Parker 51 Vacumatic - Blind Cap Question

[htimsdj]

I have a Blue Cedar Parker 51 Vacumatic. Whenever I unscrew the blind cap, there is a pale blue powder type substance on the threads inside the blind cap and on the metal threads of the filler unit onto which the blind cap screws. If I clean it off, it comes back after a few unscrewing and screwing back on. Has anyone else ever seen this? Could it be the metal threads of the filler unit chewing up or shredding the plastic threads of the blind cap? I have never seen this on other Blue Cedar or Black Parker 51 Vacumatics.

 

thanks, Jeff

[Glenn-SC]

Is it dried ink? (which could have come past a broken diaphragm and along the threads)

 

Wet the powder and if it is.

[Ron Z]

The plastic used in a 51 is pretty tough. You do see cases though where ink has leaked past the diaphragm, and the aluminum of the filler has started to corrode - producing the white powder. If it gets a bit of ink in it, the powder can be blue. That's most likely what you see. But, since the powder is aluminum oxide, which is an abrasive, yes - it's eating the threads of the cap.

 

I usually take the white powder as a sign that the pen needs to be serviced.

[htimsdj]

This pen was purchased from a popular, and I believe reputable, vintage pen dealer. It was stated that the filler was just refurbished. That leads me to believe that its not an ink/aluminum mix. Plus, the powder is very clearly blue and dry. And since the pen is blue, I thought, this could be pulverized lucite, courtesy of the metal threads.

 

I may be wrong, but I think the threads are either rough or too sharp and are cutting into the lucite. So I masked off the barrel and then ran 3200 grit paper around the threads a few times to knock down any jagged edge. It seems to have fixed the problem, but I'll report back.

 

thanks, Jeff