Updated 30 May 2008

The Parker Stainless Steel Flighter

The 'First Year' Parker 51 Flighter

Being a Parker collector and an Engineer it's only natural for me to own a 'First Year' 51 Flighter. Actually, those who have seen my collection will say that I have a lot of Parker stainless steel. As I started to research Parker's first stainless steel pen, the 51 Flighter, I read and collected a good amount of information on the subject. And just when I thought I had the 51 Flighter story all figured out I noticed a few little discrepancies in the information.

Included here are the excerpts from some readily available sources of my information:

Bowen

1. 1950 The "51" Flighter Set was introduced …
2. Parker Advertisement - 1950 Parker "51" Flighter Set and Matching Ronson Lighter …
3. Plate No. 12, 109 1950 Parker "51" Flighter, …

Erano

4. Parker 51 Flighter pen and pencil set in stainless steel and gold-fill trim, c.1950.

Lambrou

5. In the USA section -51 Flighter, stainless steel, GFT. c.1951
6. In the UK section - Mark I, RGT, AF, Flighter, c.1949

Pasahow

7. Flighter - 1950-1960 51 with GF clip and cap band, Aerometric filler.
8. 51 Chronology, 1950 Flighter, Cap; Brushed stainless steel with GF band, Barrel; Brushed stainless steel
9. Parker Metal Pen Patterns, 1949 Flighter, Brushed, 51, Stainless steel

Fischier's web site (with corrections on the Mark sequence and filling instructions)

10. Mark I (1948-1972) There are two models of the Mark I: The first 1948-1949 had a longer clip and the filler instruction engraving said "Press ribbed bar firmly 6 times use dry-writing superchome ink". There were two types of filler sleeves (see below) one was made of aluminum, the other of chrome-plated steel. Also the barrel threads were extended (raised).
11. The second Mark I model, from 1950 and on, had a shorter clip, the filling instruction read: "Press ribbed bar firmly 4 times use dry writing superchome ink holding pen point down, wipe point with soft tissue", and the filler sleeve itself was made of brushed stainless steel. A rubber O-ring was fitted by the threads under the hood joint and the barrel threads were indented.
12. In 1950 the 51 Flighter was introduced. This pen was made of stainless steel with GF trim and survived until 1960. The Demi pens were not made in this style. In the late 1950's the gold cap ring was deleted from the Flighter pen.
13. From 1950 the single "year" digit on the body became 2 digits.

Putting it all together would mean that the 1950 51 Flighter would be a Mark I Type 2. It would have a 36 mm gold filled arrow clip, a gold filled band on the cap, a press 4 times Aerometric filler, a two digit date code, and would have barrel threads that were indented.

Then there are those two hard to find, 1949 references (#6 & #9) that led me to the following:

If a 1949 51 Flighter were to exist, then it would be a Mark I Type 1. Therefore, it would have a 40 mm gold filled arrow clip, a rolled gold trim band on the cap, a press 6 times Aerometric filler, a single digit date code, and would have barrel threads that were extended.

"Eliminate all other factors, and the one which remains must be the truth."
Sherlock Holmes in the Sign of Four

And, that is why this 1949 4Q Mark I Type 1 'First Year' 51 Flighter fountain pen is currently in my collection.
Turns out that these were only made in the fourth quarter. I also happen to have the pencil to go with it!

UPDATE 23 July 2005 - The pen pictured above is now for sale!!
(Don’t worry as I do have another one safely locked away)
 

The nice thing about Parker Stainless Steel Flighter pens is that there are so many that one can collect.

And I know you’re thinking that this looks like a T-1 and all T-1’s are made of Titanium!
Let’s just say that all the ones sold over the counter were made of Titanium.

Date  Model  Trim  Type  Other 1980  15 GP                    21 GP      MP        Made in Mexcio 1983  35 GP FP               1965  45 GP FP  BP MP FT     All Stainless barrel with no Endcap    45 GP FP       FT     Black Plastic Endcap    45 GP FP          Red Plastic Endcap 1977  45 Coronet GP FP              GP Metal Endcap     45 Harlequin Shield GP FP ?  ? ?     Black finish    45 GP   BP MP      United States Steel    45 GP FP BP MP RB    Made in Argentina 1980  45 Type II GP FP               1949  51  RGT FP    MP        Mark I, Type I, Aerometric (6 times), longer arrow clip 1950  51 GP FP    MP LL     Mark I, Type II, Aerometric (4 times) (LL= Liquid Lead)     51 GP FP    MP        Mark I, Type II, Aerometric (bandless) 1959  61 GP FP  BP MP ?     Gray Pearl Tassie 1959  61 GP FP BP MP FT     GP Metal Tassie 1975  65 GP FP              Gray Pearl Tassie    65 GP FP              GP Metal Tassie 1970  75 GP FP BP MP RB         75 GP          FT     French made, smaller size    75 GP FP BP MP RB     Flighter DeLuxe (gold band)    95 GP FP BP MP RB      1977  180 GP FP BP ? RB     Smooth Cap     180 GP FP              Made in Australia    180 GP FP BP        Etched Floral Pattern 1981  Arrow GP FP BP MP RB      1977  Classic GP FP BP MP RB      1988  Custom     BP MP       1975  Emilio Pucci 180 GP FP      RB     Wide 22Kt GP band, Clipless    Falcon (50) GP FP BP MP    TD  TD = Telephone Dialer (Yellow Ball replaces Clip)    Frontier GP FP BP MP RB         German GP    BP           Four Color    German GP    BP           Four Color Germany (2 gold bands)    Inflection GP FP BP MP RB         Insignia GP    BP MP            Insignia GP   BP MP     Sidney 2000 Olympics 1959  International GP    BP MP            Jotter GP                  2005  Latitude GP FP BP MP RB        Pointer GP             YES      Serie Eterna GP   BP           Brushed Stainless, Made in Argentina    Sonnet GP FP BP MP RB      1975  Systemark  GP FP          MULTI  Floating Ball, Soft Tip & Stylus 1970  T-1 GP FP              Prototype  More Stainless Steel Parker Products 1980  15 CT FP BP  ?  RB         15 CT FP BP           Recessed arrow in flat clip, Made in France    21 CT FP BP              21 CT     MP      Made in Canada    25 ST  FP BP MP FT     Available in Black, Red, Blue & Green    35 CT                  1965  45 CT FP BP MP FT     All Stainless Barrel    45 CT FP       FT     Black Plastic Endcap    45 CT FP BP MP FT    Made in Argentina 1977  45 Coronet CT FP              CT Metal Endcap     45 Coronet CT FP              Made in Australia    45 Coronet CT FP BP        Made in Mexcio     45 Harlequin Circlet CT FP BP MP FT          45 Harlequin Circlet CT FP BP MP FT    Black finish (prototypes in red, green, blue)     45 Harlequin Shield CT FP BP MP FT           45 Harlequin Shield CT FP BP MP FT     Black finish (prototypes in red, green, blue) 1980  45 Type II CT FP                  61 CT FP    MP        Gray Pearl Tassie    61 CT FP    MP        CT Metal Tassie     61 CT FP BP MP    2ndMP  Mark II, Made in Argentina 1975  65 CT FP              Gray Pearl Tassie    65 CT FP              CT Metal Tassie 1975  75 CT FP BP    RB     Octanium Nib    95 CT FP BP MP RB DESK      105 CT FP BP   RB      1977  180 CT FP BP ? RB     Stepped Cap 1981  Arrow CT FP BP MP RB          Arrow CT FP BP MP RB     Brushed Stainless, Made in USA    Classic CT FP BP MP RB DESK  Made in USA    Classic CT FP BP MP RB     Made in England 1977  Classic (Minim) CT   BP        Clipless Purse Size, Made in Argentina 1954  Custom Jotter CT    BP               Frontier CT FP BP MP RB         Jotter CT    BP MP             Jotter CT   BP        2 Jotter Set, Royal Wedding 29th July 1981    Jotter CT   BP        Prince and Princess of Wales 29th July 1981    Insignia CT    BP MP         1957  Laboratory Jotter CT    BP            2005  Latitude CT FP BP MP RB        Pardners CT   BP MP      First Generation    Pardners CT    BP MP        Second Generation    Pointer CT             YES      Sonnet CT FP BP MP RB      1975  Systemark CT FP          MULTI  Floating Ball, Soft Tip & Stylus     Systemark CT             MULTI  Made in Australia 1990  Vector CT  FP BP MP RB 2ndMP

If it's Stainless Steel Parker and I don't have one in my collection, then it will only be a matter of time until I do!

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