The New Parker 51 -- photos and first impressions

[donnweinberg]

Yesterday, I received from Goldspot Pens two of the new stainless steel-nibbed Parker 51 fountain pens.  I have an order in at Pen Chalet for the gold-nibbed version, which won't be available until the end of February (this month).  I purchased the Burgundy and the Teal versions, each with a Medium Nib, and have provided a few of the 17 photos I took of the two pens.  I filled the Teal version with Noodler's Forest Green.  It wrote immediately and smoothly.  The line it makes is a definite medium in thickness.  It looks good and feels nice.  Its weight is substantially similar to older Parker 51 fountain pens.  

 

A fundamental difference between this new 51 and the other iterations of the pen is that this new one has a screw-on/off cap.  One of the photos here shows the threading on the barrel and cap interior.  I found right away that my experience-based instinct was to treat the pen as having a slip on/off cap, so I had to catch myself a few times and remember that the pen has a screw on/off cap.  

 

I paid $87.20 per pen -- the Stainless Steel version.  The gold-nibbed version from Pen Chalet costs $248.  I have not compared its length yet with the prior iterations of the model, so either I or someone else on the forum will do so.

Edited February 12, 2021 by donnweinberg
Increase of font size for easier reading.

[Switala]

4 minutes ago, donnweinberg said:

Ontem, recebi da Goldspot Pens duas das novas canetas-tinteiro Parker 51 com ponta de aço inoxidável. Eu tenho um pedido na Pen Chalet para a versão nibbed dourada, que não estará disponível até o final de fevereiro (este mês). Comprei as versões Burgundy e Teal, cada uma com um bico médio, e forneci algumas das 17 fotos que tirei das duas canetas. Enchi a versão Teal com Noodler's Forest Green. Escreveu imediatamente e sem problemas. A linha que ele faz é um meio definido em espessura. Parece bom e é agradável. Seu peso é substancialmente semelhante ao das canetas-tinteiro Parker 51 mais antigas.  

 

Uma diferença fundamental entre este novo 51 e as outras iterações da caneta é que este novo tem uma tampa de rosca. Uma das fotos aqui mostra a rosca no interior do cano e da tampa. Descobri imediatamente que meu instinto baseado na experiência era tratar a caneta como tendo uma tampa deslizante, então tive que me conter algumas vezes e lembrar que a caneta tem uma tampa rosqueada.  

 

Paguei $ 87,20 por caneta - a versão em aço inoxidável. A versão com detalhes dourados do Pen Chalet custa US $ 248. Ainda não comparei seu comprimento com as iterações anteriores do modelo, portanto, eu ou outra pessoa no fórum faremos isso.

Thank you for introducing us. Beautiful pens.

[PAKMAN]

I'm looking forward to seeing these in person. Thanks for the photos!

 

[inkstainedruth]

Is it my imagination, or is at least the teal barrel somewhat translucent?  Or is it a trick of the light?

Any clue as to how robust the barrel and hood material are?  Because one of the high points of the originals is that they were made out of Lucite.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[corniche]

Hello Donn,

 

Thank you for this. 

 

So, you would say you're pleased with the materials and overall build quality??

 

- Sean 

[corniche]

18 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

Is it my imagination, or is at least the teal barrel somewhat translucent?  Or is it a trick of the light?

Any clue as to how robust the barrel and hood material are?  Because one of the high points of the originals is that they were made out of Lucite.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

I see what you mean, Ruth, but I think its reflected light from the white towel... I hope I'm right.

 

- Sean 

[es9]

Anyone happen to know if the nib can be changed like the original?  

[TheRedBeard]

Thank you, Donn, for sharing the photos and your first impressions :) 

It seems you are happy with this new P51, aren't you?

How does it feel regarding built quality?

[Aysedasi]

Than ks for the first impressions Donn.

 

(I hope I'm not just being picky, but I find your font choice quite a strain to read with my less than 20:20 eyesight!  ;))

[Gary1952]

Thanks for the pics.  I'll be interested to hear how it performs for you.

 

Nevertheless, I doubt I'll buy one of these fountain pens.  The screw cap and unsightly,  transition from the barrel to the section doesn't appeal to me.

 

 

 

[Aysedasi]

I fear I will give in to my curiosity at some point, in one of those moments of weakness when the lack of a broad nib and a convertor no longer weighs as heavily on my mind.  

[donnweinberg]

17 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

Is it my imagination, or is at least the teal barrel somewhat translucent?  Or is it a trick of the light?

Any clue as to how robust the barrel and hood material are?  Because one of the high points of the originals is that they were made out of Lucite.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Not translucent; trick of light.  The barrel and hood feel robust, but I doubt they are made of Lucite. -- Donn

 

17 hours ago, corniche said:

Hello Donn,

 

Thank you for this. 

 

So, you would say you're pleased with the materials and overall build quality??

 

- Sean 

Yes, so far very pleased, especially at the price point for the Stainless Steel version.  I'll let you all know about the $248 gold-nibbed version after I receive and try it. -- Donn

 

8 hours ago, Aysedasi said:

Than ks for the first impressions Donn.

 

(I hope I'm not just being picky, but I find your font choice quite a strain to read with my less than 20:20 eyesight!  ;))

Not picky.  I'll make it larger next time I post.  There you go.  How's this?  -- Donn

Edited February 12, 2021 by donnweinberg
Correction of misspelling.

[donnweinberg]

I was a bit disappointed that the pens didn't come with a converter, but only came with a single blue cartridge.  I have plenty of Parker converters, but still. . . . 

[MoriartyR]

22 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

Is it my imagination, or is at least the teal barrel somewhat translucent?  Or is it a trick of the light?

Any clue as to how robust the barrel and hood material are?  Because one of the high points of the originals is that they were made out of Lucite.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Please someone correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t lucite, perspex, plexiglass all just different manufacturers’ trade names for the exact same material - poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) - which we often just call acrylic. I always understood it this way.

Edit: oh, and “precious resin” - that’s another name for acrylic. 😉

 

[Estycollector]

Congratulations and hope you enjoy.!!!

[inkstainedruth]

3 hours ago, MoriartyR said:

Edit: oh, and “precious resin” - that’s another name for acrylic. 😉

 

And here I thought that it was another name for "expensive pen that shatters when you drop it on the floor.... 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Aysedasi]

21 hours ago, donnweinberg said:

 

 

Not picky.  I'll make it larger next time I post.  There you go.  How's this?  -- Donn

 

Splendid!   

[donnweinberg]

I wanted to show one or two other photos of the new Parker 51.  I'm not seeing what I'm uploading, which are JPEG images of relatively small size.  I had no problem with my original post, but now the JPEG file gets chosen and inserted, but there's no image.  This new FPN interface is confusing.

 

 

 

[corniche]

Hi all,

 

Here's my contribution to this discussion:

 

 

My preliminary thoughts can be found here:

 

 

 

- Sean 

[donnweinberg]

I've been writing with my new Parker 51 (stainless steel nib model) now for a week, and I really like it.  It has remained a smooth writer with its medium nib and has not skipped.  I've gotten used to the screw on-off cap with a Parker 51.  So, still a great writer after a week.