Product Description
Type Fountain pen and mechanical pencil set
Product Name Parker 51 Vacumatic
Manufacturer and Year Parker USA - 1948. The pen has a date code of ".8.", but there are no readable remnants of a date code on the pencil.
Length Full size - the pen is 5-5/16", and the pencil is just a tiny bit shorter at 5-1/4".
Filling System Vacumatic piston/plunger (restored with a new sac). The pencil takes .9mm leads, which extend and retract by twisting the cap portion of the pencil.
Color Cordovan brown bodies. Gold filled caps with a pattern of lengthwise lines (the imprint on the pen says "1/10 14k gold filled", and the pencil says "1/10 16k gold filled"). Arrow clips. Pearlescent cap jewels.
Nib FINE gold nib. Very smooth.
Condition Excellent condition. The fountain pen looks fantastic, with only light handwear. The nib opening has some little "bites" around the edge. There is a ring of ink staining about halfway down the section. The clutch ring looks fantastic, with no plating wear or pitting. There is a light colored ring towards the end of the barrel, probably from posting the cap. The cap has one tiny shallow ding about 5/8" from the top, halfway around from the clip. The cap lip has one little area of brassing. There is some plating wear along the sides and arond the open end of the clip. The jewel looks excellent. The tassie has some brassing around the top edge. We have restored the pen with a new diaphragm and it is ready for years of usage. No cracks, chips, or serious scratches. The imprint is worn, but still readable. The pencil has a bit more wear. There is a crack in the barrel that starts in the middle and runs about 3/8" down the plastic barrel (the mechanism works really well). Light to moderate scratching on the barrel. The cap portion has light scratching and several shallow dings. The clip has plating wear along the sides and around the open end. The top of the tassie has plating wear; the jewel looks great. The nose cone has scratching and some small dents. The twist mechanism to extend and retract the lead is working great, and is very smooth. The cap imprint is clear.
In Parker 51 gift box. The outside looks good, but the inside has some stains.