1947 Parker Vacumatic Golden Pearl *SOLD* ($220 US)

THIS PEN HAS SOLD!

Hello there. Welcome to my channel. My name is Doug, and I'm back with another Pen Resurrection Sunday video.

I discussed this pen at the start of last Sunday’s review of the 1944 Azure Blue Pearl Vacumatic. I had many questions about it, which I planned to address last week, but postponed to seek answers from various Parker Vacumatic experts online. While I received some intriguing responses, the pen remains largely a mystery.

One unusual aspect is the cap’s mismatch with the barrel. This is a 1947 model, as indicated by the date code on the barrel. It’s a third-generation Parker Vacumatic, featuring a celluloid pump rod instead of aluminum. While this combination isn’t uncommon, as people often replace caps with whatever fits, it’s still noteworthy.

Furthermore, the golden pearl on the cap doesn’t match the golden pearl on the barrel. The spacing between the pearls is much tighter on the cap. Despite these differences, the pen’s beauty remains undeniable.

Three key features distinguish this cap as belonging to either the first or second generation. First, it has three cap bands typical of a Parker Vacumatic major. Second, it features an arrow clip, a design by Joseph Platt introduced in 1932. This clip was used on Vacumatics from the first and second generations. Third, the top finial is made of the same golden pearl celluloid as the cap, unlike the third generation’s black plastic finials. These finials displayed a Parker logo and a blue diamond, signifying a lifetime warranty.

These characteristics suggest the pen is from the first or second generation. A first-generation pen, most likely, would have a blunt-end blind cap, with a matching jewel on the bottom. Additionally, a first-generation pen would have a section made of the same celluloid as the cap when unscrewed. By the third generation, they were almost entirely black ebonite. This pen, a third-generation 1947 Parker Vacumatic in golden pearl, has a cap from a first or second-generation lockdown or speedline filler. The cap’s top matches the celluloid of the cap. At some point, this 1947 third-generation Vacumatic lost its cap and was replaced with a first or second-generation cap. They fit well and match nicely, creating a unique look.

However, the oddities don’t end there. Imagine the original cap, matching the pen’s golden pearl colour, featuring a cap band, clip, and finial similar to the current one. The pen’s body is also unusual. While the 1947 section and nib are correct, a closer look at the nib’s base reveals a date code of 53, indicating 1953. This is odd because Parker stopped making the Parker Vacumatic in the US in 1948. Five years later, and we have a nib that says “Made in the USA” with the code 53.

I’m eager to remove the nib. If it’s a replacement, it might have an “R” stamped into the bottom. In 1953, Parker in the US often replaced Vacumatic nibs from third-generation Vacumatics with new ones stamped with a date code and “R” for replacement. They had all the original dyes, so they simply marked the new nib with the date code and “R.”

I’m excited to restore this unique and beautiful golden pearl Vacumatic, spanning generations from the first to the third and even into 1953. Let’s consider this pen as a 1934 model. The barrel is from 1947, and the nib is from 1953. This means the pen has been assembled over a span of about 20 years. Now, let’s examine the pen and determine what it might need to return to its original state.

THOUGHTS

So, what are my thoughts on this pen resurrection? Well, this was a mystery pen. It’s not uncommon to find Frankenpens like this, where a mismatched cap and body are combined. People often lose caps on old pens and match them with something else. However, what makes this fountain pen unusual is that it spans about 20 years. We have a cap from the early 1930s to the mid-1930s, a barrel from 1947, just a year before production ceased, and a nib from 1953, five years after production ended in the USA. Interestingly, the nib is marked “USA.” If it had been marked “Canada,” it wouldn’t be so unusual, as Canada continued making them until the mid-1950s.

I speculate that this pen was acquired in the US in 1947 with the correct cap. Over time, it lost its cap and ended up with this one. While it was technically a complete 1947 pen, something happened to the nib. The owner sent it back to Jainsville, Wisconsin, the Parker factory, and requested a replacement nib around 1953. Parker had sent a significant portion of its remaining Parker Vacumatic nibs to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where the Canadian factory continued production until the mid-1950s. They sent a replacement nib from Toronto, stamped with the year 1953. The final mystery is the “P” at the bottom of the nib.

I’m curious if anyone knows its meaning. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Ultimately, we have a stunning fountain pen, a golden pearl Vacumatic, with the original generation 1 or generation 2 1930s clip. It features three gold cap ends for the major. A beautiful 14 karat gold nib transformed from black to gold instantly and writes like butter. This pen had a functioning diaphragm, but it was slightly too long on the tooth. I was happy to replace it. This pen uses about 1.3 to 1.4 millilitres of ink.

I’m sure a Parker Vacumatic enthusiast would love it, but unfortunately, I can’t keep it. I’m selling it for $220 US + shipping. It’s a bit of a premium, but I believe it’s an outstanding fountain pen.

If you’re interested, please contact me Inkquiringminds@gmail.com with your name and address. I’ll provide a shipping quote and PayPal payment instructions. Members get 10% off, and patron members at $5 a month get 20% off this purchase.

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And that's all she wrote.