Parker Vacumatic Selling Price Advice

[usk15]

Hi FPN's

 

I have a lovely Parker Vacumatic Golden Pearl possibly Junior (12 cm long caped) , in very good condition, with italic (not sure , check pictures) semi-flex nib in 2 tones. The filling system is lock-down filler. It is double striped jeweled, it has triple cap band witch i think is from the first generation. I cannot read the date code...so far i understood 10, 13 or 18...poor me. There is a small hole in the cap near the feather clip. On the clip is say "14K Parker Vacumatic Reg TM" . The imprint on the barrel is clear, but i don't have a strong loupe/magnifier to read. So far i understood is "Made in Canada".

I fill the pen with Parker Quink Blue ink and is very smooth, probably fine line.

 

I would like to sell the pen because is too small for may hand, and also i need some cash.

 

I would like to know how much i can get for it. If is not the right place to ask i will ask moderators to delete my post.

 

pictures:

 

http://img547.imageshack.us/img547/9272/l0qw.jpg

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/5527/qo5w.jpg

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/3892/t0fu.jpg

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/808/nsca.jpg

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/97/0b08.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1268/yz9v.jpg

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/4918/b4xu.jpg

the last picture is to see the difference in size with a 51 and modern IM:

 

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/61/vwwn.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[usk15]

Nobody has a clue?

I've seen on some websites prices like $225. Is this for real?

[OldGriz]

Nobody has a clue?

I've seen on some websites prices like $225. Is this for real?

That price would be reasonable especially considering the nib.... IF the pen is fully restored and in great condition with real good clarity...

[usk15]

Thank you OldGriz for appreciation. The pen is not restored (at least i didn't), i purchase it in job lot and i have the feeling that person was used it as everyday pen. I test the pen myself for few days and is working beautiful. I've seen only one thing : the refill lever was blue from ink and i don't know if this is normal or not.

[Florida Blue]

I can't really tell you how much it is worth, but I agree with OldGriz that the nib is worth a premium. The Canadian-made Vacs are known for their flexible nibs plus yours has been ground to an oblique (I don't known if it's factory) so it would create a lovely italic script with some line variation.

 

The date code is possibly 13 (based on the lockdown filler) which I believe means the 1st quarter of 1933, which would make it quite early.

[OldGriz]

Thank you OldGriz for appreciation. The pen is not restored (at least i didn't), i purchase it in job lot and i have the feeling that person was used it as everyday pen. I test the pen myself for few days and is working beautiful. I've seen only one thing : the refill lever was blue from ink and i don't know if this is normal or not.

 

If by "refill lever" you mean the lockdown pump (as Vacumatics DO NOT have levers for filling) being blue it sounds like the diaphragm is on the outs and needs to be replaced.....

There are some good restorers on your side of the pond.... I would definitely have the pen restored before selling it..... you will more than recoup the cost of the repair when you sell the pen...

[Paul80]

Hi

 

Value is always a difficult one to answer, if you are a well known seller of good quality pens you may get quite a high price for your pens. If you look on eBay for example there are loads of these pens listed at upwards of $300 but they are there month in and month out and never sell. There are also many more of these pens that are selling day in and day out and often under $100. Does that make your worth only $100, to be honest who knows. Its worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it on the day it sells.

 

You could put it up for $200 and it might never sell, because its only a lucky few sellers who manage to get those sorts of prices, not everyone does.

 

Where do you want to sell it.

 

Paul

[usk15]

@ OldGriz yes, lockdown pump, sorry for confusion.

 

@ Paul80 probably here on FPN, because i want to avoid the hassle with EBay.

[Paul80]

Have a look at all the adverts that are on here. And look at the percentages of the pens for sale to the the number marked as sold, even on here its not easy to get a premium price. Even here they know how much they could get it for eBay.

 

Remember to golden rule of selling, sellers will always talk up the value of items they just might be about to sell themselves.

 

But good luck with your sale, I hope you do get a good price for it, in spite of what I have said.

 

Paul

[penmanila]

It looks to be a Vac Slender, a mini version of the Standard. As a Vac collector, I myself would price it at about $100 unrestored, but of course others might feel differently.

[sumgaikid]

It looks to be a Vac Slender, a mini version of the Standard. As a Vac collector, I myself would price it at about $100 unrestored, but of course others might feel differently.

 

But if the nib is an original oblique,wouldn't it be worth that price alone?

 

 

John

[penmanila]

yes, sorry i missed that, i'd up the price a bit to account for the uncommon nib, so the final price will depend on how badly someone wants an oblique nib. among my 60-70 vacs i think i may have one or two, so it certainly isn't something you come across easily.

 

 

But if the nib is an original oblique,wouldn't it be worth that price alone?

 

 

John

[usk15]

Thank you for all your opinion, i will post an advert soon. I will ask $175 because as OldGriz say it may require a new diaphragm. Apart of that the pen looks and write very well.