Do the later CC versions of the Parker 61 use more durable plastic?

[SNOGGIE]

I have bought a Parker 61 CC with a Consort style cap and I would really like to use the pen but I’ve seen on Reddit that a lot of people say the plastic has become very brittle and warped on the old capillary filling 61’s so they aren’t worth using as a pen, just as a collectible. So I’m DESPERATELY hoping that they changed over to use better plastic by the time the Consorts started to come out so I can use my pen!

 

The picture I’ve attached is from the internet as I haven’t received my one in the mail yet, but it looks exactly the same!

[thx1138]

I use my 61's regularly, both original and converter fillers. None have broken yet and I have maybe 20 or so 61's. Your pen may be different in terms of durability but I have problems owning pens and not using them.

[SNOGGIE]

1 hour ago, thx1138 said:

I use my 61's regularly, both original and converter fillers. None have broken yet and I have maybe 20 or so 61's. Your pen may be different in terms of durability but I have problems owning pens and not using them.

That’s me as well! I hate the idea of not being able to use I pen I’ve bought! 😭 so it’s very encouraging to hear that you are able to use your Parker 61’s! And I think I’m gonna take the risk and try to use it because id rather it breaks because I’m trying to use it than not use it at all! 😊

[Sheptonian]

I have a couple of dozen P61s in my collection; They never see ink. My daily writer, however, is a user-grade P61 C/C Custom Burgundy that is utterly reliable and quite robust (I haven't broken it in several years despite being quite ham-fisted). 

[inkstainedruth]

@SNOGGIE -- Sorry, I don't have a good answer for you.  All of my Parker 61s have the capillary filler.   And the *only* one which didn't develop cracks (or had cracks in them already) wast the 61 Flighter, which has a stainless steel barrel.

It's kind of too bad -- the capillary fill system was pretty unique and (as long as you don't put some cloggy ink in one, they're great writers which hold a lot of ink).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Barry Gabay]

I have three US-made 61s with capillary filling systems snd six from England with C/C  systems. One of the US-made models has a cracked  shell which I'll replace after finding a matching color. Of the six from UK, which I use more frequently, none has any cracks. However, the arrow fell out of the shell on one, so will need to replace that shell too. I've seen more cracked US-made 61s than English-made 61s, but that's likely because I encounter more of those made in US. 

[TheRedBeard]

I have got a few capillary 61s (both the US and England's ones) and also a few C/C models from England. 

One of my US 61s Mk I has a tiny crack near its nib, but I guess it was caused by accidental drop by the previous owner.

 

I have been using two capillary English 61s as daily pens for a couple of years without noticing any cracks or other issues so far. 

 

Two of my C/C 61s (a Flighter and a gold-plated one) have sections with slight deformations (but not cracks) but as far as I understand it is quite common issue with those models caused by inner cap design.

 

 

 

 

[Targa]

I have several (British) CC P61s and never a problem.  I had a capillary one whose hood split open on me.  

[Barry Gabay]

On 3/23/2024 at 1:42 PM, TheRedBeard said:

I have got a few capillary 61s (both the US and England's ones) and also a few C/C models from England. 

One of my US 61s Mk I has a tiny crack near its nib, but I guess it was caused by accidental drop by the previous owner.

 

I have been using two capillary English 61s as daily pens for a couple of years without noticing any cracks or other issues so far. 

 

Two of my C/C 61s (a Flighter and a gold-plated one) have sections with slight deformations (but not cracks) but as far as I understand it is quite common issue with those models caused by inner cap design.

 

 

 

 

Have never seen a C/C 61 Flighter. That's a new challenge for me at pen shows. Thank you, TheRedBeard,  for mentioning that model. 

[PithyProlix]

I figure if it has lived this long without warping or cracking then it is unlikely that it will do so with future use. 

 

I wonder if the warping and/or cracking has anything to do with humidity, or the lack of it, and/or exposure to higher than normal heat (e. g. left in a hot car) or cold (left overnight in a car during freezing temperatures)? 

[jchch1950]

16 hours ago, Barry Gabay said:

Have never seen a C/C 61 Flighter. That's a new challenge for me at pen shows. Thank you, TheRedBeard,  for mentioning that model. 

parker 61 were also made in 9k and 18k gold.

[bahnstormer]

I have a few 61s and some I bought with already shrunken sections as parts pens. I have a nice turquoise capillary that has a little shrinking to the section but not bad and it works just fine. 

 

The one thing I have noticed though, is that all the sections that have shrunk are coloured and all the ones that are black are still perfect. I think I have two turquoise and a grey that have shrunk and 4 or 5 blacks that are still perfect, both capillary and cartridge. 

 

So, my theory is that the black plastic was stable but the colours can be a bit 50/50 if they will go bad. Also I think with 61s and 45s too, it depends on whether there is always ink in them or whether they are empty. I have a bunch of 45s that I have acquired both shrunk and not shrunk and over the years I had them none of them seemed to change or get any worse- except one. That was a flighter that I kept at work for a few years always filled. The section in that shrank more and I eventually replaced it. 

 

My other ones I just keep empty and fill them and use them now and then and clean them out and put them away again. I may use them about once a year due to how many pens I have.

[inkstainedruth]

On 3/26/2024 at 11:22 AM, Barry Gabay said:

Have never seen a C/C 61 Flighter. That's a new challenge for me at pen shows. Thank you, TheRedBeard,  for mentioning that model. 

I didn't know about them either, until someone mentioned them in a thread a couple of years ago.  Then went looking and found one on eBay.  I'm not overly wild about stainless steel pens, but am more than happy to use it because literally ALL my other 61s developed cracks in either the barrel or the section. 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Sheptonian]

I forgot to mention earlier that by far the majority of my P61 C/Cs are Newhaven pens. I wonder if place of manufacture had an impact on durability. 

The 61 Flighters in my collection are a USA Capillary fill Flighter and an English C/C Flighter deLuxe. 

[TheRedBeard]

On 3/26/2024 at 3:22 PM, Barry Gabay said:

Have never seen a C/C 61 Flighter. That's a new challenge for me at pen shows. Thank you, TheRedBeard,  for mentioning that model. 

My pleasure, Barry  

It is interesting that my "problem" is quite opposite: I am looking for a capillary 61 Flighter, but has failed to find one in decent condition (NOS or near mint) so far... 

[TheRedBeard]

On 3/28/2024 at 9:13 AM, Sheptonian said:

I forgot to mention earlier that by far the majority of my P61 C/Cs are Newhaven pens. I wonder if place of manufacture had an impact on durability. 

The 61 Flighters in my collection are a USA Capillary fill Flighter and an English C/C Flighter deLuxe. 

My C/C 61 Flighter is DeLuxe one from Newhaven, too. 

[Barry Gabay]

On 3/27/2024 at 4:03 AM, jchch1950 said:

parker 61 were also made in 9k and 18k gold.

Thanks,  jchch1950. Yes, I've handled several of those solid gold English 61s. Very impressive. 

[Barry Gabay]

16 hours ago, TheRedBeard said:

My pleasure, Barry  

It is interesting that my "problem" is quite opposite: I am looking for a capillary 61 Flighter, but has failed to find one in decent condition (NOS or near mint) so far... 

Hope your luck will change at the next pen show you attend. 

[Sheptonian]

16 hours ago, TheRedBeard said:

My pleasure, Barry  

It is interesting that my "problem" is quite opposite: I am looking for a capillary 61 Flighter, but has failed to find one in decent condition (NOS or near mint) so far... 

Capillary Flighters aren't that common on this side of the Pond, are they? It's simply a case of keeping looking - I found mine by accident when browsing eBay a few years back looking for something else. Mint, and under £50. I think the vendor was just selling off a load of assorted stuff that the pen happened to be amongst.

I don't believe Newhaven ever made a C/C Flighter with chrome trim. Of the English GTs I prefer the earlier version with the plastic jewel.

[TheRedBeard]

On 3/30/2024 at 11:53 AM, Barry Gabay said:

Hope your luck will change at the next pen show you attend. 

Thank you, Barry. I hope so