Parker
Pens and Ephemera

The ingenuity of Parker Vacumatics is so much fun for us. Using vacuum pressure with a diaphragm, these vintage pens fill an entire barrel with ink. Their stunning art deco design also satisfies our vintage hearts. This is the golden pearl design from 1945. We restored the pen with a new diaphragm. No cracks, no brassing, no engravings, no deep scratches. Only light wear from use is visible on the celluloid. There are some scratches on the top of the 14k gold nib. However, you will write a very nice extra-fine line. The barrel clarity is almost non-existent. Click the headline for close-ups. 12.7cm capped.

When people discuss the Parker 51, they are usually focused on the revolutionary fountain pen. However, the Parker 51 is a pretty dang neat pencil, too. This vintage pencil is a nice black with steel cap and gold-plated trim. Twist the tail cap to extend and retract the pre-loaded red lead. This pencil takes any color .9mm lead, though. It has a little wear from use but nothing terrible. No spare leads or hardened eraser, though. 13cm.

You have always wanted to try the wonder that is the Parker 61, but you never wanted to pay the full collector price. We've got great news for you. This vintage pen is a bargain because the barrel of the pen is cracked at the threads. It still works perfectly well. We just can't guarantee how well the barrel will hold up. We flushed the capillary filler several times. Yet, the purple ink that was in it is reluctant to let go. It is a much lighter purple now, but we haven't gotten all of it out of the pen. You will write a firm, extra-fine line with some feedback with its 14k gold nib. 13.3cm capped.

With a crisp, clean imprint from 1940, this Parker Vacumatic Debutante looks stunning. We just restored it with a new diaphragm, and it is ready to rock your world. Emerald Pearl is the name of the color pattern, and it is such a vibrant green. The barrel is ambered, but you can still see through it. This vintage pen still has its aluminum speedline filler. You will write an extra-fine line with light feedback. Click the headline for a close-up of its 14k gold nib. No cracks, chips or deep scratches. 11.8cm capped.

Golden Pearl is always one of our favorite Parker Vacumatic colors. This Parker Vacumatic Debutant set looks stunning. The vintage pen is fully restored with a new diaphragm, and the cap and barrel sport minimal wear from use. No brassing, but the barrel is a bit ambered. The dating on this set is great, as it was made on the cusp of 1939. The barrel imprint on the pen says 1st quarter 1939. The two-tone 14k gold nib sports a 1938 date. And the working clicker pencil has a Q4 1938 date code. You will write a nice medium line with the nib, by the way. Remember, the Debutants are the smallest of the Vac models. Pen measures 12cm capped.

To our way of thinking, the last great filling system innovation was the capillary filler on the Parker 61. Just dip the Teflon-coated tube--that is hidden under the barrel--in ink and it fills automatically. Released in the late 1950s, it was a brilliant idea. The only down side to it is that you can't change colors very quickly or easily. We did our best to flush out the black ink that was in the pen, but there likely will be some residual ink that will take a while to completely work its way out. We love the rainbow-cap design. This pen show some wear from use. The silvery arrow by the nib has more of a matte look, even after we polished it. You will write a nice extra-fine line with its 14k gold nib. 13.8cm capped.

Ever wanted to try the vintage pencil writing experience. The second generation Parker Duofold remains an art deco beauty. Our vintage pencil still works, but it is heavily brassed and shows some wear. Twist the tail cap to advance the .9mm lead. You have to push the lead back in by hand if you want to retract it. Pull off the tail cap to reveal a hardened original eraser. Under the eraser is a spare lead. 11.9cm.

Ever the innovator, Parker created a kindof 2-in-1 pen with the Parker 180 Flighter. From the late 1970s or early '80s, these pens incorporated the skinny-pen trend of its time along with a double-sided 14k gold nib. Fed by an overfeed and an underfeed, this pen writes a smooth, fine line with one side of the nib and a smooth, extra-fine line with the other side of the nib. The "Flighter" designation means it is a stainless-steel pen. No dents or cracks--just a little light wear from use. Includes its original squeeze-bar converter, which still works. Plus you can use Parker cartridges with it. 13.2cm capped.