I just realized that after 4 months of apparently obsessive efforts, I now have 10 Parker Vacumatics.

All were ebay purchases and averaged about $25 each.

All work write well. Two have non-original nibs, but they work fine. One is missing a clip and jewel and one a jewel, but those are the only shortcomings.

Having 10 of anything except sweatsocks, oxford shirts and neckties (and I don't even wear them anymore!) seems a little strange.

I guess I just had to say it out loud.

Maybe this is like my high school reunions. I went to the 5th year and haven't been back since (40th is looming).

So maybe you'll next hear a count from me at 50!
>>I just hope my ROA (Rate Of Acquistion) slows down a little!<<

Jack

You just made me a count, and I find I have nine acquired over roughly the same period. All writing well, some re-diaphragmed (?) by me. Only one has a non-original nib - in fact, a Parker (Newhaven) Duofold oblique nib in a 1937 dual-jewel emerald pearl model. And guess what, it's my favourite writer of the lot!

I supose that slot number 10 is reserved for the oversize burgundy pearl that one day will be MINE!

You think ten vacs is getting weird?????

Watch out for addictive pen hobbies!!!

(warning, 800kb file to load. prep to scroll down)

Here is a good chunk- though hardly all- of my Vac collection. I well remember wondering how/when i'd get to ten pens in the collection. Time flies.

David I
http://www.vacumania.com
Parker Vac website

Dr. David, there has to be a twelve step program for vac guys like you


thanks for sharing the great pics!


Doug

I know the feeling, I have found a strong sudden urge to buy every reasonably priced Sheaffer Autograph/Signature model i can find. This was their high end Triumph nibbed beauty that had solid 14k cap bands, clips and the pencils even had 14k tips. In the past couple weeks, I have found and purchased 3 complete sets (FP and pencil), and three of the fountain pens by themselves. I love this model, and knowing solid 14k trim won't brass, allows to to use them as daily writers guilt free!

good luck in your collecting!


Doug


btw, to kee it Vac related; i have only one Vac, the silver pearl. I am in awe of how beautiful the design and color scheme is. I can certainly see myself buying a whole slew of these too!

for reference, here is the object of my affection as of late:

I like your spirit Doogy.

We may be small timers compared to Dr. Dave, but we're ummm ...- spunky!

Now I know how the UN delegate from, say, Ireland feels when the US guy blows in the room. Maybe a little resentful, but he probably knows his country well (because it is small enough to know); he loves it and essentially feels a strong connection to it.

Jack

Until recently I only had one. Deciding it looked rather lonely on my desk, I purchased a second one. But two really isn't enough so I am looking for number three. You know how it goes. Four will follow and then five and then...

Here's what I wonder. With the exception of David's "everything under the sun" approach, why do you buy the ones you do? Is there a direction or theme for your collection?

Yes, i admit that for Vacs i'm something of a completist in approach, though one never can really complete . Completion is more of an asymptote. Weird variants just keep cropping up :-)

Pens can be viewed using nuismatic or coin collecting as a paradigm. One can go completist trying for all the dates and mintmarks (or all the sizes, trim types, etc in pens). Or one can collect by Type- just seeking one example of some general category or make. Of course, one can tweak it to whatever level one wants. Could have just one Parker, or one of each major make- duofold, vacumatic, 51, 61, 75 etc etc, or one of each of those in a certain number of subvariants, etc.

Still, there is something about those vacs...















regard

david

http://www.vacumania.com

Interesting question...
Personally what I would like is at least one of each color... right now I need a burgundy striped to complete my stripe colors...
But of course after that I am going to want one of each double jeweled color...
Then of course comes one of each with a lock down filler
Then one of each with a speedline filler...

You see where this is going don't you....

Bankruptcy?

David, the variants are amazing! I had no idea. You must have the world's record for most extensive Vac collection.

Are the rarer versions factory made? Why did Parker come out with so many different looks? For instance the third from the bottom is beautiful but so completely different from any other Vac. It reminds me of Japanese fabric from the 1930s. What market were they targeting with that design? Where did you find them?

I doubt i have the most extensive collection of oddities; there are couple fellows who have many low-run and prototype-ish pens that i no doubt will never own. In terms of overall comprehensiveness... i might be in the running. Not sure too many folks have 18 different of the possible 25 pens/pencils with "parker vacumatic" written on the cap-band :-) But, the goal is hardly to have a better collection than any person or people; rather it is to have just a darn fine collection of something i darn well love collecting :-)



Well, the overwhelming number of vacs of course were factory made. There are some modern customized pens here n' there (that snake overlay in sterling is just such a pen)

Value and cachet of course represent a mix of supply AND of demand. There are vacs that cost less today whilst being more rare (less prevalent, less available) than vacs that cost more, because they are less sought. On other hand, rarity can create demand by raising desirability purely on basis of that perceived rarity. Sigh. Nothing is simple.

Some pens were made for very brief periods or during time of frantic evolution. Vacumatic was the great hope for Parker during the Great Depression and the company constantly tweaked the pen. Some pens appeal based on aesthetic oomph. Even the newest collector will be impressed by a large burgundy Maxima. More advanced collectors will learn to seek the esoteric items. A wee little black vac marked "golden arrow" instead of "vacumatic" can sell > $1000. Long Story.

But, many subtle tweaks on the basic theme bring little extra dollar value despite relative rarity. A Vac with horizontally-lined cap-band (late third generation) might be 30 times more rare than one with conventional cap-band but bring just a 50% surcharge. There just are not enough folks desperate to have the funky but subtle variant to pay a bonus.

Best

david

Oh yeah, you asked where i find 'em.

Well, i go to many pen shows each year. Indeed my website for Vacs needs to be stocked (old http://www.vacumania.com ). GO figure :-)

Ebay has been a source over the years, but as ebay matures, finds grow less frequent. I deal with many fellow collectors and trade/buy/sell with them, too.

regards

david

Okay, that does it. All my Vac dogs just went into the garbage (51 dogs went out last week). Maybe I'll move on to collecting, oh, I don't know, maybe dirt.

I burned my little vac collection last night. That celluloid really fires up nice!

Now I'm collecting sand. It started a couple of months ago with just a little in my shoe. Yesterday I moved my son outside to a tent on the lawn 'cause I needed his room for my collection.

'Course somebody is sure to post a picture of their sandy asteroid from Andromeda with God's sticker still on it!

Jack

You mean like this one that I got on eBay the other day...
A fantastic deal from the fabulous Benz Collection.... I should be receiving the deed and astrological location data some time this week

I love this Thread!!!! . This Tweeking of a "pen God?" is the funniest thing I have read on a pen site in forever!!
This is why FPN alone among the Pen sites ROCKS!!!

Griz, you got suckered!

That's just a photoshopped image of an Irish potato growing underground at MT. The potato garden is on the east side between the portcullis and the moat.

Ernst didn't even bother to brush off the dirt!:sick:

Kissing strikes again!
/:)
Better luck next time. Stick to pens the way they stick to you.

Andy