Restoring vacumatics will never NOT be magic to me.

[PenLovingE]

They aren't even in my top five favorite vintage pens, but I have to admit, there is something special about cleaning one up!

[VacNut]

How is the barrel transparency? Azure is a great color

[PenLovingE]

35 minutes ago, VacNut said:

How is the barrel transparency? Azure is a great color

It's full of Noodler's Walnut right now which is a pretty sticky ink but the transparency is good!

[VacNut]

Nice. The nib seems to put down a smooth constant line and is expressive (as espressive as a vacuum nib can be).

[PenLovingE]

12 minutes ago, VacNut said:

Nice. The nib seems to put down a smooth constant line and is expressive (as espressive as a vacuum nib can be).

That's because nib was twisted when I got it. The tipping on one of the tine popped off so I ground a smooth italic.

[inkstainedruth]

The I remember when I got my first 51, I went on the Parkercollector.com website with a few questions.  Which Tony Fischier kindly answered.  But then he said, "And you'll start collecting Vacumatics next!"  And I said I wouldn't because they were too "Art Deco" for my taste.  And now I have a bunch of them and he's probably STILL laughing himself sick.  

Azure Blue Pearl is my favorite color for Vacs -- but my favorite one overall is the Red Shadow Wave I got in the auction at a pen show a number of years ago.  Couldn't BELIEVE I didn't get outbid on it....  ESPECIALLY when I had it checked out at one of the repair tables the next morning and it turned out to be in working condition at that.... 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[VacNut]

I just wrapped up 5-6 standard size vacs with lockdown fillers. The work mat is a mess but very satisfying especially when streaming a movie 

[zmija]

@PenLovingE - Has the nib been restored or replaced? If restored, it was spectacular.

[PenLovingE]

8 minutes ago, zmija said:

@PenLovingE - Has the nib been restored or replaced? If restored, it was spectacular.

Thank you! It was just restored. That's the awesome thing about real gold! Last forever and takes a really smooth grind. 

[PenLovingE]

1 hour ago, VacNut said:

I just wrapped up 5-6 standard size vacs with lockdown fillers. The work mat is a mess but very satisfying especially when streaming a movie 

Post a pic of the lineup please!

[FarmBoy]

Even stacked the short way, it’s going to be a long line…

[VacNut]

Admittedly l should cull the herd.

 

I started cataloging my collection since last summer, starting with the Vacumatics. It’s been time consuming, cleaning and restoring the pens - making them complete and “correct”.

 

I’ve managed to get through most of the larger or uncommon pens. I am now starting on the standard size pens. I won’t admit to the number of trays that need attention.🫣🫣🫣

These Vacumatics are not perfect, but they are pretty good, especially with the more flexible 2-tone nibs. Just very slightly brassing on the trim

If your name is LD FRESHLEY or FRANK E LAMBERSON, I can get you a great deal on a Vacumatic!

 

The line can get very long…especially when I keep buying.

 

 

[Ron Z]

Quote

Thank you! It was just restored. That's the awesome thing about real gold! Last forever and takes a really smooth grind.

 

Perhaps a more accurate word to use is reshaped?  The problem  is that gold is a soft metal, and paper is abrasive, which means that the tip you've shaped will wear fairly quickly.  That's why gold nibs were tipped with iridium, and today an alloy of hard metals that are wear resistant.  The cost to have a nib retiped it is fairly high, more perhaps than a replacement nib, but you want tipping material there if you plan on using the pen much.

[PenLovingE]

14 minutes ago, Ron Z said:

 

Perhaps a more accurate word to use is reshaped?  The problem  is that gold is a soft metal, and paper is abrasive, which means that the tip you've shaped will wear fairly quickly.  That's why gold nibs were tipped with iridium, and today an alloy of hard metals that are wear resistant.  The cost to have a nib retiped it is fairly high, more perhaps than a replacement nib, but you want tipping material there if you plan on using the pen much.

I appreciate the tip. Especially coming from you, Ron. When the time comes, I'll be looking for a replacement. 

[VacNut]

An italic nib will be difficult to find and relatively expensive. A simple vac nib would be less money than a re- tip, but not if you want an italic nib. The cost of a re-tip is not affected by the writing style.

[PenLovingE]

4 minutes ago, VacNut said:

An italic nib will be difficult to find and relatively expensive. A simple vac nib would be less money than a re- tip, but not if you want an italic nib. The cost of a re-tip is not affected by the writing style.

I'm fine with a regular tip. I see a few generic nibs on eBay in the $30 range that I'll jump on at some point. 

[VacNut]

The price of gold has driven the price of 14K nibs. It would be difficult to find a good Vacumatic nib at that price.

You may get lucky.

[PenLovingE]

2 minutes ago, VacNut said:

The price of gold has driven the price of 14K nibs. It would be difficult to find a good Vacumatic nib at that price.

You may get lucky.

That's true. Let's hope I don't run through the gold on my "italic" too quickly!

[Carguy]

I keep staying away from Vacs, but I sure would like an oversized Azure or burgundy. Every one I have managed to buy over the years has been smaller and prone to leaking or poor writing. I am by no means a Vac expert, but imagine that I won’t find either of those pens inexpensively.

[FarmBoy]

A blue OS would be a great find!