Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 21 to 33 of 33

Thread: Any info on the Parker 61?

  1. #21
    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    11,405
    Thanks
    6,879
    Thanked 10,367 Times in 3,978 Posts
    Rep Power
    24

    Default Re: Any info on the Parker 61?

    I once had a Parker 61 in that rather nice turquoise colour. Sadly it had the capillary filler that I didn't like at all. I wondered about doing the conversion myself, but eventually sold it instead.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

  2. The Following User Says Thank You to Chrissy For This Useful Post:

    proteus (December 16th, 2020)

  3. #22
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    591
    Thanks
    242
    Thanked 250 Times in 142 Posts
    Rep Power
    7

    Default Re: Any info on the Parker 61?

    Chrissy,

    Unfortunately any P61C conversions that I have ever seen either do function correctly or ‘ look ‘ wrong to my eye.



    The best colour of any Parker pen is the English Caribbean Green / USA Surf Green.

    Rather rare now, few can be found in NOS.

    In the past I have had a few of both.

    Have none now, all sold for much gold…..

    All capillary fill, of course.



    The Mk III colours were very dull unfortunately
    Attached Images Attached Images

  4. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to proteus For This Useful Post:

    Chrissy (December 17th, 2020), penmainiac (December 17th, 2020)

  5. #23
    Senior Member christof's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Confoederatio Helvetica
    Posts
    1,875
    Thanks
    1,893
    Thanked 7,814 Times in 1,426 Posts
    Rep Power
    17

    Default Re: Any info on the Parker 61?

    This has become a very interesting thread. Thank you proteus!

    The colors of Parker 61 have always been an miracle for me. Specially the blue and green tones. There are too many colors to distinguish them if you have them not side by side.

    According to Richard Binders site, there are (only blue and green):

    Surf Green Surf Green (U.S.A. and Canada only) (1956-1959)
    Vista Blue Vista Blue (1956-1982)
    Caribbean Green Caribbean Green (1959-1969)
    Midnight Blue Midnight Blue (Mark III only) (1969-1982)

    But I also have seen kind of teal blue. This is my humble collection:

    Parker 61 by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

    but I am unsure about the correct name of the following two. I think that this could be Vista Blue:

    Parker 61 Vista Blue by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

    But this could be surf green or caribbean green:

    Parker 61 Surf Green Heritage Cap by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

    I am looking for the missing one, but have no clue how to detect on a computer screen and fuzzy ebay pictures....

    C.
    Last edited by christof; December 17th, 2020 at 01:49 PM.

  6. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to christof For This Useful Post:

    Chrissy (December 17th, 2020), FredRydr (December 17th, 2020), RobJohnson (December 17th, 2020)

  7. #24
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    SFO USA
    Posts
    1,375
    Thanks
    13
    Thanked 1,113 Times in 573 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Any info on the Parker 61?

    The Parker literature I have access to list the following colors for the 61 line.

    The 1957 Parker Catalog listed Black,Green,Blue,Grey and Red
    The 1960, 1977, & 1981 Parker Parts Catalogs list Black, Charcoal, Rage Red,Vista Blue and Surf Green.
    I find no color change for pre-62 vs post-62 when the clutch ring and hood changed.

    Any Parker literature with additional information is desired, especially UK materials.

  8. #25
    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Carlisle, Pennsylvania USA
    Posts
    4,909
    Thanks
    1,396
    Thanked 6,390 Times in 2,505 Posts
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Re: Any info on the Parker 61?

    I suppose 61s were available the same years that cars were painted similar colors, especially that last blue in Christof's post. My wife had a Mini 850 that color.

  9. #26
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Posts
    308
    Thanks
    264
    Thanked 424 Times in 204 Posts
    Rep Power
    4

    Default Re: Any info on the Parker 61?

    Quote Originally Posted by FredRydr View Post
    I suppose 61s were available the same years that cars were painted similar colors, especially that last blue in Christof's post. My wife had a Mini 850 that color.
    I think that colour was also called Surf Blue by Mini, I had a Cooper S in surf blue also.

  10. #27
    Senior Member christof's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Confoederatio Helvetica
    Posts
    1,875
    Thanks
    1,893
    Thanked 7,814 Times in 1,426 Posts
    Rep Power
    17

    Default Re: Any info on the Parker 61?

    Quote Originally Posted by Farmboy View Post
    The Parker literature I have access to list the following colors for the 61 line.

    The 1957 Parker Catalog listed Black,Green,Blue,Grey and Red
    The 1960, 1977, & 1981 Parker Parts Catalogs list Black, Charcoal, Rage Red,Vista Blue and Surf Green.
    I find no color change for pre-62 vs post-62 when the clutch ring and hood changed.

    Any Parker literature with additional information is desired, especially UK materials.
    Thank you Todd.
    Does this mean that caribbean green does not exist officially?
    ( this is quite interesting information!)
    C.

  11. #28
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    591
    Thanks
    242
    Thanked 250 Times in 142 Posts
    Rep Power
    7

    Default Re: Any info on the Parker 61?

    christof

    Outstanding photography as always.

    A delight to look at.


    Caribbean Green was made at Newhaven.

    RB dates are incorrect.

    I have attached an image of both side by side.

    Caribbean Green is about 3 / 4 colour hues brighter. ( they are best viewed with the human eye, not photography )

    Oh, the breather hole is not in the same place
    Attached Images Attached Images

  12. #29
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    SFO USA
    Posts
    1,375
    Thanks
    13
    Thanked 1,113 Times in 573 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Any info on the Parker 61?

    I'm asking around for a UK catalog or Parts Book but no one seems to have one that lists the colors. To me, those are the same color, different dye lots but likely within the specifications.

    There is an all White set and a Fire Truck Red set that I'm aware of. They came from a Parker employee. I was told they were 'test samples' and not approved for production.

    Special 61.jpg

    No 61 collection can be complete without them!

  13. #30
    Senior Member christof's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Confoederatio Helvetica
    Posts
    1,875
    Thanks
    1,893
    Thanked 7,814 Times in 1,426 Posts
    Rep Power
    17

    Default Re: Any info on the Parker 61?

    Thank you for your informations. This is very helpful. So carribean green and surf green are at least very similar colors, maybe one made in U.S.A. and the other in GB?
    at least, I am no longer wondering that I can't find the color of which I thought it exists

    I never intended to build a complete collection. But I'd like to have all the officially produced colors, like I did with my P "51". (where I had a similar problem with the Mk III: U.S. grey is different from GB grey and very difficult to find).

    Unfortunately, I don't have any catalogs at all. I gladly would share them with you. But I will ask a friend mof mine who has lots of vintage catalogs.

    The white and the red are fantastic. Thank you for showing. I specially like the mirror polished cap which reminds me on P "51" Special caps, which I like most.

    C.

  14. The Following User Says Thank You to christof For This Useful Post:

    proteus (December 19th, 2020)

  15. #31
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    591
    Thanks
    242
    Thanked 250 Times in 142 Posts
    Rep Power
    7

    Default Re: Any info on the Parker 61?

    christof,


    The Surf Green and Caribbean Green were slightly different coloured pens.


    I liked your nice P61 Mk II in surf green. ( 1962 onwards )

    Wrong Hertiage cap ( upto 1959 )

    ............pedantic comments, forgive me
    Attached Images Attached Images

  16. #32
    Senior Member christof's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Confoederatio Helvetica
    Posts
    1,875
    Thanks
    1,893
    Thanked 7,814 Times in 1,426 Posts
    Rep Power
    17

    Default Re: Any info on the Parker 61?

    Thank you Proteus
    So I will keep my eyes open for a carribean green pen.
    And, you are rigth. The cap on my surf green is longer than a Mk II cap. That is, how it came to me, but I will change that as soon as possible.
    Thanks again
    Christof

    PS: seems that you have a nice collection of unusual models!
    PPS: my most interesting P61 are probably these:

    U.S. made Presidential cartridge filler

    Parker 61 Presidential von -C.M.Z-

    and a french P61 with barley corn patterned cap and 18 carat nib:

    French Parker 61 von -C.M.Z-

    French Parker 61 von -C.M.Z-
    Last edited by christof; December 19th, 2020 at 01:39 PM.

  17. The Following User Says Thank You to christof For This Useful Post:

    proteus (December 19th, 2020)

  18. #33
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    591
    Thanks
    242
    Thanked 250 Times in 142 Posts
    Rep Power
    7

    Default Re: Any info on the Parker 61?

    christof

    Your photography of your pens is nothing short of amazing.

    I have never seen better.

    ....am very aware of your images on flickr.

    It is always a treat to look at your pens there.

    Thank you.



    As for P61 Rainbow's ...........

    There was one with a green / pink cap ( Early Heirloom - Arrow Park )

    A production pen, it is documented in the sales catalogues, also the parts cat.

    Never seen one

    And I have looked at alot, searched for it for about 12 years.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •