Am I the only one who thinks the 51 doesnt really hold up aestheticly?

[Thomasseurs]

I have 2 vintage Parker 51's. I got them just to have them in my collection because they are iconic. 

 

But I feel the design hasn't really stood the test of time. When I look a the new ones I see a old design. The Lamy 2K could have been designed today (The Bauhaus does it for me anyway). The Parker 45 as well (the Flighter version anyway). They look contemporary, where as the 51 looks like an old design. And I don't think in a cool/retro way. And they are very expensive in my eyes (and for my wallet) if you look at what you're getting for the price. A vintage one is cheaper. Though I would love to convert one from the pressure filling sack to a modern cartridge. But I haven't found any how to's on that and it seems to be nearly impossible. Though I have a Chinese knock off that I might sacrifice in the name of science and see if I can adapt the feed. 

 

I like it as a design of its time, I'm not hating on it. When I take mine out I enjoy the history, appreciate how well they still write. I like the ones I have. 

 

But I am genuinely curious, the people who buy the new one's. Do you think it stood the test of time in how it looks? Or did you want it because it looks like a old design? And you do feel it's retro? 

 

 

[inkstainedruth]

I only own vintage 51s, so I can't answer a lot of your questions (I've never paid more than a little more than $100 for one of mine -- and that was simply because I was an auction at a pen show and was bidding on the oblique nib as much as anything.  My understanding is that a lot of the aesthetics of the original design was to make it look very forward-looking in style (I hesitate to say "futuristic" but of course the original 51s came out in the 1940s -- so, the better part of a century ago).  And I think that if new people came across a vintage one at an estate sale or antiques shop, and were not "pen people" (the way that people on FPN are) they might not realize how old the pens actually are.  And (at least for the later 51 Aerometrics) I'd guess that 90% of the time all they need is just a good, thorough, flushing out and they'll just then write (the earlier 51 Vacs might need more work, in that they might need to have the diaphragm replaced).

The thing that is most interesting about the design is that the original 51s were designed to be superb writing instruments -- from the barrel material (one of the first commercial uses for Lucite) to the hooded nib (to prevent ink burping at changes of altitude, especially while flying in a plane -- back then planes didn't have ways to adjust for that inside the cockpit or seating areas).

I quite agree with you about the prices of the "reboot" 51s -- I've seen them described as "Sonnets in sheep's clothing".  For that kind of money?  If I wanted a c/c pen I'd buy a way less expensive pen (a Parker Vector -- although they are probably too skinny for people with large hands, I LOVE mine, because they're inexpensive little workhorses that come in a bunch of cool designs) or something like a Lamy Safari or al-Star.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[FarmBoy]

Parker made cartridge 51s. 
 

 

[vicpen123]

To my eye, the size, scale and simplicity of the original Parker "51" design, both in the hand and on a desk, is elegant, sophisticated and forever timeless.

 

Oh, it also writes beautifully as well as seemingly lasting forever.

[Armo]

The Parker 51 does in fact have its roots in the Bauhaus. The original designs where by Lazlo Moholy Nagy who was head of the metal workshop there. The design is clean, functional and timeless. The 45 is one pen I have never been tempted by. For me it looks fussy, over elaborate and over worked as a design (which I quess is 3 ways of saying the same thing). I also dislike the Lamy 2K. Its texture reminds me of the brutalist achitecture that was so prevalent in the 50's. To each their own I quess.

[Estycollector]

10 hours ago, Thomasseurs said:

I have 2 vintage Parker 51's. I got them just to have them in my collection because they are iconic. 

 

But I feel the design hasn't really stood the test of time. When I look a the new ones I see a old design. The Lamy 2K could have been designed today (The Bauhaus does it for me anyway). The Parker 45 as well (the Flighter version anyway). They look contemporary, where as the 51 looks like an old design. And I don't think in a cool/retro way. And they are very expensive in my eyes (and for my wallet) if you look at what you're getting for the price. A vintage one is cheaper. Though I would love to convert one from the pressure filling sack to a modern cartridge. But I haven't found any how to's on that and it seems to be nearly impossible. Though I have a Chinese knock off that I might sacrifice in the name of science and see if I can adapt the feed. 

 

I like it as a design of its time, I'm not hating on it. When I take mine out I enjoy the history, appreciate how well they still write. I like the ones I have. 

 

But I am genuinely curious, the people who buy the new one's. Do you think it stood the test of time in how it looks? Or did you want it because it looks like a old design? And you do feel it's retro? 

 

 

I had a MB 149 in the early 1990's and while I felt it was beautiful, it was too big around and I have larger hands. The slender nature of vintage pens has definitely made them popular with me. 

 

My Parker 51 are both from 1942 and have been professionally restored. Both are always are ready to write when I am and that is part of the hooded nib advantages I have read. I also have a later Parker 21 that I found unused. Parker really made these pens visually and practically appealing to my eyes. 

 

I started a Bauhaus thread a few years back and came to appreciate the philosophy. I came to the conclusion, that for me, the Lamy Al-Star better represents the philosophy than the 2000 simply and if no other reason but that it more affordable for everyone. If what Iearned is correct, Bauhaus design was so anyone could enjoy. Perhaps the Volkswagen of pens is the ones more accessible. 

[Emver]

"Am I the only one who thinks the 51 doesnt really hold up aestheticly?"

 

Yes Thomas, I think you probably are.  But of course most people think of the 51 as the original Vacumatic or Aerometric versions, not that rather vulgar modern Chinese version.

[thx1138]

59 minutes ago, Emver said:

"Am I the only one who thinks the 51 doesnt really hold up aestheticly?"

 

Yes Thomas, I think you probably are.  But of course most people think of the 51 as the original Vacumatic or Aerometric versions, not that rather vulgar modern Chinese version.

What vulgar modern Chinese version?  Do you mean the wing sun or some other Chinese brand?

[Wahl]

@Thomasseurs, yes, you are the only only one.

 

The P51 has a design which is elegant and timeless.

[Sailor Kenshin]

17 hours ago, FarmBoy said:

Parker made cartridge 51s. 
 

 

 

Where could I find one?  🎉

[FarmBoy]

I currently have none. If I spot one I’ll make it known. 

[Armo]

9 hours ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

 

Where could I find one?  🎉

They were not in producion very long. One went on ebay ebay Sunday gone. It reached £316. It was mint.

[DrPlush]

I think the 51 design is timeless in the way that art deco jewellery is — recognisable as beautiful in any time, but also recognisable as coming from a different time. Personally, I think the 45 (including the Flighter) is the same. I agree that the L2K looks more like it could have been designed today — but I also think it’s ugly.

[mitto]

10 hours ago, FarmBoy said:

I currently have none. If I spot one I’ll make it known. 

The latest cartridge 51 (with clean gold cap) that I got from a antique store in a remote town, bordering Afghanistan, is in the mail. The tracking says the expected date of arrival is Thusrsday 14 September (ie tomorrow). 

[mitto]

19 hours ago, Wahl said:

@Thomasseurs, yes, you are the only only one.

 

The P51 has a design which is elegant and timeless.

Exactly. 

[Sailor Kenshin]

8 hours ago, Armo said:

They were not in producion very long. One went on ebay ebay Sunday gone. It reached £316. It was mint.

 

Thanks!  Though…. 🙀 at the $.

[inkstainedruth]

13 hours ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

 

Thanks!  Though…. 🙀 at the $.

WAY too rich for my blood....  Think the most I ever paid for a 51 was $110 US plus the buyer's premium for the Navy Grey Aero (and I was bidding on the OB nib, as much as anything).  Most of mine were in the $50-80 range, including repair costs on some of the 51 Vacs.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[mitto]

21 hours ago, mitto said:

The latest cartridge 51 (with clean gold cap) that I got from a antique store in a remote town, bordering Afghanistan, is in the mail. The tracking says the expected date of arrival is Thusrsday 14 September (ie tomorrow). 

 

And it has just arrived. 

 

[inkstainedruth]

Interesting.  Does it have a date code on it?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[lionelc]

using an aerometric teal blue 51 right now - aesthetically pleasing and for me, a pleasure to maintain.  sac replacement is just so easy in the aerometric, the vacumatic 51s are a little more difficult but compared to some other brands a walk in the park.