[rhr]

Matt McColm posted the URL for Bill Acker's 1960 Parker Repair Parts Price List in another thread, but here it is again.

http://www.billspens...l/1960parts.htm

My first thread on L&P, "Vintage Pen Repair Tools, 1", 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". The 1960 Parker parts list is also full of the same parts numbers that I mentioned in my first thread.

These Parker parts numbers usually take the form XXX-XXX, two three-digit numbers separated by a dash. I figured out that the first three-digit number stands for the pen model, and the second three-digit number stands 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. The earliest model number I could find was 221 for the Vac, but later models got their own numbers, such as 411, also for the Vac, and 343, 601, and 626, also for the Parker 51, and so on. Here's a short list.

221, Vacumatics
295, Parker 51
410, Televisor
411, Jr. Vac
576, Parker 21 pencil
607, Parker 21
620, Jotter ballpoint
626, Parker Super 21
653, Parker 61
673, Parker 41
760, Parker 45
809, Parker 19

It's really unfortunate, but the online images that Bill Acker chose to scan do not include the last pages of the parts list. If you click on the "Index" page, you'll see a section at the end called a "Progressive Number Listing Of Parts, Appendix". It would be really interesting to put together a complete list of these Parker model numbers.

Now, here's the question and the challenge. Has anyone found any Parker model numbers earlier than 221, any numbers in the 100s, or earlier? Or has anyone found any Parker parts lists from the earlier years? What is really enticing is the possibility that this numbering system may have continued on from the early numbering system used by Parker from the beginning of its history. So, the 37 and 38 were the sterling and gold-filled Snakes, and the 47 was the so-called Pregnant Parker, and the 52, 53 were the Swastikas, and the 57, 58, and 59 were the Awanyu Aztecs, and the 100 was the double-ended Bookkeeper's pen. And maybe the Duofolds were somewhere in the mid-100s, and maybe the Vacs started somewhere in the late-100s and early 200s. Let's put together a complete list from A to Z.

George Kovalenko.

[rhr]

Looking at the listings in the "PCA Library", I noticed that they also had the Repair Parts List for 1937, as well as those for 1939, 1942, 1944, 1948, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1969, and 1980. Does anyone have copies of these as well? There should be a lot more Parker model numbers to glean from these lists. Are there any takers?

George Kovalenko.

[John Danza]

I have a price list of parts that came in a box with the original pen. Based on the models noted and the pens advertised on the back side, I would guess that this is from about 1910. I'm basing the date on the pens advertised and that it notes the cost of replacement barrels for Red Giants but not for Black Giants, so it must predate the introduction of the Black Giant after the Red Giant barrels started failing due to breakage.

Anyway, there are no part numbers listed anywhere on the list. It only lists the name of the parts and the model number of the pens (mostly Jack Knife Safety series) that the parts are for. Please see the link below for shots of this list. If the image is too small, hover your pointer above the image and you should get an icon for expanding the image on your screen.

Also, I have a copy of the Parker 1921 catalog from Bill Acker. It also shows no model numbers on the replacement parts, just the names (barrel, nib, etc.).

Sorry this doesn't get you much farther in your quest George. Or maybe it does timebox when the model numbers started to be used, since the list is of the same period when the Snakes and Aztecs were in the product line.

All the best,
John

http://img302.images...eetfrontzf8.jpg

http://img348.images...heetbackia6.jpg

[rhr]

Actually, John, your price list does get us much farther. Thanks for posting it. It just might help to explain why they didn't have a #2 pen model. It was a used for a "Parker Travelers' Fountain Pen Ink". I prepared a list of early numbers, and until now, #2 was listed as "number not used?".

Okay, let me start the ball rolling with the style or model numbers I have found so far. Does anyone else have any others, or any corrections to the following list?

George Kovalenko.




Parker Model And Style Numbers
...
[snip]

-- removed for updating, Sept 24, 2007, replaced as a new post further down in this thread --

[hjorten]

....
Sorry this doesn't get you much farther in your quest George. Or maybe it does timebox when the model numbers started to be used, since the list is of the same period when the Snakes and Aztecs were in the product line.

All the best,
John

http://img302.images...eetfrontzf8.jpg

http://img348.images...heetbackia6.jpg

Hi John and George,
the reason for not listing the part numbers, could it be because it was a list for customer use? Resellers and servicemen use the part numbers but when you want to inform a customer you use the name of the part instead.

The only I can ad to your list George, is that 20, 21, 24, and 51 all have "New Parker Patent Clip, held in place like a washer" in an 1918 ad.

No. 30 is 18kt and "Most beautiful pen ever made"
No. 021 is "Practically same as No. 020, with addition of gould bands and a size larger gold pen"
All according to a 1901 ad.

/Olle

[John Danza]

Wow George, what a great list! It's going to be really handy to keep track of for future use.

I would like to add a couple of items. I'm assuming that the list of early Parker numbers would include all models pre-Duofold. Under that assumption, there are a number of additional models to add to the list. In the copy of the 1921 catalog I referred to earlier, there are quite a few models above 64. They appear to be primarily the same size as the BHR Jack Knife models but with various levels of gold filled trim, decoration, and overlay. Check the scans at the links below. In the same catalog, it lists a variety of the Duette pen and pencil sets with model numbers in the 2xx, 4xx, and 5xx series numbers.

Thanks again for the great research.

John

http://img197.images...catalog1ub0.jpg

http://img238.images...catalog2mp0.jpg

http://img238.images...catalog3kq0.jpg

http://img197.images...catalog4om4.jpg

http://img197.images...catalog5lu0.jpg

[rhr]

Thanks guys, I incorporated your additions and corrections into the number list. I'm trying to keep each entry down to one line in my original MSWord file, so it's quite a challenge. And thanks for the great new scans, John. It got me looking at the 1992 PFC price guide again, and then I realized where Cliff Lawrence had lifted all those cuts. All the numbers in your scans are there. Also, I realized that the filling system, and size, and type of cap didn't matter to the number, so it wasn't really a model number, but more like a style, or finish number. What I'd really like to find are the Duofold and Vacumatic model or style numbers, if there are any such numbers. I don't know whether the numbering system lasted that long. The style numbers were even used for pencils. So taking all that into account, I went back and changed the title of the thread, and of the number list.

George Kovalenko.

[rhr]

Well, I'm almost ready to post my revised and expanded "Parker Model And Style Numbers" list here and at the FPC, but I still need a few more to complete it. I have most of the first 100 Parker model numbers, but I'm still missing numbers 68, 69, 70, 76, 77, 78, 79, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 93, 94, and 97. I'm also missing most of the 100's, 200's, 300's and 400's, but I've lately filled in a lot of the 500's to 800's. Can anyone help to fill in some of these missing numbers before I post my list?

George Kovalenko.

[John Danza]

Hi George,

Thanks very much for resurrecting this thread. I've attached a scan of a page from the 1918 Parker catalog that shows the model 70. It's a small pen that has a telescoping barrel to make the pen larger when in use. It's a total gold-filled overlay. If you have the F&S book, there's a color picture of it on page 106 of the second edition.

I've also noticed that there's a number of pens and pencils in the 100 through 500 list in the 1921 catalog, a copy of which I have from Bill Acker. If you can re-post your list, I'll see if any of these are missing and post their description.

All the best,
John

[Rob Astyk]

Hi, George, John, et al.,

I don't have the post saved anywhere but I believe that 5 or 6 years ago Michael Fultz posted a message on the Zoss List regarding his search for "missing" Parker model numbers. In that message he listed a very few model numbers for which he was still searching that had been used at least once (Parker did recycle model numbers) and, significantly, had decided that Parker never used several potential model numbers.

I wish I could quote the post to you. I'm sorry I can't be more helpful.

Take care,

Rob Astyk

[rhr]

Thanks, John and Rob.

One more number bites the dust. I noticed that catalogue on Bill Acker's website. I'll have to get a copy of that catalogue for my library and save you the bother of looking through it for me. It seems like it might be a very promising one. I will also have to get some more of those Repair Parts Price Lists in the PCA library, especially the 1937 price list.

I seem to vaguely remember that post by Fultz on Zoss as well, now that you remind me. But as I recall, he mentioned such numbers as 2, 13, 17, 19, 22, and 29 not being used. I don't recall any higher numbers that weren't used, but there may be some.

I'll repost the list soon, but at the end of the thread.

George Kovalenko.

[John Danza]

I know that there are some Lucky Curves around with a "22" on their blind cap, but I don't own one. The ones I've seen on eBay were not marked Jack Knife Safety, so I think they were from the early 20s after the JKS went away.

Fultz is still floating around should you want to ping him for the information he originally posted. His email address is fultzpens@aol.com.

George, if you don't get the Bill Acker catalog, I can scan some pages for you. I don't want to get sideways with Bill however on that.

All the best,
John

[rhr]

John,

Let me know if you ever find a picture of a #22 again.
I am already corresponding with Fultz on this topic, but thanks anyway.
That's okay, John. I'll get a copy of the Bill Acker catalog. I don't want you to "get sideways with Bill on that".

George.

[rhr]

Parker Model And Style Numbers List

In the early period, the numbers seemed to have referred to one model, but with many styles allowed within that number, and later there were many style numbers for one model. Therefore I have taken to calling them "Model And Style Numbers". You'll see what I mean when you look at the updated list.

The years I still need to fill in are the 1920s and 30s, but I'll take anything from the 40s and 50s as well. It all helps for cross-checking purposes. For instance, the 1960 repair parts manual still has some parts for Vacs listed because they were re-used on the early models of 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. I'd also like to see what numbers were used for the Parker 75, and I'm also curious to find out when the numbering system petered out and was discontinued.

This is just an interim list, and I have made changes to it already. So remember, it is already outdated and full of mistakes. ;~)

George Kovalenko.

[rhr]

I've also noticed that there's a number of pens and pencils...in the 1921 catalog, a copy of which I have from Bill Acker.

John, thanks for the heads up on the 1921 Parker catalogue. I've taken a look at it recently, and you're right. It seems to be the same as the one that Bill has on his website, but now called a 1923 catalogue. Bill is to be commended for performing this great service of offering all these great catalogues on his website, and inadvertently furthering the cause of pen research. Here's the link to the catalogue on his website.

http://billspens.com...21catalogss.htm

However, let's look further at the issue of the date of the catalogue. There is no date on the cover, or in the introductory section. The only clue there is the mention in the "Foreward" of the "brand new" 5-story building completed in 1921. Hence, most probably, the first, lower date proposed for the catalogue. Most of the pens illustrated are bhr and bchr Jack Knife Safeties with washer clips, but the catalogue also includes the newly released Duofold, the only splash of color in the whole thing, along with the pages of gold overlay pens and pencils, and the blue box for the Duette pen and pencil sets. The De Luxe Duofold with it's wide cap band, released in late 1922, or early 1923, is the other clue, which probably supplied the second, upper date proposed for the catalogue. But let's see whether those dates can be fine-tuned a bit perhaps.

I will be referring to the list of ads at the end of my article on the Duofold, on the "Lion & Pen" homepage.

http://www.lionandpe...peianBrown.html

The first clue is that the Duofold listing in the catalogue is almost exactly the same as the "Second Series" ad from the Chicago Tribune dated Mar 27, 1922, the one with the ad line, "A 25 Year Pen". The only difference is that the Tribune ad also uses the line, "Handsomer then gold", and I agree, because that's the way I feel about red hard rubber, too.

The second clue is on the second Duofold page with the De Luxe Duofolds. The first Saturday Evening Post ad to feature the De Luxe is the one in the Dec 16, 1922 issue. The next type of cap band, the narrower band that was referred to as the "Gold Girdle", didn't appear until the Post ads of Aug 25 and Sept 22, 1923.

The third clue is on the third page of Duofolds, which says that the "Duofold family is now complete" with the inclusion of the Jr. and Lady Duofolds. The first ad to mention the Jr. and Lady is the Apr 10, 1922 Tribune ad.

The fourth clue is the use of the Scarlet Tanager image on the first Duofold page, although it doesn't yet have the slogan, "Rivals the beauty of the black-tipped redbird", and later "Rivals the beauty of the Scarlet Tanager". The first Tribune ad to have both image and slogan dates to Apr 3, 1922, and the Tanager first appears in the Mar 30, 1922 ad, although separately from the slogan, which is incorporated in a slightly different form into the main ad copy.

Now, putting all of this together, the 1923 date for the catalogue sounds like the most probable one. But it all depends upon whether the ad content appeared first in the Tribune, or in the catalogue, and whether there was any appreciable lag time between the two uses of the ad content. If the catalogue preceded the Tribune ads, then the catalogue might date to some time late in 1922. If all the ads appeared first, before the catalogue was released, then the catalogue might indeed date to early 1923.

And what do I think? I tend toward a 1922 date, because I would like to think that the dealer catalogue would have preceded the advertising to the public. But the catalogues might have been developed a little later and their delivery might have been delayed, in which case the date is early 1923. It might be the first Parker catalogue to include the Duofold.

George Kovalenko.




P.S. Oh, and by the way, I'll look through the catalogue and see what other Parker numbers I can find. ;~)

[John Danza]

That's great research George. I agree with you that 1922 or 1923 is a more likely date than 1921. It does indicate that the Jack Knife Safety models were still the mainstay of the Parker line as late as that date, which surprises me. I was under the impression (from where I don't know) that the JKS markings were gone after 1921 and the caps became unmarked. In addition, the only large pens available would have been the Duofolds. Clearly this is incorrect and the JKS line was a major contributor to Parker revenue as late as 1923.

Thanks for the insight.

John

[rhr]

By the way, John, the first Duofolds are distinguished by also having the "Jack Knife Safety" imprint on the cap. I have even seen rhr Duofold "Specials" with bandless caps that have the imprint. The earliest Duofolds also have the raised Jack Knife Safety, or Lucky Curve threads, or whatever you want to call them. The production Duofolds have barrel threads that are flush, or continuous with the rest of the barrel.

George Kovalenko.

[Derekl]

[font=Verdana]
I haven't had time to digest this wealth of information. Just an note that I have a photocopy, which I'm sure others have, of a hand-dated - August 1911 Parker page announcing the Awanyu No. 40 available in full-covered sterling and gold-filled.

Another page, dated December 1911 shows these as No's. 59 & 60 as noted in George's list.

Cheers,
Derek

[Derekl]

This may be of interest:

1929
Note: Color descriptions as in catalog.

133 - Duofold Pearl & Ebony flat-top Jr. 3 cap bands.
633 - Duofold Pearl & Ebony Jr. pencil.
137 - Duofold Pearl & Ebony flat-top Snr. 3 cap bands.
637 - Duofold Pearl & Ebony Snr. pencil.
132 - Duofold Pearl & Ebony flat-top Lady ring-top pen 3 cap bands.
632 - Duofold Pearl & Ebony Lady pencil with ring-top.

3 - Duofold Black-tipped Lacquer-Red, flat-top Jr., 2 cap bands.
73 - Duofold Black-tipped Lacquer-Red, Jr. pencil.
7 - Duofold Black-tipped Lacquer-Red, flat top Snr. 2 cap bands.
77 - Duofold Black-tipped Lacquer-Red Snr. pencil.
2 - Duofold Black-tipped Lacquer-Red, Lady flat-top, 3 cap bands with ring-top.
1 - Duofold Black-tipped Lacquer-Red, Lady flat-top, 3 cap bands, clip.
72 - Duofold Black-tipped Lacquer-Red, Lady pencil, ring-top.
71 - Duofold Black-tipped Lacquer-Red, Lady pencil, clip.

103 - Duofold Black-Tipped Green Jade, flat-top Jr., 2 cap bands.
173 - Duofold Black-Tipped Green Jade, Jr. pencil.
107 - Duofold Black-Tipped Green Jade, flat-top Snr., 2 cap bands.
177 - Duofold Black-Tipped Green Jade, Snr. pencil.
102 - Duofold Black-Tipped Green Jade, flat-top Lady Jr., 3 cap bands, ring-top.
101 - Duofold Black-Tipped Green Jade, flat-top Lady Jr., 3 cap bands, clip.
172 - Duofold Black-Tipped Green Jade, Jr. pencil, ring-top.
171 - Duofold Black-Tipped Green Jade, Jr. pencil, clip.

113 - Duofold Black-Tipped Lapis Lazuli, flat-top Jr., 2 cap bands.
183 - Duofold Black-Tipped Lapis Lazuli, pencil.
117 - Duofold Black-Tipped Lapis Lazuli, flat-top Snr., 2 cap bands.
187 - Duofold Black-Tipped Lapis Lazuli, Sr. pencil.
112 - Duofold Black-Tipped Lapis Lazuli, Lady, 3 cap bands, ring-top.
111 - Duofold Black-Tipped Lapis Lazuli, Lady, 3 cap bands, clip.
182 - Duofold Black-Tipped Lapis Lazuli, Lady pencil, ring-top.
181 - Duofold Black-Tipped Lapis Lazuli, Lady pencil, clip.

123 - Duofold Imperial Mandarin Yellow - Black Tipped, flat-top Jr., 2 cap bands.
193 - Duofold Imperial Mandarin Yellow - Black Tipped, Jnr. pencil.
127 - Duofold Imperial Mandarin Yellow - Black Tipped, Snr., 2 cap bands.
197 - Duofold Imperial Mandarin Yellow - Black Tipped, Snr. pencil.
122 - Duofold Imperial Mandarin Yellow - Black Tipped, Lady, 3 cap bands, ring-top.
121 - Duofold Imperial Mandarin Yellow - Black Tipped, Lady, 3 cap bands, clip.
192 - Duofold Imperial Mandarin Yellow - Black Tipped, Lady pencil, ring-top.
191 - Duofold Imperial Mandarin Yellow - Black Tipped, Lady pencil, clip.

13 - Duofold Flashing Black and Gold, flat-top Jr., 2 cap bands. (Black pens, gold trim)
83 - Duofold Flashing Black and Gold, Jnr. pencil.
17 - Duofold Flashing Black and Gold, flat-top Snr., 2 cap bands.
87 - Duofold Flashing Black and Gold, Snr. pencil.
12 - Duofold Flashing Black and Gold, Lady, 3 cap bands, ring-top.
11 - Duofold Flashing Black and Gold, Lady, 3 cap bands, clip.
82 - Duofold Flashing Black and Gold, Lady pencil, ring-top.
81 - Duofold Flashing Black and Gold, Lady pencil, clip.

702 - "Three-Fifty" in Modernistic Blue (generally known as True Blue) Lady pencil, ring-top.
202 - "Three-Fifty" Lady flat-top pen, 2 cap bands, ring-top.
208 - "Three-Fifty" pen, flat-top, 2 cap bands, clip.
701 - "Three-Fifty" Jr. pencil, clip.

Black pens, gold trim, Lucky Curve imprints, barrels & nibs.
(Depression-Line pens, $2.75 no cap bands, $3.50 with cap bands)
39 - (Duofold Jr. size) Black pen, gold trim, flat-top, 2 cap bands, #2 nib.
38 - Black pen, gold trim, Lady pen, 2 cap bands, ring-top, #2 nib.
41 - (Duofold Special - slim size) Black pen, gold trim, flat-top, 2 cap bands, #3 nib.
25 - (Duofold Jr. size) Black pen, flat-top, no cap bands, clip, #2 nib.
24 - Black pen, gold trim, Lady, flat-top, no cap bands, ring-top, #2 nib.
27 - (Duofold Special - slim size) Black pen, flat-top, no cap bands, clip, #2 nib.

[Rob Astyk]

Hi, Derek,

Thank you for the useful additions and confirmations.

Take care,

Rob Astyk