9 replies to this topic

[BrianMcQueen]

A nice looking safety pen popped up on eBay today as a Buy-it-Now, and I thought the asking price was pretty good regardless of the pen's actual origin.
The seller claims the cap says "Waterman's Ideal Fountain Pen" but I have never seen a pattern like this before. The cap looks like a standard telescoping Waterman's cap, I just don't recognize it. Can you help me out?

[david i]

A nice looking safety pen popped up on eBay today as a Buy-it-Now, and I thought the asking price was pretty good regardless of the pen's actual origin.
The seller claims the cap says "Waterman's Ideal Fountain Pen" but I have never seen a pattern like this before. The cap looks like a standard telescoping Waterman's cap, I just don't recognize it. Can you help me out?

Lines n' Dots I believe. Is the pen of USA origin?

regards

d

[BrianMcQueen]

Lines n' Dots I believe. Is the pen of USA origin?

regards

d

I couldn't say, though the auctioneer is in Maryland. I haven't received the pen in the mail yet.

[George]

The cap looks like it has European hallmarks. Very nice pen Brian.

Regards,
George

[BrianMcQueen]

Lines n' Dots I believe. Is the pen of USA origin?

regards
d

The cap looks like it has European hallmarks. Very nice pen Brian.

Regards,
George

Thanks, guys. I wasn't sure if it was an actual Waterman pattern or some custom job, but I was able to find other examples by Googling the "Line and Dot" pattern. So, I guess it's just a pattern I'd never seen before. Is it a less common pattern, or one that was only sold in Europe, so not usually seen here?

[BrianMcQueen]

The pen came in today and is really bautiful. I am surprised at the heaviness of such a small pen. It sure seems to have English or European marks on the pen. The cap lip has Waterman's Ideal Fountain Pen (with the "Ideal" in the globe. Also on the cap lip is RD605431. The cap has two hallmarks. One looks like a lion and the other like a fox face in a shield. On the barrel, there are the same two hallmarks, plus one which is an "S" and then the "FDW" hallmark.




The pen is in spectacular condition except for a decent little ding on the barrel. For the life of me, I can not get the cap apart. The two pieces won't budge at all.

[BrianMcQueen]

I finally got the telescoping cap disassembled (after a long bath in the ultrasonic) and replaced the cork seals in the back with Nishimura O-Rings (another tough task). Gave it a polish, and it is absolutely gorgeous! The British hallmark dates the overlay to London, 1913. A hundred years old this year! Click on the link below the picture to view it in high resolution.


IMG_8070 by BrianMcQueen, on Flickr


IMG_8076 by BrianMcQueen, on Flickr

Edited by BrianMcQueen, 21 April 2013 - 08:14 PM.

[david i]

A grand find, all told.

Again, with the caveat that my focus on this arena is less strong than on some others, weaker still for Euro-Watermans, I note that I've photo'd thousands of old pens and handled many multiples of what I've photo'd. Never have seen a Telescoping Cap pen from outside USA (I do have several quite nice ones in my own collection) and have never seen this pattern done in this style,

regards

david

[BrianMcQueen]

A grand find, all told.
(SNIP)
I have never seen this pattern done in this style,
(SNIP)

Thanks, David. I am honestly flabbergasted that I've been able to recently come up with two Sterling Watermans you haven't seen the likes of. I will make sure to bring them both to Raleigh so you can see them in person. When you say you haven't seen this pattern done in this style, do you mean you haven't seen it as a safety pen, a fully covered pen, or as a telescoping cap pen?

[brando090]

A grand find, all told.
(SNIP)
I have never seen this pattern done in this style,
(SNIP)

Thanks, David. I am honestly flabbergasted that I've been able to recently come up with two Sterling Watermans you haven't seen the likes of. I will make sure to bring them both to Raleigh so you can see them in person. When you say you haven't seen this pattern done in this style, do you mean you haven't seen it as a safety pen, a fully covered pen, or as a telescoping cap pen?

If possible I'd like to chime in. Hopefully none of my facts are out of place.

I think what David means by not seeing this style, is that he hasn't seen it in the telescoping cap. In all honestly, I haven't either. I've seen it in half overlays, safety's, and regular overlays but nothing with a telescoping cap.

I don't know how many telescoping capped ringtop Watermans were made in total, as I've only seen examples or ringtops, but I suspect that less than 10% of all L.E. Watermans ringrop pens were ever telescoping capped pens given the scarcity.

Just my .02, would love to hear from someone with more resources.