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

[VacNut]

22 hours ago, ParramattaPaul said:

 

I disagree.  To me, the Parker 51 is not only not attractive but plain in the worst possible connotation of the word.  It is an unimpressive, boring-looking pen.

 

That of course, is just my opinion.

Have you look through the designs of the more uncommon 51s? For a utilitarian object from the late 1930’s they are a stunning design. 
There are few pens of comparable distinction from the 30’s.

[Glenn-SC]

The “51” product range was vast, from solid gold caps and double jewel barrels to stainless steel caps with plain single color (black, gray, blue, etc) barrels.  That is the beauty of the model.  
i don’t “damn” the line for being boring (SS and plexiglass) when I know that I can find pens with solid gold empire caps with gold ended (tassie) Yellowstone barrels.  

[VacNut]

You should see the fish scale 51. Amazing.

There are two Empire 51 caps, and I do not mean the re-issue caps.

I prefer the smooth silver cap on the Yellowstone and the Nassau pens

[ParramattaPaul]

2 hours ago, VacNut said:

Have you look through the designs of the more uncommon 51s? For a utilitarian object from the late 1930’s they are a stunning design. 
There are few pens of comparable distinction from the 30’s.

 

1 hour ago, Glenn-SC said:

The “51” product range was vast, from solid gold. Al’s and barrels to stainless steel caps with plain single color (black, gray, blue, etc) barrels.  That is the beauty of the model.  
i don’t “damn” the line for being boring (SS and plexiglass) when I know that I can find two pens with Leo gold empire caps with gold ended (tassie) Yellowstone barrels.  

 

Having read your comments, I thought that perhaps my opinion formed from having considered purchasing a 51 was ill-conceived.  With that, I decided to research matters further.  Having done so, I will admit that one might say that the 51 has slender, almost 'svelte', lines.  One might also say that the metal cap adorned with the Parker arrow is 'unique'.  Yet, I stand by my earlier opinion that to me the 51 is 'plain', 'unappealing', and boring in appearance.

 

I will add that personal tastes apply to pens just as it does to art and music.  That, I suggest, is why there are so many pens for the one (or more) that has appeal.

[senzen]

I don't have any 51, I don't like the looks of hooded nibs but I do appreciate their design at the time they appeared and do think they have aged well; perhaps what's missing are caps and bodies in the same colour; compare to most cars from that era, laughably overweight chromed monstruosities, with a few exceptions. The 75, 50 and even the 105 are to my eyes more timeless designs

 

The 2000 misses the mark to my eyes because of the differently coloured metal section, while the all metal version is really bland, even if it checks many functional marks; don't have one either! 

[Jayebird]

I am also somebody who just isn't that taken with the Parker 51s I have seen on the whole. There are other vintage and modern pens I like much better in appearance. Maybe someday I will come across a particular variant I really like.

 

But really, that just means more classic and vintage 51s for those who are a fan!

[Shaughn]

For me, it is the ugliest possible design because of that  awful hooded nib.

A fountain pen desperately pretending to be a ballpoint pen - ashamed of it being a fountain pen, embarrassed by its sort of nib perhaps, . Yikes, yikes, triple yikes. How I loathe its inverted snobbery.
 

 

[FarmBoy]

When the 51 was designed ball point pens did not exist. 

[Glenn-SC]

16 minutes ago, Shaughn said:

For me, it is the ugliest possible design because of that  awful hooded nib.

A fountain pen desperately pretending to be a ballpoint pen - ashamed of it being a fountain pen, embarrassed by its sort of nib perhaps, . Yikes, yikes, triple yikes. How I loathe its inverted snobbery.
 

 

1). The “51” was designed and produced years prior to the invention of the ballpoint pen. (Farmboy beat me to this response by seconds!)

2). The hooded nib design is not just an aesthetic, it has a significant affect on the pens’ performance. 
 

[Shaughn]

Even if Its Uglyness predates the ballpoint pen, there is no reason to continue the thing after that invention. It rather should have prevented it because of its horrible looks. Sorry guys, but aesthetically speaking I'm not the least impressed by hooded nibs and have no inclination whatsoever to get one for supposed performance. I rather eat broccoli, or have Marmite.

But then, 'de gustibus non disputandum.
 

[thx1138]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

 

I do not find the 51 to be unattractive, nor do I find it spectacularly beautiful. It is a fine looking pen in it's own right and an incredibly reliable writer. Some of my 51's which wrote reasonably well probably hadn't been cleaned for 50 years. After a clean they wrote even better.

I have quite a few 51's, almost all of which write superbly. those that don't have probably had some bad experiences over the last 60-80 years.

 

For me the Meru, gold 75's, 35's, and 180's attract my admiration the most (and maybe some of the Duofold mineral colours).

 

Vacnut, I would indeed like to have a fishscale 51, or a empire cap 51, but my desire does not reach as high as the prices. That pattern is very similar to the "fine grain Dorge" pattern found on Parker 75 and 180's from the late 70's to the early 80's.

 

As far as marmite goes, I don't think anyone eats it. Marmite as I understand it, is used in place of boot polish in situations where the eating of the boots is likely to occur. Nothing can supplant vegemite as the greatest addition to bread and toast.

 

[ParramattaPaul]

1 hour ago, thx1138 said:

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

 

I do not find the 51 to be unattractive, nor do I find it spectacularly beautiful. It is a fine looking pen in it's own right and an incredibly reliable writer. Some of my 51's which wrote reasonably well probably hadn't been cleaned for 50 years. After a clean they wrote even better.

I have quite a few 51's, almost all of which write superbly. those that don't have probably had some bad experiences over the last 60-80 years.

 

For me the Meru, gold 75's, 35's, and 180's attract my admiration the most (and maybe some of the Duofold mineral colours).

 

Vacnut, I would indeed like to have a fishscale 51, or a empire cap 51, but my desire does not reach as high as the prices. That pattern is very similar to the "fine grain Dorge" pattern found on Parker 75 and 180's from the late 70's to the early 80's.

 

As far as marmite goes, I don't think anyone eats it. Marmite as I understand it, is used in place of boot polish in situations where the eating of the boots is likely to occur. Nothing can supplant vegemite as the greatest addition to bread and toast.

 

Marmite is horrible stuff.

 

For me, Vegemite, even applied most sparingly, is too salty tasting on toast, but useable as an addition to soups or stews.

 

One further comment about the 51. I'm not a fan of the snap-on metal cap. Iin the words of my late wife, it looks 'cheap and nasty'.

[VacNut]

1 hour ago, thx1138 said:

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

 

I do not find the 51 to be unattractive, nor do I find it spectacularly beautiful. It is a fine looking pen in it's own right and an incredibly reliable writer. Some of my 51's which wrote reasonably well probably hadn't been cleaned for 50 years. After a clean they wrote even better.

I have quite a few 51's, almost all of which write superbly. those that don't have probably had some bad experiences over the last 60-80 years.

 

For me the Meru, gold 75's, 35's, and 180's attract my admiration the most (and maybe some of the Duofold mineral colours).

 

Vacnut, I would indeed like to have a fishscale 51, or a empire cap 51, but my desire does not reach as high as the prices. That pattern is very similar to the "fine grain Dorge" pattern found on Parker 75 and 180's from the late 70's to the early 80's.

 

As far as marmite goes, I don't think anyone eats it. Marmite as I understand it, is used in place of boot polish in situations where the eating of the boots is likely to occur. Nothing can supplant vegemite as the greatest addition to bread and toast.

 

 

Great design spawn copy cats. The later Parker pens would not have developed without the 51. There is great risk in being the first.

 

There are numerous copy cats from other manufacturers, which may be a testament to its innovation. I evaluate a pen’s design based on its place in history. The hood helps prevent the nib from drying out, which is an innovation and a great aesthetic. I am playing around with an original 51 stub nib and a recent stub nib. The ink and line just flows and flows…

As a comparison, what were the other pen makers selling in 1939-1940?

 

BTW there is a great article about ballpoint pens made by Biro. Originally sold for much more than a fountain pen, and then someone found a more simple way to manufacture the ball point tips. Sold them for less than a dollar. Would have hated to be the guy who bought a ballpoint the year before.

[Emver]

It's hardly a surprise to learn that those people who are unable to appreciate the gastronomic qualities of Marmite are often the same people who are unable to appreciate the fine aesthetics of the most iconic fountain pen ever produced.

 

But please don't bring Vegemite into the argument. Most people here have strong feelings about copies and replicas.

 

[ParramattaPaul]

1 hour ago, Emver said:

It's hardly a surprise to learn that those people who are unable to appreciate the gastronomic qualities of Marmite are often the same people who are unable to appreciate the fine aesthetics of the most iconic fountain pen ever produced.

 

But please don't bring Vegemite into the argument. Most people here have strong feelings about copies and replicas.

 

Aw, but Vegemite is made from used Brewer's yeast.  That's a two for one deal -- beer and food!

 

Marmite? Meh.

 

 

CAVEAT:  Any readers tempted to try either Marmite or Vegemite for the first time are warned to apply only a very, VERY light amount (film like) to buttered toast.  It is not jam nor peanut butter that would be applied in quantity.

[Shaughn]

2 hours ago, Emver said:

It's hardly a surprise to learn that those people who are unable to appreciate the gastronomic qualities of Marmite are often the same people who are unable to appreciate the fine aesthetics of the most iconic fountain pen ever produced.

 

But please don't bring Vegemite into the argument. Most people here have strong feelings about copies and replicas.

 

Actually, Emver, I appreciate Marmite as much as I loathe hooded nibs. Never felt the need to try Ersatz instead.

 

[Glenn-SC]

28 minutes ago, Shaughn said:

Actually, Emver, I appreciate Marmite as much as I loathe hooded nibs. Never felt the need to try Ersatz instead.

 

The passion here is as impressive as it is confusing.  There are many fountain pen designs, materials, colors, even Manufacturers that I do not like, but I can’t think of any that I “loath.”  And hearing others praise a particular design, material, color, or Manufacturer that I don’t like does not  morph my dislike into loathing. 

[thx1138]

I was originally inspired to buy a 51 or 2 by Mitto and his championing the model. I'm glad I did, I discovered a simple pen which is a very reliable and smooth writer. I know own more than a few. 

 

I should ad that my 51 desk pen, mounted on a whitefriars ruby red bubble glass sphere, will write instantly and smoothly, even if not used for a month or so. It is generally inked with Diamine sapphire, which is the ink equivalent of a 51, super reliable. 

 

In Australia it is normally recommended to put you old boots in the sun for a while before polishing them with Marmite. If you do then need to eat them (due to starvation) you will be able to enjoy the taste of the leather more by having the Marmite to compare it with.

[vicpen123]

9 hours ago, thx1138 said:

 Nothing can supplant vegemite as the greatest addition to bread and toast.

 

+1. But you have to be an aussie to understand and appreciate.

 

Vegemite is the toast spread equivalent of the P"51". Several orders of magnitude better than any alternative.

[FarmBoy]

I like broccoli.  Guess I’m stuck with the 51s.