The Parker 51 'Aerometric filler' version was introduced in 1948. This example is finished in 'English Burgundy', referred to in the U.S.A. as 'Blood Red', or 'Bloody Burgundy' as the American Burgundy is very close to brown, this pen is much 'redder'. It was made, in England, in 1954.
The colour is most attractive, perhaps a touch lighter than it appears in the photos. The pen is in outstanding condition throughout and shows little sign of use. The surface is superb and the 'lustralloy' cap is ding free and has retained its frosted finish, this is quite fragile and wears with use. It is fitted with a 'short arrow' clip and pearl coloured end stud.
The barrel is engraved with:
Made in England .4.
The '4' indicates the year, 1954, and three two dots show that the pen was made in the second quarter of that year, it will be 71 years old this spring. The imprint on a Parker 51 is situated at the end of the barrel, just where the cap fits. This is the part of the pen that sustains most wear so a legible imprint is a good sign of little use.
The pen has been fully serviced and tested, this is particularly important with a '51' as the fine fins in the collector are often clogged with dried ink, impairing performance. The aerometric filling system works well, it is very simple and easy to use.
The 14 Ct. Gold nib is an excellent writer, it produces a super smooth medium line and has a very pleasing 'soft' feel. the Parker nibs were, at the time, individually hand finished, including cutting the slit using an ultra fine slitting wheel. There is therefore a little variation in the performance of individual nibs, this one is particularly good.
The pen is presented in the original Parker 51 English 'moc-croc' case. It is also in excellent condition and is, in itself, becoming something of a collector's item.
At over seventy years old, this is a remarkable top quality vintage pen. The Parker 51 is the first choice of many collectors as a daily user, it is a totally reliable, stylish and very practical pen with a great deal of prestige.