popcod
April 28th, 2019, 05:55 PM
This week's batch of vintage pens features Parker's celebrated Vacumatic from the 1930s and 40s. All told, there are 7 Vacs here and 1 Deluxe Challenger of the same period thrown in for good measure. Aside from Emerald Pearl, all the catalogued colors with horizontal striations are represented, including the two most sought after colors: Azure Blue Pearl and Burgundy Pearl. Highlights include 2 Old Stock pens with original price stickers, several long Majors, a factory Stub and a factory Flex nib. As always, all pens are fully restored and ready to write.
https://i.imgur.com/9Vf1dgD.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/SE4T71d.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/vdoF09c.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/zl9DGak.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/aJ4Gxyt.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/drH9v3v.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ib7f5PA.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/3MVo3vI.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/W8uYod7.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/STgP2MX.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Wkt9Spp.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/RfkCr8R.png
Filling: Each of these Vacs is made of celluloid with transparent barrel striations for viewing the level of ink, which is stored directly in the barrel. To fill, one simply removes the blindcap, submerses the nib, and depresses the plunger 5-6 times until the barrel is full.
Condition (n.b.): All pens listed below have been disassembled, cleaned and restored with new diaphragms/sacs installed in the last couple weeks. Vacs are something of a specialty of mine and I take pride in the amount of attention I devote to each. Any dried/coagulated ink is removed from feed channels. All remnants of thread sealant and ossified diaphragms are cleaned away. Threads are meticulously chased. Interiors of barrels are cleaned and polished to remove ink staining and restore transparency. Sections are sealed using Ron Zorn's rosin-based thread sealant. Nibs are adjusted when necessary to ensure that all lay down a smooth and consistent line. And all pens undergo a week of testing, so that each is guaranteed to fill and write as designed without leaks or other problems.
THESE PENS HAVE NO CRACKS, CHIPS, PERSONAL ENGRAVINGS (except #6 pencil and #7), MISSING PARTS, BENT NIBS, MISALIGNED TINES, OR THREADING ISSUES.
Line Widths and Writing Samples: To provide buyers with as much information as possible, I have started to adopt the following line width standards: XXF (.1-.2mm); XF (approx .3mm); F (approx .4mm); M (approx .6mm); B (approx .8mm). These as well as line widths under full flex are measured with a digital caliper but should be considered approximations providing a general guide: width may vary slightly depending on type of ink and paper used as well as amount of pressure applied. All writing samples are on Rhodia dot paper using Waterman Serenity Blue.
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1. 1945 Vacumatic Junior – NOS w/ stickers (Golden Pearl, GPT, Vacumatic filler, 14 F nib). As a Junior, this pen has the same proportions as a Major, measuring 5 3/32" capped, but lacks the Blue Diamond on the clip and features 2 thin cap bands as opposed to a single, wider chevron band. This pen appears to be New Old Stock (NOS), replete with original price ($5.00) and nib width (F) sticker as well No Tax sticker. But it has been restored with a new diaphragm and inked for testing. Single black jewel on the cap and plastic plunger consistent with a 3rd generation Vac. As marked on the sticker, the 14k Vac Arrow nib lays down a smooth and consistent F line (see writing sample: https://imgur.com/kIrJecT). Condition: near mint. But for a touch of drawer wear here and there, this pen has the appearance of having just rolled off the assembly line. Gold-plated trim shows no brassing. Smooth, lustrous finish with no deep scratches or other notable blemishes. Good transparency with breather tube/ink level fully visible. Factory deep barrel imprint is fully legible. NOS Vacs are pretty tough to come by these days. Price: $230 SOLD
2. 1944 Vacumatic Major – NOS w/ sticker (Black, GPT, Vacumatic filler, 14 XF nib). This is the full-sized 3rd-generation model, measuring 5 3/32" capped. Another NOS example with it's original price ($8.75) and nib width sticker intact. But it has been restored with a new diaphragm and inked for testing. Blue Diamond clip, chevron cap band, black cap jewel, and plastic plunger all consistent with a 3rd gen Vac. Although both the sticker and tipping size indicate a F, the flow of the 14k Vac Arrow nib was adjusted from the factory to lay down a smooth and consistent XF line (see writing sample: https://imgur.com/r0u3Bbk). Condition: near mint. Another Vac that appears to have just rolled off the assembly line, having scarcely any microscratches even. Gold-plated trim shows no brassing (I missed some dirt on the clip, which will be cleaned off before shipment). Smooth, lustrous finish with no deep scratches or other notable blemishes. Barrel transparency is truly superb on this one (see detail photo: https://imgur.com/2yOGYLa). Factory deep barrel imprint is fully legible. Price: $250 $225 $200
3. 1946 Vacumatic Major (Silver Pearl, NPT, Vacumatic filler, 14k XF nib). Measures 5 3/32" capped. A model identical to the last pen but in Silver Pearl with nickel plated trim. 14k Vac Arrow nib lays down a smooth and consistent XF line
(see writing sample: https://imgur.com/7btZBik). Condition: very good. A clean pen aside from some general wear to the less resilient nickel-plated hardware. Celluloid exhibits a smooth, lustrous finish with no deep scratches or other notable blemishes. Excellent transparency with breather tube/ink level fully visible. Barrel imprint is sharp, deep, and fully legible. Price: $130 SOLD
4. 1941 Vacumatic DJ Long Major (Azure Blue Pearl, GPT, Vacumatic filler , Two-Tone 14k B Semi-Flex nib). Measuring 5 1/4" capped, this double jewel 2nd-generation model is slightly longer than a Major – hence its conventional designation in collector circles. Beautiful blue striated celluloid, which Parker dubbed Azure, was only produced from 1940-8, so it's especially uncommon on 2nd-gen pens like this one. Owing to the color's late production, there were no catalogued models in Azure Blue with matching striped sections and jewels like the 2 pens below. But the Blue Diamond clip, chevron cap band, double black jewels, and stout, aluminum Speedline filler all distinguish this pen as the deluxe predecessor of the 1st-gen Standard. The overwhelming majority of Vacs came with XF-M nibs, making the Two-Tone 14k Semi-Flex B Vac Arrow nib a bit special. It lays down a buttery smooth and consistent B line with a tad of variation under pressure, the slight softness of the nib enhancing its smoothness on paper (see writing sample: https://imgur.com/XX8nSQI). The nib has a huge glob of tipping material, making it a perfect candidate for customization by your favorite nibmeister. Condition: excellent. No wear to the gold-plated furniture aside from a couple pin-sized nicks on the blind cap tassie. Celluloid exhibits a smooth, lustrous finish with no deep scratches or other notable blemishes. Excellent transparency with breather tube/ink level fully visible. Barrel imprint is sharp, deep, and fully legible. Price: $250 SOLD
5. 1937 Vacumatic DJ Long Major (Golden Pearl, GPT, Vacumatic filler [Speedline], Two-Tone 14k B Factory Stub nib). Measures 5 1/4" capped. Late 30s Vacs are favorites of mine as they combine the newly streamlined style of the 2nd generation with exquisite details of the 1st. This one has all the fixings, including matching striped jewels, section, two-tone nib, Blue Diamond clip, chevron cap band, and robust, aluminum Speedline filler. Two-tone 14k Vac Arrow nib is a very scarce Factory Stub. It exhibits the line variation of a Cursive Italic and the smoothness of a stub (no sharp angles). On the down-strokes the nib lays down a buttery smooth and consistent B line (approx .75mm) while delivering an XF line on the cross-strokes (see writing sample: https://imgur.com/KF4SUBf). It's a delightfully smooth writer well suited for adding flair to one's everyday writing. Condition: very good. This pen would be graded as excellent were it not for the cosmetic damage to the nib, which has been factored into the price. There are several deep scratches on the side and a 1mm hairline extending from the back of the breather hole in line with the slit. These flaws are merely cosmetic, having no adverse effect on the writing experience. And, in my experience, a breather hole crack like this one won't worsen so long as one refrains from applying considerable pressure to the nib, as in flexing it like a flex nib. Aside from that the pen is incredibly well-preserved. Gold-plated trim shown no wear aside from a hairsbreadth sliver of brassing to the bottom edge of the cap band under the clip. Celluloid exhibits a smooth, lustrous finish with no deep scratches or other notable blemishes. Decent transparency with breather tube/ink level fully visible when held up to a window. Barrel imprint is sharp, deep, and fully legible. Price: $220 $200 (Since listing I've sourced a two-tone F Arrow nib with correct date code and perfect masking, which I can swap in this pen for $20 on request, bringing the total back up to $220 SOLD
[s]6. 1938 Vacumatic DJ Long Major Set (Burgundy Pearl, GPT, Vacumatic filler [Speedline], Two-Tone 14k XF nib). Measures 5 5/16" capped. Matching FP and MP set includes seldom-seen repeater (click) pencil that was manufactured for less than a year. The FP is another 2nd-gen Long Major with all the deluxe details: two-tone nib, matching striped double jewels + section, and aluminum Speedline filler. All in the scarcest, most desirable Burgundy Pearl color pattern. Two-tone 14k Vac Arrow nib lays down a smooth and consistent XF line (see writing sample: https://imgur.com/3YCZAqP). Condition: excellent (FP); very good (MP). Gold-plated trim is virtually immaculate, with no wear whatsoever aside from thin slivers of brassing on the sides of the clip along the edge it shares with the underside (see timestamp photo, not something easily noticed in person). Celluloid exhibits a smooth, lustrous finish with no deep scratches or other notable blemishes. Excellent transparency with breather tube/ink level fully visible. Barrel imprint is sharp, deep, and fully legible. Mechanical pencil is fully functional, propelling, retracting, and gripping lead as designed. Cosmetic condition commensurable to that of the pen aside from a personalization ("E.C. Warcourt"?) on the barrel (see detail photo: https://imgur.com/RoLN3eC). The engraving is not heat stamped and the FP lacks any trace of ever having one, so it appears the owner may have applied it himself. On the whole, a beautifully well-preserved set that looks and writes like a dream. Price: $290 $275 SOLD
7. 1940 Parker Vacumatic DJ Debutante (Golden Pearl, GPT, Vacumatic filler, Two-Tone 14k XXF Flex/Superflex nib). Measures 4 11/16" capped and 5 1/4" posted. This double jeweled 2nd/3rd gen Canadian model features all the fixings of the last 3 pens in a smaller package: Blue Diamond clip, ornately engraved cap band, double black jewels, and two-tone nib. And my what a nib it is! By the 1940s, the majority of pens from the Big Four companies sported nibs that were firm to semi-flex at softest, something true of Vac nibs as well. Canadian Vacs like this one, however, frequently proved the exception. The two-tone 14k Vac Arrow nib on this pen boasts Super-flexible softness and Flexible variation, laying down a smooth and consistent XXF line (measured more precisely after taking the writing sample) that widens to a 3B+ (approx 1.9mm) under light pressure (see writing sample: https://imgur.com/UJFqxgG). Needlepoint hairlines, strong snap-back, and impeccable flow under full flex make it an ideal choice for calligraphic writing styles such as Copperplate and Spencerian. Condition: very good. This pen would grade higher were it not for the professionally heatstamped personalization on the barrel, "BEA. FARROW" (see detail photo: https://imgur.com/iG72NpG). Other than that, it's in exceptional shape. No brassing to the gold-plated trim. Rhodium mask on the nib shows a bit of wear to one side. Celluloid exhibits a smooth, lustrous finish with no deep scratches or other notable blemishes. Good transparency with breather tube/ink level fully visible. Barrel imprint is weakened in the center but otherwise legible. A pen that combines the best of both worlds, having the ingenuous design and beautiful appearance of a Vac as well as a nib that performs like an early hard rubber Waterman. Price: $175 SOLD
8. 1937 Challenger Deluxe (Back, GPT, button filler, 14k XF/F nib). This is the full-sized model, measuring 5 1/8" capped. Featured in the same catalogues and adverts as the Vacumatic, the Parker Challenger shared many of the same styling cues but was equipped with the older button filling mechanism, holding ink in a sac rather than directly in the barrel like a Vac. To fill, one simply unscrews the blindcap, submerses the nib, and depresses the brass button once. The Challenger Deluxe was distinguished from lesser Challengers by its slightly larger nib and more generous trim configuration. Later models like this one also featured a transparent window in the section for checking the amount of ink remaining. The 14k Parker Pen nib on this pen lays down a smooth and consistent XF/F line (see writing sample: https://imgur.com/AkJ4aLw). Condition: excellent+. Gold-plated trim is virtually pristine with no discernible brassing. Celluloid exhibits a smooth, lustrous finish with no deep scratches or other notable blemishes. Barrel imprint is sharp and fully legible. Price: $80 SOLD
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Shipping: All pens that do not come with their original boxes are packaged in thick PVC tubing to protect them in transit. To CONUS locations buyer may opt for either:
USPS First-Class with tracking for $5
USPS Priority with tracking for $8
International Customers: Please contact me for shipping quote if located overseas (delivery confirmation required).
New York Customers: For tax purposes, I am now required to add an 8% sales tax on any sale made in the state of NY. If your shipping address is in NY state, please let me know before payment to receive an adjusted total.
Order, Payment, & Guarantee: Pens are placed on hold for the first person to contact me with firm request to purchase, to which I’ll reply with payment details. If I haven't received Paypal payment within 24 hrs, then they become available to the next person. All pens are guaranteed to be in the condition in which I've described them. If I've missed something objectionable or the filling mechanism is not fully functional, the buyer may contact me up to 7 days after receiving the pen for a full refund (issued once I receive the pen back in the same condition as sold). I've sold pens online for over a decade. Please check my past listings here as well as on the classifieds and historical sales forums on FPN (username: Estragon) for some of my previous offerings.
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https://i.imgur.com/9Vf1dgD.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/SE4T71d.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/vdoF09c.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/zl9DGak.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/aJ4Gxyt.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/drH9v3v.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ib7f5PA.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/3MVo3vI.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/W8uYod7.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/STgP2MX.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Wkt9Spp.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/RfkCr8R.png
Filling: Each of these Vacs is made of celluloid with transparent barrel striations for viewing the level of ink, which is stored directly in the barrel. To fill, one simply removes the blindcap, submerses the nib, and depresses the plunger 5-6 times until the barrel is full.
Condition (n.b.): All pens listed below have been disassembled, cleaned and restored with new diaphragms/sacs installed in the last couple weeks. Vacs are something of a specialty of mine and I take pride in the amount of attention I devote to each. Any dried/coagulated ink is removed from feed channels. All remnants of thread sealant and ossified diaphragms are cleaned away. Threads are meticulously chased. Interiors of barrels are cleaned and polished to remove ink staining and restore transparency. Sections are sealed using Ron Zorn's rosin-based thread sealant. Nibs are adjusted when necessary to ensure that all lay down a smooth and consistent line. And all pens undergo a week of testing, so that each is guaranteed to fill and write as designed without leaks or other problems.
THESE PENS HAVE NO CRACKS, CHIPS, PERSONAL ENGRAVINGS (except #6 pencil and #7), MISSING PARTS, BENT NIBS, MISALIGNED TINES, OR THREADING ISSUES.
Line Widths and Writing Samples: To provide buyers with as much information as possible, I have started to adopt the following line width standards: XXF (.1-.2mm); XF (approx .3mm); F (approx .4mm); M (approx .6mm); B (approx .8mm). These as well as line widths under full flex are measured with a digital caliper but should be considered approximations providing a general guide: width may vary slightly depending on type of ink and paper used as well as amount of pressure applied. All writing samples are on Rhodia dot paper using Waterman Serenity Blue.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. 1945 Vacumatic Junior – NOS w/ stickers (Golden Pearl, GPT, Vacumatic filler, 14 F nib). As a Junior, this pen has the same proportions as a Major, measuring 5 3/32" capped, but lacks the Blue Diamond on the clip and features 2 thin cap bands as opposed to a single, wider chevron band. This pen appears to be New Old Stock (NOS), replete with original price ($5.00) and nib width (F) sticker as well No Tax sticker. But it has been restored with a new diaphragm and inked for testing. Single black jewel on the cap and plastic plunger consistent with a 3rd generation Vac. As marked on the sticker, the 14k Vac Arrow nib lays down a smooth and consistent F line (see writing sample: https://imgur.com/kIrJecT). Condition: near mint. But for a touch of drawer wear here and there, this pen has the appearance of having just rolled off the assembly line. Gold-plated trim shows no brassing. Smooth, lustrous finish with no deep scratches or other notable blemishes. Good transparency with breather tube/ink level fully visible. Factory deep barrel imprint is fully legible. NOS Vacs are pretty tough to come by these days. Price: $230 SOLD
2. 1944 Vacumatic Major – NOS w/ sticker (Black, GPT, Vacumatic filler, 14 XF nib). This is the full-sized 3rd-generation model, measuring 5 3/32" capped. Another NOS example with it's original price ($8.75) and nib width sticker intact. But it has been restored with a new diaphragm and inked for testing. Blue Diamond clip, chevron cap band, black cap jewel, and plastic plunger all consistent with a 3rd gen Vac. Although both the sticker and tipping size indicate a F, the flow of the 14k Vac Arrow nib was adjusted from the factory to lay down a smooth and consistent XF line (see writing sample: https://imgur.com/r0u3Bbk). Condition: near mint. Another Vac that appears to have just rolled off the assembly line, having scarcely any microscratches even. Gold-plated trim shows no brassing (I missed some dirt on the clip, which will be cleaned off before shipment). Smooth, lustrous finish with no deep scratches or other notable blemishes. Barrel transparency is truly superb on this one (see detail photo: https://imgur.com/2yOGYLa). Factory deep barrel imprint is fully legible. Price: $250 $225 $200
3. 1946 Vacumatic Major (Silver Pearl, NPT, Vacumatic filler, 14k XF nib). Measures 5 3/32" capped. A model identical to the last pen but in Silver Pearl with nickel plated trim. 14k Vac Arrow nib lays down a smooth and consistent XF line
(see writing sample: https://imgur.com/7btZBik). Condition: very good. A clean pen aside from some general wear to the less resilient nickel-plated hardware. Celluloid exhibits a smooth, lustrous finish with no deep scratches or other notable blemishes. Excellent transparency with breather tube/ink level fully visible. Barrel imprint is sharp, deep, and fully legible. Price: $130 SOLD
4. 1941 Vacumatic DJ Long Major (Azure Blue Pearl, GPT, Vacumatic filler , Two-Tone 14k B Semi-Flex nib). Measuring 5 1/4" capped, this double jewel 2nd-generation model is slightly longer than a Major – hence its conventional designation in collector circles. Beautiful blue striated celluloid, which Parker dubbed Azure, was only produced from 1940-8, so it's especially uncommon on 2nd-gen pens like this one. Owing to the color's late production, there were no catalogued models in Azure Blue with matching striped sections and jewels like the 2 pens below. But the Blue Diamond clip, chevron cap band, double black jewels, and stout, aluminum Speedline filler all distinguish this pen as the deluxe predecessor of the 1st-gen Standard. The overwhelming majority of Vacs came with XF-M nibs, making the Two-Tone 14k Semi-Flex B Vac Arrow nib a bit special. It lays down a buttery smooth and consistent B line with a tad of variation under pressure, the slight softness of the nib enhancing its smoothness on paper (see writing sample: https://imgur.com/XX8nSQI). The nib has a huge glob of tipping material, making it a perfect candidate for customization by your favorite nibmeister. Condition: excellent. No wear to the gold-plated furniture aside from a couple pin-sized nicks on the blind cap tassie. Celluloid exhibits a smooth, lustrous finish with no deep scratches or other notable blemishes. Excellent transparency with breather tube/ink level fully visible. Barrel imprint is sharp, deep, and fully legible. Price: $250 SOLD
5. 1937 Vacumatic DJ Long Major (Golden Pearl, GPT, Vacumatic filler [Speedline], Two-Tone 14k B Factory Stub nib). Measures 5 1/4" capped. Late 30s Vacs are favorites of mine as they combine the newly streamlined style of the 2nd generation with exquisite details of the 1st. This one has all the fixings, including matching striped jewels, section, two-tone nib, Blue Diamond clip, chevron cap band, and robust, aluminum Speedline filler. Two-tone 14k Vac Arrow nib is a very scarce Factory Stub. It exhibits the line variation of a Cursive Italic and the smoothness of a stub (no sharp angles). On the down-strokes the nib lays down a buttery smooth and consistent B line (approx .75mm) while delivering an XF line on the cross-strokes (see writing sample: https://imgur.com/KF4SUBf). It's a delightfully smooth writer well suited for adding flair to one's everyday writing. Condition: very good. This pen would be graded as excellent were it not for the cosmetic damage to the nib, which has been factored into the price. There are several deep scratches on the side and a 1mm hairline extending from the back of the breather hole in line with the slit. These flaws are merely cosmetic, having no adverse effect on the writing experience. And, in my experience, a breather hole crack like this one won't worsen so long as one refrains from applying considerable pressure to the nib, as in flexing it like a flex nib. Aside from that the pen is incredibly well-preserved. Gold-plated trim shown no wear aside from a hairsbreadth sliver of brassing to the bottom edge of the cap band under the clip. Celluloid exhibits a smooth, lustrous finish with no deep scratches or other notable blemishes. Decent transparency with breather tube/ink level fully visible when held up to a window. Barrel imprint is sharp, deep, and fully legible. Price: $220 $200 (Since listing I've sourced a two-tone F Arrow nib with correct date code and perfect masking, which I can swap in this pen for $20 on request, bringing the total back up to $220 SOLD
[s]6. 1938 Vacumatic DJ Long Major Set (Burgundy Pearl, GPT, Vacumatic filler [Speedline], Two-Tone 14k XF nib). Measures 5 5/16" capped. Matching FP and MP set includes seldom-seen repeater (click) pencil that was manufactured for less than a year. The FP is another 2nd-gen Long Major with all the deluxe details: two-tone nib, matching striped double jewels + section, and aluminum Speedline filler. All in the scarcest, most desirable Burgundy Pearl color pattern. Two-tone 14k Vac Arrow nib lays down a smooth and consistent XF line (see writing sample: https://imgur.com/3YCZAqP). Condition: excellent (FP); very good (MP). Gold-plated trim is virtually immaculate, with no wear whatsoever aside from thin slivers of brassing on the sides of the clip along the edge it shares with the underside (see timestamp photo, not something easily noticed in person). Celluloid exhibits a smooth, lustrous finish with no deep scratches or other notable blemishes. Excellent transparency with breather tube/ink level fully visible. Barrel imprint is sharp, deep, and fully legible. Mechanical pencil is fully functional, propelling, retracting, and gripping lead as designed. Cosmetic condition commensurable to that of the pen aside from a personalization ("E.C. Warcourt"?) on the barrel (see detail photo: https://imgur.com/RoLN3eC). The engraving is not heat stamped and the FP lacks any trace of ever having one, so it appears the owner may have applied it himself. On the whole, a beautifully well-preserved set that looks and writes like a dream. Price: $290 $275 SOLD
7. 1940 Parker Vacumatic DJ Debutante (Golden Pearl, GPT, Vacumatic filler, Two-Tone 14k XXF Flex/Superflex nib). Measures 4 11/16" capped and 5 1/4" posted. This double jeweled 2nd/3rd gen Canadian model features all the fixings of the last 3 pens in a smaller package: Blue Diamond clip, ornately engraved cap band, double black jewels, and two-tone nib. And my what a nib it is! By the 1940s, the majority of pens from the Big Four companies sported nibs that were firm to semi-flex at softest, something true of Vac nibs as well. Canadian Vacs like this one, however, frequently proved the exception. The two-tone 14k Vac Arrow nib on this pen boasts Super-flexible softness and Flexible variation, laying down a smooth and consistent XXF line (measured more precisely after taking the writing sample) that widens to a 3B+ (approx 1.9mm) under light pressure (see writing sample: https://imgur.com/UJFqxgG). Needlepoint hairlines, strong snap-back, and impeccable flow under full flex make it an ideal choice for calligraphic writing styles such as Copperplate and Spencerian. Condition: very good. This pen would grade higher were it not for the professionally heatstamped personalization on the barrel, "BEA. FARROW" (see detail photo: https://imgur.com/iG72NpG). Other than that, it's in exceptional shape. No brassing to the gold-plated trim. Rhodium mask on the nib shows a bit of wear to one side. Celluloid exhibits a smooth, lustrous finish with no deep scratches or other notable blemishes. Good transparency with breather tube/ink level fully visible. Barrel imprint is weakened in the center but otherwise legible. A pen that combines the best of both worlds, having the ingenuous design and beautiful appearance of a Vac as well as a nib that performs like an early hard rubber Waterman. Price: $175 SOLD
8. 1937 Challenger Deluxe (Back, GPT, button filler, 14k XF/F nib). This is the full-sized model, measuring 5 1/8" capped. Featured in the same catalogues and adverts as the Vacumatic, the Parker Challenger shared many of the same styling cues but was equipped with the older button filling mechanism, holding ink in a sac rather than directly in the barrel like a Vac. To fill, one simply unscrews the blindcap, submerses the nib, and depresses the brass button once. The Challenger Deluxe was distinguished from lesser Challengers by its slightly larger nib and more generous trim configuration. Later models like this one also featured a transparent window in the section for checking the amount of ink remaining. The 14k Parker Pen nib on this pen lays down a smooth and consistent XF/F line (see writing sample: https://imgur.com/AkJ4aLw). Condition: excellent+. Gold-plated trim is virtually pristine with no discernible brassing. Celluloid exhibits a smooth, lustrous finish with no deep scratches or other notable blemishes. Barrel imprint is sharp and fully legible. Price: $80 SOLD
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shipping: All pens that do not come with their original boxes are packaged in thick PVC tubing to protect them in transit. To CONUS locations buyer may opt for either:
USPS First-Class with tracking for $5
USPS Priority with tracking for $8
International Customers: Please contact me for shipping quote if located overseas (delivery confirmation required).
New York Customers: For tax purposes, I am now required to add an 8% sales tax on any sale made in the state of NY. If your shipping address is in NY state, please let me know before payment to receive an adjusted total.
Order, Payment, & Guarantee: Pens are placed on hold for the first person to contact me with firm request to purchase, to which I’ll reply with payment details. If I haven't received Paypal payment within 24 hrs, then they become available to the next person. All pens are guaranteed to be in the condition in which I've described them. If I've missed something objectionable or the filling mechanism is not fully functional, the buyer may contact me up to 7 days after receiving the pen for a full refund (issued once I receive the pen back in the same condition as sold). I've sold pens online for over a decade. Please check my past listings here as well as on the classifieds and historical sales forums on FPN (username: Estragon) for some of my previous offerings.
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