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Need Lots Of Help With This Parker Vacumatic Pen!


testing123

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Hi guys! First, I'm going to admit I know next to nothing about pens. Also the pics posted are in no particular order. I'm actually into metal detecting and had the fortunate luck of finding this Parker Vacumatic pen recently. Based on my (very) limited research, it appears to be WWII styling.

 

Now some questions I have are:

 

1. Is it worth trying to get restored? It obviously has its issues being broken in half, being buried, etc. I'd bet it'd cost more to restore than it's worth eh?

2. Is it really WWII era?

3. Is the nib solid gold? All I see is Parker USA, and an arrow going to the tip. The very tip is also a white metal.

4. Is the band solid sold? I've heard it may only be plated, but for being buried for probably 50 years, there's no flaking and it looks solid. I cleaned the inside after it jiggles loose. I didn't polish the outside (I hope that's not a big no no).

5. Is the clip (not sure of the technical term) solid gold, or just plated?

 

I would think they would be marked if solid gold if they were, but I'm not sure how these worked. Thank you for any help you can provide! I apologize for my lack of knowledge, but appreciate the opportunity to learn!

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It's look like a Parker Vacumatic Major, 3-rd generation plastic plunger filler. If you want to keep it you can send to a specialist, but will be some money involved. To buy one of this already restored is about $100...more or less, depend where you look for it.

 

http://parkerpens.net/vacumatic.html

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Given enough time others will chime in. I know enough to say I think the band and clip are "gold filled" - if they are gold colored. If they appear silver colored, they would be nickel plated. And I may be corrected on that by others.

 

The nib would be 14k gold, but may have a thin mask of...(platinum I think) - if the nib appears two-toned.

 

The parts - (cap, band, shirt clip, jewel, nib, feed, section, filler unit, blind cap) all have value (depending on condition of course) to people who collect or restore pens. That value, whatever it is, probably exceeds scrap value of the gold nib.

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Don't do any polishing, just clean the crudd/dirt off.

The value to a restorer for the spare parts is having it look as natural as possible.

Leave it to the restorer or his customer to determine weather to polish it or not.

 

I remember talking to an antique dealer that cried when he went back to pick up a bronze figurine. The owner thought she did good by polishing the figurine for him. The polishing dropped the value of the figurine from about $1,000 down to less than $200. The value in an antique is that it should look old, not like it just came out of the factory.

Edited by ac12

San Francisco Pen Show - August 28-30, 2020 - Redwood City, California

www.SFPenShow.com

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Yes WWII era. Vacumatics were manufactured mid-1930's until late 1940's.

Following "Made in USA" is a date code showing year and calendar quarter of manufacture.

Earlier models have a two-digit numerical code. Later models have a single-digit + dots code.

 

Sorry, but the barrel may to beyond reasonable-cost repair. However, the band, the cap & clip, the nib assembly, and

plunger assembly have value.

 

Have fun learning.

Auf freiem Grund mit freiem Volke stehn.
Zum Augenblicke dürft ich sagen:
Verweile doch, du bist so schön !

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Thanks everyone for your comments and input! I'll just plan on keeping it and putting it in a display case for now. First one I've found.

 

More out of curiosity than anything, but what is it roughly worth as a "parts pen"?

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Thanks everyone for your comments and input! I'll just plan on keeping it and putting it in a display case for now. First one I've found.

 

More out of curiosity than anything, but what is it roughly worth as a "parts pen"?

 

As a parts pen, sold on eBay, I would estimate the value being between $20-$30. More if you piece out all of the parts separately (nib, feed, cap, band, clip, section, blind cap), though this would require complete dis-assembly of the pen without damaging anything.

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For a pen that was underground the nib looks great. Maybe find someone to do the restoring for you.

Cost of the restoring and the cost of the barrel. Something to look into.

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For a pen that was underground the nib looks great. Maybe find someone to do the restoring for you.

Cost of the restoring and the cost of the barrel. Something to look into.

 

The nib was fortunately in the cap the whole time. I don't think any dirt ever got to it, so that part is probably in the best condition out of the whole pen.

 

Sounds like a winter project poking around to see about possible restoration. But it's sounding overall it might make sense to keep as-is and have the story to tell of finding it.

 

Thanks all for your input!

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You should have no problems finding another pen like yours on the auction site.

 

Just switch your pen´s pump, blind cap and barrel with one from another pen, reuse your pen´s nib and section, replace the diaphragm and restore your cap, and you will have a pen you can tell stories about for years. I can hear them now - ¨when he dug that pen up the ink was still good...¨ ;)

 

ken

Edited by loudkenny
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