Letters Stamped Into Vacumatic Feeds...

[Methersgate]

I have looked at the usual sources for information on Vacumatics but I may have missed the answer to this question, so I ask it here.

 

What do the letters mean? I have a pen with A stamped into the feed and I have seen one with W stamped into the feed.

 

I am guessing that A is for accountant and is a feed for an extra fine nib, and that W is wide.

 

Or am I mistaken?

[Florida Blue]

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any definitive information on the letters stamped into Vac feeds. The general consensus of collectors seems to support the idea that "A" feeds have narrower channels and "W" feeds have wider channels. However, many Vac feeds have no markings on them.

Edited March 19, 2018 by Florida Blue

[Methersgate]

Thank you. "Another Vacumatic mystery"...!

 

To illustrate, three top line silver pearl lockdowns. I have no reason to think that the nibs and feeds are not original, although it is possible that they might have been changed.

 

Slender: date stamp 37: plain gold nib nib looks very fine, A on feed

Standard, date stamp 17, plain gold nib looks very fine,, A on feed

Oversize, date stamp 26, fine two tone nib (plating almost entirely intact, very slight wear on the forward edge, due I suppose to the nib being wiped rather often over the past 80 years!) no marking on feed.

 

All three write the same fine line (but the Oversize is the nicest to write with).

Edited March 20, 2018 by Methersgate