Mike Hosea

Got my first ever Parker "51" vac and replaced my second ever vac diaphragm yesterday.  The hood didn't want to come off so easily.  Though I would have liked to be able to inspect my work from the inside when I installed the diaphragm, I didn't have any pressing need to remove it, so I figured I'd apply patience and persistence to eventually get it off another day.  My question is about how far the nib sticks out of the hood.  This 51's nib doesn't extend very far out of the shell, only about 1.1mm.  My 51 aeros all seem to extend about 2mm.  The difference when using this pen is noticeable to me--it looks like the shell is close to the page.  It's the only reason I noticed in the first place.

 

Now, in the aeros, I just insert the nib as far as it will go and thread on the hood all the way.  Is this considered "adjustable" on the "51" vacs?  If not, is it a trait of some specific vintages?  This pen is from 1Q 1945.

I'm sure this is peanuts around here, but I've been trolling eBay for Vacumatics and Vacumatic 51's to restore. I came across a 61, and I don't have a 61, so I decided to bid on it.

http://www.ebay.com/...P-/331343149812

Turns out there are 3 bids, and I tied for the max bid but won the item by getting mine in just 4 seconds earlier. I've been on the other side of that before. But today I got the pen. I expected to need to flush dried ink out of it, but in the back of the capillary filler I see what looks like a white filter. I ran some water through it with a bulb syringe. No ink traces. When I cleaned up the cap, no ink traces in there either. This pen has never been inked! Cosmetic condition is also excellent.


Given that these have a reputation for being fragile, I guess I'll put it in my collection and leave it un-inked. I didn't figure to like it better than a "51" for actual use, anyway, but I think it's a nice find for $40, at least for me.