Matching A Vacumatic Section, Feed, And Nib

[Graphemer]

Hi Folks,

 

I'm hoping those of you with more knowledge about Vacs might help me out.

 

I recently picked up a 1948 Laminated Black Vac Major that needs a feed and nib. I'd like to ensure that I refurbish the pen as accurately as possible, so I thought I'd ask for your advice. I reckon that a nib dated a few quarters prior to the barrel imprint year is close enough, but I'm curious about nib size and design. For a pen of this year, would the original nib have been a monotone gold or would there still have been two-tone ones available? Also, there seems to be some size variation among Vac Major nibs (from what I can tell by looking at the details provided by the people at Classic fountain Pens, there's a few mm difference in length and a hair's breadth or two in width). Do these variations correspond to anything or are they simply manufacturing differences within tolerance?

 

What I'm quite keen to know about, of course, is whether the small differences in nib size affect feed sizes too. I seem to recall someone posting here to note that he had found a small variation in feed size too, but I can't seem to find that post any more. Hence the quandry: would any 3rd Gen Vac Major feed fit (or indeed an earlier standard feed), or do I need to look for something very specific? And finally would a specific feed limit nib selections?

 

Apologies for the landslied of questions! I'd appreciate your thoughts. And If anyone has a source of information (beyond the usual online suspects: richardspens, David Isaacsson's vacumatic site, and parkercollector), I'd really appreciate the pointer.

Edited November 3, 2015 by Graphemer

[jdllizard]

Lots of good info here:

 

http://parkerpens.net/vacumatic.html

[Graphemer]

Thanks for the link, John -- lots of great information there! Nothing about feeds, though, so far as I can tell. Makes me wonder whether I'm overthinking the whole issue....

 

I don't suppose someone else wants to chime? Besides the 'W' feeds, are all vacumatic feeds within a specific model identical? Would a 1st or 2nd generation vac feed fit the corresponding model in a 3rd generation one?

[Brian-McQueen]

A 2nd generation nib/feed/section should fit the corresponding 3rd gen pen. The first gen stuff is likely model specific, though I can't say for sure.

 

Debutante/Sub-Deb should be the same size nib. 3rd gen Junior sections fit in 3rd gen Major barrels, but the nibs are different sizes. Watch out for that.

 

By 1948, the two-tone nibs had stopped. You need a mono-tone. Any 3rd gen Major nib and feed would fit in your section. It's easiest to buy a parts pen and just transplant the whole section assembly. Then you know it fits together.

 

There's an "A" feed in addition to the "W" feed. It's for accountant nibs.

Edited November 5, 2015 by BrianMcQueen

[Graphemer]

Thanks, Brian, that's very helpful information. It's exactly the sort of thing I was hoping someone could tell me. I really appreciate it. With a touch of luck, I'll find what i need in no time. Back to foraging for donor pens....