Saturday, July 14, 2012

MUST SEE! 1948 Parker 51 Fountain Pen, MKI, w/ custom 1.55 mm Minuskin stub nib!

1948 Parker 51 Aerometric Fountain Pen, MKI, Teal Blue 
This is the first year of the Aerometric 51, and the first year of this color.

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The Parker 51 was disassembled entirely and inspected for failed parts.  Everything that was supposed to be shellacked was also removed and then re-shellacked, including the sac.  The pen was ultrasonically cleaned to take off as many stains as possible, reassembled, and then lightly polished afterward.

The nib recently returned from nibmeister Greg Minuskin with a handsome 1.55 mm stub nib.  This is one wide nib and it goes through a lot of ink!  (If it were a car, it would be a gas guzzlin', tire shreddin' 1968 Oldsmobile 442!)  Those of you who are familiar with Mr. Minuskin know that there are very few people out there that can perform this type of work and at this level of excellence. Please note the perfect spacing of the tines in the first and second photos above and notice how nicely the ink settles.  The feed easily keeps up with this type of performance, so the pen writes neither too wet (maybe around 7 out of 10 on the wetness scale), nor too dry.  Just wonderful!  This pen is perfect for use for writing letters and ready for all your document signing!

The coupler assembly / filler housing / sac were replaced, because the originals suffered corrosion from the previous ink.  The filler housing is inscribed, "TO FILL PRESS RIBBED BAR FIRMLY 4 TIMES HOLDING PEN POINT DOWN, WIPE POINT WITH SOFT TISSUE," whereas the original piece stated instead to "press ribbed bar firmly 6 times."  All other pen parts are original.  Unless Parker 51 Aerometric sacs are punctured, it is rare that I replace them, because they are so durable and may even outlast their replacements!  There are no dings in the cap, and the jewel is intact.  There are no cracks in the section, nor the barrel.  Note the small, round scratch on the right side of the pen's section.  This is visible in the fourth and fifth images below.  There are no apparent inscriptions on the barrel to indicate date, but I was able to find out the year of production, due to the nib inscriptions.  Overall, the pen has seen regular use and has the usual markings throughout as expected.

Please refer to the appropriate photos for the writing samples.  I used MiquelRius paper, where five squares on the writing sample equals approximately 2 cm.  The ink used is Private Reserve DC Supershow Blue.

If you are not completely satisfied with this pen, I will gladly refund you, minus the cost of shipping.  This pen was made to write, not spend its time in a case and it needs to go to someone who will do this!

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$130 + Shipping

Black 1955 Parker 51 Special Aerometric Fountain Pen


Black 1955 Parker 51 Special Aerometric Fountain Pen


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This Parker 51 was disassembled entirely and inspected for failed parts.  The pen was ultrasonically cleaned and gently polished afterward.  It is 5 3/8" (~ 136.5 mm) long, capped.

A superb 14K gold nib from an English Parker 51 was mated to this pen's original feed.  It writes with a extra fine to fine point, perfect for note taking.  The tipping on the nib shows minimal use and the tines are lined up nicely.

All other pen parts are original.  Unless Parker 51 Aerometric sacs are punctured, it is rare that I replace them, because they are so durable and may even outlast their replacements!  There are no dings in the cap, and the black jewel is intact.  There are no cracks in the section, nor the barrel.  The "MADE IN U.S.A." inscription is visible, albeit blended among the other scratches apparent on the barrel and there is a date code, "5," along with a small slash next to it.  Overall the pen has seen regular use and has the usual markings throughout as expected.

Please refer to the appropriate photos for the writing samples.  I used MiquelRius paper, where five squares on the writing sample equals approximately 2 cm.  The ink used is Private Reserve DC Supershow Blue.


$50 + shipping

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Parker 50 Falcon Fountain Pen (2 of 2 Falcons)








Parker 50 Falcon Fountain Pen
This is a Parker 50, also known as the Falcon.  The color is Matte brown.  This pen was manufactured circa 1980.

The pen was ultrasonically cleaned.  Everything here is original.  The cap is in excellent condition, no brassing whatsoever.  The integrated/hooded nib is in excellent condition, please refer to the photos.  It is gold colored and it writes as a medium point.  The barrel is in excellent condition.  There are minimal signs of wear.  I actually can't find any micro scratches from use, but this may be because its brown matte color hides markings well.

***I will include a converter with this sale.


Important to Note: I have a similar Falcon for sale, so please be sure you know which pen you are buying.  This one does not have an abrasion, the other one does.

Auction Information
Images were taken under natural sunlight.

Payment & Shipping
I ship out my pens within 1 or 2 days of receiving payment, which I would prefer to occur within 3 days.  Shipping in the US is $5.15 (with tracking), and anywhere else in the world, $16.95 (without tracking). I will combine shipping if you want to take another pen, also. Returns are welcome, as long as you inform me within 3 days of receiving the pen and the pen returns in the same condition. In this case the buyer will be reimbursed, minus the cost to ship the pen back to me.  If my description is wrong from your impression, please contact me before leaving feedback.  I am attempting to describe everything, as far as I can tell, but it is always possible that I miss things, so please PM me with questions - I want you to be happy with your pens.  Thank you for your time.

Thank you, SOLD 4/19/2012 - $95 

Parker 50 Falcon Fountain Pen (1 of 2 Falcons)



Parker 50 Falcon Fountain Pen
This is a Parker 50, also known as the Falcon.  The color is Matte brown.  This pen was manufactured circa 1980.

The pen was ultrasonically cleaned.  Everything here is original.  The cap is in excellent condition, no brassing whatsoever.  The integrated/hooded nib is in excellent condition, please refer to the photos.  It is gold colored and it writes as a fine to extra-fine point.  The section and barrel are two different colors.  This is normal.  The barrel has an small abrasion at the bottom - please refer to the appropriate photos.  This is why I am reducing the price of this pen.  Other than this marking, there are minimal signs of wear.  I actually can't find any micro scratches from use, but this may be because its brown matte color hides markings well.


***I will include a converter with this sale.


Important to Note: I have a similar Falcon for sale, so please be sure you know which pen you are buying.  This one has an abrasion, the other one does not.

Auction Information
Images were taken under natural sunlight.

Payment & Shipping
I ship out my pens within 1 or 2 days of receiving payment, which I would prefer to occur within 3 days.  Shipping in the US is $5.15 (with tracking), and anywhere else in the world, $16.95 (without tracking). I will combine shipping if you want to take another pen, also. Returns are welcome, as long as you inform me within 3 days of receiving the pen and the pen returns in the same condition. In this case the buyer will be reimbursed, minus the cost to ship the pen back to me.  If my description is wrong from your impression, please contact me before leaving feedback.  I am attempting to describe everything, as far as I can tell, but it is always possible that I miss things, so please PM me with questions - I want you to be happy with your pens.  Thank you for your time.



 

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Parker Three-Fifty Modernistic True Blue Fountain Pen, new sac, restored, flex













Parker True Modernistic Blue

This is a rare Parker True Blue, also known as the Three-Fifty, or the Modernistic Blue.  It has been conservatively restored.  In restoring this pen, I have grown to love it and its nib.  I am reluctant to sell the pen, but I can not afford to hold on to so many fountain pens.


The pen was disassembled, cleaned, and rebuilt with a new sac.  The pen has a new bladder, sized 21 x 2 N (correct factory sizing).  Everything here is original.  All the black portions have been treated with a special formula to restore its color.  The cap has bite marks, please refer to the appropriate photos.  Unlike other Parker Streamlines I have taken apart, this section is friction fit.  The barrel is inscribed with "GEO. S. PARKER - PEN - MADE IN U.S.A. PATENTED"  The inscription is faded.   There are micro scratches throughout the barrel from normal use.  The blind cap has three markings on it, in the form of an 'H' appearance.  Please refer to the appropriate photos.


Now, the most exciting part of this pen is its Lucky Curve # 3 nib.  This is vintage flex at its finest.  I would say that this pen has a flexible, bordering on super-flex nib.  The tines eagerly snap back and the feed is large enough to accommodate periods of heavy flexing.  The nib is straight, and the tipping is intact.  The maximum I have flexed this nib in the writing sample above is 2.25 mm.  I am hesitant to take it past this point.   In the first photo, I used MiquelRius paper, where five squares on the writing sample equals approximately 2 cm. There was no railroading. The ink used is Private Reserve DC Supershow Blue.


Please remember, however, that this pen was made in the late 1920s to early 1930s.  Although there are not cracks in the pen, abuse in the form of over-tightening the cap and maybe even posting, can lead to fractures in this 80+ year old pen.  This pen is not for a beginner learning to flex.


About Its Flexing Properties

I applied about 275 grams of weight on this pen to induce 1 mm spreading of the tines.  In comparison, a Noodler's Ahab will use around 350 g to spread its tines by 1 mm, and a Noodler's Flex Piston Filler will use 280 g.  A flexible Wahl Eversharp Skyline uses 320 g.  A Moore Number 2 nib will use only use 160 g of weight to spread its tines 1 mm.  These numbers were derived from inducing a nib's flex over a scale 10 times, then taking the average of these measurements.  I feel by doing this, I can portray a better sense of flexibility, versus merely indicating "semi-flex" or "flex."


Price: $143.50
SOLD - 4/08/12