Jump to content

Parker Vacuum Filler

pen lady

By pen lady
in Repair Q&A

 Share

Recommended Posts

pen lady Collectors Item

pen lady

Posted
Posted

Hi all. I know what I've got, the question is, how to fix it. I've just received a Canadian made Parker Vacuum Filler. I have worked on Vacs with lock-down fillers before, but never one with a one-piece section and barrel as this 1933 pen has.  At some stage, someone installed an Eversharp feed and a later Canadian Vac nib (marked 57), I have a slightly more correct two-tone Vac nib (though US made) and right size feed. The question is, given that this pen has a one-piece section, how can I replace the nib and feed please?  My copy of Marshall and Oldfield doesn't cover this!!!!!  Ultra-sonic and moderate brute force? All and any suggestions will be gratefully received.

DSCN8973.JPG

DSCN8974.JPG

DSCN8975.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Replies 9
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • pen lady

    6

  • VacNut

    2

  • Ron Z

    1

  • FarmBoy

    1

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Posted Images

Ron Z Museum Piece

Ron Z

Posted
Posted

You have to remove the filler and drive the nib and feed out from the inside with a long hollow punch.  Contact me back channel...

spacer.png
Visit Main Street Pens
A full service pen shop providing professional, thoughtful vintage pen repair...

Please use email, not a PM for repair and pen purchase inquiries.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
FarmBoy Museum Piece

FarmBoy

Posted
Posted

Can we see an image of the imprint?

San Francisco International Pen Show - The next “Funnest Pen Show” is on schedule for August 23-24-25, 2024.  Watch the show website for registration details. 
 

My PM box is usually full. Just email me: my last name at the google mail address.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
pen lady Collectors Item

pen lady

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Sorry Farm Boy, it is so indistinct, I only spotted it using a 10x loupe! You can't see it with the naked eye, but it says: Geo. S. PARKER VACUUM FILLER  Made in

                                       Parker                                                                                   Canada

though the ''Made in Canada'' is very worn. I guess if you're 93 years old, you've every right to be a bit worn!!!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
pen lady Collectors Item

pen lady

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Well.....I did get this pen disassembled (thanks for the tips Ron) but I found that I don't have the correct size replacement feed. I have several but they're too small.  Please does anyone have an idea where I can source the correct feed? Google AI tells me I need one that's 1.35" long and 0.236" in diameter.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites
VacNut Collectors Item

VacNut

Posted
Posted

AI….hahahahaha.

Is there an ebonite or celluloid sleeve within the section? 
The nib looks to be a more “modern” vac nib. How correct do you want to be with the restoration?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
pen lady Collectors Item

pen lady

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Hi there, this is the best I could do for a photo of the section opening. It looks like ebonite, I've just rubbed it with a tube of v. fine sandpaper (2000 grit) and the residue was yellowish brown, what do you think?  I really don't have any resources other than the internet for the correct feed dimensions, what is your opinion please?  Most sellers in the US use inches BTW (😒).

 

You are right about the nib, and it seems to be a real Canadian oddity, a Vac nib marked 1st Quarter '57  (the top right). Given that that pen is Canadian, I'd like to use a Canadian nib. As you can see I have one from '42, the two-tone ones might be more correct, but given that the pen is a bit of a wreck (badly brassed and personalized) I feel I want to keep those for a more ''deserving'' project.  The pen, if I can ever get it functional will be for sale in October at the Toronto Pen Show (Scriptus). Most of my stock is user grade, so I don't have to pander to buyers wanting to buy $300+ pens. A working 93 year old pen will please someone with a normal budget.

 

Thanks for your help.

DSCN8980.JPG

DSCN8979.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites
VacNut Collectors Item

VacNut

Posted
Posted

Some early Vacumatic and vacuum fillers have a celluloid sleeve inside the section that accepts the feed. ( I know only because I have accidentally knock them out removing the feeds.). I have no explanation of why the sleeve is there, other than they may have needed to insert bit to drill out the section(?). 
 

I always prefer to pair a vacuum filler nib with a  Vacuum Filler Pen, but that’s not everyone preference. The two-tone nib with the barbs touching is a beautiful early nib, but I think two-tone nibs are a later pen edition. The gold nib with the barbs slightly recessed into the shaft would be an earlier nib than the one that came with the pen.


If you have no preference, then the existing nib is perfectly acceptable as it may have been a replacement nib by the original owner, and therefore part of the pen’s history.

 

I am open to further information, but I am not sure the ‘57 on the nib corresponds to the year of mfr. 1957 would be very late in the Vacumatic run. I’m not sure why Parker would ever need to imprint a date code on the nibs as it has no bearing on the use and nibs of the same size are interchangeable.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
pen lady Collectors Item

pen lady

Posted
  • Author
Posted

The '57 nib looks like a Vacumatic one, I know Vac production went on far longer up here than in the US. The other Canadian single colour nib is a 3rd quarter from '42 so I'll likely use that. Did you have any thoughts on the correct feed size that I should order please?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43972
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      35666
    3. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      31684
    4. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    5. Bo Bo Olson
      Bo Bo Olson
      27747

  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Misfit
      On my second trip to Japan in seven months, while the going is good

      By Misfit · Posted

      Oh to have that translucent pink Prera! @migo984 has the Oeste series named after birds. There is a pink one, so I’m assuming Este is the same pen as Oeste.    Excellent haul. I have some Uniball One P pens. Do you like to use them? I like them enough, but don’t use them too much yet.    Do you or your wife use Travelers Notebooks? Seeing you were at Kyoto, I thought of them as there is a store there. 
    • A Smug Dill
      On my second trip to Japan in seven months, while the going is good

      By A Smug Dill · Posted

      It's not nearly so thick that I feel it comprises my fine-grained control, the way I feel about the Cross Peerless 125 or some of the high-end TACCIA Urushi pens with cigar-shaped bodies and 18K gold nibs. Why would you expect me or anyone else to make explicit mention of it, if it isn't a travesty or such a disappointment that an owner of the pen would want to bring it to the attention of his/her peers so that they could “learn from his/her mistake” without paying the price?
    • szlovak
      On my second trip to Japan in seven months, while the going is good

      By szlovak · Posted

      Why nobody says that the section of Tuzu besides triangular shape is quite thick. Honestly it’s the thickest one among my many pens, other thick I own is Noodler’s Ahab. Because of that fat section I feel more control and my handwriting has improved. I can’t say it’s comfortable or uncomfortable, but needs a moment to accommodate. It’s funny because my school years are long over. Besides this pen had horrible F nib. Tines were perfectly aligned but it was so scratchy on left stroke that collecte
    • stylographile
      Bits and bobs to bring with me to in-person meets

      By stylographile · Posted

      Awesome! I'm in the process of preparing my bag for our pen meet this weekend and I literally have none of the items you mention!! I'll see if I can find one or two!
    • inkstainedruth
      My notes and advice on fountain pen cleaning

      By inkstainedruth · Posted

      @asota -- Yeah, I think I have a few rolls in my fridge that are probably 20-30 years old at this point (don't remember now if they are B&W or color film) and don't even really know where to get the film processed, once the drive through kiosks went away....  I just did a quick Google search and (in theory) there was a place the next town over from me -- but got a 404 error message when I tried to click on the link....  Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth 

  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More

  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...