vjreviews Parker 51 NG Gold nib - Disgrace to the legacy or NOT?

[thx1138]

I agree with DrV here.

I have three of the gold nibbed new 51's, four of the stainless nib new 51's, and about 20 of the old version (mostly aerometric).

The 51 NG all wrote perfectly smoothly out of the box. Can be left capped and inked for extended periods without drying up, and have an excellent build quality.

All but one had excellent ink flow from the box. One of the steel nibbed pens needed the tines to be slightly spread to achieve good ink flow.

The Nantes factory is obviously still employing top level nib makers for its higher level pens.

As far as what Parker choose to call it, they own the names, they can call it what they want.

My only complaint about the 51 NG is that you can't get a broad nib.

I also bought a few of the matching ballpoints. These are a comfortable size and weight, with the availability of plum a bonus. The plum and gold pens look exceptionally nice. 

[Boston Brian]

The minimum expectation of any pen company is to make the pen available in fine, medium and broad, for a company like Parker to fail on this level speaks volumes about what kind of company Parker is nowadays!  Sad! 

[A Smug Dill]

2 hours ago, Boston Brian said:

The minimum expectation of any pen company is to make the pen available in fine, medium and broad,

 

“The pen”, or every model of pen that a company offers? I certainly don't have any less respect for Sailor, Platinum, Pilot, HongDian, etc. to not offer F, M, and B nibs on every model; and so, even though I personally dislike Parker, I don't think less of the brand on account of that specific thing either. In any case, does Parker make Broad nibs available on the new model 51 through its official Nib Exchange Programme at the individual customer's request? There's a vast difference between treat someone as being in a minority (and requiring exceptional treatment) on account of his/her writing preferences, and simply refusing to accommodate him/her at all through additional, after-sales processes.

 

[TheRedBeard]

Earlier this night Parker 51 silver cap+barrel has been sold for £820...

I think ten years from now no one will even remember what NG51 was at all  LOL  

[bunnspecial]

I just took delivery today of a plum/GF one with a gold nib.

 

I haven't inked it yet, but am anxious to.

 

I will say the color seems similar to my original Plum...will try to put them side by side later today.

[doriath19]

20 hours ago, bunnspecial said:

I just took delivery today of a plum/GF one with a gold nib.

 

I haven't inked it yet, but am anxious to.

 

I will say the color seems similar to my original Plum...will try to put them side by side later today.

Let us know what you think once you've had a chance to write with it.

[amk]

Thank you. That review is more than just useful, it's highly entertaining!

[Aysedasi]

On 10/17/2022 at 7:10 AM, thx1138 said:

 

My only complaint about the 51 NG is that you can't get a broad nib.

 

 

My new 51 is absolutely fine and in Rage Red looks the bees knees.  The only complaint I have is the same as yours....

[Aysedasi]

On 10/22/2022 at 8:56 PM, TheRedBeard said:

Earlier this night Parker 51 silver cap+barrel has been sold for £820...

I think ten years from now no one will even remember what NG51 was at all  LOL  

 

I'm pretty confident that you're wrong.  It will never be remembered with the same 'reverence' as the original P51, but there is no reason why this new pen shouldn't be remembered.  It's a perfectly decent and good looking writing instrument.  There are a lot of pens around these days that I wouldn't give that description to.  I fear you're letting your prejudices about the new pen cloud your judgement.  

[bunnspecial]

Mine's been inked since I posted about it a couple of weeks ago.

 

It's been a nice writer, and the nib has a pleasant amount of feedback like some of my other recent production Parker gold nibs(Duofolds). Dry-out is not a problem, although it certainly can't stay uncapped as long as an original.

 

The one thing that is really annoying me is the converter rattles badly in the barrel...

[VijayGS]

On 11/9/2022 at 7:39 PM, bunnspecial said:

The one thing that is really annoying me is the converter rattles badly in the barrel...

Same here… wish there was a solution for it. 

[VijayGS]

On 11/9/2022 at 5:34 PM, amk said:

Thank you. That review is more than just useful, it's highly entertaining!

I am glad you enjoyed it. 

[Penguincollector]

On 11/9/2022 at 6:09 AM, bunnspecial said:

Mine's been inked since I posted about it a couple of weeks ago.

 

It's been a nice writer, and the nib has a pleasant amount of feedback like some of my other recent production Parker gold nibs(Duofolds). Dry-out is not a problem, although it certainly can't stay uncapped as long as an original.

 

The one thing that is really annoying me is the converter rattles badly in the barrel...

Do the cartridges rattle as well? If not, try the squeeze converter (I prefer these to the piston, or that slide one).

[Mike B]

I have been using one of the old (very old) 45 slide convertors on my new 51. It has been quiet so far.

 

Admittedly it looks the same as the slide convertors now for sale on Amazon or the pen stores, but I wonder if the older ones might be just a smidgen larger, and if that in turn prevents any movement.

 

Edited to add -- Also, I think the newer Parker cartridges have either a small ball bearing or else a metal spring in the ink storage area of the convertor, to break surface tension in the ink and assist in smoother flow. Could this be the source of the rattling?

[langere]

I have found the new style Parker 51 NGs to be very reliable writers.  I have two of them and they write very well, just like the OP stated.  

 

I wish my Parker 100s wrote as well!

 

Erick

[VijayGS]

13 hours ago, Mike B said:

small ball bearing or else a metal spring in the ink storage area of the convertor, to break surface tension in the ink and assist in smoother flow. Could this be the source of the rattling?

The Parker twist converter on my pen doesn’t sport any kind of agitator. It’s the converter that rattles. Another flaw that Parker missed to rectify. But your suggestion of using the push converter sounds promising. Will try. Thank you so much. 

[Aysedasi]

Mine rattles too.  Can't say it bothers me much though.  

[TheRedBeard]

On 11/9/2022 at 1:12 PM, Aysedasi said:

 

I'm pretty confident that you're wrong.  It will never be remembered with the same 'reverence' as the original P51, but there is no reason why this new pen shouldn't be remembered.  It's a perfectly decent and good looking writing instrument.  There are a lot of pens around these days that I wouldn't give that description to.  I fear you're letting your prejudices about the new pen cloud your judgement.  

Sure, it is only my humble opinion, nothing more  

I have tried NG51 once it was released and got disappointed,  and I will not change my opinion as I  find nothing decent in it. 

Moreover, I will not add it to my Parkers collection as it odes not deserve to be named Parker either  

 

[Aysedasi]

On 11/12/2022 at 12:26 PM, TheRedBeard said:

Sure, it is only my humble opinion, nothing more  

I have tried NG51 once it was released and got disappointed,  and I will not change my opinion as I  find nothing decent in it. 

Moreover, I will not add it to my Parkers collection as it odes not deserve to be named Parker either  

 

 

Okey doke.  

[Penguincollector]

I haven’t seen anything in the new cartridges that would act as an agitator.

On 11/10/2022 at 5:06 PM, Mike B said:

I have been using one of the old (very old) 45 slide convertors on my new 51.

I didn’t realize that there was an old slide converter! My 45 is from 1963 (Dad’s) and has a squeeze one. I wonder how often they come up for sale with their respective pens?