This week's batch of vintage pens features a diverse assortment of Watermans from the 1900s through the 1940s. Each of the major hard rubber variants from this company is represented here: mottled red, red Ripple, black chased, and Cardinal. Also included are a couple of particularly striking celluloids of more recent vintage. Nibs in this group are exceptionally expressive, ranging from Flex to Superflex, and generally on the finer side (XXF-F). As always, all pens are fully restored and ready to write.
Pastable link: https://imgur.com/a/NgTJgRx
Condition (n.b.): All pens listed below have been disassembled, cleaned and restored in the last couple weeks with new sacs installed in the lever fillers and threads greased on the eyedropper. Each is guaranteed to fill and write as designed without leaks or other issues. Nibs have been adjusted when necessary to ensure that all lay down a smooth and consistent line.
These pens have no cracks (except #7), chips, personal engravings (except #3 and #7), missing parts, bent nibs, misaligned tines, or threading issues.
Line Widths and Writing Samples: To provide buyers with as much information as possible, I have started to adopt the following line width standards: XXF (.1-.2mm); XF (approx .3mm); F (approx .4mm); M (approx .6mm); B (approx .8mm). These as well as line widths under full flex are measured with a digital caliper but should be considered approximations providing a general guide: width may vary slightly depending on type of ink and paper used as well as amount of pressure applied. All writing samples are on Rhodia dot paper using Waterman Serenity Blue or Pelikan Edelstein Smoky Quartz.
1. c.1904-10 Waterman No. 12 MHR Eyedropper (mottled red and black hard rubber, eyedropper filler, 14k XF Flex/Superflex nib). Measures a hair under 5 1/4" capped. For years I hunted one of these until I landed no less than 3 within the span of a year. I couldn't justify keeping all three, so I'm holding on to my 1890s and clipped models and letting go of the one with the nicest color. The fiery red and black mottled hard rubber (MHR) is especially eye-catching on this early example, whose 2 line globe imprint dates it to the first decade of the 20th century. This pen came clipless from the factory at a time when clips were an optional item that added to the cost of the pen (no holes have been drilled for a clip in the cap). Buyer may purchase this pen clipless for the listed price or add a plain nickel-plated accommodation clip for the price of $10. Waterman's slip-cap pens do not have barrel threads. Instead, their caps lock onto the barrel by friction. The section unscrews for the pen to be filled directly in the barrel with an eyedropper/pipette – holds far more ink than a lever filler of the same size. Some extra care must be taken with Waterman eyedroppers owing to the amount of ink is stored directly in the barrel and their primitive feeds. If carried and shuffled around, one sometimes finds some excess ink on the nib or in the cap. The 14k Ideal NY #2 nib on this pen is capable of Super-Flexible variation with Flexible softness. It lays down a smooth and consistent XF line that widens to a BBB+ (approx 2mm) under moderate pressure (see writing sample). Thin hairlines, strong snap-back, and generous flow under full flex make it a great choice for someone who prefers a really responsive flex nib to a really soft one. Condition: excellent/near mint. Excellent color with minimal fading and strong contrast between the vibrant red and dark black portions of the hard rubber, which is smooth and lustrous with no notable blemishes. Imprint and barrel-end stamp ('12') are unusually sharp and deep, the only notable wear being to the 1898 patent date, which is light but still legible under bright light. Price: $250
2. 1920s Waterman 54V Ripple (Red Ripple HR, 18k GFT, lever filler, 14k XXF Superflex nib). A Waterman's Ripple in a less common size that I've been told was available for a very short time, possibly marketed to men as an alternative to the thinner, 1/2-sized pens. Marked 54V on the barrel-end, it's a vestpocket ('V') ringtop model, measuring 4 1/2" capped and 5 7/8" posted. But it has the thicker girth of a 52 and the larger #4 nib of the 54. A beautiful example of Waterman's red and black hard rubber Ripple pattern, which lines up perfectly across the cap and barrel when the cap is turned just so. Has the correct Ripple HR feed. Heavy cap band, cap ring, and lever are 18k gold filled, as stamped on the back of the lever globe. Super-flexible 14k Ideal #4 nib is an ideal choice for calligraphic writing styles such as Copperplate and Spencerian. It lays down a smooth and consistent XXF line that widens to a BBB+ (approx 2mm) under light pressure (see writing sample). Exceptionally responsive for a Waterman flex nib with really strong snap-back. Needlepoint hairlines and impeccable flow under full flex. Guaranteed you'll love how this'n writes. Condition: excellent. Color is superb, with high contrast and no discernible difference between the area under the cap and the rest of the pen. The only notable flaws on this pen are a sliver of brassing all the way around the top edge of the cap band and some wear to the center of the lever. Hardly noticeable after a good polish, as you can see. Hard rubber is smooth and lustrous with no notable blemishes. Barrel imprints and end-stamp show minor wear but are still sharp and fully legible. Price: $240
3. c.1924-7 Waterman 54 in Box w/ Papers (BCHR, NPT, lever filler, 14k XXF/XF Superflex nib). This full length, standard girth model measures 5 3/8" capped. Occasionally I come across a pen that looks like it did on the day it left the factory in spite of its advanced age. Opening the box for this pen to find it stored with its original papers was like opening a time capsule (see detail photo). This is a No. 54 model (same proportions as the 52 but having the larger #4 size nib). Black chased hard rubber with nickel plated furniture. Super-flexible 14k Ideal #4 nib lays down a smooth and consistent XXF/XF line that widens to a BBB+ (approx 2mm) under light pressure (see writing sample). Strong snap-back, thin hairlines, and generous flow under full flex make it another great choice for calligraphic writing styles. Condition: excellent. I've personally never handled a BCHR Waterman with better color or chasing, full stop. Hard rubber has a factory black color with no fading and the chasing is as deep and crisp as new. This includes the barrel imprints and number stamp, which show no wear as well. Nickel-plated trim has a sliver of wear on the right edge of the clip, a spot on the center of the globe, and a scratch/ding to the middle of the lever box, but is otherwise clean. Barrel does bear a professionally heatstamped personalization (W CAMP), but it's inconspicuously located on a chased section and filled in with black china marker (durable but easily removed with a toothbrush if desired) to make it all but unnoticeable except from certain angles (see detail photo). Cardboard box is intact (no splits or missing flaps) but shows some wear on the outside and the enclosed leaflet has a couple tears. A well-kept piece of history; they don't come around too often looking like this. Price: $280
4. c.1924-7 Waterman 52 Cardinal (Cardinal RHR, 18k GFT, lever filler, 14k XF Superflex nib). This full-length, standard girth model measures 5 7/16" capped. Among Waterman's hard rubber pens, Cardinal is regarded as the scarcest and most sought after. Owing partly to their low production numbers and partly to the fragility of the material, a nice example like this one is pretty tough to come by. To my mind, it's a pen that would've been right at home in Jay Gatsby's heartpocket. The smooth red hard rubber, also used for the section and feed, is complemented by a gold-filled clip, cap band, and lever with Waterman's signature globe logo (marked '18KT GOLD FILLED' on the back). Super-flexible 14k Ideal #2 nib is another wonderfully expressive writer well suited to calligraphic styles. It lays down a smooth and consistent XF line that widens to a BBB+ (approx 2.1mm) under light pressure (see writing sample). Another responsive nib with great snap-back, fine hairlines, and impeccable flow (note that the top line of the writing sample is a little darker since I ran out of ink and refilled for the bottom line). Condition: excellent. Red hard rubber retains its factory color with no discernible fading. The surface is smooth and lustrous with no notable blemishes but for what appears to be a minute factory defect to the right of the lever (see timestamp photo). I assumed this small black mark was on the surface, but it didn't respond to a conservative polish so I wonder if perhaps a fleck of black hard rubber found its way into the mix. Gold-filled trim is extremely clean aside from a sliver of brassing around 2/3 of the top edge of the cap band (see timestamp photo). There is also the typical sliver of brassing on the clip ball and a short vertical scratch between the ball and the word 'CLIP' on the clip. Both barrel imprints and number stamp are deep, sharp, and fully legible. A lovely example of this iconic model with a nib to match. Price: $340
5. 1930s Waterman No. 3 (Green Pearl (w/ red flecks) celluloid, NPT, lever filler, 14k XF Superflex nib). Measures 5 1/32" capped. The No. 3 was the 1930s equivalent to Waterman's 52 in hard rubber, a material they would entirely phase out by the end of the decade. Streamlined clip, lever (both nickel plated), and slightly tapered ends are of a piece with the Art Deco aesthetic of the era. Catalogued as Green Pearl, it's one of the scarcer colors, comprised of a vibrant green and pearl celluloid pattern with bright splashes of red. Super-flexible 14k Ideal #2 nib lays down a smooth and consistent XF line that widens to a BBB+ (approx 2mm) under light pressure (see writing sample). Strong snap-back, thin hairlines, and impeccable flow under full flex make it a great choice for calligraphic styles of writing such as Copperplate and Spencerian. Meanwhile, its smoothness makes it just as well suited to everyday writing. Condition: excellent. Nickel plated trim is more difficult to find clean owing to its greater susceptibility to wear, but the trim on this pen is better than most. Usual spot of wear to the clip ball, some dulling in spots to the thin cap band, and a couple slivers of brassing on the lever: one down the center and the other to the bottom edge of the lever's spade. The underlying metal is only a shade warmer than the plating, so these spots are difficult to spot with the naked eye. Celluloid has a smooth, lustrous finish with no notable blemishes. And imprint is sharp and fully legible. Price: $220
6. 1936-40 Waterman Thorobred (grey marble w/ red streak celluloid, NPT, lever filler, 14k XF Superflex nib). Measures 5" capped. Manufactured for a very short time in the late 30s, the Thorobred is comparatively less documented than other Waterman models of the era. It's a shame since the celluloids that Waterman used for these pens are stunning (and some of my personal favorites). Based on the imprint, it appears this Thorobred was manufactured for the foreign market (most likely England). It's of a grey marbled mosaic celluloid pattern, interspersed with bright red pinstripes. Nickel-plated trim in the elegant Art Deco style. 'Thorobred' stamped on the butt of the barrel. 14k Super-flexible Ideal Junior nib lays down a smooth and consistent XF line that widens to a BBB+ (1.8mm) under light pressure (see writing sample). Great responsivity, flow, and smoothness, making it another great calligraphic or everyday writer. Condition: excellent. Trim is clean aside from the typical sliver of wear to the clip ball, some dulling in spots on the cap band, and a sliver of wear in the center of the lever (again difficult to spot with the naked eye). Celluloid has a smooth, lustrous finish with no notable blemishes. And imprint is sharp and fully legible. This pen came to me with an English Ideal Junior nib installed. It's a nib usually found on British models of that name. Aside from the "Junior" stamp, it's identical to the Ideal #2 nib I usually see on Thorobreds (same size, etc.) but I suspect it could be an early replacement. If the buyer prefers, I can swap it out with a correct (XF) #2 nib at no extra charge, but that nib is in the Flexible range as opposed to Super-Flexible. Price: $200
7. 1930s Waterman Canadian Ink-Vue(?) (Jet black celluloid, NPT, lever filler, 14k XF Superflex nib). Measures 5 1/8" capped. This pen is something of an enigma to me. The cap is identical to a 1930s Ink-Vue in black with proper nickel-plated trim but the barrel onto which it threads perfectly has a regular nickel-plated lever identical to a 94's. Thinking it a possible mismatch, I compared it to my 94s (as well as my 3s, 32s, 92s, etc.) but the proportions don't match and the cap is interchangeable with none but my black and Silver Ray Ink Vues. More puzzling still, the barrel has no trace of an imprint or number stamp while the cap bears a Waterman's Canada imprint. Considering that Canadian Lady Patricia Ink-Vues periodically crop up as lever fillers resembling this one, my theory is that the barrel and cap are indeed a match and that this is simply the full-sized version of that oddball model. I'm not 100% certain, however, so if anyone has any other ideas, please do chime in. Like the common Ink-Vue, this pen features exquisite Art Deco elements such as a stepped cap crown, waterfall clip, and stacked coin cap band accented at the top by a thin decorative ring. Oddly enough, the massive 14k Ideal #17 nib is marked 'Made in USA' (so possibly a replacement?). This Super-Flexible nib lays down a smooth and consistent XF line that widens to a BBB+ (approx 2mm) under light pressure (see writing sample). It's another nib that excels in how responsive it is (similar to pen #3 above). And its thin hairlines and generous flow under full flex make it commensurably suitable to calligraphic/expressive writing styles. Condition: fair. Trim is clean for the most part aside from brassing to the sides of the clip as well as dulling of the luster on the lever box and here and there on the cap band. Two significant flaws detract from the pen's overall condition. Firstly, there is a professional heatstamped engraving on the barrel ('WM. A. ROZUM') (see detail photo). The engraving has been filled in with china marker to make it less conspicuous (durable but removable with a toothbrush). Secondly, there are 2 tight hairline cracks extending from the opening to the cap band (see detail photo of one). Both are of the same size, appear stable, and shouldn't worsen as long as one either doesn't post or posts very carefully when writing. These issues have been factored into the price. The surface of the celluloid has some microscratches but no other significant blemishes. And the cap imprint is sharp and fully legible. A strange albeit attractive pen with an amazing nib. Price: $160
8. 1940s Waterman 502 (burgundy, NPT, lever filler, 14k F Flex nib). Measures 5 1/4" capped. By the 1940s most pen makers had abandoned flexible nibs in favor of rigid nibs that wrote like nails. As is the case for Parkers and Sheaffers, however, Canada sometimes proved the exception. This late, Canadian descendent of Waterman's retired 52 is one of those exceptions. Its Flexible 14k Ideal Canada nib lays down a smooth and consistent F line that widens to a BB+ (1.6mm) under moderate pressure (see writing sample). Streamlined profile in solid burgundy with a nickel-plated military clip, giving this pen a distinctly 40s vibe. Condition: excellent. Trim is clean aside from some dulling of the cap band's luster and a 4mm sliver of wear on the lever. Smooth, glossy finish with no notable blemishes. Barrel imprint weakened, but still fully legible. Price: $130
Shipping: All pens that do not come with their original boxes are packaged in thick PVC tubing to protect them in transit. To CONUS locations buyer may opt for either:
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USPS First-Class with tracking for $4
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USPS Priority with tracking for $8
Please contact me for shipping quote if located overseas (delivery confirmation required).
Order, Payment, & Guarantee: Pens are placed on hold for the first person to reply to the thread and PM me with firm request to purchase (a request with the words “I'd like to purchase [pen number]” would be best to avoid confusion), to which I’ll reply with payment details. If I haven't received Paypal payment within 24 hrs, then they become available to the next person. All pens are guaranteed to be in the condition in which I've described them. If I've missed something objectionable or the filling mechanism is not fully functional, the buyer may contact me up to 7 days after receiving the pen for a full refund (issued once I receive the pen back in the same condition as sold). I've sold pens online for over a decade. Please check my past listings here as well as on the classifieds and historical sales forums on FPN (username: Estragon) and FPGeeks (popcod) for some of my previous offerings.
Submitted February 04, 2019 at 02:01AM by popcodswallop http://bit.ly/2RDqplY
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