Pen Resurrection Ep 59 - 1938 Parker Royal Challenger Part ONE
TLDRIn this episode of Pen Resurrection, Doug revives a 1938 Canadian-made Parker Royal Challenger, a sentimental piece with a rich history belonging to Lori's father, Murray. The pen, initially purchased to encourage wartime correspondence, was thought to be beyond repair due to severe damage. However, through meticulous restoration efforts, including straightening the mangled nib and polishing the tarnished gold, Doug successfully brings the pen back to life, ready for Lori to use in writing with her father's cherished fountain pen once again.
Takeaways
- 📜 The video discusses the restoration of a 1938 Parker Royal Challenger fountain pen.
- 🇨🇦 The pen is of Canadian origin and was used by Lori Armstrong Pettet's father, Murray Sherwood, during World War II.
- 💌 Murray's mother gifted him the pen to encourage letter writing to his family while overseas.
- 🌍 Murray was deployed from Toronto, Canada to England and then to Holland, where he used the pen to write home.
- 🔥 The pen survived a family farm fire and was kept as a memento by Lori after her father's passing.
- 🛠️ The pen was in a severely damaged state with a mangled nib and tarnished gold clip when it was received for restoration.
- 🔄 The restoration process involved cleaning, straightening the nib, and polishing the pen's components.
- 💡 Despite the initial doubts, the pen was successfully restored to a writing condition with a smooth and wet line.
- 🎥 The pen's final restoration and first writing test with Lori will be featured in a follow-up video.
- 🏆 The video highlights the historical and sentimental value of the pen, emphasizing its importance beyond mere physical restoration.
Q & A
What is the title of the video and in how many parts will the story of the Parker Royal Challenger be divided?
-The title of the video is 'Pen Resurrection Ep 59 - 1938 Parker Royal Challenger Part ONE', and the story of the Parker Royal Challenger will be divided into two parts.
Who loaned the Parker Royal Challenger to Doug for the purpose of resurrection?
-The Parker Royal Challenger was loaned to Doug by his good friend Lori Armstrong Pette.
What was the original purpose of the Parker Royal Challenger purchased by Murray Sherwood's mother?
-Murray Sherwood's mother purchased the Parker Royal Challenger to encourage her son to write letters back to his family while he was overseas during the war.
Where was Murray Sherwood deployed during the war?
-Murray Anderson was deployed from Toronto, Canada to England and then to the European theater, specifically Holland.
How did the Parker Royal Challenger return to Canada after the war?
-Murray returned from the war and brought the pen with him sometime in the 1950s.
What happened to the Parker Royal Challenger while Murray was visiting his brother at the family farm?
-The Parker Royal Challenger was damaged while Murray was visiting his brother at the family farm, and he threw it in the garbage.
How did the Parker Royal Challenger end up in Lori's possession?
-After Murray's death, when Lori was 11, her uncle gave her the Parker Royal Challenger as a memento of her father.
What was the condition of the Parker Royal Challenger's nib when Doug received it for restoration?
-The nib was horribly mangled and bent when Doug received it for restoration.
What was the date code on the nib of the Parker Royal Challenger, and what does Doug initially guess it to mean?
-The date code on the nib was '18', and Doug initially guesses it to mean the nib is from the first quarter of 1948.
What was the final result of Doug's efforts to restore the Parker Royal Challenger?
-Doug was able to restore the Parker Royal Challenger, making it write again with a wet, smooth line, despite the initial doubts due to the pen's damaged condition.
Outlines
🎤 Introduction to the Parker Royal Challenger Restoration
The video begins with an introduction to the Parker Royal Challenger pen, a Canadian-made piece from 1938. The pen's history is tied to the late Murray Sherwood, a World War II veteran who used it to write letters home. The pen was damaged and discarded but later retrieved and kept as a memento by his daughter, Lori Armstrong Pette. The script outlines the restoration process of the pen, emphasizing the importance of its story and the challenge of bringing it back to life.
🔍 Close Examination of the Parker Pen
The script details a close examination of the Parker pen, noting its tarnished clip, scratches from years of use, and deep engravings of initials. The pen is identified as a Canadian-made Parker Challenger, with the nib revealing a possible 1948 date code. The condition of the pen is assessed, including the tarnished button, good threads, and the need to clean and restore the pen's parts. The focus is on the pen's history and the potential for restoration.
🛠️ The Restoration Process Begins
The script outlines the initial steps of the restoration process, including cleaning the pen's parts using an ultrasonic bath and addressing the damaged nib. The goal is to straighten and flatten the nib, potentially transforming it into a stub. The pen's feed and section are also discussed, with plans to clean and reshape them. The importance of careful handling to avoid further damage is emphasized, as well as the anticipation of challenges in the restoration process.
💼 Straightening and Aligning the Nib
This section of the script describes the meticulous work of straightening and aligning the nib, which has been damaged and misshapen over time. The process involves using a burnishing tool and a block for nib shaping to flatten and realign the nib. The script also discusses the decision to remove the damaged tip of the nib and the techniques used to bring the nib back into a functional state. The aim is to create a smooth, writable stub that honors the pen's history.
📜 Polishing and Finishing the Nib
The script details the final stages of nib restoration, including polishing the nib to achieve a smooth, writing surface. The process involves using various grits of micromesh to grind and smooth the nib, followed by polishing compounds. The goal is to achieve a nib that writes smoothly and reliably, despite its previous damage. The script also discusses the pen's pressure bar and the importance of cleaning and restoring its original functionality.
🖋️ The Pen's Resurrection and Testing
The script describes the successful resurrection of the Parker pen, with the nib now writing smoothly and wetly, despite its previously damaged state. The pen's restoration is celebrated, with the script highlighting the pen's improved appearance and functionality. The anticipation of the pen's return to Lori and her reaction is also discussed, adding a personal touch to the restoration process.
🎁 Final Polish and Anticipating the Pen's Return
The script concludes with the final polishing of the pen's exterior and the anticipation of the pen's return to Lori. The pen's hardware is shined, the barrel is sanded and polished, and the pen is reassembled with care. The script reflects on the satisfaction of restoring the pen and the joy it will bring to Lori upon its return. The video's closing remarks thank the viewers for their interest and participation in the pen's resurrection story.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Parker Royal Challenger
💡Resurrection
💡Murray Sherwood
💡Restoration
💡Nib
💡Button Filler
💡Lori Armstrong Pette
💡World War II
💡Ebonite
💡Ultrasonic Bath
💡Nib Burnisher
Highlights
Doug embarks on the challenging resurrection of a 1938 Parker Royal Challenger fountain pen, a valuable heirloom loaned by Lori Armstrong.
The pen's rich history is revealed: a gift from Murray Armstrong's mother to encourage letter writing during his military service in WWII.
The emotional tale of Lori's father, Murray, using the pen to write home from the European theater during the war, adding sentimental value to the restoration.
A heartwarming family story emerges as Lori recalls a lesson from her father about the importance of empathy, sparked by a childhood memory.
The pen's journey continues as it narrowly escapes destruction, first by being salvaged from the trash and later surviving a fire that consumed the family farm.
Doug examines the pen's extensive damage, setting the stage for a challenging restoration with no guarantee of success.
Initial assessments reveal a mangled nib and tarnished components, highlighting the pen's poor condition and the daunting task ahead.
Doug's meticulous approach to the restoration process includes detailed analysis of the pen's components and a strategic plan to revive it.
Innovative repair techniques are utilized, including the use of a burnishing tool and a unique method to straighten and reshape the nib.
Doug faces a critical decision in the restoration: to cut the damaged nib and transform it into a stub, a risky move that could make or break the project.
Against all odds, the pen begins to write again, marking a significant turning point in the restoration and a testament to Doug's skill.
The restoration's final stages involve polishing and reassembling the pen, with Doug taking extra care to preserve its historical and sentimental value.
Lori's reaction to the restored pen is eagerly anticipated, setting the stage for an emotional reunion with her father's cherished possession.
The episode concludes with a preview of the pen's return to Lori, promising viewers an emotionally charged finale to this remarkable restoration journey.
Doug reflects on the transformation of the Parker Royal Challenger, emphasizing the importance of preserving history and memories through objects like pens.