17 replies to this topic

[david i]

Pens arrive every week. Bad addiction is this hobby...

 

These two both are interesting. Bit off the beaten path. Interesting within the context of the series to which they connect.

 

One needs a subtle tweak during restoration, which will not prove to be a challenge.

 

I'm happy with them.

 

 

 

regards

 

david

[Idazle]

The Vacumatic with "Parker Vacumatic" engraved on the cap band is one of the rarest Vacs, isn't it? Which year is that one from David?

[penmanila]

It came out only in the first two quarters of 1937.

I'm wondering if the red Vac was the one sold on Ebay last week for what seemed like a very reasonable price (for the model, anyway).

[david i]

Gents,

 

Yes, The "Vac-band" Vacumatic is most uncommon and is a very desirable pen. It is the oen from ebay last week.  I suspect the cap  in this style was made for limited time in 2nd quarter 1937. Pens most often turn up with "27" date codes, though barrels a smidge late do not cause great consternation. I don't sweat a "37" or even "47", and enough have turned up from the wild (particularly from overseas) that I wonder if some of the caps lingered at the factory before meeting their destined barrels.

 

The Vac-band cap is seen on the cover of the 1937 Parker catalogue (undated paper, iirc, other than by year) and in the first of the 2nd Generation Vacumatic ads (showing pens such as Maxima, Major), those ads appearing around August 1937, noting that manufacture and advertising can have some lag time.

 

The pen indeed is from ebay last week.  It has a later clip as it should have a plain feather clip, but this is a readily swappable part (unlike clips from many other companies).

 

The Sheaffer is interesting too.

 

regards

 

david

[bluejay]

What is the model for the sheaffer?

[david i]

The Sheaffer is a Sheaffer Junior, made in Canada.

 

regards

 

d

[david i]

But, the Sheaffer Junior deviates from the USA standard. Anyone care to offer details, or shall I?

 

regards

 

david

[ljwahl]

But, the Sheaffer Junior deviates from the USA standard. Anyone care to offer details, or shall I?

regards

david

No streamlining?

[FarmBoy]

But, the Sheaffer Junior deviates from the USA standard. Anyone care to offer details, or shall I?
 
regards
 
david

Barrel and cap shape is more flat-top in style than Balance in style.

Assume a lever filler as well.

[OcalaFlGuy]

There's a Flex nib in the Canada model?

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[AeRoberto]

There are a couple of strange things in that Sheaffer, for example the clip: position, shape and imprint is from Balances and not from Flat Tops, it seems more thin than the classic Flat Tops, and also the taper seems different (by the way, is there a small "dome" on the cap or is it an impression?). Apart from that the striped plastics were used only for Balances and not for Flat Tops, and I'm not sure of the dates, but the Flat Tops were discontinued right before the introduction of the carmine red (which should be the color of latest introduction). Is this correct, or am I completely wrong ?

Edited by AeRoberto, 29 December 2013 - 10:54 PM.

[david i]

There are a couple of strange things in that Sheaffer, for example the clip: position, shape and imprint is from Balances and not from Flat Tops, it seems more thin than the classic Flat Tops, and also the taper seems different (by the way, is there a small "dome" on the cap or is it an impression?). Apart from that the striped plastics were used only for Balances and not for Flat Tops, and I'm not sure of the dates, but the Flat Tops were discontinued right before the introduction of the carmine red (which should be the color of latest introduction). Is this correct, or am I completely wrong ?

 

HI,

 

I'll do more explanations a bit later (let's let people play), but I do want to address the shape of the pen, as the photo of course does not show all aspect. The Carmine Sheaffer indeed is not quite flat on the ends. It does not have curved domes, but rather has a very gentle bevel at either end lending a bit of a point to each end. It is subtle.  The pen does have a hint of streamlining to the barrel and cap near the ends.

 

The shape of the pen is a bit like that of the sub-brand WASP pens.

 

regards

 

david

[penpalace]

Neat Sheaffer David. The pen certainly has the shape of a 40's Duofold Vac fill. The trim of course is standard Sheaffer Jr trim so while it is reverse trim on most in this case it's par for the course. I have seen this style in a Wasp at least the shape/configuration, again a neat piece!

[david i]

Neat Sheaffer David. The pen certainly has the shape of a 40's Duofold Vac fill. The trim of course is standard Sheaffer Jr trim so while it is reverse trim on most in this case it's par for the course. I have seen this style in a Wasp at least the shape/configuration, again a neat piece!H

 

Hi Pearce,

 

Yeah, it is a nice thing.  Picking nits and getting into semantics, I wouldn't call this one reverse trim as *all* Sheaffer Juniors have white trim, which makes it a bit on exeption to the usual "gray pens have white trim while other colors have yellow trim".  Fuzzy...

 

We still need to explore the Junior a bit. It seems not to conform to usual expectations for Sheaffer Junior, which would include truly truncated Balances (cut off to flat ends) before about, oh, 1936, and Balance shaped after. And, as was noted/asked  earlier,  and to address now, non-Balance Juniors from the 30's pre-date the introduction of striped plastic. All Sheaffer Juniors in stripes should be Balances.

 

Hmmm...  I'd think *you* among most collectors here would be particularly qualified to identify it

 

regards

 

d

[penpalace]

I was well aware that it had some *eh* in him/her. We made some neat stuff here

[david i]

Agreed. Care to explain that to those who don't get the implication?

 

regards

 

-d

[Gary D]

It must have something to do with us Canadians, eh?

[Saleem ali]

 Dear Dr David ,  your particular hunt for vaccumatics brought you this special delight ! Congratulations!