Vacumatic Datecode

[masa15]

This is 3rd Generation Parker Vacumatic(Blue Diamond,made in U.S.A.).

The barrel has a date code "59".

But I don't know such a style datecode.

Please tell me this production year.

 

http://pic.yupoo.com/pelikan1931/7060396e24c3/l0t329oo.jpg

[EOCostello]

This is 3rd Generation Parker Vacumatic(Blue Diamond,made in U.S.A.).

The barrel has a date code "59".

But I don't know such a style datecode.

Please tell me this production year.

 

http://pic.yupoo.com/pelikan1931/7060396e24c3/l0t329oo.jpg

 

You say that it has a blue diamond on the clip, which makes it no earlier than 1938-1939, the era in which that was introduced. This assumes no clip replacement.

 

If the blind cap is "short," and if the plunger is metal and lockdown, that confuses the issue, since those were generally phased out in 38-39; but if the plunger is metal and the blind cap is "long," that would date the pen to about 1938-1942. Plastic plungers were introduced during the war, which might date your pen from the 1942-1948 period.

 

The colour looks like Golden Pearl, which doesn't help the analysis, as it was made from the mid-30s to 1948.

[masa15]

 

You say that it has a blue diamond on the clip, which makes it no earlier than 1938-1939, the era in which that was introduced. This assumes no clip replacement.

 

If the blind cap is "short," and if the plunger is metal and lockdown, that confuses the issue, since those were generally phased out in 38-39; but if the plunger is metal and the blind cap is "long," that would date the pen to about 1938-1942. Plastic plungers were introduced during the war, which might date your pen from the 1942-1948 period.

 

The colour looks like Golden Pearl, which doesn't help the analysis, as it was made from the mid-30s to 1948.

 

Thank you.

 

My vacumatic has a plastic plunger.

It looks manufactured one in 1942-1948.

 

But it has datecode "59".

 

That confuse me.

 

http://pic.yupoo.com/pelikan1931/3760096e7c22/z96b6zpt.jpg

http://pic.yupoo.com/pelikan1931/7774296e7c23/zba4b887.jpg

http://pic.yupoo.com/pelikan1931/1520196e7c24/ky287tqb.jpg

[Ernst Bitterman]

That's easy-- fifth quarter of 1939.

 

...say, that doesn't sound right. :hmm1:

 

The general layout says 1945 to me, which explains the 5, but the 9 is mysterious. It the code on the point at all visible? I know they're frequently concealed inside the section, but if you can get a glimpse of it, it might help to unravel the question.

[FarmBoy]

Two theories.

 

Vacumatics were made longer than typically thought, and your pen is from 1959. (Have seen date codes 57 59 60 61 and 63)

 

Parker offered repairs and the barrels were coded as such.

 

Keep in mind Vacumatic Liquid Lead pencils exist and they didn't happen until 1956.

 

Todd

[masa15]

Thank you Ernst Bitterman and Todd

 

Vacumatics were made longer than typically thought, and your pen is from 1959. (Have seen date codes 57 59 60 61 and 63)

 

Very interesting!

 

 

By the way,I have seen a vac that has same "59" datecode on below site.

 

http://www.seforce.jp/shopdetail/012001000004/order/

 

I thought that 59 means Parker 59st anniversary.

In short,59 means 1947.

This shop owner say it is 1947 made.

Perhaps,he think the same.

 

But I could not find info of such a datecode.

Edited June 8, 2010 by masa15

[FarmBoy]

Thank you Ernst Bitterman and Todd

 

Vacumatics were made longer than typically thought, and your pen is from 1959. (Have seen date codes 57 59 60 61 and 63)

 

Very interesting!

 

 

By the way,I have seen a vac that has same "59" datecode on below site.

 

http://www.seforce.jp/shopdetail/012001000004/order/

 

I thought that 59 means Parker 59st anniversary.

In short,59 means 1947.

This shop owner say it is 1947 made.

Perhaps,he think the same.

 

But I could not find info of such a datecode.

There are some interesting bits of data around the unusual late date codes seen on some Vacumatics. There is no mention of these in the Shepard book if I recall correctly. Have briefly discussed this topic with one Vac Quack in the past and have sent him several samples for close up inspection.

 

I think the jury is still out on what they really mean and with any luck someone from the Janseville plant is still alive, knows the deep dark secret, and will spill all when we find him or her.

 

If you can, ask for a close up of the clip, in particular the blue diamond area.

 

Todd

[masa15]

Thank you Ernst Bitterman and Todd

 

Vacumatics were made longer than typically thought, and your pen is from 1959. (Have seen date codes 57 59 60 61 and 63)

 

Very interesting!

 

 

By the way,I have seen a vac that has same "59" datecode on below site.

 

http://www.seforce.jp/shopdetail/012001000004/order/

 

I thought that 59 means Parker 59st anniversary.

In short,59 means 1947.

This shop owner say it is 1947 made.

Perhaps,he think the same.

 

But I could not find info of such a datecode.

There are some interesting bits of data around the unusual late date codes seen on some Vacumatics. There is no mention of these in the Shepard book if I recall correctly. Have briefly discussed this topic with one Vac Quack in the past and have sent him several samples for close up inspection.

 

I think the jury is still out on what they really mean and with any luck someone from the Janseville plant is still alive, knows the deep dark secret, and will spill all when we find him or her.

 

If you can, ask for a close up of the clip, in particular the blue diamond area.

 

Todd

 

I am not a good photographer.

 

[ralfstc]

Hi folks,

 

I hate to be the first to say this, and I hope I'm wrong, but could it be a "replica"? I ask because the blue diamond appears to touch the P of Parker, because the bottom part of the clip (the head of the arrow) appears a little crude, and because the A of "MATIC" seems to be lacking the horizontal stroke. Is it at all possible?

 

Also, such a high blue diamond, in my experience, is often a mid 1940s Canadian cap style . . .

 

As I say, hope I'm wrong.

 

Ralf

[gyasko]

Hi folks,

 

I hate to be the first to say this, and I hope I'm wrong, but could it be a "replica"? I ask because the blue diamond appears to touch the P of Parker, because the bottom part of the clip (the head of the arrow) appears a little crude, and because the A of "MATIC" seems to be lacking the horizontal stroke. Is it at all possible?

 

 

Possible, yes. Likely? No.

 

Even if it is not the result of the lighting and photography and the bar in the A is really missing, there are other explanations, wear for instance. As for the bottom of the clip, is it that much cruder than the clip on other vacs? And if it is, is that a result of wear, dirt, the photography or some combination of all of those? The blue diamond does indeed look different, but how clean is it? Is there dirt or something in there? It could be a sloppy paint job.

 

Lastly, were i to fake pens, i don't think i'd bother with 3rd generation vacs. Lots of work for not that much payoff.

[FarmBoy]

Hi folks,

 

I hate to be the first to say this, and I hope I'm wrong, but could it be a "replica"? I ask because the blue diamond appears to touch the P of Parker, because the bottom part of the clip (the head of the arrow) appears a little crude, and because the A of "MATIC" seems to be lacking the horizontal stroke. Is it at all possible?

 

 

Possible, yes. Likely? No.

 

Even if it is not the result of the lighting and photography and the bar in the A is really missing, there are other explanations, wear for instance. As for the bottom of the clip, is it that much cruder than the clip on other vacs? And if it is, is that a result of wear, dirt, the photography or some combination of all of those? The blue diamond does indeed look different, but how clean is it? Is there dirt or something in there? It could be a sloppy paint job.

 

Lastly, were i to fake pens, i don't think i'd bother with 3rd generation vacs. Lots of work for not that much payoff.

 

Thanks for the picture. As I suspected, the clip appears to have a diamond punched into the metal, not cast into it. The pen is not a fake but at some point the clip was modified to appear to be blue diamond. I have theories but they are mostly speculation on my part.

 

I have this same pen and clip combination although mine is heavily brassed and has no blue in the diamond. The date code is 58.

[masa15]

Thank you,Everyone.

 

The horizontal stroke of "A" is not missing.

It's a shame about the clip.