Parker 51 - Production dates.

[Shangas]

Hi everyone.

 

I created this topic because I wanted to try and date my own Parker 51.

 

I know that:

 

1941 - Parker 51 was introduced. Vacumatic filling system.

 

December 1941-1945 - Parker ceases production due to WWII.

 

1946-1948 - Parker 51 vacs are produced en-masse to meet the orders that were made out in advance during the war.

 

1948 & onwards - Parker 51s have their filling-systems changed to the aerometric-filler.

 

What I would like to know is when the various styles & design-changes of the '51' came in and out. By that, I mean:

 

- Between which dates were vacumatics produced? (Already answered).

- Between which dates were aerometrics produced?

- Between which dates were single-jewel & double-jewel P.51s produced?

- Between which dates was the Parker 51 Flighter produced? **This is the one I'm most interested in**.

 

If anyone can help, that would be great. I've searched on various pen-sites, but the dates all seem to vary so much, and I'm getting very confused...

[Ruaidhri]

Shangas,

 

I presume you've checked Richard's Site

and Parker51.com - see under 'Chronology'

 

The book Parker “51”, by David and Mark Shepherd is also a great source of information.

 

Also a plough through antoniosz' posts on Parker patents (pinned above in this Forum) might help, there's some fascinating stuff there.

 

Good hunting,

Ruaidhrí

[Shangas]

I did check Richard's site. But I had a hell of a time finding my way around. I couldn't find the information I wanted. No offense to Richard. It's a wonderful site, but I just couldn't find what I wanted. I got most of my basic '51' information from penspotters. I only checked Richard's site to read up on filling-systems.

[Woody]

Shangas,

 

I have no idea where you got the idea that Parker ceased production of the "51" from December 1941-1945. While they (along with Sheaffer, and others) might have slowed production of their own products to support the war effort, they certainly did not cease production (of pens) altogether. If they did, then the whole date coding thing would make no sense. After all, why would they cease production completely, then restart production years later, and use date stamps for years 1942-1945 when no production took place? That would make absolutely no sense.

 

As far as Richard's site is concerned, I don't know why you couldn't find the information you wanted. It's all there. In fact, with Richard's site, plus Ernesto's site (www.parker51.com) as suggested by Ruaidhri, and David Nishimura's site (http://www.vintagepens.com/parker_51.shtml), you should be able to find way more information than you could have imagined, from clip styles, filling systems, to dates of manufacture, colors, etc.

 

 

 

[Ruaidhri]

I did check Richard's site. But I had a hell of a time finding my way around. I couldn't find the information I wanted. No offense to Richard. It's a wonderful site, but I just couldn't find what I wanted. I got most of my basic '51' information from penspotters. I only checked Richard's site to read up on filling-systems.

 

Probably need to read more thoroghly - there's a whole lot of info there

 

From a quick check on Ernesto's site (www.Parker51.com as mentioned):

1949 Parker "51" Flighter in all stainless cap and barrel with gold cap band

1958 "Bandless" Flighter introduced and made through 1960

 

Mark Shepherd also covers the war-time situation (as Woody mentioned production was greatly reduced, but not halted).

 

Have fun with the hunt - I find digging really enjoyable

 

Regards,

Ruaidhrí

 

[Shangas]

Yeah, I found those dates, thanks a lot. Now I know the approximate age of my flighter.

 

As for the issue of Parker ceasing production, I think I read it on Wiki, which probably explains a lot of things, since Wiki isn't exactly correct on everything. Apologies for my ignorance.

[jirish1957]

Let's see... Parker started making Flighters in '49, they made 51's during the war years but they are rarer than post war's (they ramped up production in '46), DJ were made from '41-'48 and Parker stopped production of 51's in the early/mid '70's in the US, though they were made for a bit longer in their South American plant.

[Shangas]

Thanks Jirish. Yes, that was one of the reasons I asked. I wanted to know when production ceased. I've looked at heaps of sites, and they all say: "1970s", but I'd love to know the actual YEAR. And none of them seem to know...

[Ruaidhri]

Apologies for my ignorance.

 

Don't let me hear you saying that again

Where do you think any of the rest of got the info - from asking very similar questions, just a bit further back

 

Have fun,

Ruaidhrí

 

[Shangas]

Forgive me!

 

But yes, thanks for all this:) It's very helpful & interesting.

[jirish1957]

As far as the last year for 51's, the problem is that they went out with a wimper instead of a bang. They continued to be listed in the catalogs until about '74-'75, but that doesn't necesarily correspond with when they stopped making them. Jeff