Parker Vacumatic: Flex???

[woodwindmaster06]

Does anybody have expierence with the Parker Vacumatic pens?? How are they, how are the nibs, any flex???? And if someone has a link or could post a list of the dating used on these pens that would be great.

 

I have the option to go into a pen store nearby which has two of these. So I will probably be getting one soon.

Any oppionions on this pen would be greatly apprieciated.

Thanks

Tim

[antoniosz]

Tim,

 

There are flex nibs for Vacs. They are less common than the typical vac nib and usually command a premium.

 

I have a early Vac nib that has immense flex (maybe too much). I had a picture posted in an earlier article - but current I am having problems with my host computer that has the photos.

 

Best suggestion is to go and try them. If you find them do not let them go

[Johnny Appleseed]

There is an outstanding source of information on Parker Vacumatics, and most things Parker, at:

http://parkerpens.net/

 

Tony Fischier runs it and it has an outstanding penography of all things Parker, including year-by-year discriptions of Vacumatics, Dufolds, Lucky Curve's etc. He also sells some pens, and prices are pretty reasonable. If the information on the web-site isn't enough, I have emailed him with photo's of a couple of pens that he has been able to narrow down for me.

 

However, dating a Vacumatic is particularly easy if it has a decent imprint, as Parker was one of the only pen companies to actually date their pens. At the end of the barrel imprint there is usually a number surrounded by between 0-3 dots like so:

 

. 5 .

.

 

(I will try to post a picture later if I get a chance). The number represents a year - eg. 1945. The dots represent the quarter the pen was produced - 3 dots for first quarter, two dots for 2cond quarter, etc. (supposedly there were three dots on the die used for imprinting, and each quarter they filed one off). The only challenge is figuring out which decade it was produced in, but that is pretty easy using the filling style and other info from Tony's Website. Too bad all pen companies didn't use a date code.

 

Personally I love vacumatics and have three (plus a 51 vacumatic). The nibs are excellent, though as Antionioz says they are more likely firm than flexy, but they are great pens and come in some beautiful patterns.

 

J. Appleseed

Edited August 10, 2005 by Johnny Appleseed