Is This Really A Parker 61?

[Venemo]

I've found this ad, and the seller claims it's a 61. It does look like the pictures of 61s I've seen but I've never handled one of these in real life, so I thought I'd better check with you guys.

 

Is that a real Parker 61? Also, how likely is it that it's a capillary filler? I read somewhere that later 61 models have an aerometric filler or even a cartridge / converter filling system. The ad doesn't show a picture of the filling system.

 

In your opinion, is the 61 better in any way than the 51?

[joss]

That looks like a genuine P61 pen set to me.

 

The broad clutch ring suggests that it is a later model (my guess is 1960s) but I can not say whether the fountain pen is a capillary or cartridge filler.

 

The P61 is a good pen but I do not like the capillary system for daily use. For me, the P51 is superior to the P61, both in mechanics (Vacumatic or Aerometric) and in styling (the P51 is chunkier and better balanced). But that is my personal opinion of course.

 

Hope this helps.

Edited September 17, 2015 by joss

[richardandtracy]

Seems to be. No reason to believe that it isn't a capillary filler. The P61 started off as a capillary filler, then later on went to being a c/c. The only Aero versions are the Argentinian ones with two dots on the hood instead of an arrow.

 

The history is described here: http://parkercollector.com/parker61.html. Initially it was intended to be the Parker 71, which is described here: http://parkercollector.com/parker71.html but the P71 wasn't suitable for general release.

 

As for whether it's a good pen. The c/c version I think is a better pen to the P51 in terms of its nib and feel - but then I grew up using one. The material of the body is certainly much more fragile.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[inkstainedruth]

I have a couple of capillary filler 61s. The advice I was given when I bought the first one was to flush it out from the back by running water from the faucet. I didn't do that because I have very hard water and didn't want all those mineral deposits gunning up the pen -- instead, I used a bulb syringe to flush distilled water through. I did it just long enough to get some ink flow, then wrote with what was left. Used the pens for several months to the point where there was more water than ink coming out and it was so light as to be illegible; then flushed the pens really well.

If the pen *is* a capillary filler (and it did look like a 61 to me -- but if it's a fake I wouldn't be able to tell), you want to pretty much make them be single ink pens. The black one has been running Herbin Eclat de Saphir for a couple of months now, being refilled as needed. The turquoise one got pulled out last night and is currently sporting De Atramentis Apple Blossom (which is coming out more raspberry, so apparently I didn't get the pen sufficiently flushed out from what was in it before...).

In some respects I actually like my 61s better than my 51s (well, okay, they're better than the 51 Vacs, anyway). They're a similar girth and weight, and the capillary fill system is kinda cool. Not sure if the barrel material is a sturdy, though. I think both of mine might have medium nibs (most of the 51s I have are fines, with one EF and one *possible* M). They don't get the love that 51s get, which is kinda too bad, because they're nice writers.

I just wish I could get a replacement hood arrow for the turquoise one -- it's mostly cosmetic (and was, IIRC, a design element to help people not roll the pen and get off the sweet spot on the nib when writing). I got it for a good price because of that missing arrow, but now that I've started writing with it again it seems sort of sad to not have it. I wonder whether some sort of gold paint to fill in would be a good idea without causing possible damage to the plastic....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Venemo]

Thanks for the input! So it would seem that the pen is worth checking out personally.

 

I personally think that the capillary filler is much cooler than a cartridge / converter (which is too mainstream), but of course there is the added risk of not being able to fix it in case it's clogged or something...

[joss]

Hi,

 

It looks like a nice set and if you can check the pen personally, examine it carefully for hairline cracks in the section and barrel.

 

The explanation of Inkstainedruth above will help you to get a clogged capillary filler working again. Continuous flushing with water, to which a few drops of ammonia are added, works very well (unless the capillary cell is rotten of course). The problem might be to keep it going once it writes again.

 

But anyway, the capillary filler is indeed something that stands out and worth having it in a collection.

[Ernst Bitterman]

The main drawback of the capillary fillers is that they're such a tedious item to clean that you want to stick to one ink, and you have to give it nearly daily use to keep it happy and flowing. Once you've got a bulb trimmed to fit over the capsule, it's not THAT big a chore... but the regular use thing still keeps me from using mine, despite the REALLY NICE writing.

[tryphon]

  On 9/17/2015 at 1:46 PM, inkstainedruth said:

I have a couple of capillary filler 61s. The advice I was given when I bought the first one was to flush it out from the back by running water from the faucet. I didn't do that because I have very hard water and didn't want all those mineral deposits gunning up the pen -- instead, I used a bulb syringe to flush distilled water through. I did it just long enough to get some ink flow, then wrote with what was left. Used the pens for several months to the point where there was more water than ink coming out and it was so light as to be illegible; then flushed the pens really well.

If the pen *is* a capillary filler (and it did look like a 61 to me -- but if it's a fake I wouldn't be able to tell), you want to pretty much make them be single ink pens. The black one has been running Herbin Eclat de Saphir for a couple of months now, being refilled as needed. The turquoise one got pulled out last night and is currently sporting De Atramentis Apple Blossom (which is coming out more raspberry, so apparently I didn't get the pen sufficiently flushed out from what was in it before...).

In some respects I actually like my 61s better than my 51s (well, okay, they're better than the 51 Vacs, anyway). They're a similar girth and weight, and the capillary fill system is kinda cool. Not sure if the barrel material is a sturdy, though. I think both of mine might have medium nibs (most of the 51s I have are fines, with one EF and one *possible* M). They don't get the love that 51s get, which is kinda too bad, because they're nice writers.

I just wish I could get a replacement hood arrow for the turquoise one -- it's mostly cosmetic (and was, IIRC, a design element to help people not roll the pen and get off the sweet spot on the nib when writing). I got it for a good price because of that missing arrow, but now that I've started writing with it again it seems sort of sad to not have it. I wonder whether some sort of gold paint to fill in would be a good idea without causing possible damage to the plastic....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Ruth,

mix up some epoxy and add gold powder to the mix. Place in the empty arrow indentation and sand flush after it dries. Polish with Novus #2 and your pen is as pretty as when it left the factory.

[Sasha Royale]

This is a useful tool.

 

http://parkerpens.net/apis.html

 

The pictures look very much like a Parker 61. Would you happen to know which filling mechanism the pen has ?

Edited September 18, 2015 by Sasha Royale

[brownargus]

The only thing that looks odd to me is the font used on the Parker name on the case! The pen looks genuine otherwise.

[pajaro]

  On 9/18/2015 at 8:45 PM, brownargus said:

The only thing that looks odd to me is the font used on the Parker name on the case! The pen looks genuine otherwise.

 

That font is correct.

[inkstainedruth]

  On 9/18/2015 at 6:05 PM, Ernst Bitterman said:

The main drawback of the capillary fillers is that they're such a tedious item to clean that you want to stick to one ink, and you have to give it nearly daily use to keep it happy and flowing. Once you've got a bulb trimmed to fit over the capsule, it's not THAT big a chore... but the regular use thing still keeps me from using mine, despite the REALLY NICE writing.

Actually, I haven't found the "daily use" thing to be that much of an issue, at least for the black 61. As long as I don't let the pen sit for long periods of time (i.e., more than a week), it seems to be fine. (Okay, I also do like writing with it -- it's a nice size and balance for me, and the Eclat de Saphir ink is bright and cheery.... )

Just pulled the turquoise one out and put it into rotation, so I have been using it a bit since yesterday when I filled it. But it's not the only pen I've been using, and neither is the black 61.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[inkstainedruth]

  On 9/18/2015 at 6:48 PM, tryphon said:

Ruth,

mix up some epoxy and add gold powder to the mix. Place in the empty arrow indentation and sand flush after it dries. Polish with Novus #2 and your pen is as pretty as when it left the factory.

Thanks for the info. Now all I need to do is figure out where to get gold powder (and the polish stuff locally, of course).

Hey -- would shell gold work? I know a bunch of calligraphers in the SCA and some of them use shell gold rather than gold leaf at times.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[mitto]

  On 9/19/2015 at 3:06 AM, inkstainedruth said:

Thanks for the info. Now all I need to do is figure out where to get gold powder (and the polish stuff locally, of course).

Hey -- would shell gold work? I know a bunch of calligraphers in the SCA and some of them use shell gold rather than gold leaf at times.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

I have three 61 capillary filler pens. One of mine is also missing the arrow. But I wouldn't do the epoxy and gold color thing with it. I would rather make a goldsmith to use one of my broken 14k 75 nib and make me an arrow for the pen as well as fix it for me. I hope it turns out practical and I succeed in my plan.

[rohit1974]

Hi all

This might be off topic but how much time should the capillary be put in ink in parker 61

 

TIA

[tryphon]

  On 9/19/2015 at 8:30 AM, mitto said:

I have three 61 capillary filler pens. One of mine is also missing the arrow. But I wouldn't do the epoxy and gold color thing with it. I would rather make a goldsmith to use one of my broken 14k 75 nib and make me an arrow for the pen as well as fix it for me. I hope it turns out practical and I succeed in my plan.

You can also buy replacement arrows: the problem is that either they don't stick well enough or/and they remain proud of the shell, forcing you to sand them down to make them flush with the shell. The epoxi+gold is a lot easier and more permanent (IMHO).

[mitto]

  On 9/19/2015 at 2:37 PM, rohit1974 said:

Hi all

This might be off topic but how much time should the capillary be put in ink in parker 61

 

TIA

Half a minute.

 

You may read this thread:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/64361-parker-61-capillary-filler/

[rohit1974]

Thank you Mr Mitto

[Venemo]

I'm gonna take a personal look tomorrow.

According to how the seller described it on the phone, it's a capillary filler!

He said he inherited the pen, but never actually used it. It might not have ever been inked, but he can't say with 100% certainty.

 

I still have two questions to you guys:

• Does the Parker 61 mechanical pencil use standard 0.5 graphite leads or some other standard size?
• Besides possible hairline cracks, what should I examine on the pen to make sure everything's allright? Is there a way to check whether the capillary filler is in a good condition?
• If I decide to go for it, should I try to just fill the capillary filler with ink first or am I better off flushing it with water first?

[mitto]

Can't say anything about the first question. About the second question I would say you should dip the filler in water and see whether it sucks the water or not. For the cleaning and Flushing you may read this thread :

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/288756-heirloom-rainbow-cap-p61-capilliary-filler/?do=findComment&comment=3330516

Edited September 27, 2015 by mitto