8 replies to this topic

[stevekolt]

Hey everyone. Up until this purchase from Rick here, A6 Parker Vacumatic Major in golden pearl fine Parker 14K nib, vacumatic fill) all my FP's have been of the modern variety. MB 149, 146, WE Jonathan Swift, numerous Visconti's, Pilot's, Lamy's etc. Really looking forward to the addition of this vintage pen. I fear that this will be my proverbial bite of the "forbidden fruit" though. I have only been "into" FP's for about 4 months or so, and know that I have a tendency to dive deep when getting into any new interest I now have a strong desire for my first Parker 51 (dove gray or yellow in very fine to excellent condition with a fine 14 K nib please) I realize I'm "preaching to the choir" here, but just wanted to get this off my chest. For those of you that have both a Vacumatic and a 51 (or multiples of each), which do you prefer and WHY do you prefer it?

Thanks.

Edited by stevekolt, 07 May 2013 - 08:36 AM.

[ljwahl]

Welcome-- and welcome to vintage Parkers! Both Vacumatics and 51s are exceptional pens. It really comes down to personal preference. I love them both, but for function the 51 wins for me. Aesthetically, while very different I'd argue they're both masterpieces of design.

Once you get your new pen, let us know what you think.

[JonSzanto]

Congrats (and condolences to your wallet in the coming months...)!

I looked and simply can't find a thread I started here last year, regarding my first Vac purchase. I picked up a first gen Golden Pearl with what I thought was an odd blind cap. Of course it was odd - it was wrong, an old Duofold style. Hung on to the pen, and this past February was able to find a perfectly matching blind cap at the LA Pen Show, so exciting (for me). All that was left was the filling system restore. As luck would have it, on the day you post about yours...

I just got it back from Danny Fudge. The pen looks just beautiful, I really feel like this is one of the pens that it all came together on, with patience and perseverance. And I owe a lot of that to the good members here on FPB, who have shared their earned knowledge on the process.

Yay you, yay me!

(Oh, for the record: I suppose I would always prefer the Vacs, if for no other reason than the wide variety of colors, trim, clips. I realize the 51 came at a culture-wide change in aesthetics, but I prefer the earlier pens.)

[PatMorgan]

Congrats (and condolences to your wallet in the coming months...)!

I looked and simply can't find a thread I started here last year, regarding my first Vac purchase. I picked up a first gen Golden Pearl with what I thought was an odd blind cap. Of course it was odd - it was wrong, an old Duofold style. Hung on to the pen, and this past February was able to find a perfectly matching blind cap at the LA Pen Show, so exciting (for me). All that was left was the filling system restore. As luck would have it, on the day you post about yours...

I just got it back from Danny Fudge. The pen looks just beautiful, I really feel like this is one of the pens that it all came together on, with patience and perseverance. And I owe a lot of that to the good members here on FPB, who have shared their earned knowledge on the process.

Yay you, yay me!

(Oh, for the record: I suppose I would always prefer the Vacs, if for no other reason than the wide variety of colors, trim, clips. I realize the 51 came at a culture-wide change in aesthetics, but I prefer the earlier pens.)

I have 2 azure vacs, 1 golden pearl, 1 grey vac and they are just wonderful. Beautiful weight for them and they fit in my hand quite well. I enjoy writing with them and they are gorgeous pens. I can only imagine how they were when they first came out with the best clarity. For the art deco era, they are just wonderful.

[Marsilius]

I have about eight Vacs and three 51s. I understand the beautiful simplicity of the 51, but my heart is with the Vac as representing the nexus between great technical design and sheer beauty. Seeing the reflection of city lights on the water is like coming back to an old painting I love. I also feel more emotionally attached to the Vacumatic filler mechanism than the aerometric, but don't ask me why. Maybe it has just that touch of mad scientist, Rube Goldberg spirit.

My limited experience has left me with a sense that the Vacs I have can be a little more "flexible" feeling.

But mainly, the Vacs, and the Striped Duofold for that matter, just seem to capture that moment of technical mastery before the flourishes were removed. They represent for me a kind of magic moment in fountain pens. I feel almost the same way about Eversharp's Dreyfus designed Skyline. Gershwin, anyone?

[PatMorgan]

I like 51s, but not being able to see the nib out of the corner of my eye is not pleasurable as I write. So for me, I prefer Vacs and I have a lovely striped Duofold.

I would like to eventually find a nice vac with a semi to full flex nib. For me, that would be extremely pleasurable.

[Marsilius]

Pat, I have one Vac that is would not be considered truly flexible, but does have a nice line variation with a springy feel. My favorite one for that reason.

[radaddict]

Congrats on your new Vac. I have a 51 that I like very much - from a performance perspective, damn near perfect! However, aesthetically, I prefer the vacs. Even so, I'm deliberately ignoring them (for now) as I know that once I dip my toe in that pool, I will fall in and drown! To adopt the old Lays potato chip slogan: "Bet you can't eat just one!'

[loudkenny]

Right now I have six Vacs (counting one and a half at Zorn's since last Thanksgiving), a rose Duovac and eight? 51's.
The Vac is hands down the better looking pen, especially my grandfather's green '37 Standard .

But if you're talking day to day usage, the 51 has the upper hand, especially the aero versions. I have three vac 51's here, and every time the weather changes they leak from the nib area all over my fingers. The Vacs all do this too. However, my aeros haven't done this once. Still, even so I have a '46 51 cedar blue vac that for some reason is always my EDC pen. Don't ask me why.

radaddict is right you know... you can't have just one of either Vacs or 51's. It's impossible.

ken

Edited by loudkenny, 09 May 2013 - 02:08 PM.