6 replies to this topic

[cjabbott]

I have this odd interest in Parker 21's right now, so I picked up a lot of four pens the other day. It turned out to be a very decent 45, a grey 21 super that could almost pass for NOS, a red mkII 21 that needs a new nib, and a mk1 custom...black with a 12k gold-filled cap. It has a few dings in it, but I've cleaned it up and it seems to write very well.

Now the question, should I bother to get the cap spiffed up?

[david i]

I have this odd interest in Parker 21's right now, so I picked up a lot of four pens the other day. It turned out to be a very decent 45, a grey 21 super that could almost pass for NOS, a red mkII 21 that needs a new nib, and a mk1 custom...black with a 12k gold-filled cap. It has a few dings in it, but I've cleaned it up and it seems to write very well.

Now the question, should I bother to get the cap spiffed up?

Good question. As often... it depends.

Assuming (I'm not sure) that the inner cap/clutch can be yanked and the clip easily removed (as with Parker 51) and that someone has a mandrel to fit, dedinging and refrosting then would be at least possible, for pen that packs frosted lustraloy cap. Probably cost way more than finding a trashed-barrel 21 with decent cap to serve as donor.

Here is an image of a Parker 21, for those who do not know the pen being discussed

regards

David

[cjabbott]

Good input, David. Thanks!

I'll add to this post...I just snagged six 21 flighters in one lot!! Woo-hoo!!

[Richard]

Assuming (I'm not sure) that the inner cap/clutch can be yanked and the clip easily removed (as with Parker 51)...

This is an invalid assumption. The "21" has no clutch in its cap. The clutch is incorporated into the body's clutch ring. Looking at the ring, you will see what appears to be a thin-fat-thin stack of three rings. The ring next to the shell (hood) is a plain flat washer. The ring next to the barrel is part of a turning that is basically a short tube around which the middle ring fits, with a flange to hold the middle ring in place. The middle ring is a short section of tubing that is very slightly ovalized into a rounded triangle. The tubing is springy, and three "points" of the triangle clutch against the inside surface of the cap. This is a less costly design than the one used on the "51".

The clip on a "21" is a washer clip that fits into a notch in the cap and is held in place by a threaded metal boss (the cap crown) that screws into the inner cap. Heat the boss a little and you should be able to unscrew it. This is easier if you have some sort of implement that fits into the inner cap to keep it from turning inside the cap. (Don't use the pen body for this...)

And the "21" in your post is a Mark II, with a trough clip designed by Nolan Rhodes.

[cjabbott]

Thank you, Richard. I have had this pen and cap dismantled and observed exactly as you say. It did not look like there was a clutch in the cap, but I thought I might be missing something.

[david i]

DAVID
Assuming (I'm not sure) that the inner cap/clutch can be yanked and the clip easily removed (as with Parker 51) and that someone has a mandrel to fit

This is an invalid assumption. The "21" has no clutch in its cap. SNIp

Consarned picknitters!

The "I'm not sure" even if followed by "that", rather than "if", was a global "I'm not sure". There was little assumption ongoing. Rather expression of "not sure how these be set up"

But, at least someone who plays with pen guts managed to chime in to clarify the "not sure".

-d

[cjabbott]

Guess what...

I got a small lot of 21's yesterday and found a super with a metal ring around the lower end of the inner cap. This metal ring has four metal bars extending down from it with a curve at the end of each bar in what could only be considered a clutch. Hmmm?