A Parker 51 with a very non-Parker-51 nib.
Even if I went to Parker 51 Appreciation Class, I don’t think I’d ever warm up to a fountain pen that a) looks like a ballpen and b) basks in looking like a ballpen.
However, a Parker 51 with a Nathan Tardiff flex nib is an altogether different animal. (Nathan Tardiff, the man behind the Noodler’s line of inks, apparently used to make these monster custom nibs.) TAO saw it and IM’d me while I was half-asleep. (Never ask a friend to buy a pen for you when you’re half in a boat painted carnival red and yellow and half in a world where you’re running away from a horde of revelers in purple tights bearing torches.) “Yes, please get it for me,” I sleeptyped.
And here it is.
Parker 51 on Miquelrius notebook
Uncapped, it sticks its tongue out at you.
Parker 51, Nathan Tardiff flex oblique nib
The customization required changing the placement of the nib to give it headroom, otherwise it would not be able to flex. The flow was also adjusted, I believe, but once in a while the nib does starve.
Parker 51, nib flexing
This is a strange sight, stranger than revelers in purple tights. The nib is cut like a right-foot oblique, which means I rotate it to the right considering how I write. As I note in the writing sample before, the edges of the strokes reflect the cut of the nib. It’s especially obvious in letters like “n” and “h.”
Parker 51, writing sample, Pilot Iroshizuku asa-gao
April 2nd, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Interesting first Parker 51! It’s my first time to see a flex P51 AND a right-hand oblique. Wow!
April 2nd, 2009 at 11:19 pm
I didn’t notice the ink flow problem.
However, no one pushes their nibs like you do! The writing sample does look wonderful. Hopefully the challenges of the pen make it fun to use for you.
April 2nd, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Welcome to the dark (er, hooded) side…;) Parker 51 Appreciation Class is next semester, make sure you register early.
April 3rd, 2009 at 1:15 am
Jenny: My first time for both, too. Took a lot of getting used to!
TAO: Well, yes, I am a nib pusher.
Carl: I am definitely bailing out of that, LOL. I’m going to the Waterman Overlays Appreciation Class in the next room.
April 4th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
I don’t imagine Mr. Parker would recognize his offspring.
April 8th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Leigh, you can make any nib walk and talk!
April 9th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
I wonder what the nib would say? A grumpy nib: “Ow…stop pushing so hard!” A happy nib: “Make lovely things with me!”
May 9th, 2009 at 2:38 am
You sum up my feelings about Parker 51s perfectly with “a) looks like a ballpen and b) basks in looking like a ballpen.” But I’d make an exception for this one.
(I found your site while searching for Herbin gray ink, I think, and I’ll be a regular reader.)
May 10th, 2009 at 4:25 am
Hi Lizzie! You should see dannzeman’s Parker 51 with the Minuskin music nib.
The link doesn’t seem to be working right now but this is what he tweeted a while back.
May 12th, 2009 at 6:47 am
Wow, amazing photos! I do like the Flighter in its metallic jacket.