The Parker 51 'Aerometric filler' version was introduced in 1948. This set, comprising a fountain pen and rotary pencil is in pristine condition, showing few, if any signs of use. The set is finished in 'Teal', a most attractive blue/green named after the wing flash of the duck with that name.
The set has all the features of having been very sparingly used: barrel imprints are very clear, the ink sac is unstained, the frosting on the caps is complete and the surface is excellent. It could well be unused, apart from my testing proceedure.
Among the minor changes were the end to barrel date codes on the pencil in 1956 and the addition of a 'halo' to the cap in 1958. This set is pristine and the barrel imrints are clear, there is no date code so the set was made after 1956. As there is also no 'halo' on the cap the set can be accurately dated to 1957.
The 'mock croc' Parker 51 box has light age staining inside of the lid but it is in sound condition andit is the correct box for an english set made between 1956 and 1959.
The Parker 51 was ahead of it's time in many ways, so much so that it was first advertised as 'like a pen from outer space'. Eighty years, or so, later it has been resurrected as the 'Parker 51 reimagined' but I'm afraid the new pen does not martch up to the original and certainly doesn't have the same amount of prestige.