Vac Tool Suitable for Parker 51

[Paul Faber]

Well, I lost my head and won a bid on a button-fill Parker 51 on Ebay.
Normally I stick with the aeros, but this pen started out too cheap to pass
up...<g>. It needs a new diaphragm, therefore I need a source for tools or
repairs.

Over at Fountain Pen Hospital, they sell two sizes of Vac wrenches for $40
each. Which size tool is appropriate for a Parker 51 -- the standard
wrench, or the oversize wrench?

Does anyone know of a less-expensive source of Vac wrenches? The FPH
wrenches look fit for the ages -- whereas I expect to do one vac repair
every year or two.

Finally, if I lose my nerve and decide to send this thing out to a
professional for diaphragm replacement -- is there anyone who does such work
who is *not* backlogged for the next four months?

Thanks in advance for your replies,

- Paul Faber

[Fdu...@aol.com]

Paul Faber wrote:
> >
> > Well, I lost my head and won a bid on a button-fill Parker 51 on Ebay.
> > Normally I stick with the aeros, but this pen started out too cheap to pass
> > up...<g>. It needs a new diaphragm, therefore I need a source for tools or
> > repairs.
> >
> > Over at Fountain Pen Hospital, they sell two sizes of Vac wrenches for $40
> > each. Which size tool is appropriate for a Parker 51 -- the standard
> > wrench, or the oversize wrench?
> >
> > Does anyone know of a less-expensive source of Vac wrenches? The FPH
> > wrenches look fit for the ages -- whereas I expect to do one vac repair
> > every year or two.

There are many far cheaper tools, including making your own. But you
get what you pay for. Some cheaper tools won't work as well if the pen
filler is really stuck. The 51 is not an oversized pen, so the size
tool should be obvious. Most of the cheaper tools fit both sizes
anyhow. David Penn and Terry Koch both sell cheaper tools that are
reasonably well made. I don't have their addresses handy, however. PS I
assume you mean a Vac filler. There ARE button filler 51s, but they are
unbelivably rare--one of the rarest of all 51s. FD

[Martin Smith]

Printable information/order form for pen sacs and vacumatic
diaphragms. Orders shipped the next business day. Martin Smith

http://www.simcom.on.ca/woodbin

[Paul Faber]

Yup, I meant "vac fill." I was trying to distinguish between aerometric, 51
vac-fill, and the actual Vacumatic pen that the wrenches were originally
designed for.

Thanks for the tips on the tools.

>>>Paul Faber wrote:
>> >
>> > Well, I lost my head and won a bid on a button-fill Parker 51 on Ebay.

Fdu...@aol.com wrote in message <3986D0...@aol.com>...