Parker

[wherndon]

Okay, I couldn't help but notice that there seems to be a link between shaving and ink pens. Not sure what this is about, but my wife doesn't let me out much, so maybe I am just misinformed...
Anyway, today I was looking through my antiquities and found this, apparently my father’s or his father, or someone's father.
It has a long tube on the inside, should I fill it with ink, or maybe the Veg, what the heck?
Regards,
Bil

 

[ChefJohnBoy-ardee]

What a find!

I mean it is worthless and you can send it for me for proper disposal.

Nice pen

 

[Vlad]

If the barrel clarity is good enough to see the breather tube, you should be able to see if the diaphram is still in tact. I guess either way it wouldn't hurt to try to fill it with water, so see if it draws anything up and clean it out a bit. Great find! Two tone nib?...nice.

 

[PFP_Dad]

Great looking pen, congrats!

 

[nemo]

I'd try filling with water first, just in case. It's a beautiful Vacumatic third generation and looks to be in the Junior trim (two thin cap bands). Sweet!

Also, there is a date code on the barrel after the VACUMATIC, Made in Xxxxx, and it will be a single digit.

Super score!!

 

[andrew98]

Those are brilliant pens and not inexpensive. Learn as much as possible about it before you start tinkering with it. Good info here, here, here and here. If you're new to fountain pens in general, start by reading The Nib Wiki here. Fountain pens are similar to wet shaving when you're new to it. Go slow, use little pressure, be careful, and have fun with it.

You may be able to find a bottle of fountain pen ink, such as Parker Quink, Pelikan, or Waterman, at Staples or Office Max. Just call ahead first. Mom and pop office supply places or stationers may also have it. Just don't get anything like India ink or anything permanent. It needs to be made specifically for fountain pens to make sure it doesn't damage that pen.

Excellent find! Enjoy it.

-Andy

 

[wherndon]

Hey, no sh1t, I know nothing about Pens. Where is this date code? The only thing I know aabout barrels is guns. I looked over the barrel with my mag, nothing. I would love to have this pattern on a set of straight razor scales.
Bil

 

[andrew98]

Hey, no sh1t, I know nothing about Pens. Where is this date code? The only thing I know aabout barrels is guns. I looked over the barrel with my mag, nothing. I would love to have this pattern on a set of straight razor scales.
Bil

That would look amazing! The material is called laminated celluloid. You can date that pen using info about the clip, jewel on the cap, nib design, and filling mechanism. Dig into those links I posted, and you'll see what I mean. I got my Vac narrowed down to between 1939 to 1941 without using a date code because I couldn't find one either on mine.

From left to right in your photo: Nib (metal bit that contacts the paper), feed (black ebonite thing under the nib... it moves ink from the pen body, through the grip section to the nib), grip section (houses nib and feed), barrel (houses ink and filling mechanism), blind cap (not all pens have this... unscrew it to access the thing that operates the filling mechanism).

A lot of pen barrels unscrew right behind the grip section. Yours doesn't, so don't try it. The only things that you should remove on that pen are the cap and blind cap. Check out all those links I posted and do some reading.

Tons of fountain pen videos here, too. Good basic info.

-Andy

 

[oc_in_fw]

Very nice.

 

[drathgeb]

A lovely pen. The fellas on this forum have got me wanting a vacuumatic. Great find. If it needs repairs a Danny Fudge could probably knock that out for around $20.

 

[sdekuyper]

The biggest connection is the men who use them.

 

[the_edski]

You are correct, at least as far as it's concerned on this forum. The old ways are sometimes the best and/or most pleasurable ways. It's a darn sight more enjoyable to write effortlessly with a FP and choose your ink than to bear down with a ballpoint that lays down generic blue or black ink.

Okay, I couldn't help but notice that there seems to be a link between shaving and ink pens. Not sure what this is about, but my wife doesn't let me out much, so maybe I am just misinformed
Bil

 

[wherndon]

Hmmm, so maybe I should smoke a Macanudo, while playing with my new toy?
The pen was in a small wooden box, along with some other curios, that my mother gave me before she passed. Inside the box was a note from my mother, stating that the stuff belonged to my paternal grandfather, whom I never met, He having died when my father was about 15.

Anyway, I had never given the pen a second thought, until yesterday. I was actually looking for something else, revisited the box, and when I saw the pen, a light bulb went off in my head.

So, from what I can tell the size matches the Standard Lockdown (1933 - 1937) on this website. But it has the speedline pump (1937 - ). Also the split arrow clip (1937 - ) no star , or diamond. To me it looks like the Golden Pearl barrel (1937 - 1948), but I am somewhat color blind...
It has the Arrow on the nib and says Parker USA, and what looks like a 6 under the USA?

Can y'all pros narrow it down for me?

regards,
Bil

 

[nemo]

It's like I said before, 3rd gen (single jewel) Junior (two bands, no diamond) and the 6 means it was made in 1946.

Did it hold water?

 

[wherndon]

Thx Doug, I did not know what you mean't by 3rd gen, and I did not see the six until I examined with my mag.
regards,
Bil
Oh, and ihow do you tell if it holds water? it seemed to suck up something, but i'm not sure. SHould I open it back up?

 

[wherndon]

I don't think it is working. There was nothing inside, but the plunger did spring retract when I tryed it.

 

[nemo]

It needs a new rubber diaphragm, the spring is still pushing the button back, but it can't make vacuum and therefore can't pull ink (or water) inside.

I'd send it out for a restoration, there's a guy who can set you straight for $20 + shipping over in Nebraska, he's good.

 

[andrew98]

there's a guy who can set you straight for $20 + shipping over in Arkansas, he's good.

I really wish The Nib had existed back when I was having old Parkers restored. Pretty sure I paid a lot more than that to get mine working (nibs.com). I'd have to check my old paperwork, though.

Good luck with it, Bil. Enjoy that pen!

-Andy

 

[syngent]

I have one I need to send out myself

 

[nemo]

I did not know what you mean't by 3rd gen

Bil, here is what is commonly used by collectors to categorize their Vacumatics. Mind you, this is not size and models, more of a timeline.

Hope this helps everyone: http://www.vacumania.com/website/generationsessay.htm