1941 Parker Duofold Vacumatic *SOLD* ($150 US)

THIS PEN HAS SOLD!

Hello there! Welcome to Inkquiring Minds. I’m Doug, and I’m back with another Pen Resurrection Sunday video.

Today, we’re resurrecting a 1941 Parker Duofold Vacumatic. This pen is often called a Duovac by collectors. The original Duofold was discontinued in 1933 when Parker introduced the first generation of Vacumatic pens. However, in 1940, they revived the Duofold name and introduced the Vacumatic Duofold. This pen was produced from 1940 to 1948, when all Vacumatics were discontinued and replaced by the arometric filling system on the redesigned Parker 51. The Duovac came in various sizes, and this particular one is a junior. It featured a Parker Challenger-style clip with a distinctive V-shape and Parker’s logo in the centre. The Duovac also had a top jewel and a pointed end final. A unique feature was its vertically striped pearlescent celluloid body, which was semi-transparent and allowed you to see the ink level. Parker called this “laid tone lid,” but I doubt that name would be acceptable today. The Duovac was available in three colours: green, red, and blue. This particular Parker Duovac is dated to the third quarter of 1941, with a single dot on the barrel. It has the triangular clip, two cap bands, and is in the green laid tone. This pen is a Speedline filler with an aluminum pump rod and a long blind cap. It belongs to the second generation of Vacumatics, which is characterized by its longer blind cap compared to other models.

THOUGHTS

So, what are my thoughts on this pen resurrection? Well, it really upset me. I struggled with the Vacumatic pump for two days, resulting in anger and extremely sore hands. Why would someone glue a Vacumatic pump into the barrel like this? It makes no sense. The person knew enough to remove the pump and replace the diaphragm, yet they shellacked the section into the barrel, which is a no-no. But to use permanent glue instead of shellac, even on a part that needs to be removed due to the perishable diaphragm, is beyond comprehension. You have to know that introducing a permanent glue like epoxy or CA glue into a moving part will stop it from moving. I expect they discovered this immediately, as the diaphragm inside looked perfect but frozen in time, never moving.

On the bright side, the nib is magnificent. It’s smooth, wet, broad, and has a nice bounce. The laid-tone green pearl is just wonderful. And this pen now holds a full milliliter more ink than it did as a Vacumatic. I’ve enjoyed writing with this lovely turquoise Waterman’s so much that it breaks my heart to sell it. But I must sell it. If I had replaced the Vacumatic diaphragm, I would have priced it at $220 US. However, since it’s no longer a Vacumatic, the new owner will have to appreciate it as an eyropper with the inconvenience of needing to fill it more often. The good news is, you won’t have to fill it as often with that large ink supply.

So, I’m reducing the price of this pen accordingly and selling it for $150 US plus shipping. Of course, Inkquiring Minds members get 10% off, or $135, and patron-level members get 20% off, or $120.

If you’re interested in purchasing this pen, please send me an email to inkquiringminds@gmail.com with your name and address. I’ll provide you with a shipping quote and instructions on how to pay using PayPal. This pen, once dead, has been resurrected and is now ready to bring years of writing joy to someone.

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