New Parker 51 section/cap fit problem?

[TheRedBeard]

31 minutes ago, slowdown said:

I’ve been thinking about a full sized one in the grey, but can’t decide on another aerometric or a vac...

Aero is easier in maintenance... 

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edjnqcsBpI0#t=7m40s

 

7minutes 40seconds. PenBoyRoy noted this issue in his review.

 

Brand new pens, getting these scratches/grooves, apparently from simply capping the pen.

Looks like bad design and materials IMO. I guess Lucite just isn't being made anymore...

 

Some people may consider it acceptable that a $100 copy of a 1950s Parker 21, with a cheap vector nib, only a few weeks old, scratches itself simply by the act of capping then pen...

 

I do not.

 

The few original 51s I have that have "grooves" on the hood (I think it's only 1 or 2 of more than two dozen) can all be blamed on clearly caping the pen too hard. WAY TOO HARD. Very difficult to make the argument that someone caped a pen too hard when the cap screws on...

 

I'm glad you like your "51" demi. They are awesome pens, especially the Aeros. In my experience the nibs on the Aeros tend to be better than the ones on Vacs overall. Very jealous of the plum... 

 

If you return the new *ahem* 51... (and if it were me, I would) but want something "51" like, but less precious / that you don't need to worry about breaking or loosing; get a Wing Sung 601 (or two, since they are so affordable).

They are a nearly perfect copy of the original "51"s with the major exceptions being:

-the nibs are slightly smaller in diameter (so not swappable with a REAL "51")

-the vacumatic pump has been IMPROVED and

-the pump is easily removable for repairs and cleaning! 

-slightly cheaper plastic than the original, but still a nice "hard" plastic, especially the demonstrators.

 

I have 4 (and 2 more on the way) and one of them (a demonstrator) has been my daily driver for over 2 years. I put one of the aftermarket nibs in it and keep it filled with either Diamine Registrar's or R&K Salix. This is the one pen that I have that is pretty much ALWAYS inked. I Love it. And if something happens to it? Well, at least I'm only out 20 or so bucks and can get an easy replacement. Oh, and there's no scratches or gouges on the hood of any of my Wing Sungs :)

 

Good luck, and let us know what you end up doing!

 

[TheRedBeard]

32 minutes ago, Glenn-SC said:

I have numerous "51"s with scratches and gouges all over the hoods and barrels.
I have "51"s with the tips of the hood broken off.

Should we retroactively claim that the original "51" was a bad design made of poor materials?

After 60+ years of use original P51 may develop such things, of course... 

But not after a few weeks like NG51, eh  

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

2 minutes ago, TheRedBeard said:

Aero is easier in maintenance... 

+1 Aeros bought in the wild usually only need a good cleaning and are ready to write for another 70 years.

 

Vacs, well vacs usually need a new diaphragm and are more of a pain in the butt to clean. 

[Glenn-SC]

11 minutes ago, TheRedBeard said:

After 60+ years of use original P51 may develop such things, of course... 

But not after a few weeks like NG51, eh  

Were you there "60+ years" (actually 80 years) ago to know how soon the scratches first appeared on the original "51"?
First capping and uncapping perhaps?
First posting and unposting for the barrel perhaps?
 

[TheRedBeard]

24 minutes ago, Glenn-SC said:

Were you there "60+ years" (actually 80 years) ago to know how soon the scratches first appeared on the original "51"?
First capping and uncapping perhaps?
First posting and unposting for the barrel perhaps?
 

Easy question  

You just buy NOS P51 and test yourself  

 

[ele]

 

18 minutes ago, Glenn-SC said:

Were you there "60+ years" (actually 80 years) ago to know how soon the scratches first appeared on the original "51"?
First capping and uncapping perhaps?
First posting and unposting for the barrel perhaps?
 

I recently bought a mint "51" aerometric (a little over 2 months ago). For the first month or two of use, there were not scratches whatsoever on the hood. As I've been taking it out and carrying it around in bags etc more and more frequently, I have begun to notice light wear on the part of the hood that makes contact with the inner cap. This is likely from small hard things in dust and carried by hand residue being pushed against the hood. 

The situation with the new 51 is different: the marks form much more quickly, and appear regardless of how the pen is used. Mine showed up in a week. I think it is scratching by design (in those pens where it happens...tolerances might explain the variance) rather than scratching from extended use. 

[TheRedBeard]

6 minutes ago, ele said:

 

I recently bought a mint "51" aerometric (a little over 2 months ago). For the first month or two of use, there were not scratches whatsoever on the hood. As I've been taking it out and carrying it around in bags etc more and more frequently, I have begun to notice light wear on the part of the hood that makes contact with the inner cap. This is likely from small hard things in dust and carried by hand residue being pushed against the hood. 

The situation with the new 51 is different: the marks form much more quickly, and appear regardless of how the pen is used. Mine showed up in a week. I think it is scratching by design (in those pens where it happens...tolerances might explain the variance) rather than scratching from extended use. 

 

Lucite used in original P51s was undoubtedly the best plastic ever used in pens at industrial scale...

Just remember that P61s and P51s Mk III were made of different plastic and their quality was poorer...  

[slowdown]

12 minutes ago, ele said:

 

I recently bought a mint "51" aerometric (a little over 2 months ago). For the first month or two of use, there were not scratches whatsoever on the hood. As I've been taking it out and carrying it around in bags etc more and more frequently, I have begun to notice light wear on the part of the hood that makes contact with the inner cap. This is likely from small hard things in dust and carried by hand residue being pushed against the hood. 

The situation with the new 51 is different: the marks form much more quickly, and appear regardless of how the pen is used. Mine showed up in a week. I think it is scratching by design (in those pens where it happens...tolerances might explain the variance) rather than scratching from extended use. 

+1 yes to tolerance/scratching by design vs extended use. Hopefully I will hear from Parker and/or ThePenChalet soon.

[slowdown]

4 minutes ago, TheRedBeard said:

 

Lucite used in original P51s was undoubtedly the best plastic ever used in pens at industrial scale...

Just remember that P61s and P51s Mk III were made of different plastic and their quality was poorer...  

Mk III? Sorry—Newbie

[slowdown]

51 minutes ago, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

+1 Aeros bought in the wild usually only need a good cleaning and are ready to write for another 70 years.

 

Vacs, well vacs usually need a new diaphragm and are more of a pain in the butt to clean. 

Good to know—I was leaning toward another aero...

[TheRedBeard]

14 minutes ago, slowdown said:

Mk III? Sorry—Newbie

Late version of P51 which can be easily recognised by square-ish barrel and, AFAR, thinner clutch ring. 

It was more prone to cracks. 

You can read more here:

http://parkerpens.net/parker51.html