I hear about this with some regularity.
Is it a common fault with this vintage model?
Is the lip thin and prone to cracks?

Besides that certain Balance colors are prone to discoloration and/or crazing (not uncommon amongst certain colors for most brands back then) the Balance does seem at risk for hairline cracks in cap lip. Seems to me the tapered shape puts more local stress on cap lip vs, say, a Parker Duofold Flat Top, when pens are posted.

regards

david

David,
What colors are more prone to crazing/discoloration?
How best to detect very fine cracks?

Well, Gray, Red for one




Look with loupe at cap lip. A bore light put into cap will brightlight most cracks as dark line.


regards
david

I would postulate that any color of Balance other than a solid color would be more prone to cracking than the Black. I have seen some nasty cracking on Marine Green and Black and Pearl, but not so much on Jade or Black. Could be due to stresses induced by many things, geometry, differential shrinkage rates in the different color materials, lamination bonding letting go (Carmine for instance).

Cheers,
Sean