Parker 51 Honey Jewel Blue Diamond Cap - Help Id?

[DoveGrey51]

Hi everyone,

 

I picked up this gold-filled Parker 51 cap with a blue diamond and a honey jewel on a Parker 51 navy grey aerometric that needs work (so clearly the wrong cap as I was under the impression these were only on the early vacs?) - cap reads '1/10 16k Gold Filled Made in USA'. It has the four parallel lines and the spacing. I know it needs a bit of a clean, but other than that, it's in good condition. The jewel is slightly darker in reality, the pic makes it look a little lighter.

 

The pen itself has a nib which just reads 14 KR, and the barrel and hood are in good condition, but inside it needs everything re-done. It has the '6 times' inscription on the chrome. I'll try and have it repaired and find a more suitable cap for it!

 

I just wanted to ask when this gold cap dates from (I read all the information online but got very confused about 16k and the blue diamond honey jewel combo!), and what pen I should now be tracking down (I know a vac, but which time period?) to go with it ideally in your opinions? Are the honey jewels rare? I remember reading somewhere they were, but have no idea as very new to this. Can the cap be cleaned with a baking soda solution? Hugely appreciate any help.

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

[mitto]

I have the same cap but with pearl jewel. The clip ring on mine is kind of higher and raised - double cartouche? (dont know the right term to use) compared to other caps on my vac 51s. I would be interested to know what 51 cap experts say about this cap.

[DoveGrey51]

I have the same cap but with pearl jewel. The clip ring on mine is kind of higher and raised - double cartouche? (dont know the right term to use) compared to other caps on my vac 51s. I would be interested to know what 51 cap experts say about this cap.

 

Thanks! Yes, I'd like to know, too! Hopefully someone knows...

[DoveGrey51]

I have the same cap but with pearl jewel. The clip ring on mine is kind of higher and raised - double cartouche? (dont know the right term to use) compared to other caps on my vac 51s. I would be interested to know what 51 cap experts say about this cap.

 

Seems to be a mystery cap, then... anybody have any idea? Thanks!

[FarmBoy]

Don't read anything into the gold stamping and the jewel color. Best guess would be sometime between 1944 and 1947.

 

FB

[DoveGrey51]

Don't read anything into the gold stamping and the jewel color. Best guess would be sometime between 1944 and 1947.

 

FB

 

Thanks very much!

[crescentfiller]

Ah, the honey jewel!

 

I am in search of a honey barrel/blind cap jewel for my favorite '51....

[FarmBoy]

Ah, the honey jewel!

 

I am in search of a honey barrel/blind cap jewel for my favorite '51....

I have several NOS in a parts bag from Janseville. They are essentially crystallized and crumble when you look at them.

[crescentfiller]

I have several NOS in a parts bag from Janseville. They are essentially crystallized and crumble when you look at them.

 

I don't need a bagful, but I would like just one that you can still look at.

[FarmBoy]

I don't need a bagful, but I would like just one that you can still look at.

I hear ya but unfortunately the ones I have are not usable. They were more of an interesting item than a repair part in the existing condition.

 

Blind cap jewels are a hard part to find, even harder than the correct 51 tassie.

 

T

[crescentfiller]

I hear ya but unfortunately the ones I have are not usable. They were more of an interesting item than a repair part in the existing condition.

 

Blind cap jewels are a hard part to find, even harder than the correct 51 tassie.

 

T

 

 

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean! I have an original shop-size box of petrified Conklin pencil erasers.

 

Todd, in the handful of '51s you've come across, have you noticed any pattern in regard to when (years) and where (colors) the honey jewels appear? The one I want to replace (broken in half) is on a Nassau Empire set. My Black Empire set from the same year has pearl jewels.

[FarmBoy]

 

 

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean! I have an original shop-size box of petrified Conklin pencil erasers.

 

Todd, in the handful of '51s you've come across, have you noticed any pattern in regard to when (years) and where (colors) the honey jewels appear? The one I want to replace (broken in half) is on a Nassau Empire set. My Black Empire set from the same year has pearl jewels.

There are some observations. I probed the collective and some of us (me) didn't really pay much attention early on so there is the potential for lost data but there are some trends. General consensus is they are intentional but no documentation has been revealed indicating why. Perhaps marketing had an idea or a war time materials issue.

 

Honey jewels seem to be found on gold caps only. They seem to be on pens from late 1944 and early 1945. The small sample size of DJ pens with honey jewels is they are all on cordovan colored pens.

 

This is only taking into account pens that we were fairly certain had not been messed with at some point.

 

Other data points would be welcome.

[crescentfiller]

"Honey jewels seem to be found on gold caps only. They seem to be on pens from late 1944 and early 1945. The small sample size of DJ pens with honey jewels is they are all on cordovan colored pens.

This is only taking into account pens that we were fairly certain had not been messed with at some point."

Thanks. That's very interesting. My Empire Nassau DJ set was found in the wild and was definitely not messed with. How do I know? Well, I bought the set for $30 from a small shop that had just bought it from the original owner (the shop priced it; not me). Neither the original owner, nor the shop owner, knew the caps were 14K. Anyone swapping out jewels would have know what the set was, no? So, here is a Nassau set that almost certainly has original-to-the-set honey jewels. I will have to check the dates, but I want to say they are both 1946.

Oddly enough, I bought the Black set just about two weeks earlier, for the same price, but in another state. It has pearl jewels. So, here is a Nassau that almost certainly has original-to-the-set honey jewels.

[DoveGrey51]

There are some observations. I probed the collective and some of us (me) didn't really pay much attention early on so there is the potential for lost data but there are some trends. General consensus is they are intentional but no documentation has been revealed indicating why. Perhaps marketing had an idea or a war time materials issue.

 

Honey jewels seem to be found on gold caps only. They seem to be on pens from late 1944 and early 1945. The small sample size of DJ pens with honey jewels is they are all on cordovan colored pens.

 

This is only taking into account pens that we were fairly certain had not been messed with at some point.

 

Other data points would be welcome.

 

Thank you, that's very interesting.

[mitto]

I have almost 5-6 caps that have honey jewels and are mostly on aero caps exept one that is a 1945 cordovan vac. But I can't say the aero caps are not messed with. I myself have been replacing bad/shatterd jewels on good caps with good jewels from bad caps. So have now no idea what jewel was taken from what cap.

[loudkenny]

I have the same cap on a 1945? Cedar Blue, but with a pearl tassie. Maybe it discolored like so many 51 Vac bodies?