A BIG thank you to this forum - Parker Vacumatic Gen 2 1940 repair

[PenLovingE]

Just wanted to stop in to say a big that you to this group for the information and inspiration to take on this restoration. I ordered some clear celluloid guitar picks, meter them in MEK and have been able to fill some really deep bite marks on this pen. I did get overzealous and overheated the pen body but discovered a really badly corroded aluminum plunger. After a few soaks in pb blaster and some sanding there was enough material to apply a sac that hasn't leaked so far. 

 

The FP rabbit hole goes yet deeper...

[inkstainedruth]

Wow!  Nice job!  

I remember when I got my first 51 and had a question about it and contacted the guy at Parkercollector.com and he answered my question quickly, but *then* said, "And you'll start wanting to get Vacumatics after that...."  And I said I wouldn't because I thought they were too "Art Deco" looking....  And then got my first one (the Red Shadow Wave) in an auction at a pen show....  And he's probably STILL laughing himself sick over me going, "Naaah" about Vacs.... 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[KAC]

Expert repair. It looks new!

I have a nib identical to the type in your picture. How was the gold arrow inlay restored?  I foolishly tried to polish one of these years ago and most of gold vanished.

 

What are "pb blaster" and MEK?

[PenLovingE]

2 hours ago, KAC said:

Expert repair. It looks new!

I have a nib identical to the type in your picture. How was the gold arrow inlay restored?  I foolishly tried to polish one of these years ago and most of gold vanished.

 

What are "pb blaster" and MEK?

Fortunately my nib was in awesome shape. For plating, however, Becker Industries sells an inexpensive plating kit. Rudimentary but affective. 

https://www.beckerindustries.com/

 

PB Blaster is a penetrating oil used to get auto parts that are rusted together loose. It worked great to get the speedline filler moving again.

 

MEK is methyl ethyl ketone. It's a very powerful but also toxic solvent. It melts just about any plastic. A small amount can weld plastic back together.

[KAC]

Thanks for that info!  I'm afraid I'd be unable to attempt any sort of replating process, but...maybe one day!