Product Description
Type Vintage fountain pen
Product Name Parker 61 Mark II Jet Flighter
Manufacturer and Year Parker, Made in USA -- 1962-9
Length 5-3/8"
Filling System The fountain pen has the capillary filling system which is unique to this model. We have cleaned and tested the filling system, and will guarantee it for a year from the date of purchase. More information on this filling system below.
Color They called this finish the "Jet Flighter." Monochromatic brushed steel body and cap with chrome trim, pearlescent end jewels, and a black section.
Nib Medium 14k nib.
Condition Excellent condition with no cracks, chips, dents, or dings. This is a shiny, monochromatic pen, with a unique filling system and with classic styling. The barrel has moderate wear, and an area where more was caused by posting. The section is a nice, dark black -- it has some wear near the bottom from capping. The cap has light wear along with some shiny marks on either side of the end of the clip. The clip and clip ring look excellent with just a little microscratching on the arrow end of the clip. There is a little discoloration on the inset arrow on the hood. The imprints are clear.
We cleaned and tested the filling system which has good ink flow. At first you'll need to be patient filling this pen because it can take a few minutes for the capillary system to suck in enough ink to get started the first time.
A word or two about the Parker 61 Capillary Filling System. If you are not familiar with this unique design, you should read this.
Here is how you fill a Parker 61, and an insight into how the pen actually works. Unscrew the barrel and stick the back end of the pen (aka the capillary cell) into a bottle of ink. Wait a few minutes (probably more like a half hour when you first start one of these older used ones), and let the ink wick up into the capillary cell. The cell contains a sheet of perforated plastic that has been given a 3-D pattern resembling tire tread, and rolled up. The perforations allow ink to seep between the rolled-up layers, and the tread pattern maintains space between the layers. In the middle of this tube, which runs the entire length of the capillary cell, is the feed. To keep things clean, the capillary cell has on a coating of teflonon the outside that is intended to shed ink as the user withdraws the pen from the ink bottle, leaving very little ink to be wiped off. The end of the barrel contains a spring-loaded thingey which covers the open end of the capillary tube, but still allows it to vent.
