Parker Vacumatic Dating Codes

[rachels]

Hi,

 

I have two double jewel Parker vacumatics that have both a date code and a dot. On one the code is (27.) and on the other the code is (.46.). My research tells me that if it's from the 1940s there will be dots and if its from the 1930s there will be two numbers (quarter + year). Are there any anomalies that allow for both? I only wonder because they both have striated double jewels and no blue diamond, which makes me think 30s...but the dots are throwing me off.

 

I can post some pictures but won't be able to take them until Sunday at the earliest.

[pen lady]

For excellent articles about Parker date codes, check out Richard Binders site (www.richardspens.com) or www.parkerpens.net. Good luck with your research.

[Chouffleur]

As pen lady mentioned: http://www.richardspens.com/?design=pkr_dates

 

Google is your friend. Well, except for the whole military robot thing. ;-)

 

"Notes:

1. There was a period during which the two quarter-designation schemes overlapped; some 1938 pens bear a date code of .28. (both quarter-designation schemes indicating the second quarter of the year)."

Edited July 11, 2015 by Chouffleur

[rachels]

 

"Notes:

1. There was a period during which the two quarter-designation schemes overlapped; some 1938 pens bear a date code of .28. (both quarter-designation schemes indicating the second quarter of the year)."

 

Funny, while researching this I had been to that page many times, but never scrolled all the way to the bottom where this foot note was. Thank you!

 

It still doesn't make complete sense with the codes on my particular pens (to me). According to Richard Binder's site my pen that has a (.27) should be (.27.) to infer second quarter and the (.46.) pen should have no dots to infer fourth quarter. Eh...

[Florida Blue]

 

It still doesn't make complete sense with the codes on my particular pens (to me). According to Richard Binder's site my pen that has a (.27) should be (.27.) to infer second quarter and the (.46.) pen should have no dots to infer fourth quarter. Eh...

 

The reason Parker switched from two numbers to a single number and the dots was to prevent an overlap with the dates. If Parker kept the original dating scheme a pen made in the 2nd quarter of 1936 and 1946 would have the same date code.

 

If your pen has the two numbers (regardless of the dots) it would be a 1930s date code.

[rachels]

Thanks, Florida Blue. Good point. I won't worry about it too much then.

[Lazard 20]

 

 

It still doesn't make complete sense with the codes on my particular pens (to me). According to Richard Binder's site my pen that has a (.27) should be (.27.) to infer second quarter and the (.46.) pen should have no dots to infer fourth quarter. Eh...

 

"Early pens have two digits with no dots." The admired and excellent Mr. Binder´s website is not very successful in this aspect. Really this fpens have 2 digits... and 0, 1 or 2 dots.

 

Probably this recent post will help you get a better view of this period:

 

Some questions about barrels and nibs date code with 2 digits and dots.

 

At least from thrid quarter of 1934 and until at least the second quarter of 1938 we can observe this code system.

 

In this system of two digits, we only can see three options(*), namely: without dot, with 1 dot and with 2 dots, so my theory is that, in these cases, the DOTS MEAN MONTHS of quarter, so, e.g.:

 

27 June-1937 (third month of the second quarter of 1937)

.37. July-1937 (first month of the third quarter)

37. August 1937 (second month of the third quarter)

37 September 1937 (third month of the third quarter)

.47. October 1937 (first month fourth quarter)

47. November 1937 (second month fourth quarter)

47 December 1937 (third month fourth quarter)

.18. January 1938

18. February 1938

18 March 1938

.28. April 1938

 

(*) In contrast to code date single-digit that there are 4 options (0, 1, 2 or 3 dots) as many quarters.

 

Some examples of this two digits period:

 

http://s7.postimg.org/u00elzbln/1934_3_T_Parker_Vacumatic_Lazard.jpg

 

 

http://s17.postimg.org/il6cswujj/Lazard_Parker_Vacumatic_2digits_dots.jpg

Edited July 13, 2015 by Lazard 20

[rachels]

Lazard 20--thank you! This completely answers my question.