So I seen the 51 like most when I first came into the NIB, I had never seen one before and be quite honest, after hearing so much about them, and Brian's absolute love of them, I was underwhelmed upon first impression of its looks. Had i have got a 51 at the time it probably would have sat unused for quite a bit, I mean why would anyone want to cover up the beauty of the Nib on an FP thats half the fun of them. That was then, after having a few pens in hand and beginning to see things through slightly more experienced eyes things began to change. A few months ago i started looking at the 51 again and this time its very understated design started to grow on me, and so did my curiosity
I won a 51 from a game Brian had going, and when I first got it out of the box, I was a bit afraid I wouldn't like it, that maybe what I had going was just a passing interest. That was not the case, the pens are quite the little curiosity themselves. in the early 40s, and through the fifties designs had a crazy time in life, cars, kitchen appliances, furniture, all took on a look and feel that helped make that period what it was, if you watch the restoration and pawn shows on TV people are always fixing up cars, and chromed out fridges, and other cool things of the time, they are a bit campy in how they are over done, who really likes seafoam green anyway lol. Then there is this little guy, A pen that broke the mold, took off like it should have, but instead of fading away like the times, kept on selling until it became one of the most popular selling pens ever. Design cues like this in any other area did not stay around into the early 70's so it is a neat little thing watching this make it so long
the pen has that forward narrow leaning stance that car companies used to love, "looks fast even when standing still" put a rocket on it give it some wheels and it would look like it could take a record at the salt flat, give it wings and it could heroically fly through the air in true "51" fashion.
In hand it is a great sized fit, the slip on cap sits far enough onto the body when posted to be comfortable, and the that slip on cap design is a dream, why ? well when i work and grab a phone i hate reaching for a pen then trying to spin it off for 2.5 turns with one hand while trying to start writing. My favourite work pens have either a 3/4 turn, or no turn at all. this stays on securely but pops write off ready to go when called upon
The nib is not my smoothest, that is not to say it is scratchy, as its not at all. It does give feedback, lets you know where it is on the page, and I like that
Its nothing like the experiences I have had with other vintage nibs, its very different an in its own little segment. This is not my first choice of pen for anything fancy, but it is at the top of my everyday options along with my M205, and M200, or at least i think it will be as i haven't taken it to work yet, but from what i have experienced playing around with it so far I can see there shouldn't be an issue.
I'm glad I didn't have one of these in hand until now, I wouldn't have appreciated its lines, the detail in its clip or its writing experience when I first came around, But I most certainly can now ! this pen doesn't have a lot of little wow features like all my other pens do. What it does have that my others do not, is a completely thought out top to bottom single experience that isn't in your face so to speak. What i mean to say is everything on this pen was designed from the ground up all at once to make this single writing tool, and having it in hand, that's a complete detail not lost one me as it most certainly comes through now
As of right now I can easily say...
This will NOT be my last 51
Thanks a lot Brian
you darn pikey !
