1938 Junior Parkette J-Bar Length/size?

March 31, 2015

Hello, Everyone.

I recently purchased a Parker Parkette based solely on the photos provided on eBuymyjunkplease. It wasn't an expensive pen, and the nib appears to be intact. The pen needs a new sac.....and a new j-bar. The sac size was easy to determine (thank you, FPN!). The J-bar length appears to be a mystery. Looking at some websites, it looks like the J-Bar comes in 62mm, 54mm and 40mm.

Any ideas on which one would fit in the Parkette? It's a 1938 Junior model (not Deluxe) in grey celluloid marble. The nib is steel with a little gold plating left and the number "9" stamped in it.

--Eric

April 2, 2015

My best guess is it's the 40mm and I have no experience with your particular pen. The 62mm is certainly the wrong one. My suspicion is that the 54mm fits standard size pens rather than the sort of short variety. But my experience is limited.

April 2, 2015

I like story problems.

When I do the math I get 54.

April 3, 2015

Thank you both.

I'm going to order the long and the midsize. That way, it will motivate me to buy another "needs repair" pen :-) So....what sort of pen would take the 62mm j-bar? What should I start checking eBay for?

April 7, 2015

54mm was the ticket. Thanks, FarmBoy. Tackling the ink sac tonight.

August 26, 2017

I have searched FPN (and the Net) fairly well and could not find the sac size for a 1939 Parker Parkette Junior, the subject of this older thread. Does anyone have knowledge or experience with a Parkette Junior who could offer that information?

Many thanks for the help...

Mick

August 26, 2017

Hi Mick and welcome to FPN. The purists measure sac size one way, but a "quick and dirty" method is to measure the diameter of the nipple in 64th of an inch. However many you get, that is the sac size. Best of luck.

August 26, 2017

Thanks...

I tried measuring, but 64ths were pretty tough to discern. I was thinking maybe someone had replaced a sac recently and would remember its size.

August 27, 2017

Sacs aren't too expensive. When in doubt, order a range, say #14 #16 and #18. The sac should be a relatively tight fit over the nipple and have enough clearance in the barrel to slide in and out freely. Have you already bought shellac and talc? Edit: Sorry no quotes, just a ham-fisted computer user!!!!!!

Edited August 27, 2017 by pen lady

August 29, 2017

Yes, I have the shellac and talc. At $2.00 a sac, I'll get the range and see which delivers the best fit. I was surprised no sac chart I could find mentions the Parkette Junior.