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Help identifying Parker 51 pens


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#1 GaryBrass

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Posted 21 June 2013 - 07:25 PM

Hello,

First post on the form and to be honest my first foray into the wold of fountain pens!

I came into a pair of Parker pens this morning and to be honest I know nothing about them, I have read a few posts and pages and to be honest I am dizzy after trying to absorb all of the information. So I thought I would post a couple of pictures and ask around to see if anyone can provide me any information on these two pens:

Posted Image Posted Image Posted Image Posted Image Posted Image Posted Image Posted Image Posted Image Posted Image Posted Image

Any insight on these two would be greatly appreciated, I can't wait to get these cleaned up and in service!

Thanks.

#2 Paul M

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Posted 21 June 2013 - 07:48 PM

I was finding the pictures too slow in loading to examine them in detail. Seems to be a nice solid Parker 51, it should clean up nicely with a good flush through, and will no doubt prove to be a good servant to you for many more years. Don't think about the value of the item, just use, enjoy, and then understand why the 51 has such a great reputation

#3 Old Griz

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Posted 21 June 2013 - 08:25 PM

Hello,

First post on the form and to be honest my first foray into the wold of fountain pens!

I came into a pair of Parker pens this morning and to be honest I know nothing about them, I have read a few posts and pages and to be honest I am dizzy after trying to absorb all of the information. So I thought I would post a couple of pictures and ask around to see if anyone can provide me any information on these two pens:

Posted Image Posted Image Posted Image Posted Image Posted Image Posted Image Posted Image Posted Image Posted Image Posted Image

Any insight on these two would be greatly appreciated, I can't wait to get these cleaned up and in service!

Thanks.


You have a nice 51 Aerometic set with a Liquid Lead pencil... unfortunately the pencil refills are no longer available so they only make nice additions to the set
The other pen is also a 51 Aero.....
With a good flushing of the filler unit and collector you should have nice writing pens if the nibs are in good shape..
Tom
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A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check Made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'
That is Honor, and there are way too many people in This country who no longer understand it.

#4 GaryBrass

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Posted 22 June 2013 - 12:40 AM

Thank you both for the replies thus far, this is very interesting information.

Through my research I had identified the smaller of the two as a liquid lead pencil, I had googled the "diamond LL" marking on the body to discover this; oddly enough the pencil still writes. Furthermore I have been reading up on flushing the pen, some say it will clean up nice with a good flushing and others seem to indicate that because of the ink that may have been used it is sometimes better to disassemble the pen and clean it that way.

I in no way feel comfortable at this point disassembling the pen to clean it and think I will start with a good flushing, should it not clean up well enough for use with a good flushing is it worth having the pen serviced by a professional? Has anyone had a pen professionally serviced and if so what sort of cost would be appropriate for this type of pen?

Back to the pen and pencil, I have looked and don't see any form of date code or other identifiable markings; is it possible to date the pen and pencil that I have acquired? I had read one page that covered the Parker 51 history in great detail but could not ascertain the date of this pen\pencil by that information alone.

Thanks.

#5 Old Griz

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Posted 22 June 2013 - 11:39 AM

Thank you both for the replies thus far, this is very interesting information.

Through my research I had identified the smaller of the two as a liquid lead pencil, I had googled the "diamond LL" marking on the body to discover this; oddly enough the pencil still writes. Furthermore I have been reading up on flushing the pen, some say it will clean up nice with a good flushing and others seem to indicate that because of the ink that may have been used it is sometimes better to disassemble the pen and clean it that way.

I in no way feel comfortable at this point disassembling the pen to clean it and think I will start with a good flushing, should it not clean up well enough for use with a good flushing is it worth having the pen serviced by a professional? Has anyone had a pen professionally serviced and if so what sort of cost would be appropriate for this type of pen?

Back to the pen and pencil, I have looked and don't see any form of date code or other identifiable markings; is it possible to date the pen and pencil that I have acquired? I had read one page that covered the Parker 51 history in great detail but could not ascertain the date of this pen\pencil by that information alone.

Thanks.


I would start by flushing the pen a bunch of time with a solution of 10% household non-sudsing ammonia in cool water... that should break down any dried ink.... it may take a lot of flushing before it comes out clean... then flush with plain water to remove the ammonia solution and allow to dry nib down wrapped in a napkin or paper towel to dry out... fill with your favorite ink and write....
If for some reason you still have a problem go to a craft supply shop and buy some technical pen cleaner (most us who do restoration use Rapidoeze) and fill the pen with a 50/50 mix with cool water and allow to sit overnight before starting to flush with the Rapidoeze solution as you did with the ammonia solution.... Rapidoeze will break down india ink and should really give a good cleaning...
You could also just start with the Rapidoeze if you want...
If all this fails send the pen off to a good restorer..... I and and a few other here do this work. Check my website for restoration prices.
Tom
Posted Image
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check Made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'
That is Honor, and there are way too many people in This country who no longer understand it.

#6 entertainment

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Posted 22 June 2013 - 07:35 PM

The only thing I would add is that if you get little flakes or specks of dried ink in the flushing discharge and they don't disappear after a day or so of soaking and flushing, you will probably need to have the pen disassembled. If this condition is present, the collector is probably packed with dried ink and the breather tube is probably clogged. Rapido-eze may take care of this condition, but ammonia solution will not in my experience.

#7 GaryBrass

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Posted 24 June 2013 - 03:45 AM

Hello,

Thank you all for your information\tips, I have successfully flushed this pen with just water. Having flushed it a number of times with the last flushing the water was coming out clear, I had allowed the pen to try nib down and everything looks good.

I have just placed an order for a bottle of Aurora black ink and can hardly wait to get his pen inked and writing.

Thanks.




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