The Parker 51 is often considered one of the most successful fountain pens ever made. Development took more than 10 years, but the result became a huge success — over 20 million pens were sold across more than three decades.
The name “51” was chosen because it was short, simple and easy to remember in any country. It also matched Parker’s 51st anniversary in 1939.
The Parker 51 became famous for its reliability and modern design. Its hooded nib helped prevent the ink from drying out, making the pen more practical for daily use. The streamlined body was inspired by the shape of wartime aircraft, and the Lucite material used in the pen was also used in airplane nose cones of the era.