The Parker 51 is one of the most successful pens ever produced and is instantly recognizable, making it a design icon. It was named the Parker 51 to commemorate the 51 year anniversary of the Parker Pen company, and in a poll by the Illinois Institute of Technology it was voted the fourth best industrial design of the twentieth century.
Many famous people have used the Parker 51 including big names such as General MacCarthur who signed the Japanese surrender in 1945 with this very prestigious pen. The Parker 51 had a revolutionary design and style, being advertised as ten years ahead of its time.
The 51 featured a gold tubular nib inside a hood to trap any ink overflow. This meant it didnt leak but kept the nib surrounded by ink so it didnt dry out. The pens resemblance to the P-51 Mustang was a coincidence, but Parker used the opportunity to mention this in their advertising. Parkers advertising called it the most wanted pen, but this was as a result of the 2nd world war when the USA war production board limited the production of pens. This lack of supply and Parkers strong advertising led to huge levels of demand and more popularity.
The Parker 51 was developed for use with Quink, Parkers quick drying ink. Its acidic content was very corrosive to the bodies of most pens but the 51 was made from a new plastic called Lucite (used in aeroplane canopies), a stable and durable plastic.
The 51 stayed in production until 1972. The biggest change was in 1948 when Parker introduced a much improved filling system. The 51 is highly valued by pen collectors. In 2002 Parker issued a similar looking model called the 51 special edition and in 2004 released the chunkier Parker 100.
Many famous people have used the Parker 51 including big names such as General MacCarthur who signed the Japanese surrender in 1945 with this very prestigious pen. The Parker 51 had a revolutionary design and style, being advertised as ten years ahead of its time.
The 51 featured a gold tubular nib inside a hood to trap any ink overflow. This meant it didnt leak but kept the nib surrounded by ink so it didnt dry out. The pens resemblance to the P-51 Mustang was a coincidence, but Parker used the opportunity to mention this in their advertising. Parkers advertising called it the most wanted pen, but this was as a result of the 2nd world war when the USA war production board limited the production of pens. This lack of supply and Parkers strong advertising led to huge levels of demand and more popularity.
The Parker 51 was developed for use with Quink, Parkers quick drying ink. Its acidic content was very corrosive to the bodies of most pens but the 51 was made from a new plastic called Lucite (used in aeroplane canopies), a stable and durable plastic.
The 51 stayed in production until 1972. The biggest change was in 1948 when Parker introduced a much improved filling system. The 51 is highly valued by pen collectors. In 2002 Parker issued a similar looking model called the 51 special edition and in 2004 released the chunkier Parker 100.
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