Parker 61 photo thread

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

weird that this never got created...

anyways, here goes

 

 

im not 100% happy with it, but its the best I can do with the tool im currently using 😕

 

 

 

 

 

[donnweinberg]

Well, my friend, you deserve at least one comment for beginning this Parker 61 photo thread.  I like what you did with the ad.  I’m very fond of the Parker 61 capillary filler pen.  It’s a smooth writer, and I love the simplicity of the capillary system.  As many of us know, the one key to ensuring the longevity of the pen, as a working pen, is to flush it out when done using it for awhile, as dried ink is the pen’s enemy.  I use the type of bulb that removes boogies from babies’ noses, to flush out the ink.  I have about a dozen NOS capillary fillers that I do not intend to fill, as I have plenty of cleaned out used 61s that work beautifully.  I especially like this pen with a broad nib and the cap that sports 3 different gold-alloy colors.

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

thanks, I'm glad you like it

I gotta say, I like the nibs on 61s, but i'm not a huge fan of the filling mechanism.

now, if I used a pen every day, and I used the same ink all the time? then yeah, the capillary filler would be great. But the way I use pens; sometimes 1, sometimes 5 inked at once... and not every day, and with multiple different inks? the capillary fill mechanism is ... sub optimal

 

but, I do have a CC filling 61 flighter now...

[jchch1950]

I found a 61 with a clear "sponge", and the pen looks NOS. I have a question: do the Argentinian pens have any interchangeable parts with the USA OR UK ones?

[inkstainedruth]

Sorry, no clue.  I think all of mine are are US production.

I have a few 61s (all capillary fillers) but most of them have cracks in the barrels or hoods.  The only two that don't are one of the black ones (paid $2 US a few months ago at an estate sale company's showroom sale) and a 61 fighter (currently inked up with J Herbin Vert Empire, which is not working as well in the pen as I had hoped -- my first 61 LOVED Herbin Eclat de Saphir, but is one of the ones which developed cracks).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

1 hour ago, inkstainedruth said:

Sorry, no clue.  I think all of mine are are US production.

I have a few 61s (all capillary fillers) but most of them have cracks in the barrels or hoods.  The only two that don't are one of the black ones (paid $2 US a few months ago at an estate sale company's showroom sale) and a 61 fighter (currently inked up with J Herbin Vert Empire, which is not working as well in the pen as I had hoped -- my first 61 LOVED Herbin Eclat de Saphir, but is one of the ones which developed cracks).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Well. They have excellent nibs and can easily be put into a “51”

[FarmBoy]

4 minutes ago, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

Well. They have excellent nibs and can easily be put into a “51”

Not without modification 

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

1 hour ago, FarmBoy said:

Not without modification 

yes, but It's not a particularly difficult modification.

 

[donnweinberg]

16 hours ago, jchch1950 said:

I have a question: do the Argentinian pens have any interchangeable parts with the USA OR UK ones?

 

I believe they do.  The typical Argentine 61 has on its hood two embedded metal dots instead of the imbedded arrow of the U.S. & U.K. 61s.  But they all use the same cartridges/converters and/or the same capillary fillers.

[Glenn-SC]

Here are photos of my two prototypes and a demo model.
Note: These pens were bought at different times and caps/barrels have not been switch.  
Photo 1 L to R: Prototype number 1, Prototype number 2 and a Demonstrator.

Note that Prototype 1 has a cap without the “P” jewel but a separate silver ring around a pearl jewel, while the Demo has a prototype (“P” jewel and arrow clip without feathers) cap. And to answer the question before it is asked; the caps on these two pens will not interchange as the prototype cap is too small a diameter to fit on the Prototype 1 barrel and the production cap is too loose to stay on the Demo barrel. But the caps fit snugly on the barrels they are on.  

 

Edited May 12, 2025 by Glenn-SC
Corrected cap description for P1 pen.

[Glenn-SC]

Here’s photo number 2 with the pens L to R: Demo, Prototype 2 and Prototype 1.   The jewel on the Prototype 1 cap looks black but is really pearl. 
 

[Glenn-SC]

Photo 3 shows the Prototypes are shorter than the Demo. 

[Glenn-SC]

And the last photo where the Prototypes are shown with different color metal barrel end “61” jewels.  

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

very cool!

Thanks for that!

[donnweinberg]

At last year’s Washington DC Supershow, I purchased an old Parker 61 display case that lights up.  Here are some photos of it, lit up:

 

 

You can see part of the cord on the right.  The cord is a decent length and has a two-prong plug.  Nearer the box, there’s an on-off switch.  For now, I’ve chosen not to place my Parker 61s in it, as I wanted to display bright, colorful pens.

 

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

oh, I am INSANELY jealous of that

I mean, I'd prefer a "51" case... but wow. nice. my Parker's would be right at home there...

 

 

[donnweinberg]

13 hours ago, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

I mean, I'd prefer a "51" case...

 

I would think that there is such a “51” case out there.  We just haven’t seen it yet. 😄

[FarmBoy]

3 hours ago, donnweinberg said:

 

I would think that there is such a “51” case out there.  We just haven’t seen it yet. 😄

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

1 hour ago, FarmBoy said:

Oh. 

[donnweinberg]

And there you go.  Thanks FarmBoy.