Parker Vacumatics 1930s

Parker Vacumatic 1930s 

There are a few versions of the Parker Vacumatic. The US versions of this pen are known for stiff but smooth nibs and The UK and Canadian ones generally are softer, but maybe rarer. There are some Vacumatic that has a blue diamond on the clip, thus the pen dates around 1947 and onwards. 

The Blue Diamond was added in 1938 indicating a Lifetime Warranty. In 1947, in response to an FTC (Federal Trade Commission) ruling against Lifetime Warranties, Parker stopped painting the Diamond blue and then eliminated that clip design altogether in favor of one similar to the original Feather clip design. US production stopped in 1948, Canadian in 1953. This pen is 60 over years old now...it has a variation of colors as well as pump types too.

Vintage fountain pens

Pen holders

As a collector, we often need to protect our precious vintage fountain pens...

Vintage pen repairs Hong Kong 2014

For those of you who needs to send your vintage fountain pens for repairs, please visit

Vintage NOS pens

While traveling on business trip in Europe, I will always make an attempt to walk the street and flea market to understand the culture of the people and to also visit some sites. Found these from Eastern Europe.

Parker #2 eyedropper fountain pen (1898-1910)

Parker #2 Lucky Curve taper cap eyedropper (1898-1910)

My love for the early vintage eyedropper pen continues with this very early and very rare Parker #2 Lucky Curve taper cap eyedropper.  This pen is circa 1898 -1910 and is in exceptional condition.  It has bold chaseing and imprint.  Two high relief gold filled bands exhibit no wear or brassing.  Pen cap fits and posts correctly.  Pen has it's original #2 size fine point flexible Lucky Curve Nib and correct Lucky Curve Feed.  Color is a little aged but the photography has greatly enhanced the brown.     

Parker eyedropper #14

Parker #14 eyedropper

In 1902, Parker launched the  #14 and #16, eyedropper. Parker's first, and destined to become the best selling, filigree pens. They were offered either in Sterling Silver (#14) or solid 18k gold plate (#16). The Silver pen was offered for $5 while the Gold plate cost $6. There was also a Sterling Silver version of the #30 offered at $8 at that time.

I have always loved the early Parker filigree eyedropper and I have found several #16, and by chance I came across this #14 in sterling silver. I have started to focus on the eyedropper collections a few years ago and with the internet, the opportunities for collection grew tremendously.

I remembered having found the first Parker filigree #16 in 1990, a good 20+ years ago. ...

Parker 75 Ltd Edition RMS Queen Elizabeth Fountain pen 1977

Parker 75 Queen Elizabeth 1977

Parker’s “Diamond Jubilee” Baby: The 75 — and Its Heritage

Nib

In late 1963, after a series of remarkable and innovative pens beginning with the “51”, the George S. Parker Pen Company celebrated its 75th year by introducing yet another classic and one of the most enduringly collectible pens of all time, the Parker 75. Designed as a cartridge/converter pen, the brilliantly ergonomic 75 was initially provided with a squeeze converter resembling the Aero-metric filler in the “51” family. Produced in a variety of body materials that include Lustraloy, sterling silver, gold, and specialty metals such as silver recovered from Nuestra Señora de Atocha, a galleon in the Spanish treasure fleet that sank near Florida in 1715, and brass from the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth, the 75 was introduced and is perhaps best known in its sterling silver Crosshatch (“ciselé”) edition, shown here. (Source: Richards pens) 

Some history: 
MS Queen Elizabeth. In 1977 a beautiful Parker “75” was made from brass that was salvaged form the wreck of the Atlantic ocean liner RMS Queen Elizabeth. Constructed in the 1930’s she was, for the next thirty years, the largest passenger liner ever built. She caught fire and sank in the Hong Kong harbour early in 1972.  The pens had an oval plaque engraved “R.M.S. Queen Elizabeth”. 

Each of the 5 000 pens were numbered on the cap lip and came with an equal numbered certificate. There were two different wooden boxes offered. The larger one was made from mahogany had brass corner fittings and a lock with a key, not unlike a treasure chest. The smaller one was made from walnut wood that had been hand polished. The box sported a large brass plaque that featured a stylised drawing and information about the ship.After several years of searching, 

I have finally found a Parker 75 Queen Elizabeth in box: limited edition fountain pen made from brass from the famous ocean liner, in less common oversize "treasure chest" brass-bound wooden box, with certificate of authenticity, box key, nib wrench, and spare cartridge (converter installed). Unused, noting handling marks to box. It must have been more then 15 years of searching as I have come across either just the pen or the box and without the complete collateral...

Additional information from the internet:

This Transatlantic,the RMS Queen Elizabeth with capacity for 2283 passengers,line covering Southampton-Cherbourg-New York.It was launched in 1938,making its inaugural travel in March 1940,and finished in the Hong Kong Harbour in January 9,of 1972.

Both Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary were used as a troop transport during the war.

As a curiosity in this skeleton already impressive ship, were filmed the scenes of James Bond 007 film in 1974 entitled “The Man with the Golden Gun”, giving life to an undercover British MI6 headquarters.