I don't need all my ink to be waterproof. I do like to address envelopes and sign cheques with waterproof ink, so I do make sure I always have at least one bottle available.
It is a need for those people who use it in pen and wash sketching.

I am as baffled as you with the "unfortunately it's not waterproof so it won't make it into my collection" line that I read quite often.

I just came across this vintage pen - unknown maker.




Have a look at the colouring. Looks like it's made of bits of leftovers.

I guess this might be very familiar to some here, and it's just me that thinks it unusual.

Can anyone shed any light on it?

The listing is here - with more photos - My link

Thank you very much David. "End of day" says it all.

I think I have reached a happy medium with FPN. I do visit - there is a lot of good info there.
I do post occasionally, but mostly view.
But here is where I draw the line - I do not visit their classifieds any more. I will not buy from FPN. So if they want to sell to me (hey, of course they do!), they better list elsewhere.

Another: Is "route 1" pronounced "root 1", like the root of a tree, or "rout 1", as in "Washington routed Denver in Super Bowl 22".

Wow. That's interesting. I thought all Americans said "rout" not "root". Seems some of you speak English after all ... [runs for cover!]

Hi Manny

I'm glad The Amalgamated Beungaling Society has made it to this board too.

Wow - wow - and wow! ... Pen heaven.

I love the way they have printed the box and the case over the page border. I didn't think you saw much of that back then.

Nice mini collection, Josephine.

May a 644 and a 744 come your way soon!

I have a pdf file called "SwanChart" that I think I downloaded from FPN - not sure. As I can't identify the author, I can't post it.
But in relation to the postwar 4 digit numbering of Swans, here is what it says about the first digit -


Filler:
3 = Lever
4 = Leverless
(5 = Blackbird?)

Some people just like to post their pens - for those people the extra weight is a problem.
There are probably just as many reasons why people post as reasons why not to post. I'ts personal preference.
(I prefer not to.)

Thanks Hugh that makes sense. I'll give it a try.
John

Let us know how you get on.

Hi Bogon007

I'm glad you found your way here.
Lots of terrific vintage knowledge here!

I see you have promoted yourself with an extra 0

Hi Mark. Welcome. I agree that aerometrics are a nuisance to clean.

If he says no reasonable offers are refused, then he should take any offer of 30 bucks or more.

Ah but that's the charm of bullshit ad verbiage.

"Reasonable" to whom? Defined how?

regards

david

By the seller - always their prerogative. I just hope he's not too surprised when they don't sell.


I saw a few boxes of dip pen nibs and a handful of junky holders listed for $500 the other day.
By that standard, surely these pens are worth double!

Does it have ink? Are you going to post a writing sample? I'd love to see the colour.

Hi Noor. Glad you found us here.

Nice looking pen.

Wow. Very neat.
Can you tell us anything about it?

I believe the English 51 Vacumatic was produced from 1947 thru to 1949. The produced a Brown one that turns up from time to time, but there was no production model in Burgundy, so yours is probably the former. I think the nib will usually have a date on it, down near the foot.

The pens do often have a date code at the bottom of the barrel stamp, although that said I have today received a English grey 51 Vacuamtic that simply has "made in England" on the barrel. This grey example is in the Navy Grey usually associated with the aerometric, rather than the dove grey seen in the US vacs. (which makes me think it is 1949

Thanks Paul. Yes, I have come to the conclusion that my pen is cordovan brown. I've taken the grip section off and there is no date making visible on the nib. Unless of course it's on the portion inserted into the feed.

Your pen sounds very nice.

Claire

My recollection ( I stand to be corrected) is that UK 51 Vacs appeared late on the scene and only made for a year or so before the aerometric version came along. I'm thinking 1948 or there abouts (??).

Regards
Hugh

Thanks Hugh - always nice to hear from a compatriot!

You sent me searching again and I found this - on the same site

"In late 1947 Parker in Newhaven, UK, started to produce Vacumatic filler Parker "51"'s, although no double jewelled pens were offered and the pens only came in the colours of India Black, Cedar Blue,Dove Grey and Cordovan Brown. But, like in the US, vacumatic fillers in Navy Grey has surfaced (there are also some examples of US-made Burgundy vacumatic filler Parker 51's.)"

And the aerometrics came out in the US in 1948/49. It's interesting that the switch to aerometrics occurred so quickly in the UK. I'm not familiar with these models, but with the UK Duofolds, they appeared to continue producing the older styles (the cigar shapes rather than the flattops)for quite some time. I guess that's because the aerometric filler was seen as such an innovation.
Thanks for your help.

Here is a photo of a spare 51 nib I have sitting on my desk. It shows the location of the date (in this case 1953).

EDIT - having now removed the nib from the grey 1949? vacumatic previously mentioned, it did not have any date on it... so perhaps the early 51 nib, like the later ones, had no date mark?

Thanks for that. It clearly shows that any markings are on the part of the nib buried in the collector. I haven't attempted any restoration on this pen yet, so all I have done is remove the hood.
I'm not sure how to proceed from there. How do you remove the nib? Is it just a friction fit. Will a bit of dry heat do it? Or am I better off soaking it? I'm not sure what the collector is made of and how it will react to heat.
I'll need to be careful because my pen has a small split in the collector where someone has been a bit too heavy handed already, presumably in an attempt to remove the nib.

Claire

Once you have the hood off, you are done with the hard part.

All you need to do then is soak the nib and collector in water for a day or so (just to be safe). Then pull the collector assembly out of the barrel with a slight twist. Heat is usually unnecessary. The collector is supposed to have a slit in it, so what you think is a split may just be the slit to provide ink to the nib. The nib and feed can then be pulled out of the collector. Pull straight out without twisting.

Thank you!
Soaking starting now.

My recollection ( I stand to be corrected) is that UK 51 Vacs appeared late on the scene and only made for a year or so before the aerometric version came along. I'm thinking 1948 or there abouts (??).

Regards
Hugh

1948 also seems to be correct for the cap on this late P51 Vacumatic: the typical clip of the 51 Vacumatic (split arrow blue diamond clip with 'Parker' imprint) was replaced in 1847-48 by the feather clip and the 'Parker' imprint was moved to the bottom of the cap lip. The cap of this pen also has the correct early long feather clip. These caps survived on the early P51 Aerometrics though the length of clip was shortened a few years later.

Can you check the barrel for remains of an original Parker imprint. The imprint should be located near the silver coloured clutch ring in the middle of the pen.

Thanks Jos. With a clear direction on where to look I've tried again. I've been peering intently at the barrel near the cap ring through a 30x loupe but to no avail (even tried a 60x loupe). If there was an imprint there it has long gone. I guess that can't be uncommon in a pen that is 65 years old. Or maybe someone has polished it in the past - not recently though as there are many fine surface scuffs that are very visible, especially under magnification.

Did Newhaven models always get the date marking?

Here is a Richard Binder Pen Doctor article with more detailed info:

http://www.richardspens.com/?pendoc=18

He suggests taking the nib out of the collector before removing the collector from the barrel.

He also has good information about reassembly. Often 51s have been taken apart in the past and the components have not been properly aligned on reassembly. One thing to watch out for is not to lose the tiny hard rubber plug in the hidden end of the collector. It often comes out during ultrasonic cleaning and can easily be dumped down the drain.

That's great - thank you.