Parker 51 Comeback 2020?

[ajcoleman]

Whoo hoo! I received my new 51 today! Here are my very first impressions. As one would expect, it looks really nice.  The screw on cap is not as sleek as the original, but the step is smaller than I have seen on many pens, and it not really an issue.   The color is a really good match to the original - at least my original blue 51. The pen feels very nice in the hand posted.  The pen wrote instantly when touched to paper, and may in fact be one of the smoothest fine nibs I have ever used. It doesn't have the same feel as a 51, and the balance is slightly different. The metal cap posted on the somewhat lighter plastic body makes the feel more back heavy than the original, but not something one not use to the original would notice in my opinion. Overall it is a very nice writer and a pen I am sure I will enjoy using. I am not going to rush out and get the gold nib version, but could see myself picking up another color at some point.

 

Adam

[corniche]

Hi Adam,

 

That's great. I'm enjoying mine; I just wish the cap was lighter, (like the original), because it throws off the balance- for me anyways. 

 

I got the matching ballpoint today.

 

- Sean 

[inkstainedruth]

9 hours ago, Ferocity said:

i like your math 👍

SCIENCE~!

 

hahahaha for me that is true in regards to the newer date codes, but I think I can figure out the old ones with a few exceptions

I don't bother to try to figure them out.  I just go to the correct article on Tony Fischier's site and look them up, especially for the modern date code system.  

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Ferocity]

3 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

I don't bother to try to figure them out.  I just go to the correct article on Tony Fischier's site and look them up, especially for the modern date code system.  

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

I didn't know about THAT ~ ! 

THANK YOU !!!

 

update: actually, that's one of the main websites that I use... and the date codes only go up to 2011

and THAT'S why I asked here about that the date code

 

http://parkercollector.com/codekey.html

http://tony.fischier.com/pennor/index.html

[Ferocity]

5 hours ago, ajcoleman said:

Whoo hoo! I received my new 51 today! Here are my very first impressions. As one would expect, it looks really nice.  The screw on cap is not as sleek as the original, but the step is smaller than I have seen on many pens, and it not really an issue.   The color is a really good match to the original - at least my original blue 51. The pen feels very nice in the hand posted.  The pen wrote instantly when touched to paper, and may in fact be one of the smoothest fine nibs I have ever used. It doesn't have the same feel as a 51, and the balance is slightly different. The metal cap posted on the somewhat lighter plastic body makes the feel more back heavy than the original, but not something one not use to the original would notice in my opinion. Overall it is a very nice writer and a pen I am sure I will enjoy using. I am not going to rush out and get the gold nib version, but could see myself picking up another color at some point.

 

Adam

Niiiiiiiiiiiice~! I'm looking forward to getting mine = ) Did you happen to say which website you ordered yours from? I can't find it hahah  

[jchch1950]

On 2/15/2021 at 11:41 AM, jann3 said:

Something in the new Parker 51 is bothering me. I'm wondering, how much the Parker company actually has to do with this product. Is it really designed and produced by them, or has Parker just licensed the brand to someone else.

 

I have a hunch that there might be some retailer, distributor or a group of them, behind the product. Perhaps they have just acquired the rights to the old model and the brand name. It would explain the weird silence of the Parker Pen Company. Well, who knows, just my thoughts...

The Parker 51 is already in the Parker web site.

[Heinkle]

Finally...

 

https://www.parkerpen.com/en-GB/parker51?storeId=15052&catalogId=15052

[corniche]

I told you guys to relax...

 

- Sean  

[TheRedBeard]

From the very beginning (once “new” P51 comeback was announced) I have had no illusions or high expectations about this new pen, but I have maintained my desire and strong intentions to purchase this pen and have it in my Parker collection.

I still was positive about that after reading/watching very first reviews that showed that it would be a different pen sharing only the name (and a few exterior details) with a glorious genuine P51.

 

However, having recently seen all photos posted by other FPN members, who already bought this “new” P51, and watched more reviews just yesterday, I have “suffered” from deep doubts if I need this pen in my collection at all?...

 

Finally, last night a friend of mine called me and told he purchased a new P51 and needed a Parker converter for it… This morning he popped in, and I presented him a brand new Parker converter (I still have got a few ones) and I saw this “new P51”… and I realised I did not like it… I felt it had nothing to do with glorious Parker Pen Company (which no longer exists) but only name… and I realised I did not need it in my collection…

 

So, today I have cancelled my pre-order for “new” P51 2021 Plum Deluxe with gold Fine nib… and joined the club of FPN members who decided not to buy this pen…

 

Now I'm back to normal and planning to spend saved £199 on another genuine P51 in NOS condition or my much-loved P75

[corniche]

15 minutes ago, TheRedBeard said:

From the very beginning (once “new” P51 comeback was announced) I have had no illusions or high expectations about this new pen, but I have maintained my desire and strong intentions to purchase this pen and have it in my Parker collection.

I still was positive about that after reading/watching very first reviews that showed that it would be a different pen sharing only the name (and a few exterior details) with a glorious genuine P51.

 

However, having recently seen all photos posted by other FPN members, who already bought this “new” P51, and watched more reviews just yesterday, I have “suffered” from deep doubts if I need this pen in my collection at all?...

 

Finally, last night a friend of mine called me and told he purchased a new P51 and needed a Parker converter for it… This morning he popped in, and I presented him a brand new Parker converter (I still have got a few ones) and I saw this “new P51”… and I realised I did not like it… I felt it had nothing to do with glorious Parker Pen Company (which no longer exists) but only name… and I realised I did not need it in my collection…

 

So, today I have cancelled my pre-order for “new” P51 2021 Plum Deluxe with gold Fine nib… and joined the club of FPN members who decided not to buy this pen…

 

Now I'm back to normal and planning to spend saved £199 on another genuine P51 in NOS condition or my much-loved P75

 

Hi Red,

 

A scathing opinion, indeed. Did your friend have the standard or Deluxe model? (I'm hoping theres more of a difference than just the gold nib)

 

- Sean 

[Glenn-SC]

The amount of drama about "new" versus "genuine" pens and the "glorious" old versus "in name only" new Parker Pen Company is comedic.

[TheRedBeard]

6 minutes ago, corniche said:

 

Hi Red,

 

A scathing opinion, indeed. Did your friend have the standard or Deluxe model? (I'm hoping theres more of a difference than just the gold nib)

 

- Sean 

Hi Sean,

He bought a standard one with a steel nib and a steel cap... The pen feels very cheap and ordinary for me...

My pre-order was Deluxe...

But I have seen both clip and jewel of Deluxe version on photos and IMHO it looks cheap and not nice either...

But it is only my very personal opinion...

 

[TheRedBeard]

4 minutes ago, Glenn-SC said:

The amount of drama about "new" versus "genuine" pens and the "glorious" old versus "in name only" new Parker Pen Company is comedic.

Oh, yes, I have been too sentimental

[corniche]

Post deleted by me. 

 

- S.

[corniche]

Dupe.

[TheRedBeard]

7 minutes ago, corniche said:

Post deleted by me. 

 

- S.

Sean,

I've seen that post.

Money doesn't matter for me in this case... I got simply disappointed...

You seem to be much more patient than me and will have a chance to see and try Deluxe version yourself.

Maybe I will try it later but not now...

[corniche]

14 minutes ago, TheRedBeard said:

Sean,

I've seen that post.

Money doesn't matter for me in this case... I got simply disappointed...

You seem to be much more patient than me and will have a chance to see and try Deluxe version yourself.

Maybe I will try it later but not now...

 

Hi Red,

 

Here is the post I originally posted:

I am thinking now they probably use the same plastic and materials, (but I was hoping for better - I was thinking along the lines of the differences between the 21/51); I've also been holding my tongue until I could compare BOTH models with my own hands and eyes, but if the only difference between the Core and Deluxe models is the gold nib, that would be a shame.

I'm going to let the Plum Deluxe come; along with the Midnight blue one I ordered right after I ordered my teal one - because I've been blessed with money to burn and I want the new models represented in my collection.  But I did cancel my orders for the black Deluxe, and the black and burgundy Core models and all the matching ballpoints.

Oh, well. 

- Sean 

 

 

Here is what I was going to change, upon reflection:

 

I dont think we should expect the material/build quality of the original 51 with the new 51; because I cannot think of anything that has not deteriorated in material quality. Just compare the steel and chrome in old cars to the steel (or plastic) in new cars, etc., etc.

 

- S.

 

I'll let everyone piece the two posts together for themselves. 

 

 

- Sean 

 

[Glenn-SC]

With inflation alone a 1941 Parker "51" with an MSRP of  $12.50 would be over $220 in 2021.  And that doesn't account for specific price increases for labor and materials like gold.  There has been discussion that release of the "51" that was a complete exact copy of the "original" (is that the vacumatic, aeromatic, red-band, or cartridge/converter version?) would cost $300 to $400.

A fairer comparison might be a Parker 21, which when introduced in 1948 with an MSRP of $5 would list at $55 today.

The base 2021 51 with a steel nib has an MSRP of $109, roughly twice the inflation adjusted 21.

 

Were customers concerned that the Parker Company that was producing the new 21 wasn't the same old glorious Parker that had released the "51" just 7 years earlier?

 

Perhaps there would less drama if the New Parker Company had called the New 51 the New 21 instead.  Then people would only complain about the price.
 

 

[TheRedBeard]

5 minutes ago, Glenn-SC said:

With inflation alone a 1941 Parker "51" with an MSRP of  $12.50 would be over $220 in 2021.  And that doesn't account for specific price increases for labor and materials like gold.  There has been discussion that release of the "51" that was a complete exact copy of the "original" (is that the vacumatic, aeromatic, red-band, or cartridge/converter version?) would cost $300 to $400.

A fairer comparison might be a Parker 21, which when introduced in 1948 with an MSRP of $5 would list at $55 today.

The base 2021 51 with a steel nib has an MSRP of $109, roughly twice the inflation adjusted 21.

 

Were customers concerned that the Parker Company that was producing the new 21 wasn't the same old glorious Parker that had released the "51" just 7 years earlier?

 

Perhaps there would less drama in the New Parker had called the New 51 the New 21 instead.  Then people would only complain about the price.
 

 

Glenn,

You have a point, no argument.

And my opinion is only a humble personal one.

I would not even bother to consider purchasing this pen under any other name.

Newell played old good trick using 51 name and it may go well for them and many may buy this "new 51"... but not me...

 

Some time ago I already mentioned somewhere here a case of re-launching Mini: new Mini reborn by BMW was a different car to the old loved one, but BMW did brilliant job having excellent modern stuff under old glorious (again) name and new Mini is a success. It is worth every penny paid.

 

Personally, I would not complain if Newell made a brilliant high-quality perfectly-designed new pen (not average stuff under nostalgic look with cheap clip and lousy-looking jewel) looking just slightly like genuine original 51 and name it "51" and attached $500 price tag - I would buy it. 

But, as I also mentioned before, Newell (a former rubbish bin manufacturer) is not able to become Parker Pen Company... One can buy glorious name but it is not enough...

There are no miracles in this life  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TheRedBeard]

55 minutes ago, corniche said:

 

Hi Red,

 

Here is the post I originally posted:

I am thinking now they probably use the same plastic and materials, (but I was hoping for better - I was thinking along the lines of the differences between the 21/51); I've also been holding my tongue until I could compare BOTH models with my own hands and eyes, but if the only difference between the Core and Deluxe models is the gold nib, that would be a shame.

I'm going to let the Plum Deluxe come; along with the Midnight blue one I ordered right after I ordered my teal one - because I've been blessed with money to burn and I want the new models represented in my collection.  But I did cancel my orders for the black Deluxe, and the black and burgundy Core models and all the matching ballpoints.

Oh, well. 

- Sean 

 

 

Here is what I was going to change, upon reflection:

 

I dont think we should expect the material/build quality of the original 51 with the new 51; because I cannot think of anything that has not deteriorated in material quality. Just compare the steel and chrome in old cars to the steel (or plastic) in new cars, etc., etc.

 

- S.

 

I'll let everyone piece the two posts together for themselves. 

 

 

- Sean 

 

You are right, Sean.