Vacumatic - Identification And Diaphragm Repair

[Fredrik]

Hi, Being a fountain pen noob I hope that you ca help me with my pen. After fixing up my fathers Cross collection from the 80´s I'm now moving over to the (for me) more difficult task of fixing my grandfathers old vacumatic.

 

I have read through the Richard Binder webpage and know that It's a Parker Vacumatic in Emerald Pearl with 14K plating. I also figure it to be a split arrow clip and a wartime/postwar filler. The inscription is really hard to read out but it seems to be "Made in Canada / Parker Vacumatic / Pat no 318982 6 and REG. T.M.S".

 

According to my ruler the length posted is app. 13,2 cm. the length capped is app. 15,6 cm and the barrel diameter (thickest) is app. 12mm.

 

I have opened it and, as expected, the diaphragm is no more. But other than that it seems to be in fine condition. So I would really appreciate if you parker-pros could give me some information.

 

1 - What year would you think it is? I cant really figure it out. From the Binder website i get Emerald pearl 1935-1948, split arrow clip 1937- and wartime/postwar filler 1942-, that would indicate an interval of 1942-1948 I guess, is there anyway to pinpoint it? I find no other inscriptions.

 

2 - What replacement diaphragm should i Buy? To be honest I simply can't read out the measurements in inch on the Binder website, but I found a site that sells them in the sizes debutante, standard and oversized. Am I correct in picking the "Standard"?

 

Thx in advance,

Fredrik

 

 

[Ron Z]

Your pen is a Vacumatic Jr. second generation.

 

Date code: look at the right end of the imprint on the side of the barrel you should see a number with up to 3 dots around it. The number is the year in the 1940s, so a 4 = 1944 etc. Three dots = first quarter. One dot was removed at the start of the next quarter, so no dots = 4th quarter.

 

Diaphragm - all of the pens with the plastic filler rod (except a Maxima) use a debutante diaphragm, which is the smallest of the three sizes. That means most of the 2nd Generation pens and all 51 vacumatics. The Debutante pens use a Debutant diaphragm, the first generation pens like the three band standard and two band Jr, and the Maxima use the standard size diaphragm. ONLY the Oversize pen uses the oversize diaphragm.

[Fredrik]

And that makes it a 1946 last quarter and my new diaphragm has been ordered. Thank U so much!

[mitto]

Ron, is it a second generation or did you want to say third generation?