Parker 51 - Arabic Nib?

[maclink]

I recently got myself a Parker 51. It's grey with an italic fine. It was my first Parker 51 and despite my own expectations, I've fallen in love with the pen. I was surprised that it was long enough to use un-posted (a preference of mine) and it's really comfortable to write with. The nib runs on the dry side, but it also provides a degree of feedback ideal for my own writing in that the slight resistance controls my strokes. My writing therefore looks great with the added line variation from the italic grind. It's my new EDC pen for work where I use lower quality paper. The dryer nib is therefore ideal.

 

I decided to go for another P51, but this time, focusing on a colour that I like. I decided on a plum body with lastruloy cap. I paid a pretty penny for this one and received it in great condition. I was initially underwhelmed by the nib since it seemed finicky and scratchy. I took a really close look at the tip and saw what looks like an arabic nib grind.

 

 

 

Unlike the italic nib, this one puts down a wet line and I've again, grown to like this nib. I did some puttering around the web and realise that Parker did sell P51's with arabic nibs.

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

Very nice

[pajaro]

Nib looks like it was adjusted to be wet.

[gyasko]

I dunno. Doesnt really look like an arabic grind to me. It looks like a regular nib that saw a lot of use or was subject to some amateur micromeshing. Does it make thin verticals and broad horizontals?

 

The tine gap looks a little too wide, even for me, and i like em wet. That can be adjusted, but youll have to remove the nib first to do it safely.

 

You could also adjust your stub nib. Parker advertised the stub as being for use with heavy pressure. That suggests that they may have set them up with tight tines under the assumption that the user would be applying enough pressure to spread the tines. If the user wrote with a light hand, the tines would not spread and the pen would write dry. Of course, there could be other causes for dry writing and all this assumes your nib is a factory stub and not an aftermarket grind.

Edited August 3, 2020 by gyasko

[maclink]

Nib looks like it was adjusted to be wet.

Yes! .... and wet it is. The tines are quite apart aren't they.

[maclink]

I dunno. Doesnt really look like an arabic grind to me. It looks like a regular nib that saw a lot of use or was subject to some amateur micromeshing. Does it make thin verticals and broad horizontals?

 

The tine gap looks a little too wide, even for me, and i like em wet. That can be adjusted, but youll have to remove the nib first to do it safely.

 

You could also adjust your stub nib. Parker advertised the stub as being for use with heavy pressure. That suggests that they may have set them up with tight tines under the assumption that the user would be applying enough pressure to spread the tines. If the user wrote with a light hand, the tines would not spread and the pen would write dry. Of course, there could be other causes for dry writing and all this assumes your nib is a factory stub and not an aftermarket grind.

 

It puts down such a wet line that I really think that it affects the nibs nuanced performance, so ATM, though there's a difference between vertical and horizontal lines, it is only subtle. I'm not convinced that it's just a worn nib since the tines are narrow at the tip with sharpish edges so it can be scratchy depending on how you hold the nib to the paper.

[Jamerelbe]

I agree, it looks like the nib has been intentionally shaped (or reshaped) so that it's not a standard round tip - though it's hard (for me) to tell from the pics whether the intention was to produce an architect grind. I really enjoy writing with architect nibs, though they do require more careful and consistent placement of the pen relative to the page - so I hope you continue to enjoy yours!

[maclink]

I agree, it looks like the nib has been intentionally shaped (or reshaped) so that it's not a standard round tip - though it's hard (for me) to tell from the pics whether the intention was to produce an architect grind. I really enjoy writing with architect nibs, though they do require more careful and consistent placement of the pen relative to the page - so I hope you continue to enjoy yours!

I think I'd enjoy it more if it's a little drier than it currently is. It's nigh unto a firehose ATM.

 

I've never disassembled a Parker 51. Nor have I ever adjusted a nib's ink flow. Now is probably a good time to start. Youtube has a number of detailed videos on how to disassemble the pen.

[aimi]

I suspect my P51 may have a similar tip to yours but not as dramatic. There's something that's just not round about it. Unfortunately my pen is so dry it's unpleasant (I'm pretty sure whomever owned it before me inked it once and put it away forever... maybe for that reason).