Vacumatic Barrel Clarity

[dcpritch]

I have a few Vacumatics in different sizes and years, but none with a barrel as clear as this one. I wonder if some of the Vac experts could give an opinion as to where this one falls in the clarity continuum?

 

 

The above are quick iPhone photos with indirect light from a window.

 

Here I turned a desk lamp so it points up, put a piece of paper over the lamp and placed the pen on top of the paper. I'm not sure if this helps. I didn't correct for color; it really isn't as yellow as this picture shows. Also using an iPhone.

 

[PAKMAN]

Somewhere in the NOS or uninked range of clarity! Sweet!

[OldGriz]

Most definitly in the NOS to mint end of clarity... I have found that black Vacumatics show the best clarity for some reason....

[dcpritch]

I don't think this pen is NOS, as the diaphragm was recently replaced and there was a wee little bit of ink inside. When the work was done the barrel was cleaned of all vestiges of old ink and this is what resulted. I'd guess, judging by its condition, that it saw very little use.

 

Of all the pens I have this one is the hardest for me to ink and use - I just love that see-through barrel and don't want to do anything to change it.

[OldGriz]

I don't think this pen is NOS, as the diaphragm was recently replaced and there was a wee little bit of ink inside. When the work was done the barrel was cleaned of all vestiges of old ink and this is what resulted. I'd guess, judging by its condition, that it saw very little use.

 

Of all the pens I have this one is the hardest for me to ink and use - I just love that see-through barrel and don't want to do anything to change it.

 

As long as you don't use red, yellow or orange and you periodically clean the pen every 3-4 ink changes you should have no problem hurting the clarity...

I have a 1st Gen like that with the same super clear clarity and have used it over the last 5 yrs with no change in clarity.... just clean it regularly...

It is kind of cool to watch the ink flow back and forth like waves when you hold the pen sideways to the light when filled.

[Ron Z]

I just love that see-through barrel and don't want to do anything to change it.

 

Then you aren't going to use Noodlers or Private Reserve, are you? Pelikan blue should be safe, vintage washable blue Scrip (Sheaffer) is the least likely to stain.

[dcpritch]

Thanks Tom for providing some "clarity". I filled it with some vintage ink:

 

[dcpritch]

Ron, I just saw your reply after I posted the above pics. Looks like we were thinking along the same lines.

 

Something about these Parker arrows that is so amazing:

 

[Rockyrod]

Here is one in Burgundy:

[penmanila]

there was a standard being offered on ebay last week with amazing clarity, which must have helped pushed the closing price way past the $200 mark. it was so clear that i saved a pic from the ebay ad (and no, i didn't get it, drat):

 

[dcpritch]

Here is one in Burgundy:

 

Wow! What ink do you prefer to use in this pen?

 

there was a standard being offered on ebay last week with amazing clarity, which must have helped pushed the closing price way past the $200 mark. it was so clear that i saved a pic from the ebay ad (and no, i didn't get it, drat):

 

I'm sorry, that was me. I normally don't buy pens off that auction site, but this one mesmerized me, like a moth drawn to a light (or, as we say in Northern Minnesota, like a mosquito drawn to a bug-zapper). I probably overpaid, but man this is a sweet pen!

[dcpritch]

Late last week I was at a meeting - a three hour meeting - and got a little restless so I took a photo of my new Vac about half full of ink. I hope nobody noticed I was taking a picture.

 

 

Last night I ran through my second fill of vintage Sheaffer Skrip Black ink, so I cleaned the pen and took a picture. Looks like the barrel is still as good as new.

 

[afern401]

This further confirms that I need a Vac.!

[georges zaslavsky]

very nice pen dc pritch

[Scrawler]

A Canadian 1Q1952 azure blue was donated to my lodge for fundraising. It is so clear that you do not need to hold it up to the light to see through it. Even holding it above my desk I can easily see the breather tube.

[loudkenny]

I have a 1943? blue Vac with an 'ambered' barrel, but the same amount of barrel clarity as the OP's pen.

 

Does anyone know the best way to remove the 'ambering' if possible without damaging the barrel so my Vac can be this clean too?

 

Thank you,

ken

[user01]

Does anyone know the best way to remove the 'ambering' if possible without damaging the barrel so my Vac can be this clean too?

 

I think there is no way to remove ambering. The celluloid itself is discolored. This is not reversible.

 

BTW: Is the pen in the opening post an oversize model?

[dcpritch]

Is the pen in the opening post an oversize model?

 

It is a Standard - it measures 5-1/8" capped, with a barrel diameter of 15/32"; oddly, when posted it measures 6-13/32", just like an Oversize, but I think the barrel diameter is conclusive.

[user01]

Is the pen in the opening post an oversize model?

 

It is a Standard - it measures 5-1/8" capped, with a barrel diameter of 15/32"; oddly, when posted it measures 6-13/32", just like an Oversize, but I think the barrel diameter is conclusive.

Thanks.

I own a pen that has the following dimensions:

about 134.2mm (5.3inches) capped

Cap diameter (@ capbands) is 15.33mm (0.6inches.)

Barrel diamter is 13.4mm or (0.53inches)

Here are some pictures https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/239917-vacumatic-oversize-maxima-or-not/page__p__2608253#entry2608253

I think it is an oversize model.Can you confirm this?

[dcpritch]

I own a pen that has the following dimensions:

about 134.2mm (5.3inches) capped

Cap diameter (@ capbands) is 15.33mm (0.6inches.)

Barrel diamter is 13.4mm or (0.53inches)

Here are some pictures http://www.fountainp...53#entry2608253

I think it is an oversize model.Can you confirm this?

 

Great pen! And that nib:

 

If you go to Richard Binder's site and on the left side click on Reference Pages, then scroll down to find Parker Vacumatic under the heading Pen Model Profiles, you will find a nice summary of information about the different models that will most likely answer your question.