Parker 51 Photo Thread

[thx1138]

Some.

 

Is that 10 of 2500?

[mitto]

[mitto]

Is that 10 of 2500?

Not of 2500 but of almost 1100.

[FarmBoy]

Not of 2500 but of almost 1100.

You know you have an invite to the SF Pen Show to sell me mass quantities of 51s....

[mitto]

You know you have an invite to the SF Pen Show to sell me mass quantities of 51s....

One day...in future...and i believe soon.

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks!

 

This is a Parker 51 Aerometric Signet in Blue with the converging lines pattern 1/10 12K gold filled cap c. 1950-1959. It does not have an imprint and date stamp near the clutch ring on the barrel. Parker stopped dating pens at some point in the 1950s, so it’s possible this is a late 1950s model. This 5 3/8 inch long pen has the press 4 times Aerometric filler unit and sold for $19.75.

 

http://penhero.com/Temp/Parker51AerometricSignetBlue_2048_01.jpg

 

Thanks!

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks!

 

This is a Parker 51 Aerometric with a Lustraloy cap in Blue c. 1955. The top of the barrel just below the clutch ring is stamped MADE IN CANADA .5/. This 5 3/8 inch long pen has the press 4 times Aerometric filler unit.

 

http://penhero.com//Temp/Parker51AerometricLustraloyBlue_2048_01.jpg

 

Thanks!

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks!

 

This is a Parker 51 Vacumatic Custom in Black with 1/10 16K gold filled Blue Diamond cap date coded 1946. Usually Custom caps were 1/10 12K gold filled. Note that this pen’s Blue Diamond has been repainted. There are multiple versions of the Custom cap. This one has sets of four vertical lines separated by a plain band, probably the most common version. This 5 3/8 inch long pen has the clear plunger filler unit and sold for $15.00.

http://www.penhero.com/Temp/Parker51VacumaticCustomBlack_2048_01.jpg

Thanks!

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks!

This is a Parker 51 Vacumatic in Cedar Blue with a Lustraloy cap and gold filled Blue Diamond clip date coded 1947. The top of the barrel near the section is stamped PARKER "51" over MADE IN U.S.A. next to 7 with three dots, indicating made in Q1 1947. The cap has the wide lip cap band. Note the Blue Diamond is wearing off. Parker began phasing out the Blue Diamond clip in 1948 in favor of an Arrow clip like the one that appears on the Aerometric pens launched in 1949. This 5 3/8 inch long pen has the clear plunger filler unit. This version of the "world's most wanted pen" sold for $12.50.

 

http://www.penhero.com/Temp/Parker51VacumaticLustraloyCedarBlue_2048_01.jpg

Thanks!

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks!

 

This is a Parker 51 Aerometric in Lustraloy and Navy Grey c. 1950s. It's 5 3/8 inches long capped. The stainless steel cap has the thin lip band and is stamped PARKER on the front and an imprint MADE IN U.S.A. "51" is stamped near the clutch ring on the barrel. The trim is chrome plated and the cap top jewel is pearlescent. These pens were advertised at $15.00 retail in 1953, $22.50 with the matching pencil.

 

http://www.penhero.com/Temp/Parker51AerometricLustraloyGray_2048_01.jpg

 

Thanks!

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

Hi, Folks!

 

This is a Parker 51 Vacumatic in Cedar Blue with a Lustraloy cap and gold filled Blue Diamond clip date coded 1947. The top of the barrel near the section is stamped PARKER "51" over MADE IN U.S.A. next to 7 with three dots, indicating made in Q1 1947. The cap has the wide lip cap band. Note the Blue Diamond is wearing off. Parker began phasing out the Blue Diamond clip in 1948 in favor of an Arrow clip like the one that appears on the Aerometric pens launched in 1949. This 5 3/8 inch long pen has the clear plunger filler unit. This version of the "world's most wanted pen" sold for $12.50.

 

http://www.penhero.com/Temp/Parker51VacumaticLustraloyCedarBlue_2048_01.jpg

 

Thanks!

Im floored

 

 

Your photos are consistently head and shoulders above anything anyone else is doing. Not just because you have the most drool worthy collection of 51s (odd... I cant seem to get the double quotes to show up in the post...) Ive ever seen, but because of the sheer beauty of the photos themselves. Could you PLEASE do a write up on how you do a shoot? Maybe show your setup? Especially the lighting? Ive searched but if you have already done a tutorial, my google-fu is failing me.

 

Thanks

 

Please keep up the amazing work!

[PenHero]

Im floored

 

 

Your photos are consistently head and shoulders above anything anyone else is doing. Not just because you have the most drool worthy collection of 51s (odd... I cant seem to get the double quotes to show up in the post...) Ive ever seen, but because of the sheer beauty of the photos themselves. Could you PLEASE do a write up on how you do a shoot? Maybe show your setup? Especially the lighting? Ive searched but if you have already done a tutorial, my google-fu is failing me.

 

Thanks

 

Please keep up the amazing work!

 

 

Wow! Thanks for the very kind words.

 

My set up is very standard. I mostly use a 20 inch cubic light tent and two tabletop LED daylight lamps similar to this photo:

 

 

Sometimes I use a third LED light on a tall floor stand if I think I need front lighting.

 

I also use a large cardboard white card inside the tent to bounce off reflections, which is both good and bad. The good is detail shows up very well. The bad is it tends to flatten shiny objects to a matte look. I prefer detail, so that explains why there is less shiny in my pics.

 

My camera is on a tripod and I shoot with a timer. I prefer a ball head type tripod with a level as I change up shot angles a lot.

 

My camera is a Canon DSLR and I only use a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro lens for pen shots. I can get as close or as far as I need with that lens. I don't use a zoom lens. I haven't found any I like for this kind of work.

 

I shoot all my shots set at F/22 and Aperture Priority mode. A small aperture value means a wider depth of field (much more in focus) and I bracket exposure +1 and -1, three shots to make sure I get the best lighting.

 

I don't like wasting time in Photoshop, so I try to make sure the pens are as clean and dust free as possible and will lightly polish if it does no harm.

 

Hope that helps!

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

Thank you so much!

 

I have a great deal of experimenting to carry out!

 

Btw, the “matte” look is the part i most want to be able to emulate! It’s what, to me, makes your photos stand out and why i like them so much! All i ever seem to end up with is shiny reflections... are you using the white cardboard as a bounce card? Ie: no direct light on the pens?

 

Thanks again for the pics and the tips!

[PenHero]

... are you using the white cardboard as a bounce card? Ie: no direct light on the pens?

 

Yes - that's what I use it for.

 

Thanks!

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

Thank you for the clarification and tips!

 

Back to the experimenting ...

[CS388]

Thanks for the explanation, PenHero.

 

I have to agree with IThinkIHaveAProblem - your shots are always magnificent.

 

Thanks for sharing.

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks!

This is a Parker 51 Flighter, an Aerometric filler fountain pen with a Lustraloy cap and barrel c. 1950s. Introduced in 1949, the 5 3/8 inch long pen's stainless steel cap has a thin gold filled band and is stamped PARKER on the front and MADE IN U.S.A. on the back. The clip is gold filled and the cap top jewel is pearlescent. The 14 karat gold nib is hidden under the black section. Later in the 1950s, the cap band was deleted. These pens were advertised at $20.75 retail in 1949-1953, $29.75 with the matching pencil.

http://www.penhero.com/Temp/Parker51AerometricFlighter_2048_01.jpg

Thanks!

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks!

Thought I would post a throw back photo I took in 2004 of a cool fantasy 51.

This is a Parker 51 double jewel Vacumatic in customized by Ariel Kullock in a burnt orange or ginger color plastic, including the cap top jewel c. late 1990s. The cap is a 1/10 14 karat gold vintage cap, but the clip appears to be a new casting, or possibly a vintage one that has been completely reworked and replated. It looks like a new pen.

http://www.penhero.com/Temp/Parker51KullockOrange_2048_01.jpg

Thanks!

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks!

This is a Parker 51 Aerometric Demi Signet in Black with the converging lines pattern gold filled cap date coded 1949. The cap is stamped PARKER on the front near the lip and 1/10 12K GOLD FILLED on the back. The barrel is stamped near the clutch ring on the barrel MADE IN U.S.A. 9 with three dots, indicating a Q1 1949 date. Parker stopped dating pens at some point in the 1950s. This 5 1/16 inch long pen has the early Aerometric filler unit stamped "PARKER 51" over TO FILL over PRESS RIBBED BAR over FIRMLY SIX TIMES. over USE DRY - WRITING over SUPERCHROME INK. over MADE IN U. S. A. It sold for $15.00 in 1952.

http://www.penhero.com/Temp/Parker51AerometricDemiSignetBlack_2048_01.jpg

Thanks!

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks!

This is a Parker 51 Aerometric with a frosted finish Lustraloy cap in Blue c. 1960s. The cap is stamped PARKER on the front near the lip and MADE IN U.S.A. under the Parker logo on the back. Between these stampings on each side is a 51 logo stamping. The cap is tapered more than earlier caps, similar to the Parker 61. This 5 9/16 inch long pen has the later Aerometric filler unit stamped press 4 times and has no black end piece. It sold for $10.00 in 1965, and with a matching pencil for $15.00.

http://www.penhero.com/Temp/Parker51AerometricLustraloyBlue_2048_02.jpg

Thanks!