What Color Is This Black Vacumatic ?

[Mookli]

Greetings All

I realize that the Vacumatic Junior was produced in a wide range of colors, including some unusual verities.

However, I am trying to find out what they called this one.

 

It is a 1st quarter 1937 Vacumatic Junior. Date code .17.

In normal light it appears to be black.

With strong surface light it has a almost fingerprint like pattern.

With transmissive light the lines look dark in a red brown translucent matrix.

The cap and blind cap are jet black.

Blind cap may not be original, it is has the same shape as the jeweled, but has no jewel, all plastic

 

BTW it is a very difficult effect to capture on camera.

 

During 1937 / 1937 they made something called “Black Reticular” butI can’t find any images for comparison.

 

 

http://www.maryhatay.com/Mark/Fountain-Pens/Vacumatic/i-wGk77SB/0/M/Vacumativ%2004-M.jpghttp://www.maryhatay.com/Mark/Fountain-Pens/Vacumatic/i-jH3MGn5/0/M/Vacumatic%2001-M.jpg

http://www.maryhatay.com/Mark/Fountain-Pens/Vacumatic/i-9v8QGMx/0/M/Vacumatic%2002-M.jpghttp://www.maryhatay.com/Mark/Fountain-Pens/Vacumatic/i-BZQrQXz/0/M/Vacumatic%2003-M.jpg

 

Thanks

Mark

[bsenn]

I don't know what it is, but I want that... I'd have it on display with a light shining behind it 24/7.

 

Brian

[bsenn]

I don't know what it is, but I want that... I'd have it on display with a light shining behind it 24/7.

 

Brian

 

No, wait, a light inside the barrel!

[icardoth]

Probably a "Shadow Wave". Have a look at http://vacumatic.parkerpens.org/lockdown-junior.shtml, near the page bottom.

[quinden]

At the very bottom of Richard Binder's Vac page, it's called "Black Visometer" (later reticulated version)* (1936-1938?)

 

http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/profiles/vac.htm

[kirchh]

It's Transparent Black (aka "reticulated lines" or "black reticular"). I'm surprised you didn't find an image; a Google search for "'black reticular' Vacumatic" brings up a few pictures.

 

The PCA library has the 1937 Parker catalog; it has this pen shown.

 

--Daniel

[Mookli]

Another search did come up with some results, two on FPN

it looks like it is the illusive “Black Reticular" or "Black Visometer"

 

 

Here

and

here

 

 

Here is an description of the “Black Reticular” perduced for two years, 1936 and 1937. Quote from: from parkerpen.net

 

“Two new designs was added to the Bottom Line. The first was a black model referred to as Black Reticular, it was of a design not unlike the Canadian Televisors from the mid 1930's, but while the Televisor was of a pattern with a coloured bottom and black lines "scribbled" all over, the Black Reticular was the other way around, the bottom colour being black. This is a very rare pen but often overlooked due to its but subtle beauty.”

 

 

 

http://www.maryhatay.com/Mark/Fountain-Pens/Vacumatic/i-xWvgvk7/0/M/Black%20Visometer-M.jpg

 

Image is from antonio ilmonaco post

[MxMJ]

Probably a "Shadow Wave". Have a look at http://vacumatic.parkerpens.org/lockdown-junior.shtml, near the page bottom.

 

This is what the shadow-wave version looks like

 

http://i.imgur.com/kjDI6kTl.jpg

[icardoth]

From the 1937 catalog:

 

[icardoth]

 

This is what the shadow-wave version looks like

 

http://i.imgur.com/kjDI6kTl.jpg

 

Thanks, I have a green one.

[Mookli]

Thanks icardoth,

That's pretty cool, I love the discovery aspect of pen collecting.

One more question before I let this thread die,

The blind cap on mine is plain plastic, the shape of a jeweled cap, but no jewel.

Is that original, The catalog shows them posted,

 

 

http://www.maryhatay.com/Mark/Fountain-Pens/Vacumatic/i-jH3MGn5/0/M/Vacumatic%2001-M.jpg

[Hooker56]

Mookli,

 

It should have a black lockdown BC with gold tassie and black jewel.

 

Good luck-

 

Clayton