Parker Striated Vacumatic Cap Bands

April 24, 2018

After years of not particularly sensible comments about my Montblanc, Pelikan, Sheaffer, Parker, Rotring, Platinum, Visconti, and Lamy fountain pens, a former colleague (I'm now retired) gave me two pens he told me had belonged to his uncle--a Monte Rosa 042g, and a Parker striated Vacumatic (I think a Standard). I've attempted to fill neither, but both write nicely when dipped. I've done some reading online and can say that the Parker is a Golden Pearl, split arrow, Speedline, gold nibbed, with the jeweled blind cap, so I'm guessing about 1939 or '40. I've noticed there are different styles of cap bands on this and closely similar models: wide bands of slightly varying widths, and narrow bands either paired or tripled. This one I was gifted has two narrow bands. This is the style I've seen least often in my online researches. I'm wondering if there is any pattern in the cap band style in a given year series line or over time that might help typify or date the pen more closely. Photo below.

These pens don't fit my hands. My 149's, M800's,and Homo Sapiens, are good, but I actually like using desk pens best because of their length. However, my wife, whose only previous contribution to the fountain pen discussion was to come home from a professional conference waving 81 free ballpoint pens wrapped in a rubber band, has small hands and has recently sent signals that she might be ready to look a little more deeply into the experience of writing by hand. I think the piston filler Monte Rosa will probably be OK after a little cleaning, but what about the Vacumatic? Does it likely need service? Who does it? Is it worth the cost?

Thank you.

April 24, 2018

Is it worth the cost? YES! Vacs are very nice pens to write with.

Will it need servicing? Most probably. The diaphragm will likely be shot. Restoring the filling system in a vac is a pretty inexpensive and straightforward repair. Well worth persuing.

This web link should give you a pretty comprehensive look at Vacs and may mske sense of your cap bands:

http://www.richardspens.com/index_m.html?page=ref/profiles/vac.htm

I hope your wife takes the bait and enjoys her new pens!

April 24, 2018

Your Vac is a second generation Junior. The Standard had 3 bands, short blind cap and a lockdown filler. Note the long narrow blind cap on your pen. Given the double jewel I would expect to find a Speedline (metal) filler (though that may have been replaced), and a date code no later than 1941. The date code is found in the imprint on the side of the barrel. At the far right side you will see a number with up to 3 dots around it. a 1 would be 1941, 2 for 42 etc. Parker started off with 3 dots for the 1st quarter, and removed a dot each quarter, so the 4th had no dots.

I would assume that the diaphragm needs to be replaced, so would recommend having the pen restored. Some pen mechanics only replace the diaphragm. Getting it up to snuff for regular use involved much more than that.