Pen parts envelopes
, the second series.
[Posted on L&P on Oct 19, and 22, 2006, Sept 29, 2007, and expanded and revised in 2015.]
My first thread on L&P, “Vintage Pen Repair Tools”, was about a box of pen repair shop tools and parts that I found in 1993. I wrote mostly about the pen repair tools, but I also mentioned that there were “long pen boxes and envelopes full of mint repair parts...straight from the various pen company repair-part departments, some in little envelopes with the part numbers written on them”. There are surviving Parker Repair Parts Price Lists from 1937, 1939, 1942, 1944, 1948, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1969, and 1980, but only the ones from 1944 and on use the same type of part numbers.
These Parker part numbers usually take the form xxx-xxx, with two three-digit numbers separated by a dash. I figured out that the first three digits stand for the pen model, and the second three digits stand for the type of part. Hence, the number 295-165 stands for the Parker 51 nib, and 760-270 stands for the Parker 45 nib unit assembly. The earliest model number I could find on my envelopes was 221, which was for a Sub-Deb Vac clip, and later models had numbers such as 411 for the Junior Vac, and 343, 601, and 626, all for the Parker 51, 410 for the Televisor and the Junior Vac, 576 for the Parker 21 pencil, 607 and 615 for the Parker 21 pen, 620 for the Jotter ballpoint, 626 for the Parker Super 21, 653 for Parker 61, 673 for the Parker 41, 809 for
the Eversharp Super E, and 840 for the Parker 19.
In the early, pre-Duofold era, the model numbers seemed to refer to one model, but with many styles allowed within that number, and in the later period, there were many style numbers involved in the make-up of one model. It wasn’t just a model number, but was also a style, and finish number, so in some earlier versions of these lists I had taken to calling them “Model And Style Numbers”. Some early models were available as eyedroppers and self fillers, in long and short versions, with turban top and safety caps, and in the baby size, and the filling system, size of nib, and type of cap didn’t matter to the number. And the later models were sometimes put together using some minor parts from several existing earlier models as well as some major parts from a new number. You’ll see what I mean when you look at the price lists.
I still need to fill in the numbers for the pens from the late 1920s and 30s, but I’ll take anything. It all helps for cross-referencing purposes. For instance, the 1958 and 1960 repair parts manuals still have some parts for Vacs listed because they were re-used on the early models of the 51s. And many parts, such as bushing rings and cap-jewel screws, etc., were re-used on many different models, so it’s as if some pen parts were cross-pollinated. There is no single number for most of the later pens. I don’t know whether the model numbers lasted until the Parker 75, and I’m curious to find out when the numbering system petered out, and when it was discontinued. By the time of the 1980 parts price list, the part numbers had been transformed into double-hyphenated, 7-digit numbers that started with a single digit followed by two triplets, like so, x-xxx-xxx.
The 1948 parts price list is the first one to partially bridge the gap between the early pens and the later pens through the Duofolds and the Vacumatics. It was only because these pens were still being used by some diehards that Parker had to continue to make parts with which to service and repair them. Here’s a picture of General MacArthur still using a Duofold in 1945, his wife’s Red Duofold Junior. The 1948 list also makes it explicit that the replacement part numbers for the Duofold nibs and feeds are actually the part numbers for the Senior Vac Maxima arrow nibs and comb feeds, minus the tube in the Vac feed assemblies.
But where were the model numbers for the Duofolds, Patricians, Pastels, Moires, Vacumatics, Challengers, and the various depression pens? Perhaps there were none. There are three lists from this free-for-all period of the 1920s and 1930s that were pointed out to me by three separate pen researchers. John Danza brought to my attention a group of model numbers for #20 and #23 Jack Knife Safety Button-Filler and Eyedropper pens and matching mechanical pencils. The numbers are from the 1921 Parker catalogue, and they are a sparse, sporadic series of about 40 numbers scattered between 101 and 516 for the different types of gold, or silver, or plated overlays. But the numbers don’t seem to fit in to any kind of scheme but their own. Derek Lepper posted a list of Parker Duofold catalogue numbers, but these were just the color designations from the 1927-29 catalogues. I have seen similar lists of numbers for Duofolds, Challengers, and Vacumatics, but Derek’s list adds the True Blue and Depression pen numbers as well. It must be some sort of separate numbering scheme used in the wholesale catalogues sent out to the dealers. This catalogue numbering system constitutes yet another numbering scheme from this period that is not compatible with the other two major numbering schemes, which still seem to me like they could be continuous and compatible with one another. Where the early model numbers leave off, the later parts numbers seem to pick up and carry on. Well, it seemed so until I saw the two lists that I got from Daniel Zazove, a “Parker Pen Co. Model Identification” list for Duofolds, Vacumatics, Sacless Duofolds, and Challengers, and a Vacumatics list from 1944. Both of these lists start again at number 1, for both the Duofolds and the Vacs. They reuse the numbers up to 100, and then go past that sequence into the 400s, plus a few more numbers in the 1100s and the 1300s. They were Parker’s numbering systems to keep the different styles and colors straight for their dealers, but they were not part of a larger model numbering scheme, and they were not compatible with the other two schemes.
So instead I dug further into the repair lists. At first it seemed that the second series started with some repetitions of a few of the two-digit numbers in the first series. But if you add the number “1” in front of them, they fit into the 100s in the second scheme almost perfectly, and seem to partially bridge the gap. I say “almost” because there’s only one conflict, between the numbers 88 and 188, so the number “1” can’t be added in front.
The problem with a Grand Unification Theory is this crossover period of the Duofolds and the Vacs and the depression pens. I haven’t found any suitable, or compatible numbers with which to fill in this gap, and I can safely say the two major numbering schemes are not compatible and will never be reconciled. Since I first started the list, I have divided it permanently into two parts, the First Series, and the Second Series. The second series could also be called The Modern Numbers. This is an attempt to see whether I can put together a complete list of the numbers from 1 to 1000, a much expanded and revised version of the second series of Parker model numbers. This is just an interim list, and I have made many changes to it already, so remember that it might already be outdated and full of mistakes. Here is the second series.
Nib boxes
The Second Series.
01 Vacumatic Juniorette, lock-type filler, GF & chrome, & Lady Slender Vac, section & feed
03 Vacumatic Junior, lock-type filler, metal plunger
04 Vacumatic Junior Standard, lock-type filler, metal plunger, GF or chrome
05 Vacumatic Debutante, chrome blind cap band
09 Lady Slender Vacumatic, Juniorette, lock type, lock-type filler, GF or chrome clip
10 Lady Duofold streamlined pen, GF trim
30 Duofold Junior streamlined pen, GF trim
42 Vacumatic Senior Maxima, Junior, Juniorette, clip screw & bushing, GF blind cap band
45 Vacumatic Senior Maxima, Junior, chrome blind cap band
51 Vacumatic Major & Parker 51 clip jewel screw
70 Duofold Senior streamlined pen, GF trim
74 Vacumatic Major, Junior, Juniorette, Lady, Challenger, 51, lock-type filler, metal plunger
75 Vacumatic Juniorette, GF blind cap band
84 Vacumatic Senior Maxima pen, GF trim, lock-type filler, metal plunger
85 Vacumatic Senior Maxima pen, chrome trim, lock-type filler, & Vacumatic Junior blind cap
88 Vacumatic Junior with GF trim, lock-type filler, metal plunger
125 Lady Royal Challenger, Lady Deluxe Challenger, clip screw
182 Lady Royal Challenger, blind cap screw
183 Lady Royal Challenger, GF blind cap band
188 Lady Deluxe Challenger pen, GF and chrome trim
190 Junior Deluxe Challenger pen, GF and chrome trim
195 Imperial Vacumatic Major, Major Vac, Sacless Duofold, section, blind cap, clip
196 Vacumatic Major pen with GF trim, cap, clip, feed & tube assembly
197 Vacumatic Senior Maxima pen with GF trim, cap, clip, feed & tube assembly
198 Imperial Vacumatic Major pen with chrome trim, cap, clip
199 Vacumatic Major pen with chrome trim, cap, clip
200 Vacumatic Senior Maxima pen with chrome trim
214 Sections and blind caps, for various Lady Challengers and Lady Sac Duofolds
215 Sections, feeds, and blind caps, for various Jr. Challengers and Jr. Sac Duofolds
220 Vac Deb, Sub-Deb, GF trim, Imperial Vac Deb, Lady & Jr. Sacless Duofold, feed, section, cap
221 Vacumatic Debutante, or Sub-Debutante pens, GF trim [or 421 ?]
222 Vacumatic Debutante & Sub-Deb pen with chrome trim, Lustraloy cap, GF clip
223 Sub-Debutante pens, chrome trim
224 Junior Vacumatic, Junior Sacless Duofold, section, feed & tube assembly
235 Lady Royal Challenger pen, GF trim
236 Lady Royal Challenger pen, chrome trim
264 Lady Challenger pen, GF trim, Lady Sac Duofold, blind cap
265 Junior Challenger pen, GF trim, Junior Sac Duofold, barrel, blind cap
268 Lady Sac Duofold pen, GF trim
270 Junior Sac Duofold pen, GF trim
272 Lady Sac Duofold pen, chrome trim
273 Junior Sac Duofold pen, chrome trim
274 Junior Royal Challenger pen, chrome trim
276 Junior Royal Challenger pen, GF trim
292 Junior Challenger pen, chrome trim
293 Lady Challenger pen, chrome trim
295 Parker 51 Vac-Fil pen and pencil, Signet Type, cap, barrel, nib, feed, collector, shroud
299 Parker 51 Vac-Fil optional Lustraloy cap and clip
302 Parker 51 Vac-Fil pen and pencil, optional Signet GF cap and clip
303 Parker 51 Vac-Fil pen and pencil, optional ? GF cap and clip
305 Parker 51 Vac-Fil pen & pencil, Heirloom yellow gold cap, clip, blind cap band, pencil point
309 Junior Sac Duofold, section
316 Vacumatic, Vac-Fil Type 51 barrels, Sacless Duofold, extended-type filler, Lustraloy cap, clip
317 Parker 51 Vac-Fil pen and pencil, optional ? GF cap and clip
318 Parker 51 Vac-Fil optional lined green gold cap, clip, and pencil point
324 Parker 51 Vac-Fil pen and pencil, Lustraloy cap with GF clip
326 Parker 51 Vac-Fil pens and pencils, Lustraloy cap and clip
327 Parker 51 Vac-Fil Standard and Demi pens and pencils, Lustraloy clip
328 Parker 51 Vac-Fil pens and pencils, Regular GF cap and clip
330 Parker 51 Vac-Fil pen and pencil, Signet, Insignia, GF cap and clip, long arrow
331 Parker 51 Vac-Fil pen and pencil, Heritage, GF cap and clip, long arrow
333 Parker 51 Vac-Fil pen and pencil, with Regular lined GF cap
334 Parker 51 Vac-Fil pen and pencil, optional GF cap, groups of engraved lines
335 Parker 51 Vac-Fil pen and pencil, Signet GF cap
336 Parker 51 Vac-Fil pen and pencil, Heritage yellow and green gold cap
337 Parker 51 Vac-Fil pen and pencil, Heirloom yellow and green gold cap
341 Parker 51 Vac-Fil pen and pencil, Lustraloy cap with Lustraloy clip
343 Parker 51, Parker 51 Special inner cap, and VS barrel, blind cap, section, feed, etc.
347 Parker VS pen and pencil, Lustraloy cap and clip
348 Parker VS pen and pencil, Regular GF cap and clip
365 Parker 51 Vac Type, Vac-Fil desk pen barrel, and barrel taper, or “Magic Wand”
370 Imperial Vacumatic Major pen and pencil, GF cap and trim
384 Parker 51 Vac-Fil Lustraloy standard size
388 Parker 51 Vac-Fil pencil, Heirloom, yellow gold cap, clip
399 Junior Vacumatic pen and pencil, extended-type filler, chrome trim
400 Imperial Vac Debutante, 41, 51, 51 Special, VS, and 61, clip bushing, jewel screw
404 Vacumatic Sub-Debutante pens, extended-type filler, GF trim
405 Parker 51 pencils, Lustraloy clip
409 Sub-Debutante pens, extended-type filler, chrome trim
410 Televisor, Junior Vacumatic, Junior Sacless Duofold, extended-type filler, GF trim, cap, feed
411 Vacumatic Junior pen
421 Vacumatic Debutante GF clip [or 221 ?]
427 Eversharp “10,000” convertible pen, Octanium nib, feed, shell assembly, barrel, cap, filler
433 Imperial Vacumatic Debutante pen and pencil, LL pencil, GF cap and trim
435 Parker 51 pencil, continuous feed, rotary mechanism assembly
440 Lady Sacless Duofold pen and pencil, extended-type filler, GF trim
442 Junior Sacless Duofold pen and pencil, extended-type filler, GF trim
444 Lady Sacless Duofold pen and pencil, extended-type filler, GF trim
446 Junior Sacless Duofold pen and pencil, GF cap and clip
448 Major Sacless Duofold pencil, GF trim
449 Debutante Sacless Duofold pencil, GF trim
454 Junior Sac Duofold pen, GF trim
474 Parker 51 Vac-Fil pen and pencil, green gold cap and clip, blind cap band
480 Vacumatic Senior Maxima pencil, GF trim
481 Vacumatic Senior Maxima pencil, chrome trim
486 Vacumatic Debutante pencil, GF trim
487 Vacumatic Debutante pencil, chrome trim, Senior Maxima & Major pencils chrome point
490 Vacumatic Major pencil barrel
492 Vacumatic Sub-Deb pencil, GF trim
493 Vacumatic Sub-Deb pencil, chrome trim, Parker 61 pencil, bright Lustraloy cap, GF band
512 Lady Sac Duofold pen, GF trim, various Lady Challengers, feed
513 Junior Sac Duofold pen, GF trim, various Jr. Challengers, feed
515 Vacumatic Junior pencil, GF trim
516 Vacumatic Junior pencil, chrome trim
517 Vacumatic Major pencil, GF trim
518 Vacumatic Major pencil, chrome trim
560 Parkette pen, barrel, clutch ring, Lustraloy cap
562 Parkette Aero-metric filler
566 Parker 51 Demi, Vac Type, Vac-Fil pen and pencil, barrel
567 Parker 51 Demi Vac-Fil pen and pencil, regular GF cap and clip
568 Parker 51 Demi Vac-Fil pen and pencil, Satin Lustraloy cap and clip
570 Parker 51 pen and pencil, LL pencil, Signet, Insignia, GF, line-engraved caps, GF barrels
571 Parker 51 pen and pencil, LL pencil, Flighter, barrels, Satin Lustraloy cap with GF band
572 Parker 51 pen and pencil, LL pencil, Presidential barrels, 14K gold, non-engraved caps
573 Parker 21 pen and pencil, LL pencil, chrome plated clip, for 575
574 Parker 21 Deluxe, pen and pencil, Bright Lustraloy cap
575 Parker 21 Special, pen and pencil, LL pencil, Satin Lustraloy cap
576 Parker 21 Custom, pen and pencil, GF cap
582 Parker 51 pen and continuous feed pencil, GF standard clip
583 Parker 51 Standard and Demi, GF clip
586 Parker 51 Aero-metric pen, filling unit, clutch pencil mechanism, LL, barrels, various caps
587 Parker 51 pen and pencil, GF standard size cap, line-engraved
589 Parker 51 pen and pencil, Heritage, 14K gold, or GF caps
590 Parker 51 pen and pencil, Heirloom, 14K gold cap
591 Parker 51 Standard Type, Aero-metric desk pen barrel taper
596 Parker 51 Demi, 41, Aero-metric filling unit, pen and pencil, LL, Satin Lustraloy, chrome clip
597 Parker 51 Demi pen and pencil, GF line-engraved cap
599 Parker 51 Demi Vac-Fil pen and pencil, Heritage, GF cap and clip
600 Parker 51 Demi, pen and pencil, Heirloom, 14K gold cap, clip
601 Parker Super 21, 41, and 51 pens and rotary pencils, Demi size, Lustraloy cap, chrome clip
602 Cap-actuated Jotter ballpoint, retracting spring
607 Parker 21 Octanium open nib for 615 assembly, Parker 21 and 51 rotary pencil barrels
609 Parker 21, 41, Deb 51, pen & pencil, Aero-metric filler, LL pencil, rotary pencil mechanism
610 Parker 21 desk pen barrel taper
611 Parker 21 pencil Custom and Deluxe chrome plated cap screws
612 Parker 21 pen and pencil, standard, Satin Lustraloy caps without clips
615 Parker 21 Model 615, Parkette, sac assembly, inner cap, feed-and-shell assembly for 607
620 Button-actuated T-Ball Regular Jotter, & “V. I. P.” ballpoint, retracting spring, lined barrel
621 Parker 21 Custom Jotter ballpoint, Jotter Desk Pen, metal tip for plastic barrel
622 Parker 21 Jotter ballpoint, Jotter Desk Pen, Lustraloy cap
623 Parker 51 Deluxe Jotter ballpoint, Satin Lustraloy cap, barrel
624 Parker 51 Custom ballpoint, GF line-engraved cap
625 Parker 51 Demi, Vac Type, pen and pencil, Signet, Insignia, line-engraved cap
626 Parker 51 Special, Super 21, 41, Aero-metric, Octanium nib, rotary pencils, LL, Lustraloy cap
630 Parker 51 desk pen barrel, 51 Aero-metric, 51 Special
632 Parker 21 Standard Jotter ballpoint, Lustraloy cap
633 Parker LL pencil, 41, Regular, Demi 51 Standard, Deluxe, & Custom, barrel, barrel point, cap
635 Parker 51 Standard Jotter ballpoint, GF cap
636 Parker LL pencil, Deluxe & Custom, barrel point, cap
638 Parker LL pencil, Demi 51 Standard, Deluxe, & Custom, barrel & barrel point
639 Parker LL pencil, 21 Special, 51 Standard, 41, barrel & barrel point
641 Parker LL pencil, Demi 51 Deluxe, cap
645 Parker LL pencil, Special, cap
646 Parker LL pencil, Regular 51 Custom, GF cap
647 Parker LL pencil, Demi 51 Custom, GF cap
648 Parker LL pencil, Regular & Demi 51 Signet, barrel & barrel point
649 Parker LL pencil, Regular 51 Presidential, barrel
650 Parker LL pencil, Demi 51 Signet
651 Parker LL pencil, Regular 51 Flighter, barrel & barrel point
653 Parker 61 pen & pencil, chrome clips, cap clutch, feed, collector, ink cell, inner cap, 14K nib
659 Parker 61 Deluxe with Satin Lustraloy cap with GF band, shell with GF arrow
663 Parker 61 pencil, Lustraloy cap, GF clip, plastic barrels
664 Parker 61 pencil, Heritage with yellow GF & silver filled rainbow cap
665 Parker 61 pencil, Heirloom with pink & green gold rainbow cap
666 Parker 41, 45, 51, 51 Special, 61, International, rotary pencil mechanism, plastic barrel
668 Jotter Desk Pen, taper not drilled for chain
669 Parker 61 rotary pencil, Classic Satin Lustraloy cap without clip
671 Parker Jotter ballpoint, LL pencil, Lustraloy cap
673 Parker 41 and Super 21 pens Lustraloy caps, and Model 50 desk pen filler unit
674 Parker LL Desk Pencil, taper not drilled for chain
679 Parker 61 pen, Heritage with yellow GF & silver filled rainbow cap
680 Parker 61 pen, Heirloom with pink & green gold rainbow cap
684 Parker 51 desk pen, Model 50, bushing and barrel assembly
685 Jotter Desk Pen, taper drilled for chain
686 Parker LL Desk Pencil, taper drilled for chain
687 Parker 61 pen, Legacy with nickel and silver filled rainbow cap without clip
692 Parker 61 pen and pencil, Standard, Brite Lustraloy cap, GF band, shell with nickel arrow
693 Parker 41, 51, 61 continuous feed pencil points
695 Parker 61 rotary pencil, Heritage with yellow GF & silver filled rainbow cap
697 Parker 61 rotary pencil, Heirloom with pink & green gold rainbow cap
698 Parker 61 pen, Legacy with nickel and silver filled rainbow cap
699 Parker 41 pencil, Satin Lustraloy Demi size cap, chrome electroplated clip
701 Parker 51 pen and rotary pencil, Special with Lustraloy cap, chrome plated clip
702 Parker 51 pen and rotary pencil, standard Satin Lustraloy cap with GF band and chrome clip
703 Parker 51 pen and rotary pencil, GF standard cap, line-engraved
704 Parker 61 rotary pencil, Legacy with nickel and silver filled rainbow cap
705 Parker T-Ball Deluxe Jotter, and Super 21 Jotter ballpoint, Lustraloy cap and plastic barrel
712 Parker 51, International, & “V. I. P.”, ballpoint, Insignia, GF line-engraved cap
713 Parker 41 and Super 21 pen and pencils, Satin Lustraloy cap & chrome plated clips, fillers
717 Button-actuated T-Ball Jotter ballpoint, plastic barrel
718 All-metal cap-actuated Jotter, barrel assembly
721 Parker 41 Debutante, white enamelled caps
723 Parker 61 pen and rotary pencil, Classic with Satin Lustraloy cap
725 Parker 21, Super 21, and 51 Special continuous feed pencil mechanism and point, for 607
728 Parker 61 and International pen and rotary pencil, Presidential with 14K gold trim
729 Parker 61 pen and rotary pencil, Presidential and Insignia, black plastic shell with GF arrow
730 Parker 61 pen and rotary pencil, Insignia, and Custom, GF cap
731 Minim Jotter ballpoint, GF cap and plastic barrel
733 Minim Jotter ballpoint, 14K gold Insignia, GF non-engraved cap, barrel
734 T-Ball Jotter ballpoint, Lustraloy barrel
737 Minim Jotter ballpoint, 14K gold Presidential, non-engraved cap, barrel
746 Parker 45 pencil point, gold-plated, and Parker 45 desk pencil mechanism, plastic taper
747 Princess Jotter ballpoint, wavy-line engraved design other color lacquer cap, smooth barrel
748 Princess Ivy Jotter ballpoint, engraved design on black or white lacquered cap
749 Princess Jotter ballpoint, wavy-line engraved design on black lacquer cap
750 Princess Jotter ballpoint, line-and-drop engraved design other color lacquered cap & barrel
751 Princess Ivy Jotter ballpoint, bright-finish gold electroplated barrel
752 Princess Jotter ballpoint, line-and-drop engraved design on black lacquered cap & barrel
753 Debutante Jotter ballpoint, fish-scale engraved on colored lacquered cap, plastic barrel
754 “V. I. P.” pencil & ballpoint, Bright Lustraloy cap
755 “V. I. P.” pencil & ballpoint, GF cap, line-engraved, plastic barrel
756 “V. I. P.” pencil & ballpoint, Insignia GF cap, line-engraved
760 Parker 45 pen, Standard, Flighter Lustraloy caps, chrome clips, 14K nib units, mech. pencil
761 Parker 45 Flighter Lustraloy barrel with black plastic tip
770 Parker 61, Parker 45, International, “V. I. P.” pencil, ballpen, Flighter barrel, gold-plate clip
772 International and “V. I. P.” pencils & ballpoints, Presidential cap 14K non-engraved
779 Parker 61 pen and pencil, Jet Flighter, Lustraloy cap, black plastic shell with nickel arrow
780 Parker T-Ball Jotter ballpoint, Lustraloy cap
790 International and “V. I. P.” pencils & ballpoints, GF standard size cap, line-engraved
807 Parker 45 pencil, Insignia gold electroplated barrel
809 Eversharp Super E pens with Parker 45 steel nib units, pencil mechanism
811 Parker 45 pen and pencil, Insignia, and Custom, with gold-plated caps, clips, clip screws
812 Parker 45 Insignia gold-plated barrel with black plastic tip
840 Parker 19 with Parker 45 gold-plated nib units
George Kovalenko.
.