Parker 51 Comeback 2020?

[Heinkle]

Given they're supposed to be launching this month, I find it baffling Parker have made no attempt to advertise the new Parker 51 on either their website or Instagram page... we're almost entirely reliant on a small group of high-end pen shops.

[como]

5 hours ago, FarmBoy said:

I find it interesting that there is a constant comparison of list price of a new 51 and the price one has paid for a used "51"  What a used pen sells for is really not relevant to how the reissue is priced.

+1. Personally I think the pricing of the new P51 is in the ball park of what it should be. For a plastic pen with gold nib, they are priced in a similar range of some very functional Japanese pens. For steel pens, with some aesthetic appeal, they are priced also on the competitive side of the range, under $100.

 

We all know that vintage pens are in an entirely different category and are very good deals for their value/price ratio. To use vintage prices to guide modern pricing would be an impossible task. No one can produce pens with gold nibs for $100 any more.

 

Of course if one uses the comparison to make a personal purchase decision, that's his/her own preference, not market rationality.

[WJM]

I had mixed thoughts about this new 51, but the more I think of it the more I came to the conclusion it might be a right move on Parker's side.

 

First of all, the complaints about the filling system are completely unjustified. Remember, the original 51 was all about practicality, and if this new 51 is supposed to be about practicality as well, it can't be anything else than c/c. Parker hasn't been making any other filling systems for decades now, and there's a good reason for it. Let's face it, c/c is the most pracitcal filling system of all - it's clean, easy, and requires almost no service. Recreating an aerometric or vacumatic is an eccentricity that Asian brands may allow themselves, but not Parker. Parker just wants to make a product that would appeal to the wider audience and with that attitude, there's no need to repair what isn't broken. 

 

The screwed on cap seems very weird to me on a 51 based model, but then again - why not. In 1940's when the original 51 was released, vast majority of fountain pens had threaded caps, and Parker's slip-on cap was a novelty. Today it's the other way around - most pens out there have slip-on, click-on caps, so why not make this one more interesting by giving this one a twist cap. 

 

A good thing about this new 51 is that, at least the steel-nib version, is not horribly overpriced. It's definitely not cheap, but for less than 100 USD it hits the medium segment at which I can see this pen becoming popular both as a gift and as a practical tool. Especially that Parker, despite its downfall in regard amongst fountain pen hobbyists past decade or two, is still one of the go-to brands for, let's say: "the uninitiated" fountain pen users. As well as for those who seek to buy a fountain pen to be a gift for someone. I was always afraid that if Parker ever releases a new remake of the 51 it would be an exclusively high end model, fortunately they avoided that.... kinda. 

 

If the cap posts, unlike in the Jinhao 85, it might be a good overall pen - and possibly a good business move. Provided they actually do any marketing, because I'm also baffled why there's no mention of this new 51 on Parker's website. 

 

[Jerome Tarshis]

2 hours ago, Heinkle said:

Given they're supposed to be launching this month, I find it baffling Parker have made no attempt to advertise the new Parker 51 on either their website or Instagram page... we're almost entirely reliant on a small group of high-end pen shops.

 

As an old-fashioned man, I find it frustrating, but I don't find it baffling. The two explanations most obvious to me (and I'm open to other people's speculations) are (1) the pen isn't actually going to ship in mid- to late February, so it would be premature to announce it on the Web site or with an advertising blitz, or (2) we live in a diminished business climate, and the concept of "launching" a product has shrunk considerably over time, so we shouldn't expect brass bands, personal appearances by celebrity Parker fans, launch parties in major stationery shops that in general no longer exist, large-space advertisements in major magazines that no longer really exist, etc. It's a new world. Films and television series and computer games are serious, and are launched; pens, maybe not. (3) And there is also the possibility that we're seeing a soft or semi launch, that Parker is test-marketing the pen with a limited number of dealers, and that depending on user response, they may modify the pen and then do a real and dazzling launch we are not seeing now. Aurora did a two-part launch of the new DuoCart, intentionally or not, and it may be that the new 51 is being tested this time around.

[Glenn-SC]

9 hours ago, vicpen123 said:

Without the proper aerometric filling system to go with the elegant timeless subtle design and the hooded nib, it is not a "real" "51".

 

So the "original" Vacumatic "51" wasn't a "real" "51"?

Or the Red Band version?

The 1958 to 1962 Converter version?

[WJM]

Only "real" fountain pens are clip-less black ebonite eyedroppers. Period!

 

 

[Aysedasi]

13 minutes ago, WJM said:

Only "real" fountain pens are clip-less black ebonite eyedroppers. Period!

 

 

Darn.  You had me there until you got to eyedroppers...... 

[ZeroDukE]

To be honest we should also say that 99% of the people who criticize this fountain pen do so without having tried it ... they have only tried it by looking at a photograph or reading a generic list without further details. Indeed, that criticism does not help very much if that is the methodology used for the analysis. It looks more like prejudice.

[ZeroDukE]

Oh, I see.  For many people the problem is the filling system.  It is not Aerometric…  but what about the original Vacumatic? Did that change turn Aerometric…  not a 51?  Well, it seems that’s not the problem.  Then… let’s have a look at an older one (the double-jewelled) when it had the jewel al the end of the barrel.  Was it a real 51?  If the answer is yes  then, what about the 51 that followed, when they loose the jewel?  Well, it seems that is not the problem either…

It seems I’m not able to understand the fundamentalist thinking.  When are the changes right? When wrong?  For instance, to make it clearer, is the 2021 Toyota Corolla a Corolla?  Is the 2021 Mercedes S-Klasse a real  S-Klasse?  is it?  Nobody seems to dispute this.

To make it weird, in 1958 Parker released a 51 with the cartridge/converter filling system.  Do we consider  that one anything else but a 51 made by Parker?   or we better forget that version to avoid confusion?

[ZeroDukE]

8 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

The problem isn't that they're "new" pens so much as that they're rehashing the old classic models (possibly not even in a good way at that, since the "new" 51s are apparently just one more c/c pen) and living off their former reputation.  The company isn't even being innovative: it's "Let's make yet another cartridge pen but make it look sort of like like vintage model".  

 

Do we follow this line of thinking with the Sonnet, Premier and even Duofold?

[ZeroDukE]

duplicated

[TheRedBeard]

8 hours ago, FarmBoy said:

....

 

I'll say it again, FPN is NOT the target market for the 'new' 51.  The pen is entirely different, they share a name and that is about all.   ...

Absolutely perfect highlight on a major point!

Original 51s and "new" 51 only share the glorious name and look.

Newell decided to play on nostalgic feelings, and it is not bad marketing approach, of course.

If it works or not, we will see soon..

 

BTW, it reminds me attempts of car manufacturer to play the same trick in the past reintroducing previously successful models with new stuff inside:

VW Kaupfer - flop..

Rover 75 - flop..

Fiat 500 - so-so..

Mini - the only success

But as everyone knows  this new Mini is actually a new impeccable car made by BMW :)

In case with a Mini it has worked commercially well.

 

 

 

 

[ZeroDukE]

1 minute ago, TheRedBeard said:

Absolutely perfect highlight on a major point!

Original 51s and "new" 51 only share the glorious name and look.

Newell decided to play on nostalgic feelings, and it is not bad marketing approach, of course.

If it works or not, we will see soon..

 

BTW, it reminds me attempts of car manufacturer to play the same trick in the past reintroducing previously successful models with new stuff inside:

VW Kaupfer - flop..

Rover 75 - flop..

Fiat 500 - so-so..

Mini - the only success

But as everyone knows  this new Mini is actually a new impeccable car made by BMW

In case with a Mini it has worked commercially well.

 

 

 

 

I agree

[Glenn-SC]

Great point!
Do we see the same hue and cry about current (and by current I guess I mean since the 1990s) Duofolds not being "real" Duofolds because they have a C/C and not a button actuated ink sack system?  Because they are made out of different materials in vastly different colors and even (gasp) textures?  Because the clip style is different?  Because none of the parts interchange?

 

Passion is a wonderful thing, but one shouldn't let one's passion overcome logic and reason.

 

[TheRedBeard]

5 hours ago, Jerome Tarshis said:

 

As an old-fashioned man, I find it frustrating, but I don't find it baffling. The two explanations most obvious to me (and I'm open to other people's speculations) are (1) the pen isn't actually going to ship in mid- to late February, so it would be premature to announce it on the Web site or with an advertising blitz, or (2) we live in a diminished business climate, and the concept of "launching" a product has shrunk considerably over time, so we shouldn't expect brass bands, personal appearances by celebrity Parker fans, launch parties in major stationery shops that in general no longer exist, large-space advertisements in major magazines that no longer really exist, etc. It's a new world. Films and television series and computer games are serious, and are launched; pens, maybe not. (3) And there is also the possibility that we're seeing a soft or semi launch, that Parker is test-marketing the pen with a limited number of dealers, and that depending on user response, they may modify the pen and then do a real and dazzling launch we are not seeing now. Aurora did a two-part launch of the new DuoCart, intentionally or not, and it may be that the new 51 is being tested this time around.

I should agree with you, especially on p.3: I think it is an intentional low-profile "introduction" of teh product that is pretty safe indeed.

If things go pear-shape with sales there will be no much fuss or brand damage :)

[TheRedBeard]

1 hour ago, zeroduke said:

To be honest we should also say that 99% of the people who criticize this fountain pen do so without having tried it ... they have only tried it by looking at a photograph or reading a generic list without further details. Indeed, that criticism does not help very much if that is the methodology used for the analysis. It looks more like prejudice.

I absolutely agree, and mentioned the same some time ago.

Let's wait for having our hands on this new 51 and then make our conclusions :)

[Aysedasi]

49 minutes ago, TheRedBeard said:

 

Mini - the only success

But as everyone knows  this new Mini is actually a new impeccable car made by BMW

In case with a Mini it has worked commercially well.

 

 

 

 

 

Albeit a bloated success - I'm thinking of some of the later models where they seem to want it to be something other than a Mini..... 

[TheRedBeard]

7 minutes ago, Aysedasi said:

 

Albeit a bloated success - I'm thinking of some of the later models where they seem to want it to be something other than a Mini..... 

I know what do you mean

Based on opinions of some old Mini fans (whom I can fully trust) new Mini lacks the spirit and the soul of the original one, but, at least, it is successful commercially - so, the trick has worked

[Aysedasi]

Indeed so, there are an awful lot of them on the roads to prove it!  

[corgicoupe]

3 hours ago, TheRedBeard said:

Absolutely perfect highlight on a major point!

Original 51s and "new" 51 only share the glorious name and look.

Newell decided to play on nostalgic feelings, and it is not bad marketing approach, of course.

If it works or not, we will see soon..

 

BTW, it reminds me attempts of car manufacturer to play the same trick in the past reintroducing previously successful models with new stuff inside:

VW Kaupfer - flop..

Rover 75 - flop..

Fiat 500 - so-so..

Mini - the only success

But as everyone knows  this new Mini is actually a new impeccable car made by BMW

In case with a Mini it has worked commercially well.

 

 

 

 

we have a 2012 Mini Countryman and if it doesn't last another ten years we will probably buy another, hopefully electric.

 

I must admit that I also have a 2006 BMW MCoupe that will probably last another five years before it's time to sell because I can't get in and out any more.