Eddie’s Heirloom

The following story is not unusual, but it is remarkable and really for me, the most treasured part of my hobby. It is grace. It is the feeling that I am actually doing something seemingly so small, that really matters to a fellow traveller on this blue marbles’ endless dance around the Sun.

Eddie Wong saw an ad online for some Parker “51” fountain pens for sale, and as he had destroyed his Parker 61 capillary (the following photos may be disturbing) trying to make it work, he thought to reach out and ask if I knew anything about them. We commiserated for a bit, and he decided to bring a couple pens in for assessment.

The story he told of the second pen, is worthy of remembrance. A standard size burgundy pearl 1954 Canadian Vacumatic with what appeared to be extensive Chinese character imprints.

A few years before his father passed, Eddie’s father directed him to locate a locked box of personal items in a desk drawer. Eddie had never seen the inside of this box, but his father asked him to take out the fountain pen and to keep it as a treasured item. I asked Eddie about the engraving, and he described it as: (laughingly) “It says Mister (oh, very formal), and my fathers name, then 1955, and then my mothers name” This was two years before they married in Hong Kong”.

After replacing the broken pump, cleaning and polishing this treasured piece, I filled the fine imprint with silver enamel. I sent a note to Eddie when it was finished and he was so excited to see the resurrected pen, he raced over on his lunch break. He did not even have time for coffee, but so pleased with this heirloom; he was glowing.

This was not a singular experience, but it was a treasure to be a part of. I hope to restore many more treasures. Maybe yours.