Filling Mechanism: Vacuum Filler

Among the standard colors of the Parker Vacumatic, burgundy is the most difficult to find. Our vintage pen set is a little unique, as the pen marked 1938 sports a lock-down filler that doesn't lock down. We think is is a marriage of parts by some old repair many years ago. It works well now with a new diaphragm. It is difficult to see in the photo, but the barrel clarity is nice and not badly ambered. Just a little ambered. No cracks. The cap has a black jewel and the tail's blind cap has a burgundy jewel. The two-toned 14k gold nib is still two-toned. It writes a dry, extra-fine line that needs some breaking in if you were planning to write with it. The matching pencel works well and has a 1940 date. It is pre-loaded with a 1.1mm lead, a hardened eraser but no spare leads. It, too, shows a little wear from use.

Emerald pearl dazzles on this 1946 Parker Vacumatic. The green really pops, and the celluloid viewing window is still easily seen through, even though it is slightly ambered. No cracks, brassing or significant wear. It is a beautiful pen for display or use. You'll write a fine line with its 14k gold nib. Its matching pencil is from 1942 and looks stunning. However, you can feel a little warping near the top of the tail cap. You can extend and retract its 1.1mm lead easily with a twist of the tail cap. Click the headline for close-ups. Pen measures 12.9cm capped.

Parker Vacumatic celluloid bordering on perfection is difficult to find...but here it is! More than just crack and scratch free, when you hold this beautiful azure pearl Vacumatic barrel up to the light, the ink-view parts are insanely close to new-out-of-the-factory yellow-green. No amber! For many people that makes this a museum worth vintage pen. It helps that it has a 1st quarter 1936 date code and a double jewel design. The jewels are black, not blue striped. Click the headline for close-ups. The filling unit is black plastic and not the original aluminum. The 14k monotone gold nib writes a very smooth medium line...but is not two-tone. Unlike the pen, the matching pencil is heavily used but still working...and from a different year. Pen measures 13cm capped.

One of our favorite vintage pen innovations was the Parker Vacumatic. Inverting the ink sac into a diaphragm, the pen could fill the whole barrel with ink. Its golden pearl celluloid is very attractive. Our vintage pen is amazing looking. No cracks. Minimal wear. A little brassing on the cap band. It was restored with a new diaphragm by the famed Stuart Hawkinson. The two-tone arrow nib is amazing looking, with only a little wear to the platinum plating. You will write a fine line with a little feedback. It has a 1942 date code. The matching pencil was likely from 1937, and the jewel looks just like the golden pearl design. Twist the tail cap to advance and retract its 1.1mm lead. The cap is engraved "Rev. B C Stine." Pen measures 13.4cm capped.

Parker Vacumatics are among our favorite pens. From their art deco design to their filling system innovations, these are easily our favorite Parkers. This is an earlier Vac with a lock-down filler. It is a standard size model and in excellent working condition. No cracks but some wear and brassing from use. The two jewels are silver pearl like the pen. The metal ring around the tail jewel spins freely, but the jewel and ring are securely on the pen. The company imprint is mostly faded. We think we see a one in the date code spot, but this is neither a 1931 nor '41 pen. The 14k gold nib has an 8. Click the headline for a close-up. You will write a nice smooth medium line. 12.8cm capped.

No vintage pen collection is complete without a Parker 51. We restored this 51 with a new diaphragm. We like the golden pocket clip on the striped chrome cap. It is a nice contrast and we were a little surprised by the lack of silver markings. The pen and cap show a little wear from use, but it still makes for a nice daily user. Made in the first quarter of 1946, it writes really well for 77 years old. The nib was made of 14k gold. You will write a smooth medium line and yet still feel the paper beneath you. The tail's blind cap maintains a perfectly flush feel with the barrel. 13.5cm capped.

On the surface, there might not be a lot to get you too excited about this Parker Vacumatic. And then you write with it. Wow! With a light touch it is a nice medium nib that leans toward fine, but with a little gentle pressure you can get about 1mm line variation! Not a common trait in a Vac from 1942. We restored this vintage pen with a new diaphragm. Its grey pearl design is nice with nickel trim. Dark ambering still permits a little light to see through the empty barrel. It has some wear from use, but there are no cracks or deep scratches. The blind cap-barrel alignment is just a little off. 13cm capped.

Parker got creative with some of its Vacumatic variants over the years. This is the rarer Parker Vacumatic Long Major. It is the same width as a Major at the length of a Maxima. Our vintage pen was exquisitely restored. It has a fresh diaphragm and the cap and barrel are without blemishes. A crisp imprint shows a 1942 date code. As you can see in the photo, the barrel clarity is excellent with some ambering. Even the nib still has most of its two-tone plating. You will write a firm, extra-fine line with its 14k gold nib. There is a little feedback with the nib, and we think you might have to break it in a bit to get it consistently flowing. Although you could make it a daily writer, cosmetically, it is good enough for a museum. 13.1cm capped.