tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412772666635402542024-03-05T16:28:24.196-08:00vacblogVac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-35501587360105005362010-07-02T12:08:00.000-07:002010-07-02T12:08:06.068-07:00INVITATION TO NEW PEN BOARD: The Fountain Pen Board.I've involved in the creation of a new pen board for discussion/sales etc.<br />
<br />
Please peek in<br />
<br />
<b>http://www.fountainpenboard.com</b><br />
<br />
also as<br />
<br />
<b>http://www.fpnuts.com</b> (because we'd have to be, and because the URL is shorter)Vac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-57403224333173780702010-06-07T19:12:00.000-07:002010-06-07T19:18:54.464-07:00Found a Monster Sheaffer WASP collection at Raleigh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://vacumania.com/penteech2/waspraleighpenshow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://vacumania.com/penteech2/waspraleighpenshow.jpg" width="37" /></a></div> Click on the pic to open in new page, then click on it (if your browser shrinks to fit) to see full size.Vac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-25695183951843796542010-06-07T19:07:00.001-07:002010-06-07T19:07:58.167-07:00Had Great Time at Raleigh Pen ShowThanks to Terry et al for a quite nice Raleigh Pen Show.<br />
<br />
Embassy Suites continues to provide what I consider the best hotel environs for pen shows. Huge lounge space for downtime, nice unlimited breakfast incorporated into reasonable room rate. Unbelievable rooms (easily can house three roomies for the show), easy access to everything in the show scene, nice bar, pool, gym, etc.<br />
<br />
The auction was great, figure a month hunting ebay compressed into two hours.<br />
<br />
Had by far my best pen finding during the 5-6 years the show has run. The WASP collection posted yesterday at the heart of it, I also found some killer Sheaffer Snorks and couple less-common TM Touchdown pens.<br />
<br />
Added two items to my own collection: 1920-ish Parker metal pen in Brocade pattern and 1950-ish Sheaffer Crest Masterpiece (solid gold caps) lever-fill set with charming inscription.<br />
<br />
I look forward to next yearVac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-18592439126645618902010-05-13T14:50:00.000-07:002010-05-13T14:50:22.143-07:00May 2010 Vacumania Website Update is Online. Snorkel OverloadHi,<br />
<br />
The <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1330"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1331">May 2010</span></span> Vacumania.com website update is online. 50 or so Sheaffer Snorks and related pens (PFM, TM TD) in great shape, including high end models and "rare" colors.<br />
<br />
Direct link to the new stock alone:<br />
<br />
<span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1332"><a href="http://www.vacumania.com/websitesales/newpens.htm" target="_blank">http://www.vacumania.com/websitesales/newpens.htm</a></span><br />
<br />
Direct link to the Sheaffer 1950's page, showing the above pens plus prior related stock, newly organized (albeit roughly by either model class or color)<br />
<br />
<span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1333"><a href="http://www.vacumania.com/websitesales/forsalesheafferpfm.htm" target="_blank">http://www.vacumania.com/websitesales/forsalesheafferpfm.htm</a></span><br />
<br />
The Vacumania home page<br />
<br />
<span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1334"><a href="http://www.vacumania.com/" target="_blank">http://www.vacumania.com</a></span><br />
<br />
Thanks for peeking in. I doubt I'll do another 1950's Sheaffer update of this sort anytime soon, as this drains most of my lurking stock, though pens of this sort always trickle in. I am at work on another Parker 51 update similar to the <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1335"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1336">Dec 08</span></span> "230 pen" update and am at work on pendom's overwhelmingly most massive offering of 1940's Sheaffers, though both these updates are months off.<br />
<br />
Happy to answer questions at <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1337"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1338">isaacson@frontiernet.net</span></span> and indeed shortly should for first time have an email at the vacumania.com address itself.<br />
<br />
Boy, I'm tired. <span style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: transparent url(http://webmail.frontier.com/service/zimlet/com_zimbra_ymemoticons/img/1.gif) no-repeat scroll 0pt 50%; height: 18px; padding: 9px 18px 9px 0pt; width: 18px;" title=":) - happy"></span><br />
<br />
regardsVac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-78324691926399827552010-05-11T11:46:00.000-07:002010-05-11T15:58:20.488-07:00PREVIEW: May 2010 Website Sales Update: "Snorkel Mayhem"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYz1nzoXVR4qz0I_T4zsJh0AVIkfYjpynW86SM83xBm6EztXQZc2s4-jcg7oDEWqChztLx2-tqvtveJ8bb9Y5Dy1xqx4oI_mb4k6m9tL39I3TZwFqQe6trLEe7hYInr5GTZ8TxgwQ1jg4P/s1600/may2010websitepreview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYz1nzoXVR4qz0I_T4zsJh0AVIkfYjpynW86SM83xBm6EztXQZc2s4-jcg7oDEWqChztLx2-tqvtveJ8bb9Y5Dy1xqx4oI_mb4k6m9tL39I3TZwFqQe6trLEe7hYInr5GTZ8TxgwQ1jg4P/s320/may2010websitepreview.jpg" width="53" /></a></div>Well, the last Update took 4 months to get online. This one... merely a month. I'm catching up on "real life" and on pen stuff. Spent a few nights up last week sorting 1000 old pens either ready for updates, back from restorers awaiting focused updates, ready for shipment for restoration, or (sob) ready for the parts bin. The house gains order.<br />
<br />
Anway, this update features a killer focus on 1950's Sheaffers, largely Snorks (including better models and colors of high cachet). The Peris already were claimed from want lists (two of four want lists with them now served). I should have the update online in couple days and will announce.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, please peruse the image preview. <br />
<br />
<br />
http://www.vacumania.com/websitesales/newpens.htm<br />
<br />
regards<br />
<br />
david isaacson<br />
isaacson@frontiernet.net<br />
http://www.vacumania.comVac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-67560132693417718792010-05-08T05:19:00.000-07:002010-05-08T05:19:25.890-07:00What can I say, all in three weeks, and one on the way. Happy David.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://vacumania.com/penteech2/parkervacdemocrystal850a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://vacumania.com/penteech2/parkervacdemocrystal850a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>None in couple-few years, then these in a month, with one more on the way. You know what they are, right? Two Parker Vacuum-Filler true Demonstrators, and a Vacumatic "Crystal". El Zorno does good work, though I shall have to give him some grief (cheerful grief) about the middle pen. Clearly, something needs trimming there. <br />
<br />
Yeah, everyone wants Maximas. No worries- I too like Maximas. But this stuff is grand.Vac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-58168153233946921462010-05-01T22:46:00.001-07:002010-05-01T22:46:55.539-07:00Grand Time at Chicago Pen ShowNo pics yet...<br />
<br />
<br />
Been quite a week. Left work after long run of night shifts for flight two hours later. Brutal turbulence both to layover at JFK and final leg to Chicago for the big pen show. At least I enjoyed couple hours down time in Jet Blue's JFK terminal at Deep Blue, a quite nice sushi bar. Lack of sleep, Caffeine withdrawal, bouncing plane and funny sleeping angle in airplane seat left me well under weather when I arrived at the Westin O'Hare late at 6pm. Slept all night. <br />
<br />
As always great to see the pen show crowd though a bit smaller this year than in years past. The most different Esterbrook wedding tonight marked a high point, and Joel Hamilton's work officiating raised the possibility that he missed his true calling. <br />
<br />
Even having missed the earliest of early trading (Thurs, while still I was in the air), so far I've found that Chicago has held its own as a top notch source for pen hunting. I found a few for my collection and more than a few for other use down the road ;) Might be my best hunting yet at Chi.<br />
<br />
What sort?<br />
<br />
Sheaffer OS Balance "super" Autograph with non-catalog extra wide solid gold cap-band. <br />
Several OS Balances including Marine Green (mottled) Marine Green Autograph and Black with high flex nib.<br />
<br />
Wahl OS Gold Seal flattop sets in Brazilian Green and in Black/Pearl<br />
Wahl Coronet set (with Duobonnet inserts) in the best shape i've seen, never mind owned.<br />
<br />
Oh, a bunch of Vacumatic Maximae, Red (water clear barrel), Blue, Black(s) and Green<br />
Vacumatic Major and Junior with Flex Nib<br />
<br />
Non-Catalog Parker 51 Vacumatic in Navy Gray (Vac era pens were catalogued as Dove Gray)... oh yeah, Near Mint/Mint<br />
<br />
51 Demo<br />
<br />
Black/Burgundy Streamline Duofold Sr.<br />
<br />
Bit uncommon stubby Waterman 55-V with flex nib<br />
<br />
Wahl Skyline Executive with broad stub nib.<br />
<br />
Solid Gold Sheaffer Snorkel Masterpiece (finally)<br />
<br />
all gold-filled Sheaffer Snorkel Triumph stickered near mint<br />
<br />
Conway Stewart vintage 51 set in box. Candy Stripe pattern<br />
<br />
Solid Gold late Sheaffer Masterpiece<br />
<br />
Mint Sheaffer Oblique Broad Triumph nib<br />
<br />
Many 1940's Sheaffers, Parker 51's, Vacumatics etc.<br />
<br />
and about 70 others.<br />
<br />
Having great time. Who knows, perhaps tomorrow will sell a few to replenish the devastated wallet ;)<br />
<br />
regards<br />
<br />
davidVac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-4277893452232293212010-04-14T13:09:00.000-07:002010-04-14T13:09:31.949-07:00Finally... A Website Update with Many Fresh Old Pens for Sale:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://vacumania.com/websitesalespics/pen3222sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="http://vacumania.com/websitesalespics/pen3222sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Not much more to add: Do take a peek.<br />
<br />
http://www.vacumania.com/websitesales/newpens.htm<br />
<br />
-davidVac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-3743325140213094942010-04-13T18:05:00.000-07:002010-04-13T18:05:11.222-07:00Stylus Mag Treats Old Pens Well.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.vacumania.com/stylus/stylussummer2010sample.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://www.vacumania.com/stylus/stylussummer2010sample.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Hi, <br />
<br />
Just home from Atlanta Pen Show and had quite nice time. Picked up some remarkable old pens, and will discuss later, when have time to come up for air. Just about have the next website update up (finally having time again to play with website updates). Just finished text/pics for summer Stylus Mag article. Took more time than expected. <br />
<br />
For Summer Stylus issue, I put together a few words on the Sheaffer-Lenox desk sets of 1959. To best of my knowledge, this is the first formal examination of these done in pendom. I recently learned I own all 8 bases, and all are shown in the article, along with significant fresh-to-me catalogue data courtesy of Roger Wooten and Sam Marshall. Here's a sample, one of 11 or so photos in the spread. <br />
<br />
<span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1047"></span><br />
<br />
I just picked up my copy of the Spring issues, while at Atlanta. I've been doing photos for the mag since the inception, but started contributing a regular column- "Nitty Gritty" (the isaacson approach to pen collecting, I guess) with this Spring issue. Thanks kindly to Nancy for the editorial mentioning contributors including gang-of-four, Paul, Ron, Richard and me. The Spring issue has big article on Snorks by Paul, copiously photo-illustrated and captioned by yers truly. My wee article on Wahl's Equi-poised Purse Pen too I suspect is the first print treatment of that pen. Photos in that one including pens from my collection, Cliff Harrington's and Allen Besser's. Ron Zorn's article on pen repair triage is there too. <br />
<br />
I credit Stylus. The mag has a *large* content oriented to the collector, including pen reviews, vintage collecting articles, ink/writing, etc. And, I'll make the push that subscription is a good thing. The website is <br />
<br />
<span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1048"><a href="http://www.stylusmag.com/" target="_blank">http://www.stylusmag.com</a></span>Vac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-76681116458330239872010-03-31T19:40:00.001-07:002010-03-31T19:40:36.128-07:00Update on Vacumania.com Catastrophic Crash...Hi,<br />
<br />
The site rather died about a week ago. Having now aimed my domain name at a highly reliable server recommended by Richard and Ron, I'm nearly done reloading the entire site, happily backed up save for a couple hundred long-sold pen image that were lost from backup with a drive crash couple years back, though might yet be hiding on another drive (i'll check when home this week).<br />
<br />
Please be patient. In day or three the site should be up fully again.<br />
<br />
regards<br />
<br />
david<br />
http://www.vacumania.comVac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-44527135827211485682010-03-29T09:20:00.000-07:002010-03-29T09:20:15.481-07:00The Vacumania Website... Crashed ;)Well, my website seems down for solid day or more now. Been way busy at work, but looks like it is time to move my site to a more solid host. Hope to do that at end of week. Hope the darn site is up anyway before then.<br />
<br />
-davidVac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-42919707315320917182010-03-13T07:38:00.000-08:002010-03-13T07:39:06.885-08:00Another Off-Catalogue Double-Capband 1930's Sheaffer Balance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://vacumania.com/penteech2/sheafferbalancestubbymarinedoubleband.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://vacumania.com/penteech2/sheafferbalancestubbymarinedoubleband.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Picked this one up at the Ohio Pen Show. <br />
<br />
Again, Sheaffer catalogued Balance with with single smooth capband, mostly gold-filled and fewer solid gold.<br />
<br />
The double capband is quite uncommon. This one is a "stubby" (a short standard-girth pen) in mottled Marine Green. A clean example, this is the first I've seen in this size/color mix, although when hunting items that in total show up couple-few times a year, one will slowly find "new" color/size variants, no doubt.Vac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-47771991421168698742010-03-13T07:26:00.000-08:002010-03-13T07:26:12.950-08:00Sorry not been around much lately...My jump to 12 hour night shifts at hospital and some politics of late have kept me swamped. Life now sorts itself out, and I hope to post blog notes more frequently.<br />
<br />
-davidVac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-10462480193769414662010-02-10T19:22:00.000-08:002010-02-10T19:22:00.053-08:00A most unusual 1930's (?) - 1940's Sheaffer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://vacumania.com/penteech2/sheafferblackwasplike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="http://vacumania.com/penteech2/sheafferblackwasplike.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Picked this up a while ago. Goes well with my *striped* gray non-WD version. Daniel has a WD brown striper. A most unusual Sheaffer, one most here perhaps have not seen before. It is imprinted "Sheaffer"<br />
<br />
Think about what makes it a bit off the beaten path for Sheaffer from that era.Vac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-40342351762851144982010-01-26T19:55:00.000-08:002010-01-26T20:37:48.186-08:00An anomalous Sheaffer Balance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://vacumania.com/penteech2/sheafferbalancejadedoubleband850a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="http://vacumania.com/penteech2/sheafferbalancejadedoubleband850a.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
</div><br />
Sheaffer's Balance is the second most prevalent pen in my own collection, following Vacumatic. While I do not hunt it with the same completist bent seen with my Vac collection, I nonetheless greatly enjoy finding "better" pens and of course unusual variants. Catalogued Balances feature a single cap-band usually of (variable) medium girth, save for the wider solid gold "autograph" band.<br />
<br />
My wee hoard of pens with uncatalogued cap-bands includes those with the wide "jeweler's" milled band, double and triple deco band, and fish-scale band. The double, triple, and fishscale pens are far more uncommon than the other cap-band patterns.<br />
<br />
So, I was very happy when at the recent Philadelphia Pen Show, during my final minutes there, I found a variant Sheaffer Balance I'd never seen before. The contour is that of the humble petite Balance, the slender extra-short model.<br />
<br />
http://vacumania.com/penteech2/sheafferbalancejadedoubleband850a.jpg<br />
<br />
This is the first pen I've seen in Jade celluloid to have a double cap-band.<br />
<br />
And, amongst pens I've seen with the double cap-band, this is the first i've seen with smooth bands, the others having decorative pattern.<br />
<br />
A neat find, no doubt.<br />
<br />
regards<br />
<br />
DavidVac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-81625298012372064562010-01-25T17:34:00.000-08:002010-01-26T20:38:23.797-08:00An email with a Vacumatic questionThis email arrived today:<br />
<br />
<div><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hello David,</span></b><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Is it possible for a 2d. generation 'Made in Canada' Burgundy Pearl Senior Max. to be correct with 2 black jewels?</span></b><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Your assistance is appreciated,</span></b><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div>Response:<b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></b><br />
</div><div><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></b><br />
</div><div>It is... unlikely, though always hard to have absolutes, especially for Canadian pens.<br />
<br />
USA Pens by mid 1939 all at first glance seem to have black bottom jewel, which really is not that. Rather it is a pseudojewel actually with target pattern, as by this time Parker no longer (in USA) made true bottom jewel with removable tassie, instead cutting the blind cap to a point to look like a jewel and press fitting a tassie over that. In good light the blind cap fake jewel shows concentric target stripes just as if you looked edge on to smooth later blind cap.<br />
<br />
USA high line pens had striped top jewel still (except blue of course) through mid 1942, so all 2nd gen pens through 1941 should have matching top jewel on high line pen.<br />
<br />
It is not clear that Canada ever went to the pseudojewel. I have seen late 1941 pens and even early 1942 double jewel pens from there with removable bottom jewel. Most Canadian pens I see, even late 1941 have striped/matching top jewel. But, again I have seen even early 1942 Double Jewel pens from Canada (unlike USA) and sometimes they have black jewels both ends, even on high line pens.<br />
</div><div><br />
I'd be curious about your pen's date code, but generally if before 1942, a matching jewel on top (and probably both jewels for Canadian pens) would be expected... at least to some degree.<br />
</div><div><br />
That the pen is Canadian removes some of the sting from the lack of matching jewels, because unlike pens from USA, particularly for late issue double jewel pens, the rules are a bit less clear.<br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></b><br />
</div>Vac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-60954368365204029702009-12-14T20:39:00.001-08:002009-12-14T20:39:31.880-08:00Another Pen Find. 60 more land in SyracuseThis pile landed in Syracuse same week as the somewhat heftier pen pile I posted yesterday.<br />
<br />
Some nice stuff by Chilton, Sheaffer, Parker, Waterman and others. Lots of humble material, but when a collection arrives, one usually grabs the bunch. Best pen in bunch is the big Chilton Black Lined with red end plugs.<br />
<br />
http://vacumania.com/penteech2/penhoard5a850.jpg<br />
<br />
regards<br />
<br />
davidVac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-35246961131045443832009-12-13T20:14:00.000-08:002009-12-13T20:14:49.811-08:00I found some pens.I used to wish I could find old pens in... quantity<br />
<br />
These days it happens time to time. Always fun.<br />
<br />
This bunch plopped onto my desk. What could I do? I bought 'em. 120 or so.<br />
<br />
<span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT218"><a href="http://vacumania.com/penteech2/penhoard4a850.jpg" target="_blank">http://vacumania.com/penteech2/penhoard4a850.jpg</a></span><br />
<br />
Then there's the other 60 or so from a third collection, but that's a tale for another day.<br />
<br />
regards<br />
<br />
davidVac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-84747522758871041392009-12-12T05:58:00.000-08:002009-12-12T05:58:46.716-08:00WEBSITE UPDATE: 50 Old Pens Freshly Listed at VACUMANIA.comYes, I know. No posts here in ten days. Well, my newly upgraded hospital shifts have been clobbering me. But, I did manage to get the latest Vacumania.com website update online. 50 grand old pens. Gem Vacumatic, Balance, Lady Sheaffer, Snorkel and more.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.vacumania.com/websitesales/newpens.htm"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>CLICK FOR VACUMANIA FRESH STOCK OF OLD PENS</b></span></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Have a peek at a bit of what's been added.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://vacumania.com/websitesalespics/pen3092sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="27" src="http://vacumania.com/websitesalespics/pen3092sm.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://vacumania.com/websitesalespics/pen3088sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="53" src="http://vacumania.com/websitesalespics/pen3088sm.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://vacumania.com/websitesalespics/pen3090sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="54" src="http://vacumania.com/websitesalespics/pen3090sm.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://vacumania.com/websitesalespics/pen3189sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="72" src="http://vacumania.com/websitesalespics/pen3189sm.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh yeah... even a modern-ish Omas.<br />
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<a href="http://vacumania.com/websitesalespics/pen3154sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="64" src="http://vacumania.com/websitesalespics/pen3154sm.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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</div>Vac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-48850985632830730382009-12-02T18:39:00.000-08:002009-12-02T18:40:31.377-08:00VIDEO and Pic. Happy Red Sheaffer David.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxYjGrWyCFaUbVpgeWz6DMwpcsGjXdH5xCBIozMtQaIkdyVwL4_WLn9V5Q3SXb39fU-iD71e5oaJC1V4zRDhgtIeGqa25rOFxINfW6WKwCOh9jSLQ8evidTaH7jvI1znzgjwRDKJA0PiQ/s1600-h/sheafferpygmyredboxset850a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxYjGrWyCFaUbVpgeWz6DMwpcsGjXdH5xCBIozMtQaIkdyVwL4_WLn9V5Q3SXb39fU-iD71e5oaJC1V4zRDhgtIeGqa25rOFxINfW6WKwCOh9jSLQ8evidTaH7jvI1znzgjwRDKJA0PiQ/s320/sheafferpygmyredboxset850a.jpg" /></a>Hi,<br />
<br />
Just picked up a truly grand wee pen set, a 1920's Sheaffer flat-top "Cherry Red" celluloid Pygmy. Have wanted one a long time. Hard to find clean. This one pops.<br />
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Details and shmooze in this very rough rushed video shot with my usual 7MP Sony, just before I raced out the door to work. The video should open in your browser, though you likely will need a fast connection and time for your buffer to... buff.<br />
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<br />
<br />
LINK To Sheaffer Red Pygmy Video<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vacumania.com/penteech2/MOV04552.MPG" style="background-color: yellow;"><b>CLICK For Sheaffer Red Pygmy Video</b></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDJQhejiHoS-_f6t1VBjP0htAje5e5LayJY-lNZ8OOl9Jyl0ISuqj_xVI4vJ_Qf7Nr9leWV9VvOmtaMA1WzXzdg5LPUv2PNIaf6AEaIRFAvrhvC89aNzYYvEliL-k6jA8O67tGRZaqZa3/s1600-h/sheafferpygmyseniorred850a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDJQhejiHoS-_f6t1VBjP0htAje5e5LayJY-lNZ8OOl9Jyl0ISuqj_xVI4vJ_Qf7Nr9leWV9VvOmtaMA1WzXzdg5LPUv2PNIaf6AEaIRFAvrhvC89aNzYYvEliL-k6jA8O67tGRZaqZa3/s320/sheafferpygmyseniorred850a.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> And, the Pgymy set on a Sheaffer Cherry Red Secretary (Senior) Pen.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="http://vacumania.com/penteech2/MOV04552.MPG" style="background-color: yellow;"><b>CLICK For Sheaffer Red Pygmy Video</b></a></b><br />
</div>Vac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-29652406071533804702009-11-27T22:13:00.000-08:002009-11-27T22:14:22.607-08:00My 25th Azure Blue Vacumatic Senior Maxima<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://vacumania.com/penteech2/vacumaticbluemax4pens850a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://vacumania.com/penteech2/vacumaticbluemax4pens850a.jpg" width="320" /></a>Just received back freshly restored by Joel Hamilton my 25th Parker Vacumatic Senior Maxima in Azure Blue celluloid. Thought I'd use the occasion as chance to chat about this neat pen. <br />
</div><br />
Blue Maxes are somewhat more difficult in double-jewel trim to find than other colors, at least with typical cap-band, as the color was introduced mid 1940, while most Maxima colors appeared late 1937. Since the bottom jewel was discontinued by the end of 1941, DJ pens in blue ran only about a year and a half. Amongst single jewel Sr Maxima from 1942-1947 (or so) there is much less disparity. <br />
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In ten years hunting Vacs, I've grabbed- obviously- 25 Maxes in this color. Sold about 20 with a few in the collection for the long haul. While Blue Maxes in general are nowhere near as scarce as "Vac-Band" Maximas in any color and probably are similarly uncommon to "Jeweler's Band" Maxima from 1939-40 (or so), they are impressive pens. As is often the case with colleting, finding my first posed the greatest challenge. It's all been downhill since then. Not so hard to find the pens, if one is willing to pay the ticket price ;) <br />
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Making the collecting task easier (is that a good thing?) the late introduction of Blue minimizes the number of variants one can seek, as we need not worry about clip evolution. Too, there is well less cap-band evolution, and well less jewel evolution. The key (a somewhat subjective claim) forms are shown here: <br />
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L to R: <br />
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1) Typical 2nd Gen Sr. Max. shows expected "late" features, black bottom pseudojewel, cap-band indicia with vertical borders, blue diamond clip. <br />
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"All" Blue Maxes have black end jewel(s), though I have one which challenges that notion, but that photo will await another day. <br />
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2) "Jeweler's" Cap-band Blue Max with wide lined cap-band. The intent behind this cap-band remains shrouded, but the band is far less common than the typical cap-bands found in catalogues. Blue + Jeweler's Band makes for a bit of a special pen. <br />
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3) 3rd Generation Sr. Max, single jewel. The thin cap-band is correct on this 1942- 1947-ish pen. One might expect them to be more common than the first pen given the longer prodution run, but it is not clear that this is so. SJ Maxes are uncommon, perhaps because by 1942 those who would pay the cost to get a Maxima made the jump to the ascendant Parker 51. <br />
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4) Canadian 3rd Gen Max. Canadian pens essentially always show some differences from USA-made pens, and I often don't lump them under "key variants", but for 3rd Gen Max the key difference warrants attention. Unlike in the USA, Parker in Canada appears to have continued to use the wide cap-band (similar to pen #1) throughout the 3rd Generation, making a wide band single jewel pen wholly correct when found with Canadian markings. <br />
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I picked up a mint collection (yah, really) of Sr Maxima 3rd Generation pens a couple years ago, including a stickered blue. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="http://vacumania.com/penteech2/parkervacmaximamintspread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://vacumania.com/penteech2/parkervacmaximamintspread.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I probably need to format this brief note and to shoot couple more images for a formal website essay, but figured finding my 25th pen made good excuse to post. <br />
</div><br />
regards <br />
<br />
davidVac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-45336344188208168072009-11-25T19:52:00.000-08:002009-11-25T19:52:22.549-08:00An Interesting Vacumatic.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://vacumania.com/websitesalespics/pen2623x850a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://vacumania.com/websitesalespics/pen2623x850a.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
</div>This set is heading for the pending website update. I'm letting it go only because I have another. It was not a trivial effort to get both. The pencil is more rare than the already scarce pen.<br />
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More than one thing about this set should hit one's radar for unusual Vacs.Vac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-20643194172426728642009-11-24T16:00:00.000-08:002009-11-24T16:00:19.506-08:00PREVIEW for Nov/Dec Sales Update is online.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://vacumania.com/websitesalespics/nov2009preview850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://vacumania.com/websitesalespics/nov2009preview850.jpg" width="41" /></a><br />
</div>Welcome to this pictorial preview for the upcoming website update.<br />
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"Real life" events of late have kept me diverted from completing the latest sales update, but the darn thing nearly is ready to upload. All the pens I've shot for this update are shown below, along with some that are targeted for subsequent "focused" updates.<br />
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While I likely will hold the 1940's Sheaffers and some of the Parker Duofold pens for later updates, and while a couple of the prototype Lady Sheaffer pens have not yet met their nib assemblies, most of the other pens below will be up for grabs in a few days.<br />
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This group sees a nice range of Burgundy Parker Vacumatic pens including an early and scarce full-size Vacuum-Filler, and a late and more scarce Canada-only Junior set. Sheaffer Balances see a significant array of oversized pens, and some Snorkels of the quite high cachet are present too.<br />
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<b>You can click the pic at the left to load it as a new page (then click/magnify it again to full size) </b><br />
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The link below will take you to the actual preview page.<br />
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http://www.vacumania.com/websitesales/newpens.htmVac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-49205548091063036532009-11-23T21:43:00.000-08:002009-11-23T21:47:05.641-08:00Hey, the "sold" pens are disappearing from the website. You know what THAT means...I am in the final approach to the next website update. I've shot and (mostly) detailed 120 pens or so, probably with 80 or so to go on the next update.<br />
<br />
Besides having perhaps 350 pens ready for or already in the repair pipeline- keeping me quite busy- I also have had quite the hectic time in "real life" of late. My hospital has seen some... politics... happen the last few weeks, and while it seems my own role and opportunity there will grow yet again in my work as Hospitalist, I have been... distracted. Sorry if I've been slow to answer emails. Certainly, I would have liked to have the latest update online a couple weeks back.<br />
<br />
I hope to maintain updates roughly every six weeks for the next few months. I might do some mini-updates as well with 10-20 pens per pop. I do have a nice spread of Burgundy Parker Vacumatic and Carmine Sheaffer Balances for the website update to be online in less than a week.<br />
<br />
regards<br />
<br />
David Isaacson<br />
<br />
http://www.vacumania.comVac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641277266663540254.post-67524278277075016902009-11-18T00:09:00.001-08:002009-11-18T00:09:45.116-08:00A Quite Neat 1931-ish Parker so-called "Thrift" pen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://vacumania.com/penteech2/parkerthriftblackbronzemint850a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://vacumania.com/penteech2/parkerthriftblackbronzemint850a.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><br />
After the recent mayhem with my hospital group (sparing me, at least), I'm starting to catch up with couple weeks of email and with work on the next website update. <br />
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I shot the following pen, a neat find at the Ohio Pen Show. <br />
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Often lumped under the "Thrift Pen" label, this one is of the same style shown in the inspiration for that term, a Parker ad that offered affordable sets- more or less- "in these thrifty times". That set showed cream-and-bronze. This one is black-and-bronze, a color used also for the scarce Parker Combo. Parker also issued some pens in a Conklin-like black/bronze (with more bronze) <br />
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This one is in superb condition, with code/pirce sticker. Given how few of the (usually) un-catalogued "thrift" pens are found with stickers, perhaps purpose would be served examining catalogues from that general era for code correlations. But, I don't have time now ;) <br />
<br />
regards <br />
<br />
DavidVac Quackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00270264448787969908noreply@blogger.com1