Parker
Pens and Ephemera

In the first quarter of 1946, when this Parker 51 was made, it was a time of boundless optimism. The war was over, the baby boom was just starting, business was thriving and anything seemed possible. Who knows what this vintage pen might have helped record? We do know it has been fully restored with a new diaphragm and that it still looks pretty sharp. Only a few very small marks can be found on the gold-filled cap. Its original blue enamel is missing just a touch in the center of the diamond. The hood and barrel show a little more wear from use, but it isn't bad at all considering it is 76 years old. You will write an extra-fine line with its 14k gold nib. Unlike so many vintage American nibs, this really is more like an accountant's nib or Japanese extra-fine nib. You'll feel the paper beneath you as your write, but it isn't scratchy. Genuine feedback and smooth. 13.6cm capped.

Possibly the most popular luxury pen of the vintage pen era was the Parker 51. This workhorse was sleek and nearly flawless in its performance. Our Parker 51 is a later model from the 1950s. It has a good working "pli-glass" ink sac that you squeeze to refill. Better known as an aerometric filler, it was one of many popular innovations the 51 brought to the market. Also great were its hooded section that covered an all-but leak proof inkfeed system. It might be difficult to see in the photo, but this is a very deep burgundy set. Light wear from use on the writing instruments. The matching pencil still works great with a click. Comes with spare .9mm lead and a potentially working eraser!

How many boxes of Parker Duofold joy does this check off for you? Senior sized. Check. Streamlined. Check. Fully restored. Check. Uncommon green marbled color. Check. Rare triple cap band with two skinny bands on the top and bottom and a thicker band in the middle. Check. 14k gold Deluxe nib with a serial number. Check. Original "Christmas tree" ink feed. Check. No cracks or deep scratches. A little brassing on the ball of the clip and a touch of it on the cap bands. There's a little wear from use but nothing that is troubling...it just isn't mint perfection. Legible imprint, though a little faded in the middle. You will write a firm fine line with a little feedback. Ya gotta admit it is a classy vintage pen. Click the headline for close-ups. 12.9cm capped.

Parker 51 pens are not especially unique, but this is a vintage pen that was "Made in England." It is difficult to ascertain the color. In the sun it looks burgundy, but in this light it looks more like cordovan. Aerometric filling makes this pen easy to fill. It comes with its original pli-glass ink sac that still works well. We find its 14k gold nib writes a smooth medium line. The nib seems a shade off center from the hood point. There is some wear from use, but it is a nice looking pen, overall. No dents in the cap but some light scratches. 13.7cm capped.

Iconic. How else would you describe the Parker 51? It revolutionized pen design and functionality. It took the world by storm to become one of the greatest selling vintage pens of all time. Our pen is restored with a new diaphragm. Dated from 1944, this pen has seen an awful lot in its 78 years. It has some obvious wear around the hood and barrel, but there is nothing major in terms of cracks or deep scratches. No dents spoil the look of the gold-filled cap. The pen is what Parker called "Cedar Blue." You will write a nice fine line with a hint of feedback using its 14k gold nib, which is just a degree or two off center from the point of the hood cowling. 13.6cm capped.

Solid sterling silver makes for a great luxury pen in our Parker Sonnet. Parker calls the checkerboard design "cisele," but we think it sounds better if they'd call it the mini-silver hand-grenade design. There are no dents or deep scratches on this preowned pen. Advance and retract the brand new blue Parker refill with a twist of the tail cap. Ideal for home and office use. 13.3cm.

What we like to call Parker's "sterling silver hand-grenade crosshatch" has been a staple of Parker's most popular designs since the 1960s. This is a modern Parker Sonnet in the same design motif. Made of solid sterling silver, it is a very handsome preowned luxury pen. No dents, no dings, no scratches. Not only does it look great, it comes with a working blue Parker rollerball refill! Who says looking like a million bucks has to cost you a fortune? 13.3cm capped.

The Parker Pen Company made one of the greatest innovations in filling-system history when it created the Vacumatic. Using a rubber diaphragm, this pen keeps the barrel hollow to hold way more ink than contemporary ink sac pens of its time. We restored this vintage pen with a new diaphragm. Our Parker Vacumatic has some wear from use, but it remains in excellent working order. Sadly, the barrel clarity is nil. There's some brassing on the cap band. There is good legibility on the imprint, and it has a 1945 date code. You will write a nice medium line with its 14k gold nib. This is a major sized pen that is 12.8cm capped.