plated 21 or 51 nibs (that he knew of).

 

(In the Long Distance <Motorcycle> Rally riding world, when trying to make sense of a Bonus description with a fried brain after riding for 20 hrs, at 4 am in the morning, we had a saying.

 

Reading comprehension is everything.)

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl ;)

Edited by OcalaFlGuy
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mitto Museum Piece

mitto

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"plated" is what you're missing. Glenn

Spike and point to Glenn. Bruce never said there were no unmarked 51 or 21 nibs. Bruce Did Say there were no Plated 21 or 51 nibs (that he knew of). (In the Long Distance Rally riding world, when trying to make sense of a Bonus description with a fried brain after riding for 20 hrs, at 4 am in the morning, we had a saying. Reading comprehension is everything.) Bruce in Ocala, Fl ;)

Mercy. English is not my mother tongue. I speak Pushto and Urdu. However, I do realise "Reading Comprehension is everything". I think I learnt that while studying at Cambridge. Poor me!

Khan M. Ilyas

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mitto Museum Piece

mitto

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Cool that you studied at Cambridge!

 

Glenn

 

Glenn and Bruce, why should you people be so harsh with a poor non-English speaker? Is that fair?

Edited by mitto

Khan M. Ilyas

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mitto Museum Piece

mitto

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So there can be a goldish (gold) nib on a P51 with no gold marking? That is the consensus opinion now, I assume.

Edited by mitto

Khan M. Ilyas

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mitto Museum Piece

mitto

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I have only ever seen 14k marked, 14k unmarked and Octanium on the 51's. I have not seen a 51 plated nib.

 

Glenn

So what would we call the gold color unmarked 51 nib? Gold , goldy or 14k/18k gold?

Khan M. Ilyas

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Florida Blue Collectors Item

Florida Blue

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So what would we call the gold color unmarked 51 nib? Gold , goldy or 14k/18k gold?

 

If it looks gold, but it's unmarked then you can probably assume it's 14kt gold. The French nibs I was referring to are uncommon, but were generally marked 18ct.

 

Also, don't take Glenn or Bruce's remarks as being harsh; both are good people. Sometimes it's difficult to express humor or friendly sarcasm over the internet, even between other native English speakers. :)

Parker: Sonnet Flighter, Rialto Red Metallic Laque, IM Chiseled Gunmetal, Latitude Stainless, 45 Black, Duovac Blue Pearl Striped, 51 Standard Black, Vac Jr. Black, 51 Aero Black, 51 Vac Blue Cedar, Duofold Jr. Lapis, 51 Aero Demi Black, 51 Aero Demi Teal, 51 Aero Navy Gray, Duofold Pastel Moire Violet, Vac Major Golden Brown, Vac Deb. Emerald, 51 Vac Dove Gray, Vac Major Azure, Vac Jr. Silver Pearl, 51 Vac Black GF Cap, 51 Forest Green GF cap, Vac Jr. Silver Pearl, Duovac Senior Green & Gold, Duovac Deb. Black, Challenger Black, 51 Aero Midnight, Vac. Emerald Jr., Challenger Gray Pearl, 51 Vac Black, Duofold Int. Black, Duofold Jr. Red.

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