Parker 51 Photo Thread

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

 

[donnweinberg]

A bit of Parker 51 history!

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

  On 3/14/2025 at 9:00 PM, donnweinberg said:

A bit of Parker 51 history!

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I have lots and lots to do… I love old andvertising.  and not just Parkers. Watch the balance photo thread and snorkel thread!  Or just follow my instagram   (@veteranpens)

 

working on one for Quink in the art deco bottles. 

[inkstainedruth]

  On 3/14/2025 at 9:40 PM, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

I have lots and lots to do… I love old andvertising.  and not just Parkers. Watch the balance photo thread and snorkel thread!  Or just follow my instagram   (@veteranpens)

 

working on one for Quink in the art deco bottles. 

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That's a really awesome find!  I do remember a number of years ago someone posting a Parker ad where they went into more detail about WHY the pens weren't available at the time (it being WWII).  But this one is more succinct! 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

  On 3/14/2025 at 10:49 PM, inkstainedruth said:

That's a really awesome find!  I do remember a number of years ago someone posting a Parker ad where they went into more detail about WHY the pens weren't available at the time (it being WWII).  But this one is more succinct! 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

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I think I know the one, ill see if I can dig it up

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

@inkstainedruth

is this the one you meant?

 

cleaned up/restored:

[inkstainedruth]

No, I think the one I remember seeing had less text in it, but definitely the same idea.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

There are a whole series of them. But that one is the only one I know of that is ALL text. The others are all a combination of illustration and text, like the first one. 

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

original: (not sure where I got this one from...)

 

restored:

[donnweinberg]

Love it!  

[VacNut]

…and then there are the caps.

Understated, yet elegant and sophisticated Parker 51 Double-Jewel Gold Caps.

The Fish-Scale Cap is the most elegant cap they made. 
I believe the 2-Tone Gold Cap is the result of an acid-etching or light-sand polishing process. It can be removed with hand polishing, so it is easily damaged.

 

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

oh...

 

I need a bigger bank account...  much bigger...

[Beechwood]

Remarkable story, 50 years since production ceased and yet the 51 remains the most sought after pen and has more words written about than any other make or model.

 

 

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

Guess that’s what happens when you get it right

[Estycollector]

"Often copied, never duplicated". 

[inkstainedruth]

  On 3/18/2025 at 12:56 PM, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

Guess that’s what happens when you get it right

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Yup.  An expensive pen in its day, but all the money put into the design and construction was to make it what it was: a superb writing instrument.  Not some tasteless bling to stick in a display case to show off how much you can afford on something you'd never actually use....  

I do know some people who don't like the hooded nibs, but that was another part of the functionality.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth