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Rare Vacumatic: 36 pens for $86. Anudder sumgai vs dumbgai.


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#1 david i

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Posted 29 November 2011 - 03:58 AM

A bit of show-n-tell and potential show-n-kvell.

Sooooo... been busy of late processing paperwork for Janesville and have had bad cold last few days, but have peeked in on ebay here n' there.

Spotted a bunch of pens near the end of the run and set a snipe.

$86 for 38 pens need not be a bargain... but there is something potentially special in the pile.

Here is the ebay link

http://www.ebay.com/...em=400258934842

And a shot of the bunch o' pens

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Thoughts?

regards

david
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#2 Dan in NYC

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Posted 29 November 2011 - 04:16 AM

David :rolleyes:
Nice find, burgundy Vaumatic. One more for Vacumania?

Regards

Dan

#3 david i

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Posted 29 November 2011 - 04:18 AM

David :rolleyes:
Nice find, burgundy Vaumatic. One more for Vacumania?

Regards

Dan


Hi Dan,

That is the pen in question.

But, I believe it is not a Vacumatic.

Care to run with it, or shall I expound?

-d
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#4 matt

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Posted 29 November 2011 - 04:29 AM

Hi Dan,

That is the pen in question.

But, I believe it is not a Vacumatic.

Care to run with it, or shall I expound?

-d


Stubby. Sub Jr Golden Arrow or Vacuum Filler?

#5 david i

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Posted 29 November 2011 - 04:42 AM

Stubby. Sub Jr Golden Arrow or Vacuum Filler?




Hi Matt,

I believe it is "middle size" for the pre-Vacs, not an extra short Stubby, though I'll be happy to be wrong on that count, as Stubby has more cachet than Middle (Juinor) size.

Key with this pen is that it is a striped double jewel Vac-ish pen, but with two cap-bands and size that looks a bit short to just be typical triple band Standard that has lost a cap-band.

Vac Family pens were not made in lines in "Vac Junior" size (found as marbled, shadow-wave, etc) as Vacumatic per se. That size, trim cocktail was used in the pre-Vacumatics, Vacuum-Filler and, yeah, Golden Arrow.

This one is highly unlikely to be a Golden Arrow, the very first Vac. If it has a Golden Arrow imprint and is intact (save for the easily replaced top jewel and clip), it is a couple thousand dollar pen. As a restored Vacuum-Filler it will be a couple-few hundred dollar pen. At worst, if the core parts are intact, the cap and nib will have good parts value.

Again, noting I doubt it is Stubby, were it to turn out to be a Stubby Golden Arrow, it would be the last of 6 possible GA's needed for my collection. I've seen one (in the wild. owner would not sell the family pen) and have not owned one.

I'll be happy for a decent imprint Vacuum-Filler.

regards

d
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Email: isaacson@frontiernet.net

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#6 FmrLEO_GJ

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Posted 29 November 2011 - 10:15 AM

Looks like a few Sheaffers among that lot also David.

The third [vertical] pen from the left - with the wavy lines pattern - looks different also.
Do I also see a Nurse Pen in this lot too?

[Seeing if I recognist ANYTHING at all]
Garth
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#7 Teej47

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Posted 29 November 2011 - 07:57 PM

The Moore in the upper right could be interesting as well. I wonder about that blue pencil (fourth item from the left). Don't know what it is, but there should have been a striated Balance in that color! My first thought was that maybe it's a Conklin, but now kinda doubt it. Stripes seem too narrow to be a '40s Duofold, plus there's only one cap ring. Curious...

Tim
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#8 david i

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Posted 10 December 2011 - 09:35 PM

Well, the package arrived yesterday, and along with a bunch of... stuff... is a very significant (no joke) pen from the Parker Vacumatic family . Other stuff includes a charming and somewhat uncommon Wearever (yes, a Wearever) that mimics the look of a Sheaffer Lady Skripsert. A couple nib less pens (Moore, Esterbrook) are decent. The Waterman Expert will make a ballpoint fan happy at some point.

Ahhh... but that "Vacumatic", the red striped pen that was the diamond amongst the coal lumps... It turned out, all told, to be a pleasant surprise. We take a turn into the Vacsoterica Zone.

As noted in earlier posts, the simple appearance of red stripes on the pen in the first image suggested a pen from the Vacumatic Family pen. In red, even as decent parts, on this bid launched last second with no information on hand, I considered myself safe.

But, the size of the pen-- standard girth, but shorter than triple-band Vac Standard-- and the presence of two cap-bands, not catalogued striped early lockdown pens in high line striped plastic, screamed pre-Vacumatic, either a Parker Vacuum-Filler or (highly unlikely) a monster Parker Golden Arrow/

For those unfamiliar with with Vacumatic, trealize that pens we know as Vacumatic at the very beginning were released as Parker Golden Arrow. Very shortly after the name evolved into Parker Vacuum-Filler, a few months later becoming the familiar Parker Vacumatic, which would persist twenty years.

So, based on the look of the pen in the limited I expected to find a Vacuum-Filler, but hey you never know... :)

So, here is a first shot of the pen, confirming the look of the pen as per my description. Double cap-band. Shorter-then-Vac-Standard length. Quite clean plastic and decent trim is noted; better than average from Vacs from this era. And this is pre restoration.


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Second shot. The open pen. Very clean nib with nice mirror finish to the well preserved two tone effect. Good color to the plastic.

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Third Shot. Interesting Feed. Could this be a Golden Arrow?

When I examined the nib/feed I was pleasantly surprised. A wide flat contoured feed hid behind the nib. This is NOT your usual Vacumatic feed. I've seen perhaps three of these in 13 years examining early Vacs. Every one I've ever seen was present on the very first Vacumatic Family pen, the Parker Golden Arrow. This alone added some oomph to the pen, no doubt.

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Fourth Shot: Weird Imprint. No, the pen is not a Golden Arrow, but in some ways... it is better. Less valuable, but more rare.

The imprint was light but legible. It was not a vaunted "Golden Arrow" and there goes the pen being worth a couple thousand dollars. But, too, it was not a Parker Vacuum Filler. The imprint in fact is that should not be present on any Vacumatic.

The imprint read "George S. Parker. PARKER. Made in USA"

This imprint typically is found on what collectors call "Parker Thrift Pens", decent 2nd-tier button-fillers that often have been poorly documented, in some cases even today lacking any identifiable model name.

To find the generic "Parker" imprint, the "thrift time" imprint on a Vacumatic-Family pen is... a surprise. Though, in fact I have seen one other, indeed iirc a middle size red Vacuum-Filler sort, early product same size as this. I've seen two. Both same size color and era. That I find... interesting.

Do look at the following image. Consider that essentially all Vacumatic family pens were stamped "Vacumatic", "Vacuum-Filler", or "Golden Arrow".

Things to consider in final section after the photo:

  • Rarity and Value of this non-"Vacumatic" Vacumatic-family pen.
  • Reason for manufacture


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Why was an early Vacumatic-family pen, either a Golden Arrow or Vacuum-Filler released with a bland "Parker" imprint generally reserved for second tier pens that sometimes had no model names whatsoever? Obviously, I cannot say with certainty.

When anomalies such as this one are found, one can trot out catchphrases and common play book notions that are invoked routinely: Accident? Lunchtime silliness? Product for targeted niche market? Early prototype or experiment prior to finalization of model name?

I'm inclined to favor... accident. Possibly the wrong die was placed resulting in a run of pens with this anomalous imprint. This might explain the two I've seen being same size/color, though clearly such a small sample leaves us with potential caveats.

What is the value and cachet of this, compared to Vacuum-Filler and Golden Arrow?

Again, no hard and fast rules. For me, what with being a collector whose author profiles for the pen magazines and Fountain Pen Board note, "These days the anomalous, "off-catalogue", and esoteric variants provide the most charm.", a weird find like this, especially as I have this pen marked both Golden Arrow and Vacuum-Filler, really rocks.

Given that the majority of pens of this sort are Vacuum-Fillers, my view is that the pen with the plain Parker imprint well trumps the cachet and value of Vacuum-Filler. Of course, if I happened not to own 3-5 Vacuum Fillers in this size/color, I might not feel that way. Pens marked Golden Arrow have huge collector cachet, in my view being more significant pens than even the vaunted "Vacumatic Cap-Band" pens. Golden Arrow is highly sought by many advanced collectors. While, the anomalous pen in this thread is as rare (and overall, well more rare when all colors/sizes are considered) than Golden Arrow, the charm it presents is that of the quirk and the anomaly. My suspicion is that the demand for this would not be the same as that of true Golden Arrow. Too bad. There is no way I see it selling price zone of Golden Arrow, though I would expect it to top the range of Vacuum Filler.

That's my opinion.

Thoughts?

regards

David
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Email: isaacson@frontiernet.net

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#9 matt

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Posted 11 December 2011 - 12:14 AM

snip

To find the generic "Parker" imprint, the "thrift time" imprint on a Vacumatic-Family pen is... a surprise. Though, in fact I have seen one other, indeed iirc a middle size red Vacuum-Filler sort, early product same size as this. I've seen two. Both same size color and era. That I find... interesting.

snip
I'm inclined to favor... accident. Possibly the wrong die was placed resulting in a run of pens with this anomalous imprint. This might explain the two I've seen being same size/color, though clearly such a small sample leaves us with potential caveats.
snip


What clip was on the other two examples you've seen? Are nibs on this era also pre-date code?

Is the green and red golf pencil a no-name? Kinda cute.

Edited by matt, 11 December 2011 - 12:23 AM.


#10 FmrLEO_GJ

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Posted 11 December 2011 - 12:45 AM

Hi Matt

I'm sure David will get around to sharing what other pens and pencils were in this lot, as some of us had asked about certain items... but the Vac' was the priority. ;)
Garth
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#11 david i

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Posted 11 December 2011 - 12:48 AM

Hi Matt

I'm sure David will get around to sharing what other pens and pencils were in this lot, as some of us had asked about certain items... but the Vac' was the priority. ;)


Hi Garth,

Wavy pen is a Sheaffer Lady Skripsert lookalike made by Wearever. Cool pen, but humble.

If anyone wanted anything from this bunch, let me know. Won't be too expensive... well except the red pen.

-d
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Email: isaacson@frontiernet.net

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#12 FmrLEO_GJ

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Posted 11 December 2011 - 12:56 AM

Hi Garth,

Wavy pen is a Sheaffer Lady Skripsert lookalike made by Wearever. Cool pen, but humble.

If anyone wanted anything from this bunch, let me know. Won't be too expensive... well except the red pen.

-d


Thanks David :)

I am thinking that maybe 'humble' would describe my collecting? LOL.
I do like the patternation on that pen. Mind you; given my limited knowledge about collecting and the variety of pens around - and their manufacturers - I would like to know what each and every pen and pencil is, in your swag here. I know; I am a pain in the proverbial ;)
Garth
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#13 david i

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Posted 11 December 2011 - 02:00 AM

What clip was on the other two examples you've seen? Are nibs on this era also pre-date code?

Is the green and red golf pencil a no-name? Kinda cute.




Hi Matt,

Sorry if ambiguous. Two pens counting this one. Recollection of the other one is that it has-- as expected-- an early style Vac clip, typical to Vacuum FIller and Golden Arrow. Nibs before third quarter 1934 would be expected to be without date code, including all Vacuum-Filler and Golden Arrow pens.

regards

david
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Email: isaacson@frontiernet.net

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#14 Rick Krantz

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Posted 11 December 2011 - 06:37 AM

The feed has a similar look to that used in wahl personal points, with the slots in the side. Neat pen.

#15 Rick Propas

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Posted 11 December 2011 - 01:41 PM

Interesting. Purely speculation, but might it have been produced in the interregnum between Golden Arrow and Vacuum Filler, hence no appropriate die with which to stamp it?

It would have been nice to see the original clip and jewel. It's hard to see the blind cap tassie, I assume the two step flat?
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#16 david i

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Posted 11 December 2011 - 04:20 PM

Interesting. Purely speculation, but might it have been produced in the interregnum between Golden Arrow and Vacuum Filler, hence no appropriate die with which to stamp it?

It would have been nice to see the original clip and jewel. It's hard to see the blind cap tassie, I assume the two step flat?


Hi Rick,

Speculation has its charm, and ideas always are invited. I don't know that there was a skip period between the two model names. Seems one would be used until replaced by the next. i should post some time about the then-new Slender size Vacumatic (not done as Vacuum Filler) that has shown up couple times with extra-small nib... marked Vacuum-Filler, not used on pens marked Vacuum-Filler. Overlap, I suppose as plans shifted.

I just have tough time picturing (which does not exclude possibility) that plans for their best new hope left them with a naming gap such that a low line imprint was used with intent.

I could be wrong...

regards

d




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Email: isaacson@frontiernet.net

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#17 Rick Propas

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Posted 11 December 2011 - 05:44 PM

As my German friends so wisely say Wer Weiß?
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#18 david i

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Posted 11 December 2011 - 05:58 PM

As my German friends so wisely say Wer Weiß?


And, as Isaacson says... yepperootie.

-d
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#19 David Nishimura

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Posted 13 December 2011 - 07:41 PM

I don't know that there was a skip period between the two model names. Seems one would be used until replaced by the next.


Does happen that companies are caught off-guard. This would be consistent with the widely-accepted explanation that "Golden Arrow" was ditched suddenly and at the last moment when Parker belatedly realized that the name was already in use in the UK. If this is the explanation for the generic imprint, it would also be consistent with that imprint's great rarity, as I'm sure Parker lost little time coming up with the "Vacuum-Filler" name (but would not have completely stopped production, either, while name-hunting).


Incidentally, here's another example.

Attached File  10236a.jpg   16.65KB   35 downloads

Attached File  10236e.jpg   31.93KB   53 downloads

Crazy nib, too!

Attached File  10236c.jpg   30.16KB   52 downloads

And the early feed.

Attached File  10236d.jpg   15.62KB   41 downloads

#20 david i

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Posted 13 December 2011 - 08:45 PM

Does happen that companies are caught off-guard. This would be consistent with the widely-accepted explanation that "Golden Arrow" was ditched suddenly and at the last moment when Parker belatedly realized that the name was already in use in the UK. If this is the explanation for the generic imprint, it would also be consistent with that imprint's great rarity, as I'm sure Parker lost little time coming up with the "Vacuum-Filler" name (but would not have completely stopped production, either, while name-hunting).



I do keep open mind on this point, as we reside in the realm of hypothesis for this one.

What is both interesting (perhaps disturbing) is that your pen makes three of this size I've seen. All same size and model. All... red.

Recognizing that a sample of three pens, when only three colors were used at the time, does not rule out chance, it is a bit odd that all have turned up... red

regards

david




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