Parker
Pens and Ephemera

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.

Parker's so-called 5th Generation pen got us really excited when they first started advertising them about 10 years ago. A new filling system seemed to be in the offing. We were pretty excited. Then it turned out to be a rubber-tipped marker refill posing as a fountain pen. Ooooo-kay. Awkward. Not really a new generation of filling systems by our standards. BUT, it remained a surprisingly nice writing pen. Our Parker Urban Ingenuity is in great condition with some light wear from use. We include a brand new refill for your writing pleasure. 13.8cm capped.

If you are seeking perfection in a black streamlined senior Parker Duofold, this is a close as you might ever get. No cracks, no brassing, no scratches, no wear. The only flaw we can find is a slight impression over the "UO" in the Duofold imprint, and that was likely a factory-made kiss of imperfection...the mortality that wasn't drained from Achilles' heel when he was held over the fire as an infant. This vintage pen has been restored with a new ink sac, for anyone who might want to take it of a museum for a spin. There's a "Christmas tree" inkfeed, you will write a medium line with the 14k gold nib. It feels a little "sharp" and dry when written with on a dip. 13.1cm capped.

If you are looking for a bargain on a Parker Duofold Senior pencil, please take a closer look. Nearly 100 years old, this orange permanite beast is still working well. Twist the tail cap to advance and retract its 1.1mm lead. Click the headline to see easily that it is more than a little flawed. The pencil got dropped years ago on its twist top crown, denting it down on one side. Plus, its permanite outer shell has a bad crack under the pocket clip. 14.1cm.

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.

Looking to stay competitive during the Great Depression, Parker created a more affordable line of pens under the brand Parkette. We aren't sure of the model name of this truly handsome pen, but it has a nice clear Parkette imprint. We restored this vintage pen with a new ink sac. It also is one of the few Parker-made pens to have a lever filler. An elegance pervades on this red-and-marble design with gold-plated trim. The clip sports a lot of brassing but the rings are mostly okay. You will write a fairly scratchy extra-fine line with a fair amount of flex with its 14k gold nib. Click the headline for close-ups. No cracks but a little wear from use. 12.2cm 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.

Big Red. That is what this classic orange Parker Duofold Senior is known as. A slightly later permanite edition of the vintage pen, this one is extremely close to perfect. Crisp imprint, crisp milling on the ends, no cracks, virtually no wear or brassing. Its only flaw that we can tell is the cap ring is jiggling a little. We restored it with a new ink sac. You can see the imprint and Christmas tree inkfeed in the photo. Its 14k gold nib writes a fine or fine-medium line. 13.9cm capped.