I finally got a Standard size Parker Vacumatic Shadow Wave... I have a Junior Debutante already, but was looking for a Standard size...
Of course I could have gotten a few on eBay, BUT NOT for a price that was in line with my normal buying (stealing, robbing, etc.) reputation...
This one just arrived and it is in nicer shape than the pic from the auction...
The nib is a nice writing fine even as dirty as it is now.....
A nice Grey that will polish up very sweet... and the trim is in great shape...
Currently soaking in a Rapidoeze solution to get rid of the old ink (it turned dark dark grey almost immediately) then a trip to the UC for final cleaning .... then will be fully restored and added to my rotation....
OH, got it on eBay for $60 .... I am a happy camper...

Click to view attachment

Interesting.

At first glance- with an admittedly limited photo- it appears to be a more significant pen that you might realize...

TELL ME MORE... TELL ME MORE.... PLEASE

Just a guess but are we talking about a Junior Streamline here.... I think the long blind cap gives it away...

Griz he means that it is a seriously toxic pen and it is probably an offence to own one in the US and you should package it up and send it to me immediately!

hmm, that would be interesting, because i have the exact same pen (sort of) in my parts box--the cap (minus the clip assembly), the barrel (minus the nib) and the long blind cap.

In this case, "sort of" could be an overwhelmingly critical qualifier.

Griz's variant looks to be most... significant, assuming I'm reading the pic correctly. To be "sort of" like that pen might be just a regular Shadow-Wave, not that anything is wrong with that.

regards

david

OK then based on a somewhat horrible picture what kind of significant are we possibly talking about here.... was my guess about a Junior Streamline anywhere near the mark...
I should be posting a much better picture of the pen with dimensions later today or tomorrow.... hopefully....

One might expect 6 pocket pens to be ID'd, based on three generations which saw Shadow-Wave production. Will ignore low run cap-band variations within a generation. Anyway: Two sizes first Gen (both double band), Two Sizes second gen (larger double band, smaller with chevron band), Two sizes third gen (both with lined stacked-coin band). Griz is, i believe, familiar enough with the key features to the three gens in general, that I need not reiterate core features of a Vac generation.

So, Tom, which generation is yours? Anything... odd?

d

Unless the clip has been changed, but the cap profile appears to bear out what I am about to say (type?), that is a 1st Gen pen with a second generation blind cap. Assuming that the filler is speedline, as is indicated by the blind cap, this is a transitional Shadow Wave Junior.

Again, assumptions are rife within my description above,but based on observation and expectations of what lies beneath the blind cap, this could be a transitional model.

Cheers,
Sean

You have the target concept in sight, but the jargon swirls in a maelstrom of ambiguity, so I will push for greater clarity.

Transitional is an ambiguous word. Not per se wrong, just nonspecific.

A swapped cap or blind cap (assuming such parts can swap) represents a parts mix, not per se a transition, though it is possiblie of course (at least in theory) that what we consider to be a parts mix left a factory in that fashion.

However, this case is not swappage.

I do note that both first gen and early second gen Waves have feather clip and larger Waves of both gens have double cap band.

So, do pin things down a bit more if ya would

-d

in that case, let me be a bit clearer: i have the exact same pen--same color, same pattern, same two bands, same dimensions (yes, measured the barrel and blind cap with a ruler)--minus the clip and the nib. i have the smaller shadow wave as well in the same color so i know this one is really longer ... ah, and alas, mine had a speedline filler that came off, still in my parts box somewhere.

here be the poor remnants of what griz has as a whole piece:



the filler assembly of my pen has popped out a bit, thus the extra threads you see.

Your pen appears to be different from Tom's, assuming i've read accurately that teeny tiny pic he provided.

Verily, the game is afoot.

regards

david

ah, curiouser and curiouser then thanks for taking a look.

To be more specific, this pen appears to be a 1st Generation Shadow Wave Junior with factory installed aluminum speedline filler and longer blind cap of a 2nd Generation pen. This would date the pen around 1937 4th quarter IIRC. A true 1st Gen pen, regardless of color or trim, should have short blind cap and lockdown filler.

As you have said, feathered clips do appear on 2nd Generation Shadow waves but the cap profile is different, which is what is directing me to a first Gen pen with second gen filler. See in the image of penmanilla's pen how the cap tapers, the 1st Gen caps were more straight sided.

Is that specific enough?? Not sure if there was a moniker for this model, but it could be a speedline 1st Gen Shadow Wave Junior.

Cheers,
Sean

Good. I respect this solid answer noting that it likely is not wholly right, in that a long blind cap from 2nd gen on first gen barrel would appear not to explain final measurements.

I would not expect the right answer barring one's having handled an example of what this pen actually is and even hen being willing to believe the thing actually is real. I doubted the pen the first couple times handled one and only after doing side-by-sides in person for both Shadow Wave and for high line Standard was i convinced.

So, as we try to pin down what is the pen, assuming again I read Tom's pic correctly (If not, later in week i will post comparisons using my own pen stock) I will suggest the following...

1) The date code probably is 1939 ish.

2) The pen is too short to be just a first gen Shadow Wave Junior (larger model) with long blind cap instead short (first gen) blind cap)

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Penmanila's Wave is a typical 2nd generation pen, as you suggest.

You likely know the following, but to get it into print, I note that the first gen cap is not just a bit shorter and chunkier at top (taking fatter clip ring and fatter jewel) than Penmanila's 2nd gen cap, but indeed is utterly nonswappable onto a 2nd gen barrel, as the threads are different, the first gen pen being bit chunkier at the threads, usually with heftier gripping section too. Tom's pen appears to have first generation cap. Thus, as you note, the cap AND barrel (regarding front end, threads and such) must both be first generation style for Tom's pen. Yet Tom's pen has long blind cap (like a 2nd gen pen) and longer-than-first-gen overall size.

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However, when one realizes that first gen pens (Standard and Junior) overeall are about same length as 2nd gen pens (Major and 2nd gen Junior, less so for Junior), then if one were to take, say, a Standard three band Vac (5 1/8") and take off the blind cap (short) and put on a long blind cap (2nd gen), one would get a monstrously long pen. The reason first gen and 2nd gen pens are nearly same size despite different blind cap lengths is that the barrels are reciprocally sized. A Major has much shorter barrel than Standard. Tom's pen is anomalously long for a Shadow Wave, but i'll bet NOT as long as one would find simply putting a long blind cap on a first gen pen.

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Tom's pen (you will find this in my book at least, hope to have done this year) indeed is somewhat transitional- I call it, bit tongue in cheek- 1.5th generation. We'll see why not just a blind cap swap, in a bit.

I have seen Standard pens and Shadow Wave of this ilk (the effect is more impressive on Standard as quite long pens result). Despite last catalogue of the chunky first gen pens in 1938, these tend to have 1939 codes. Often the chunky caps feature star clips (which never should have been used on a Standard cap, but guess what? Maxima Star clips are same size and when these appear on these 1.5th gen pens, they are late 1939 date, just when one expects the Stars to be blown out on nonlifetime pens).

Key to proving these are not simply long blind caps and speedline fillers in otherwise first gen pens (the filler and blindcap of course will fit and by themselves could indicate simple swap), is that the barrels of these odd duck pens are NOT the same length as EITHER 1st or 2nd gen pens. Indeed, the barrels tend to be a bit shorter than first gen and bit longer than 2nd gen barrels (more so on the Standard than Junior/Wave pens). Even if some of the Waves are same length, the late 1939 codes for pen with earlier style cap and barrel threads is the tell. The 1.5th Gen Standard pens (triple capband lined pens) are longer than Maximas but NOT as long as one would expect putting a long blind cap on the first gen barrel.

regards

david

Thanks for the explanation. Not knowing that there was a difference in barrel length, and not having access to pens at the moment (I am at work at the moment) made it difficult to propose anything other than what I could observe in the image.

Now I know something else to look for when pen hunting.

Cheers,
Sean

OK. I have finished restoring the pen and have pictures and measurements....
Hopefully all this information will give David a much better chance at giving us an idea of what I actually have along with the possible value

Length capped 5.020"
Length posted 5.770"
Cap ring diameter .545"
Body diameter behind threads .450"
Body Length 2.352"

Body is marked Geo. S. Parker Vacumatic Made in USA and the date code is ...9 and is sharp as a tack.
The date code on the nib matches the body code
Body clarity is a lot better than I expected before I cleaned the pen... definitely ambered, but you can see enough to tell how much is in the pen...

Click to view attachment

So overall length is typical 2nd gen, despite long blind cap and shorter-than-2nd-gen cap. Bet if you put the barrel next to another 1st gen Junior (any color) this one is shorter. Too, show the gripping section. I suspect it will be more first gen than 2nd gen in contour.

d

OK, so we are talking about what you are calling a 1.5 generation Vacumatic Shadow Wave....
From what I am gleaning from this thread it is not a common occurrence and most definitely not a catalog item....
Considering the pen to be in VG++ condition with minty imprint and good clarity what would you value the pen at (ballpark as you don't like to give solid numbers)

Oh yeah, to clarify further... what we've seen does suggest the uncatalogued "1.5th generation" variant.

Value a bit hard to pin. If 1 in 100 is like this, should it be worth 100x typical Wave? heh.

When sold by those who know (and not so many do know), I would guess a vacsoterica bonus of $50-75 vs baseline value, if you can find someone who cares enough about the 3 SD's-from-the-mean exotica to pay the premium.

Nice find. Perhaps you should keep it. Pretty sure I have green and red like this. Need to see if have gray.

d

I am definitely planning to keep it for now.... just wanted to know what value to place on it for bragging rights LOL...
I will bring it to Columbus for you to see...

you bring that to Columbus, you most likely won't bring it home if David has anything to say about it.

Cheers,
Sean

David, You mean to say that you don't know the exact contents of your collection ?!

Gentlemen, I must say it's been a fascinating thread although much of what has been written has shot over my head. It is starting to developing a liking for Vacs, Uh oh...

I...uhhhh... have at least a few more than a few pens lying about Can be hard to keep track.



watch out. can be... addictive.

-d

David,

Griz's shadow wave has an earlier clip(`36-38)--just arrow,no star or B/D. Were early shadow wave made with
such clips?

Bowing To Your Most Infinitessimal Vac Wisdom,

John

The feather clip persisted to mid-1939 (arguably mixed in still until early 1940) on Shadow-Wave 2nd Gen Juniors. All first generation pens had feather clip.

regards

david

I am not much of a Parker gal, but I love educational discussions like this! Thanks for the excellent reading, gents.

Tom: Congratulations on scoring such a neat pen.

To lend some visual structure to all this...

Here is Vacumatic Junior Shadow Wave 1st Generation (fourth quarter 1937 to mid 1938). Note the squat cap



Here to scale is typical 2nd generation Shadow Wave mid 1938-1941. Note the more tapered cap, long blind cap and relatively shorter barrel despite greater overall length. Don't worry about the clip. Three clips are found during the run of this pen.



Tom's pen is an anomaly, but one i well recognized after all these years hunting Vacs.

I own but a few, and don't have image handy. But if you look at Tom's pen, it appears to ahve the plump shorter cap of first generation with tapered long blind cap of 2nd generation. Sean suggested- quite reasonably- that perhaps someone swapped the bottom cap (blind cap) from the green type pen onto the barrel of the red pen above. Indeed, the caps will fit the threads at the back end of pen. However, if you peek at the two pens and picture the long black blind cap on the red pen, an evilly long pen would result. Tom's pen is NOT like that imagined pen.

Indeed, the 1.5th generation (not sure i love that name, but hey I provided it) has an intermediate sized barrel and has date codes a few months after the last catalogued appearance of first generation pens, all suggesting parts blow out. Barrels trimmed a bit to make a pen of reasonable length (giving barrel in between first and second gen size), the tapered look at back end of the newer style pen, and chance to get rid of the fat gripping sections, and fatter threaded barrels (and caps) of the earlier generation, though that is of course speculation on my part.

regards

d

Very informative thread. Amazing the little jewels one can find in the bay.