Parker Vacumatics Photo Thread

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks!

One of my favorite pens is the Parker Vacumatic Golden Web, made of wrapped golden brown brickwork celluloid sheets where the "black grout" is actually transparent amber, giving an ink view into the barrel. These Junior, Long Junior, and Juniorette size pens were made in 1936-1937 and named Golden Pearl, Brown Pearl and Golden Web by Parker. They sold for $5.00 and the matching pencil sold for $2.50. Because of the unusual pattern and the brief offering period, Golden Web pens are sought after by collectors.

http://penhero.com/Temp/ParkerVacumaticGoldenWeb1280.jpg

Interestingly, as I understand it and from experience, there is only one size pencil for the three pen versions.

Thanks!

[FarmBoy]

Correct. One size pencil. Also known is silver. And green if you count the Parker made Diamond Medal pens.

[christof]

I really love the brick pattern. Here is mine, a Canadian one:

 

 

C.

[Brian-McQueen]

Are there Silver Web ones known that are imprinted Parker Vacumatic? I know there are Diamond Medals in Silver, but have not heard of a Parker marked one.

[Brian-McQueen]

Some webs of my own. The one at left is Canadian and has a solid 9K gold cap band.

 

[inkstainedruth]

I didn't know they made those in other colors. I don't particularly like them myself (I prefer the Shadow Wave Vacs). But I might change my mind if I actually saw a Silver one....

Boy, the stuff I learn on this place. Unfortunately, lots of times it's to the detriment of my finances....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Mauricio]

Beautiful pens!

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks!

I picked up this Parker Vacumatic Major Silver Pearl in a roadside ramshackle antique store in Maine. Like many pens I have picked up in Maine, they were part of estate auctions that local antique dealers would visit. This pen was interesting not because of its obvious wear and tear, but because it has the two-tone platinum plated 14 karat gold Parker Arrow nib.

http://www.penhero.com/Temp/ParkerVacumaticSilver_1280_01.jpg

The pen has a date stamp of 1 next to the barrel imprint and a 1 with a dot is also stamped on the nib. The Parker Vacumatic Major Silver Pearl sold for $8.75 in 1941 and the matching pencil for $4.00.

I'm curious, would it be worth replating the cap band? It's pretty worn.

Thanks!

[FarmBoy]

The 'silver' or more likely nickel plated trim really pops when it is clean. Unfortunately the trim didn't hold up well, clips corrode and pit and the bands and tassies seem to have worn to the substrate metal.

 

I'm not sure I'd replate a standard size pen but I might an unusual variant or an over-size pen.

 

If I were going down the path I'd contact Rick Horne and see if I could talk him into doing it.

[PenHero]

Thanks!

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks!

This is a particularly nice condition Parker Vacumatic Major in Laminated Jet black date coded 1946. It's hard to see in this photo, but the barrel clarity is excellent. Parker called the ink view barrel a "full television ink supply." It's 5 inches long, has the plastic plunger, and has the Vacumatic Arrow 14 karat gold nib. The Major sold for $8.75 and the matching pencil sold for $4.00. By 1945 the Vacumatic was being overtaken in sales by the new 51 and the line was down to the Major and Debutante models. Parker ended the model in 1948.

http://www.penhero.com/Temp/ParkerVacumaticBlack_1280_01.jpg

I'll post some photos in this thread over the next several days. Would love to see how many interesting Vacumatics we can post!

Thanks!

[penmanila]

let's play! some of my more interesting ones:

 

 

 

 

[Beechwood]

A pen and a letter that it penned, a letter to the Times in 1946, quite why he thought to throw the letter away and then write another letter explaining that he had done so I am not too sure.

 

Or even why he changed the pen mid sentence.

Edited September 5, 2017 by Beechwood

[PenHero]

let's play! some of my more interesting ones:

 

 

Wow! Those first two are stunning!

[whichwatch]

Nothing especially unusual about these, but they sure made an attractive group. I miss them a little bit, but I'm sure the new owners are enjoying them.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B73AF02C5-BE98-42C7-AE55-48A50CD3D925%7D/origpict/DSCN6854.JPG

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B6B9B3D40-C3E5-4CCA-8214-2FA66DC120EE%7D/origpict/DSCN6859.JPG

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BF5F52037-7C4E-40F2-96A6-0B7D66E3B2F8%7D/origpict/DSCN6862.JPG

[christof]

 

Would love to see how many interesting Vacumatics we can post!

 

Thanks!

 

Cool!

 

I like this kind of threads. Here are mines:

 

 

C.

Edited September 6, 2017 by christof

[Buzz J]

How about some burgundy love?

 

 

 

[penmanila]

love the senior max, john! i have exactly the same pen, minus the star clip--which i have on a burgundy long major with the flexy BB nib

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks!

This is a Parker Vacumatic Junior in Transparent Grey date coded 1934. This 4 3/4 inch long pen has large clear elements in the barrel so the user could check the ink level. These early Vacumatics have a lockdown-filler unit that required the user to remove the blind cap and press and turn the filler knob that unlocked and extended the spring loaded plunger so the pen could be filled. Note the unhallmarked 1934 date coded Parker Vacumatic stamped gold nib nib that pre-dates the Arrow nibs. These pens sold for $5.00.

http://penhero.com/Temp/ParkerVacumaticMarbledGreyPearl_1280_01.jpg

Thanks!

[Buzz J]

Here's a scarce one. The Holy Water Vac from the 30s. Also available in black.