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Need Advice Re Vacumatic Service

temptar

By temptar
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temptar NOS (New Old Stock)

temptar

Posted
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Hello,

 

I picked up a Vacumatic today in a flea market. It's not my usual beat but it was one of a pair of pens (the other was a modern enough looking Waterman) that I got for 50E.

 

The pen, in so far as I can ascertain was made Q3 1935, and I think it might have been manufactured in Canada. The marking on the nib is not visible and markings on the body are only visible under certain light. However, the body date marking appears to be 35. The filler is a Lockdown filler which certainly implies pre 1937. The body is all black and I think it's a Junior pen. Against that, the clip appears to be Golden Arrow and does not have either a Star or Blue Diamond. The nib is 14K.

 

I need someone to service this pen. I'm in Europe so if someone can recommend someone to have a look at it, I'd be grateful. Absolutely everything I've read suggests that a Vacumatic must have its filling mechanism serviced and the vacuum sack replaced. I'm pretty certain the inside of this pen is not healthy because I can hear a slight rattle.For this reason I am not sure I want to try filling it.

 

I'm happy to send the pen to the UK or to Germany. I had a quick look to see if there was a sticky with advice about this but I haven't yet found it.

 

Thanks in advance

 

 

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inkstainedruth Ancient Artifact

inkstainedruth

Posted
Posted

I can't recommend someone where you are (sorry). I've had several Vacs serviced by Mike Kennedy of Indy-Pen-Dance, here in the US (at pen shows), but don't know repair people on your side of the pond.

While you may be right that the pen needs work, have you tried test filling it with water? I know that one of mine (1937 Red Shadow Wave, also a Lockdown filler model) was bought in "as is" condition, and it turned out that when I had Mike check the pen out, he said it was fine (after asking me if it was okay to try a test fill with water) and that it did not need a new diaphragm.

Hopefully someone can give you the name of a place to send it that will be less expensive for shipping.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

"It's very nice, but frankly, when I signed that list for a P-51, what I had in mind was a fountain pen."

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ac12 Donor Pen

ac12

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Posted

Even if the pen 'works' as is sucks up ink, the diaphram could be 50+ years old and could fail next week.

For that reason, I replace ALL diaphrams (and ink sacs) unless I know for certain that it was recently replaced.

Better safe than have an inky mess.

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

www.SFPenShow.com

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inkstainedruth Ancient Artifact

inkstainedruth

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Good. Don't forget to show us your pen.

 

+1 on that. The rule here is "Pix or it didn't happen!"

And I'd be particularly interested in "before" and "after" shots, if at all possible.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

"It's very nice, but frankly, when I signed that list for a P-51, what I had in mind was a fountain pen."

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georges zaslavsky Museum Piece

georges zaslavsky

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I would recommend Ron Zorn

Pens are like watches , once you start a collection, you can hardly go back. And pens like all fine luxury items do improve with time

 

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mitto Museum Piece

mitto

Posted
Posted

fpn_1510514582__newpensforfpn.jpg

The pen in question is third from the right here. The other three pens are other things I picked up at the same fair.

 

What happened to the lips of the cap?

Khan M. Ilyas

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mitto Museum Piece

mitto

Posted
Posted (edited)

I was talking of the part of the cap that is below the two cap rings. It looks to me as if that part of the cap is filed away. But I could be very much wrong.

 

And thanks, temptar, for correcting me. Have edited my earlier post accordingly.

Edited by mitto

Khan M. Ilyas

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temptar NOS (New Old Stock)

temptar

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It doesn't feel as though it's been filed away but I'm not a Vacumatic expert and maybe there is less there than there should be. There is a tiny chip on the edge, however.

 

I had a look at Battersea's website, and I see they are getting busy for Christmas so I am going to hold the pen until January. I have a Parker 51 which I am going to send them to see if they might have a jewel and some way of fixing the cap which is quite battered, so the two can go together.

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mitto Museum Piece

mitto

Posted
Posted (edited)

The cap lips below the rings should be a little wider.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XeLNKeBD3ktXtA4usECS1eGzwvLptesd/view?usp=drivesdk

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kO45tXBrkel_2zEXTSBystVvp4UgMoAn/view?usp=drivesdk

 

(Sorry for the low quality night time photos. It is 0130 hrs here.)

 

I gather your battered P51 cap is a gold filled one. Those GF caps are often found in bad shape. If that is the case, try to find a good lustraloy cap for your pen. You may put the gold filled clip from the battered gold filled cap on the lustraloy cap. That combination looks great.

Edited by mitto

Khan M. Ilyas

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tamiya Vintage

tamiya

Posted
Posted

fpn_1510514582__newpensforfpn.jpg

The pen in question is third from the right here. The other three pens are other things I picked up at the same fair.

 

Nice score.

 

Is the 4th a Pelikan M10? :)

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andyk Collectors Item

andyk

Posted
Posted

Hi,

 

Is Eric Wilson still around, he has done some vacumatic repairs for me in the past.

 

Good prices and good work.

 

Andy

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