Found a short, stubby Underwood fountain pen.Can someone help me with what I found?

[Bob L.]

The nib says Endurance Tip and Durium Point. Its a lever filler. The clip has Underwood on it. The barrel has Underwood 693 B'way NY written on two lines. The pen is exactly 5" long closed. The brass trim is well worn on the clip, the cap's ring, and the lever. I dipped the nib and it writes very well.

I paid $8 because it was a neat and old pen.

Oh yeah the nice lady that runs the shop sold me another Parker 51, plum colored, press 6 times pen in nicer condition than the one I bought a week ago at her shop. The cap is missing the jewel but other than that I think it will clean up well. Between the two plum Parkers I hope to get one working.

 

[nemo]

We're gonna need pics.

 

[Snargle]

Yep, definitely need to see some pics! The "Durium" nibs are steel, sometimes with a thin gold plating, but most of the time that's long gone. I've got a couple that write OK and a couple that are pretty miserable. Good luck with yours!

 

[Bob L.]

The barrel is not symmetrical. It tips up and bumps a bit on the end opposite the nib. (behind the lever) The nib seems smooth. I haven't dipped it yet.

The big question... Is it worth fixing?

 

[barneykiller]

That's a nice looking pen. If it were me, I would fix it.

 

[nemo]

I'd fix it unless the distortions in the barrel are really pretty bad. Common in vintage pens, pressure bar pushes on the plastic. I wonder if the company was the same as the one manufacturing portable typewriters.

I was, in fact, actually hoping to see the plum "51" when I asked for pics, hehe.

 

[Snargle]

Should be an easy fix. The section already looks like it's loose. Pull it out, clean out the remains of the old sac, cement in a new one and have fun with it!

 

[Bob L.]

I'm still cleaning out the plum 51. That accountant's green ink is stubborn. I soaked it in a 1::8 ammonia::water solution. That got a lot of the ink out. It is now soaking in pure water. I got a big splash of color when I emptied the pen this afternoon. The collector is giving it up slowly.

I'll post picts when I get it writing. In terms of looks, it looks new.

 

[Bob L.]

Here's a picture of the Plum, Parker 51 Aerometric. I think it is a 1948 model. The jewel is clear / gray in color.

It's writing well in terms of starting right up and feeding plenty of ink. It's a very fine point. Still not used to the bite it puts on the paper. I'll keep working with it.