NOS Rare 1969 MKIII Made in England PARKER 61 Custom Aerometric Gold Filled & Black Resin 14K M Nib Fountain Ballpoint Pencil Pen Set In Box Item ID: PAR-062

Parker 61 Custom 3 Piece Set

Manufacturer/Model: Parker/61/England
Year of production: 1969 - Early 1970s
Filling system: FP: Aerometric bladder converter included (can also be used with cartridges); BP: Standard Refills - Original Included; MP: 0.9mm Lead - 6 Included
Nib: Solid 14K 585 Gold - M Medium Size - Flex/Soft Nib
Material: High grade plastic resin bodies, Gold filled Cap & Upper Bodies  
Length (pen closed): FP: 137mm; BP: 129mm; MP: 127mm

Condition and information:
The Parker 61 pen was launched in 1956 as a revolutionary pen with a new revolutionary filling system, the so called "self-filling capillary cartridge". Since the 61 also had a hooded nib and the same enclosed feed system, as opposed to the 51, the 61 pen featured an arrow on the top of the grip section pointing to where the nib is faced. This was done in order to address many customer complaints about the 51, who said they could not immediately know where the nib was faced since it was almost entirely hidden. This arrow address and solved that issue. Since the 51 was such a successful pen, the 61 borrowed much from it, but it was slightly modernized and slimmer. The self-filling capillary cartridge however proved to be very complicated to manufacture and often clogged. Since it reached Europe few years after being launched in US, it was already going out of fashion. Hence later UK models of 61, starting in 1969 had the standard aerometric bladder filler as on this pen, but this also made it possible for the pen to be used with cartridges. Since this filing system was same as on the 45 and some other models, this simplified production but also gave the customers an option to use the same converter or cartridges on various model pens.

The 61 features a fully hooded nib, which makes ink drying on the nib more difficult, i.e. it could even be left open (uncapped) for a longer period and still write when needed. This also provided a protection to the nib. The pen design embodies everything we love about the 60s "jet and space" era inspired design. Looking it from the side the pen looks like a streamlined jet airplane, simply beautiful and elegant writing instrument that captured the hearts and souls of the people. The 61 had number of designs, colors, variations; hence it is one of the most collected Parker pens in the world today. This pen here is a more rare version, the model Custom, with a gold filled cap and a Mother of Pearl like dark grey crown. The nib is superb, tubular/cylindrical M size, solid 14K gold and smooth on the paper. The nib is flexible, but since its hooded it cannot flex inside the section, rather it feels soft when writing. It is very clean pen with steady ink flow, no ink mess, and also a very easy pen to clean and maintain. The feed is ebonite with passing into the fine fins plastic radiator which is perfectly clean, providing smooth and constant ink-flow. The entire front section, the nib and feed are easily removable by unscrewing action. The pen has a great grip posted or not posted due to its weight, and great balance and feel in the hand. It is one of the most comfortable pens one can use, it is ergonomic, and it does not tire the hand or fingers. The set also comes with its original fountain pen companions, the twist on/off mechanical pencil and the push upper body ballpoint pen. The Parker 61 is one of the pinnacles of the Parker pen company, stunning looks, build quality, performance, ease of use and many more factors which make for a remarkable pen. The pen set comes in a NOS - New old stock condition, never used, in its original box and instructions.