XXX

ike the Vacumatic the Parker 51 had a clip screw but this was also redesigned. The first year 51, 1941, was different from the following models in a few details: The imprint, subsequently to be found just under the section band, was situated on the blind cap just below the tassie ring; the clip screw, as opposed to later models made of a "pearl" plastic, was made of aluminium; the filling plunger was also made of aluminium, later models were made of plastic. The 1941 Parker 51 also had a tassie ring on the blind cap. In 1942 with the adoption of the plastic plunger a more rounded blind cap was introduced, the tassie ring was however fitted to some Parker 51's until 1948, these are rarer than the rounded ones. In 1947 a ladies size Parker 51 called Demi 51 was introduced. The "real" Demi already had the Aerometric filling (see below). The Demi was made in three different types. Type 0, produced in 1947-1948 was a Vacumatic filler, this model was in all aspects identical to the standard Parker 51 but with a shorter barrel only. Type 1 was identical to the MK II "51" type 1, only with diminished diameters, a miniature "51". Type 2 was also identical to the MK II Parker 51 type 2, only with diminished diameters, a miniature Parker 51 with the difference that the metal casing, or sleeve, around the pli-glass sac was shorter than on the larger model and the metal bar was curved like an "U" around the sac leaving it open (in a style later repeated on the Parker 21). In 1947 some pens had a new clip on which the blue diamond was deleted. It was longer, of a cruder design and did not have the name Parker engraved. Both clips were produced side by side until 1948. Mark II (1948-1972) There are two models of the MKII: The first 1948-1949 had a longer clip and the filler instruction engraving said Press ribbed bar 6 times. There was two types of filler sleeves (see below) one was made of aluminium, the other of chrome-plated steel. Also the barrel threads were extended (raised). The second MKII model, from 1950 and on, had a shorter clip, the filling instruction read: Press ribbed bar 4 times, and the filler sleeve itself was made of brushed stainless steel. A rubber O-ring was fitted by the threads under the hood joint and the barrel threads were indented.

The MKII pens had a brand new filling system that was to be adopted by virtually all Parkers in the future, the Aerometric. Almost all pens had to have moving parts (well, all until the Parker 61) to make the filling easy. Most European pens had screw or pump plungers (Mont Blanc, Pelikan etc) while the American pen companies preferred rubber sacs with different solutions of levers or plungers. These rubber sacs inevitably rotted away in time due to the acid in the ink. When this happened a lot of clothes got destroyed and the pen companies all had special departments that delt with paying for clothes ruined by their product. Parker developed a sac in a tough plastic material, called Pli-Glass, that had a life expectancy of 30 years, but are now going on 60. This sac was also in a see through material which allowed one to see how much ink that was left in the pen. This sac was encapsuled inside a metal tube on which a metal pressure bar was mounted. To reveal this filling mechanism one had to unscrew the entire body cover from the section ring and back. The text on this metal tube was: Parker "51", To fill, press ribbed bar 4 times and wipe clean with a soft tissue. Use Superchrome ink only.* In 1948-1949 the PARKER "51" part of the body imprint was deleted. The barrel colours were: Black Midnight Blue (aka Dark Blue) Teal Blue (aka Turqoise) Forest green Navy grey Plum (aka Burgundy, aka Aubergine) The MKII type 2 pens were not produced in this colour Cocoa Demonstrator. Parker produced a pen in all aspects like the ordinary 51 but made in clear plastic, showing the workings inside the pen, primarely made for pen sellers. These pens were not produced in the Demi-style and are quite rare. 1948 The Parker 51 Signet was introduced in all GF cap and barrel with vertical lines. Changed name to Insignia in 1957 1949 The Parker 51 Presidential was introduced. It was in solid gold. The Demi pens were not made in this style. From 1950 the single "year" digit on the body became 2 digits. MADE IN U.S.A. 50 In 1950 the Parker 51 Flighter was introduced. This pen was made of steel with GF trim and survided until 1960The Demi pens were not made in this style. In the late 1950's the gold cap ring was deleted from the Flighter pen.

XXX

1950 another Parker 51 was added to the series, the Parker 51 Special. This had the aerometric filling system but in the manner of the Demi 51 with a U-shaped pressure bar and the imprint said: xxx press 5 times*. The big difference was that it sported an octanium (eight metal alloy) nib rather than one made of gold and it came with a shiny chrome cap only (the Standard Parker 51 were made in a matte chrome design). The cap jewel or clip screw, was made in black (while the Standard had a pearl coloured plastic)The 51 Special initially came in four colours, Green being a later fifth addition to the line. Black Grey Burgundy Blue Green In 1954 the engraving Made In USA was added to the back of the cap. In 1956 the ink Superchrome engraving on the metal filler sleeve with filling instructions was replaced with Parker ink. 1957 Introduced Parker 51 Insignia but this was really only a renamed Signet. Phased out in 1960 In 1958 Parker tried a filling system on some Parker 51's with a cartridge or a convertor but this didn't sell well at all so it was discontinued, only to return on the Parker 45 in 1960. In 1960 Parker deleted the year of making on the nib and body on European made (and Canadian?) pens. The same year the additional logo with the arrow through a circle was added to the cap, aka the "halo" logo. In 1964 the imprint "51" was added to the cap lip.

Mark III (1969-mid 1970's) Had a smaller, more conical cap, quite similar to the Parker 61, sporting the same clip. Section ring became thinner. Intro colours was rage red. The biggest difference between this and the Parker 61 was that the Parker 51 Mk III didn't have the arrow set in the plastic on top of the section just behind the nib. Mark IV (Early 1970's-mid 1970's) Still looked a lot like the Parker 61. Cap screw now in metal, section ring wider again. he Parker 51 became so popular that all the other American pen companies were forced to adopt the hidden nibs. The Parker 51 became such a status symbol that the company used to get large orders for caps only. The costumers wore the caps in their pockets with the clips visible to let believe that they actually were proud owners of that very popular but also very expensive fountain pen... It is to this day one of the most collected fountain pens and one can still find them relatively cheap at theflea markets. The beauty and wide variety of colours and design, together with the functionality has made it a real classic indeed. In 2002 Parker launched a retro model, the Parker 51 Special Edition in one of its rarest finishes, the Empire State Building etched cap. (Thanks Peter Wichert and many, many others)

XXX

xxx

XXX

xxx