Part of George Parker’s genius was knowing the importance of the need to change. The button-filler pen was very successful for Parker, but he knew that eventually it would need to be replaced.

In 1927 a Professor at the University of Wisconsin was granted a patent for a new filling mechanism. Because he was both having difficulty perfecting it, and financial resources were tight, he offered the patent to Parker. Parker also had the foresight to hire a designer, Joseph Platt, who both assisted with the design of the pen to house the new filling mechanism, and designed Parker’s new arrow trademark. Parker worked with Dupont which developed the laminated celluloid for the pen, and Parker quickly patented the design. Five years and over $125,000 later (in 1925 dollars!) Parker had the filling mechanism perfected and the fascinating new pen ready to test market!

Parker Vacumatic Chronology

The Golden Arrow (1932) has a lockdown filler and came in one size and two colors: black; blue & silver laminated. It came with two or three cap bands, and with a clip or a ring-top. There was a demonstrator supplied, but not marketed.

The Vacuum Filler (1932-1933) has a lockdown filled and came in three models; the Top-Line consisted of the "Standard." The Bottom-Line consisted of the Junior and Sub-Junior. The Top-Line had a two-tone nib, the Bottom-Line a one-tone nib. Once again, there was a Demonstrator used to demonstrate the filling system.

The next several years brought a myriad of changes to the line, as well as some very confusing name changes.

1933 - Name changed to Vacumatic. The Standard, Junior and Sub-Junior were offered in Opaque Black, Opaque Burgundy and Opaque Grey. The Junior was also offered Crystal (clear barrel/black cap).

1934 - The Oversize was added in six models: Opaque & Transparent Black (with longitudinal Windows), Burgundy and Grey. The Slender was added in four models (no black models). The Junior was now offered in Crystal, Opaque Black, Transparent Burgundy, Transparent Black and a new color, Transparent Grey Marble. The Sub-Junior was replaced with the Junior Slender, in Opaque Black, Transparent Burgundy and Transparent Grey Marble. Thermometer Holder introduced in Grey Laminate.

1935 - In the Junior line, Crystal was replaced with Transparent Black (with longitudinal windows), while the Transparent Black was replaced with Transparent Laminated Black in the Top-Lines. All Vacumatics are now transparent. Green Laminated was added to the Oversize and Slender lines and Green Marble added to the Junior and Junior Slender lines.

1936 - The Senior was added, a slender version of the Oversize. It sported three cap bands, the middle one wider than the other two (produced for less than one year, it is quite rare today). Golden Laminated was added to the Oversize, Slender and Senior models. Black Reticular & Golden Web were added to the Junior and Junior Slender models.

1937 - All models except Standard, Slender, Junior and Juniorette were streamlined in shape. Lockdown mechanism replaced by the longer, Speedline aluminum mechanism. Oversize model replaced with the Senior Maxima – early models with the bands engraved "Vacumatic," later models with the "Herringbone" band. Senior (with un-equal bands) replaced with the Maxima, a slender version of the Senior Maxima. The Major was added.

1938 - All Marble colors were replaced by Shadow-wave colors (Black, Green, Brown, Red, Burgundy, Grey) in the Junior and Juniorette models. Black Reticular and Golden Web were also discontinued. The Junior Debutante, with "Chevron band" was added in all the Shadow-wave colors. This model introduced the "Split-Feather Clip" which had the name "Parker" running vertically through the feathers. Pens started appearing with a "Star" near the top of the clip. This was in answer to Sheaffer’s White Dot. The star was meant to be Parker’s symbol for a pen with a lifetime guarantee. Parker was turned down for a trademark so they switched to the "Blue Diamond." After the switch, the remaining stock of star clips were used on pens sold in military PXs

1939 - All remaining models were fitted with the new "Split Feather Clip." All remaining models were streamlined in shape. The Junior Debutante was renamed Sub-Debutante and the band changed to narrow and plain. A Luxury Line was added with 14K trim, caps and or barrels. Striped Duofold introduced in three sizes and four models. Double jeweled extra-wide jewelers band with indicia for engraving introduced to the Sub-Debutante, Slender Maxima, Sr. Maxima and Shadow Wave models. Sections became black on all U.S. manufactured models (were always black on all Canadian manufactured models).

1940 - The Slender models were discontinued and replaced with the reintroduction of the Debutante in Laminated Plastic and with Blue Diamond clip. The Standard model was discontinued and replaced with the Major. The Maxima was renamed Slender Maxima. The Shadow-wave colors were discontinued and replaced by the colored laminates (except Burgundy).

1941 - Blue Laminate added. Burgundy Laminate discontinued. Senior Maxima renamed Maxima Mark II. Some of the Luxury Line was discontinued. Double jeweled extra-wide jewelers band models discontinued.

1942 - Aluminum Speedline filler replaced with the plastic mechanism (aluminum needed for the war effort). Blind caps rounded and tassies and jewels eliminated. The cap band of the Maxima and Slender Maxima were narrowed to the same width as the Major. The Major and Slender Maxima now looked identical from the outside (the Slender Maxima nib and feed were still larger and two-tone), so the Major was shortened, so it could be distinguished from the Slender Maxima. Striped Duofolds discontinued.