Banal Minutiae

So, last night, I’m watching Nova, which is a science based show that runs here in the US on PBS, which is the Public Broadcasting Network. PBS runs mostly educational shows, documentaries, and a bit of British television, mostly dramas. Pretty cool stuff, and definitely higher quality than most of the regular network stuff out there.

 

Anyway, I decided to watch Nova, which was on neutrinos, or the so called “Ghost Particle”. My graduate degree is in nuclear physics, and I have something of a passing interest in this sort of thing, so you can see where my interest is coming from. I’m enjoying myself thoroughly, being well acquainted with the material, when all of the sudden, they have a scene where a physicist is writing equations in a notebook. To my amazement, he’s using a vintage Parker 51. It’s little things like this that amaze me.

 

My interest in the 51 is now officially over the top. I simply must have one. All I have to do now is decide if I want an aerometric or a vacumatic fill. That’s easier said than done, due to the complication that the really interesting blue diamond arrow clips are only found on the vacumatic models. Of course, the aerometrics are much easier to service and use. They’re more reliable as well. But that impressive blue diamond clip is just so attractive to me.

 

My latest eBay price watch reveals that aerometrics are cheaper than vacumatics, but neither are cheap. For a really nice condition 51, I’m looking at around $100. Yikes. Difficult decision. I can somewhat assuage my fears with the view that I could easily re-sell the pen if I hate it for similar money to what it was purchased for.

 

Decisions, decisions.