Parker 51: how to tell which nib?

[NewbieNavyGrey]

Hello all,

 

Apologies if you have been asked this a gazillion times before - I have searched here and the internet to no avail.

 

How can one tell what nib a Parker 51 has please? There are a few on ebay that I like the look of, but when I ask what width nib the pen has - the seller is unsure. I am after a Medium nib, so I'm hoping I can advise the sellers so that they can then find out.

 

Also, what length is a normal, non-demi Parker 51 please?

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

[J English Smith]

A normal 51 is 5 3/8" capped.

 

With most 51s, there are no visible nib markings - the nib mark is under the hood. Hence people selling have to guess what to call the line thickness. Makes selling a bit tricky and you see people calling nibs "true XF" or "fine to medium" as a result.

 

Best way to buy is to test in person, if you're picky, or ask to see a scan or a writing sample from the pen.

 

There are more fines and even xf's than mediums or broad (factory broad is fairly rare).

 

Hope this helps!

[J English Smith]

Oh, and 51 nibs are fairly easy to swap - I don't do it myself because heating and re-shellacing is involved. But a pro can change out a nib - if you offer up the old one for the replacement - for $15 or so.

 

So if you find the pen you like, you can find a medium nib if the one you get is too fine for your taste.

[vermiculus]

One way to do it would be to get a macro shot of the nib, and post it here. Someone will be able to tell.

 

By the way, it's much more likely to be fine than anything else, if American made. The English ones, in my experience, have more varied nibs...

[NewbieNavyGrey]

Thank you both for the prompt replies.

 

One prompted my final question - how does one tell whether a pen is made in the UK or the USA? Will it say on the lid?

 

Sorry to sound so vague. I had a fountain pen which I adored, and it was stolen at university - it was given to my father by his father. I have spent years and £££'s on trying to find a pen as good - to no avail. Through some scooting about recently I have found out it was a Navy Grey, gold-cap, medium nib Parker 51 - so I'm looking to replace it

 

Thanks again.

Edited September 10, 2008 by NewbieNavyGrey

[Pete]

It should be marked with where it was manufactured, though I think there might be exceptions. 51 nib size can be hard to tell, and unless the ebay seller has experience with 51s you can't really rely on their judgment towards width. Usually the ones that know the nib is a med or broad will advertise the fact, since they get more money for those.

[richardandtracy]

If it's a choice between 'Fine' Medium' and 'Broad' then ask the vendor to draw a line and estimate its width. For UK made Parker 51's the line widths will be in the following ranges:-

 

Broad: 0.9-1.1mm

Medium: 0.6-0.7mm

Fine: Less than 0.5mm

 

I believe US made nibs will be a little narrower for the same designation.

 

If the vendor cannot estimate nib width without this sort of help, then identifying more exotic nibs will be beyond them.

 

Regards

 

Richard.

 

[SallyLyn]

Be really careful of trying to recapture the pen you lost, gave away, your Dad had. That little adventure has now cost me thousands of dollars, tho' most of the pens I bought had nothing to do with the pen I gave away or my Dad had.

 

My Dad gave me a Sheaffer Snorkel set for college graduation a million years ago. I tried to use it several times and I hated it, too fine, pens were messy. When I moved the last time gave it away to Salvation Army. Then gave my Dad's Sheaffer Snorkel to my brother. He's a life long pen guy, asked if he could have, and I still wasn't into pens.

 

Then I got interested in pens and I've been chasing those two pens ever since.

 

Back to the nib. For my first "51" I went to a reseller, like from our Marketplace and asked for the size nib I wanted. Navy Grey is a pretty common color so you should find fast. When I talked to people I told them I wanted a smooth daily writer. I was less interested in perfect condition or color. I got a gray, smooth, medium nib, for less than $100. Bought couple years ago, so a bit more now. Much higher if you want a graded pen.

 

Good Hunting!