My New Vacumatic!

[betweenthelens]

Randy, I have a long way to catch up! I just have one little Parker Vacumatic Debutante in Emerald Pearl but she is my shining star and I'm very much content with her- for now. Good luck tomorrow!

[penmanila]

thanks again. the candy-stripe wasn't so gorgeous when i found it on ebay (i also trawl ebay.uk aside from the main US site, to see what's out there). this was sold out of ireland in a lot of about eight pens that i eventually got for about $100. saw it in a corner of the pic--fuzzy and grungy--but i couldn't mistake that pattern (used earlier in the UK on "valentine" pens, and on some duofolds), and if everything was there, i knew it could be restored. well, not everything was there, as you can see from a pic i took of the pen when it arrived:

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8441/7975132659_93165bd020_z.jpg

 

i mention this story as an encouragement for new vacumatic fans and collectors--there are scores of vac variants around, some more desirable for certain reasons than others, so you have to know your vacs and values; also, keep looking, because eventually the vac you want will turn up somewhere, hopefully at a price you can afford; and third, always factor in the potential cost of restoration, unless you can do it yourself (vacs require special tools and skills to restore properly, not to mention spare parts), so if you're new to vacs, it might be best to buy them fully restored, even at a bit of a premium (simple restoration by a pro like danny fudge will cost you just around $30). i restored the innards of the candy-stripe myself (it was missing a filler unit and the proper nib and feed, and the section was scored), but still needed danny's help to get the cap to thread more snugly into place.

 

have fun looking!

 

 

 

Penmanila, that candy-stripe is GORGEOUS and I am in awe of your burgundy Vacs! Perry, you have a lovely collection as well!

 

 

 

Edited August 25, 2013 by penmanila

[PAKMAN]

To the question on Imperials, they are quite rare in relation to the other Vacs. They had a very short production run with a gold cap instead of a matching cap and the threads are quite odd in that they are out on the end of the section.

[rpk1204]

Thanks for the well wishes on the hunt! You know if I find anything interesting it will shortly be on here. And for me.... its all about the challenge of the restore... love rebuilding anything. Have rebuilt engines, cars, homes... and now pens! Adds to the fun and challenge! Rebuilt the glass-nibbed Elgin today but ran out of sacs .. anxious to write with that one!

[betweenthelens]

Penmanila, I'd never seen that candy stripe pattern until yours and now I am a fan. Thank you so much for your words of wisdom, too. Very helpful!

 

Waiting to hear about your day today, Randy. Do tell what you found or didn't. Hoping it's the former. I am not great mechanics-wise but my husband is and I kind of like honing new skills like those it takes to learn fountain pen restoration, even if it's just re-sacking a pen.

Edited August 25, 2013 by betweenthelens