Parker Vacumatic Fountain Pen. How to tell if its Gold?? Also a few silvers

[testing123]

Parker Vacumatic Fountain Pen. How to tell if it's Gold?? Also a few silvers

Finally getting around to posting finds from this weekend. Got out to a couple places. No chance of anything too old, but there was a chance for silver. Got two silver Washingtons and a silver Roosevelt. Also got a piece that may be silver. Just ordered a silver test kit off ebay.

Also got a Parker pen. After looking on ebay, it looks to be a Vacumatic Fountain Pen. Looking through, some of these look to be just gold plated, but others have some solid gold. If there a definite way to know for sure? The clip part looks solid on the outside, but underneath looks a little spotty. The band looks to be solid. The "nib" (I believe that's the pointy bottom thing that writes) looks solid gold, but the very tip is a white metal. I would say at least the band and nib are gold, but am a bit skeptical because it's not marked 14k, etc.

Some of these pens look to be worth a few bucks (not in dug condition). 1) Is it worth trying to have it restored? and 2) how can I know for sure if any of the components are solid gold?

HH all!

 

[Garrett424]

Cool finds.
I don't know anything about the materials in the pen but I like it.

 

[ATpro5]

It looks solid. I have my doubts though because its not marked. Only way to tell is to test it.

 

[dritland]

It looks solid. I have my doubts though because its not marked. Only way to tell is to test it.

I believe these nibs are 14k with little nodules of iridium on the writing tip for wear resistance. Don't scrap the nib, that one looks good and they will be worth much more than scrap value to someone who restores fountain pens. Getting the nibs re-tipped is not cheap. The rest of the metal is most likely gold filled.

Drew

 

[park pirate]

Nice finds...

 

[dirtlooter]

very cool, the pen just screams history and looks awesome. congrats on all

 

[jerseyben]

Only the nib is 14k, but it SHOULD be marked as such. The band and clip are not gold.

 

[Butter Hat]

I believe these nibs are 14k with little nodules of iridium on the writing tip for wear resistance. Don't scrap the nib, that one looks good and they will be worth much more than scrap value to someone who restores fountain pens. Getting the nibs re-tipped is not cheap. The rest of the metal is most likely gold filled.

Drew

Amen.

Testing123:

Absolutely DO NOT SCRAP IT. It looks to be in excellent condition.

I know people who will snap it up in an instant, unrestored, and then send it to their favorite restorer. Let me know if you want more info.

 

[antique man]

Nice finds!

 

[Pointman]

I found a half a fountain pen. It was broken, but the outside is marked Sterling, and the nib was marked gold. So you all are saying the nib is SOLID gold?

 

[testing123]

If I have someone do an acid test, that won't necessarily tell if its solid because all what would matter is what gets scraped off no? Is there a way to tell without cutting it? You'd think they would have just marked it

 

[Pointman]

If I have someone do an acid test, that won't necessarily tell if its solid because all what would matter is what gets scraped off no? Is there a way to tell without cutting it? You'd think they would have just marked it

Complete test kits have a small needle file for testing to see if the gold is solid. I have seen fountain pens go for a premium. Probably more than the gold weight. Unlike the pen I found which looks like it got hit by a mower, I would probably lean more toward just selling it like it is to a collector complete and not worry if it is solid gold.

 

[CoinandRelicMan]

Nice diggings there! That pen resembles one that I lost in a house fire, had forgotten about it, to bad it was in the house.

 

[testing123]

I will get it tested and let everyone know!

 

[Butter Hat]

Only the nib is 14k, but it SHOULD be marked as such. The band and clip are not gold.

Tried to pm you, says your inbox is full.