The Parker 51 Mk. III was introduced in 1969, and gave way to the Mk. lV in 1971 a very short production run. The Custom version, this set, features a rolled gold cap and clutch ring.
The set is finished in burgundy, the caps are marked as one tenth, by weight, 12Ct. gold with a pearl grey end stud. This stud was replaced with an integral metal stud in 1971, apparently there was some concern about toddlers ingesting the pearl stud! This pen therefore had a very short production run, always a good sign for collectors.
The overall condition of the set suggests that it has seen very little use. The Burgundy colour is flawless with a deep, lustrous shine, and the caps have an excellent surface and are free of dings.
The set has been fully serviced and tested. The Aerometric filling system is simple and easy to use and works well. The 14Ct. Gold nib is exceptional, it writes with a wonderfully smooth and consistent medium line, it is a very 'easy' writer. It has a pleasant 'soft' feel and is, unlike many vintage nibs, very 'forgiving' in that it has a wide sweet spot and inadvertently rotating the pen in use makes little difference to its performance.
The pencil has a smooth rotary action to extend and retract the lead. Removing the cap and eraser gives access to spare leads which are easily fitted through the pencil nozzle.
The Parker box is also in very good order,wit only a couple of light ppencil marks made when the pencil was retiurned to the box with the lead extended. It shows that thr set was used sparingly, and put away after each use.
Despite being over fifty years old the Parker 51 Mk. III still has a modern appearance but with all the Parker 51 prestige. It would make a great vintage set for every day use.