What Are Rarest Parker 51 Aerometric Mk I & Ii Colours

[Slimfish]

A few months ago I inherited a pen collection based on Aerometric Mark I Parker 51’s – there are a lot of them with a variety of different colours.

 

As I look at all these pens a thought dawned on me – I have no idea which colours are rarer than others. ( I have always assumed that Plum is the rarest colour because of it very short production run. )

 

It would be great for me if someone can list the rarest in descending order in a small list.

Any photographs of rare colours would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

Colours for Aerometric 51- Mk I and Mk II (1948-1969)

I doubt this is a definitive list Colour Name (Code) http://www.richardspens.com/images/ref/colors/parker/black.jpg Black (11) http://www.richardspens.com/images/ref/colors/parker/51a_bur.jpg Burgundy (14) http://www.richardspens.com/images/ref/colors/parker/51a_bur2.jpg “Blood Red” — appears on pens made in the U.K. http://www.richardspens.com/images/ref/colors/parker/51a_coc.jpg Cocoa (09) http://www.richardspens.com/images/ref/colors/parker/51a_for_gre.jpg Forest Green (12) http://www.richardspens.com/images/ref/colors/parker/51a_nav_gre.jpg Navy Gray (13) http://www.richardspens.com/images/ref/colors/parker/51a_tea_blu.jpg Teal Blue (26) http://www.richardspens.com/images/ref/colors/parker/51a_mid_blu.jpg Midnight Blue (15) http://www.richardspens.com/images/ref/colors/parker/51a_plu.jpg Plum (08) — Mk I only

 

[pajaro]

Forest green next.

[inkstainedruth]

I think cocoa is pretty rare. But partly because, from what I've read, that color was more prone to cracking.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[AL01]

I've seen one that has a striking resemblance to vista blue on the Parker 61. It seems as though that that shade of blue was only manufactured in England...

 

No it WASN'T the LE.

[mitto]

Plum, midnight blue, forest green and cocoa.

 

Here are all the colors (but not in the so-called order of rarity):

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/uploads/monthly_04_2016/post-117288-0-59414000-1460093906.jpg

Edited January 9, 2017 by mitto

[inkstainedruth]

  On 1/9/2017 at 3:10 AM, mitto said:

Plum, midnight blue, forest green and cocoa.

 

Here are all the colors (but not in the so-called order of rarity):

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/uploads/monthly_04_2016/post-117288-0-59414000-1460093906.jpg

 

Is that why I haven't been able to find a Midnight Blue at a decent price? I didn't realize that it was considered a rarer color. I mean, I have PLUM -- but the prices of Midnight Blue I've seen on eBay are for more than I want to pay, given that I got a decent price on the Plummer... (and fair to good for the other Aeros: Black, Teal, and Burgundy). And even pretty decent prices on the 51 Vacs (Black and two in Cedar Blue, once you factor in the repair costs).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[mitto]

Yes, the midnight blue is rarely found offered for sale. I once thought it was perhaps rarer then the plum.

[Slimfish]

I have read the above replies with great interest.

 

Here is photograph I have just taken.

 

They are not teal - they are too dark.

 

[mitto]

The teal came with at least three shades. And there was the Argentina made teal that was entirely different shade. I would try to post a comparison photo of these side by side.

 

Slimfish, I don't think any of these is midnight blue.

Edited January 11, 2017 by mitto

[FarmBoy]

The "blue" color varies so much that people invent names to describe the variation.

[pajaro]

  On 1/10/2017 at 8:46 PM, Slimfish said:

I have read the above replies with great interest.

 

Here is photograph I have just taken.

 

They are not teal - they are too dark.

 

Parker 51 blue.jpg

 

I believe they are all teal. I have seen a few shades of teal, from blue-green to ultramarine. Those fall within teal.

[mitto]

So which is which among this group of blues?:

 

 

 

 

 

I would specially like for Slimfish to have a look and reply.

Edited January 11, 2017 by mitto

[pajaro]

  On 1/9/2017 at 7:43 PM, inkstainedruth said:

 

Is that why I haven't been able to find a Midnight Blue at a decent price? I didn't realize that it was considered a rarer color. I mean, I have PLUM -- but the prices of Midnight Blue I've seen on eBay are for more than I want to pay, given that I got a decent price on the Plummer... (and fair to good for the other Aeros: Black, Teal, and Burgundy). And even pretty decent prices on the 51 Vacs (Black and two in Cedar Blue, once you factor in the repair costs).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Well, have you found the forest green 51? I believe this one is rarer than cocoa or midnight blue. I have several midnight blue pens, but I mistakenly sold my last forest green set several years ago. I thought I had another, but something happened to it. I kind of look at it like this, I have had all the colors at one time or another, so I don't care to go after any again. I think I am kind of burned out on Parker 51 at this point.

[Slimfish]

mitto many thanks taking the time to post a sample photograph of pens

 

Your five pens from left to right :

 

The first 3 look dark green, the next black and the last one a very dark green ( about 3 cues darker than the first three.

 

The photograph I took yesterday and posted shows the colour of some of blue 51 pens I have.

The flash photograph shows them at 4 cues lighter than they are.

 

If I would see a photograph of a black, midnight blue, and teal 51's taken in day light with no exposure adjustment or flash it would help alot.

[mitto]

I searched and found more than a dozen forest green 51s for sale on Ebay right now beside forest green parts and only two midnight blue. Nonetheless, I think forest green and midnight blue both are rare somewhat in the same degree.

 

My first 51, however, was a forest green that I am using for the last nearly 27 years. I bought the pen from a pen repairperson who worked in a college stationery store for around $7.

[mitto]

  On 1/11/2017 at 6:25 PM, Slimfish said:

mitto many thanks taking the time to post a sample photograph of pens

 

Your five pens from left to right :

 

The first 3 look dark green, the next black and the last one a very dark green ( about 3 cues darker than the first three.

 

The photograph I took yesterday and posted shows the colour of some of blue 51 pens I have.

The flash photograph shows them at 4 cues lighter than they are.

 

If I would see a photograph of a black, midnight blue, and teal 51's taken in day light with no exposure adjustment or flash it would help alot.

 

These are the same pens in a different setting.

 

 

 

The three on the left are teal while the two on the right are midnight blue in both the pictures.

Edited January 11, 2017 by mitto

[pajaro]

  On 1/11/2017 at 6:27 PM, mitto said:

I searched and found more than a dozen forest green 51s for sale on Ebay right now beside forest green parts and only two midnight blue. Nonetheless, I think forest green and midnight blue both are rare somewhat in the same degree.

 

My first 51, however, was a forest green that I am using for the last nearly 27 years. I bought the pen from a pen repairperson who worked in a college stationery store for around $7.

 

You are fast becoming a legend for ferreting out bargains. Twenty-seven years ago there were more opportunities to find Parker 51s at low prices. The time was right for pens to appear at yard sales and estate sales. I thought at the time that it was marking the passing of a generation, and I had mixed feelings about it. My father's midnight blue 51 disappeared after he died. Somebody grabbed it.

[mitto]

Is that a complement or are you scolding me? Lol.

 

Pajaro, as I have explained on many occasions, it is entirely a different senario here. I have spent a lot of time as well invested money to establish a network of good people who spot pens for me in the wild thousands of miles away in different cities while I am sitting at my home here in Islamabad.

These were sincere but jobless people in need of some source of income. I trained them in identifying pens and struck deals with them. They earn their living and I get pens. Simple as that.

[Slimfish]

mitto, looked at your last photograph ( two turned upside down )

 

The two on the left still look the same colour as your first photograph - black and very dark green.

 

I have spent a few minutes looking on ebay for photographs of a 51 pen to see how colours can vary when photographed.

 

The best example is this one :

 

They are of exactly the same pen, same table, same time ( I have just verified this with the seller - the first is natural light, the second with a flash )

 

 

[Slimfish]

From your replies I quess the order of rarity is as follows :

 

Plum Midnight Blue

 

 

 

Forest Green

 

 

 

Cocoa

 

 

COMMON :

Black Burgundy

Teal Blue Navy Grey

 

___________________________________________________________________________

 

I have left this ‘Blood Red Colour’ out – I do not have one and no one has so far mentioned it

 

“Blood Red” — appears on pens made in the England