13 replies to this topic

[david i]

Waterman's Ripple pattern hard rubber pens were products largely of the mid-late 1920's. They are popular with collectors, offering many variants to collect (based on size, trim, etc). The overwhelming majority were done in red Ripple (black/red), though a couple models (94 and 52-V) were offered in special non-red Ripple colors, including Olive, Blue and Rose.

FPB had a chat about non-red Ripple pens recently, in discussion about Waterman-made pens of that sort released essentially as what had become a sub-brand of Waterman, Aikin-Lambert, a once-independent pen maker which had been purchased earlier by Waterman. One hypothesis for the Aikin Ripple pens was that Waterman, having completed the run of those pens, blew out non-red Ripple rodstock by fitting them with lower tier trim and nib (band-less, notched cap-lip, chrome instead of gold trim, smaller nib and feed) and offering them at lower price point via the Aikin name.

This thread shows the 94 and 52-V non-red Ripple pens along with Aikin variants, and some possible parts mixes.

http://www.fountainp...en-olive-ripple

At the Washington DC Pen Show last year I bought the pen shown below. It is an Olive Ripple Waterman. Not with me this week, but I believe it is the size of the 94. However, while the well known Waterman 94 has a gold-tone cap-lip/band and has gold-tone lever, this pen is bandless (but not notched by cap lip like the Aikin and other cheaper-trim Waterman pens) and has chrome-tone trim.

It had a huge chunk cracked in the cap, but it was well repaired. I knew about this when I bought the pen. I rarely buy seriously flawed pens, but given the rarity of this thing, the well done repair, and fair price, I took the plunge.

In this case, by "undocumented", i do not mean merely uncatalogued. Rather, this one I believe has not been cited in hobby literature in any manner. I'd be happy to hear otherwise. So, take a look at the pen. It has Waterman barrel imprints and Waterman lever. It's cap does not match the typical 94 or 52-V style. Nib is smaller than that found in the 94.

I believe I showed this briefly to David Nishimura at the DC Show.

Anyone care to speculate? If so, please do. I will offer a bit more info later in the thread, assuming there is any interest.

regards

david

[vintage penman]

My speculation - it looks vaguely 94 ish dimensionally, however the cheaper trim might suggest a lower end 94 offered after the celluloid pens came on line - was that something like the 994 in waterman speak ?


No idea if any of the 3x series pens and the Lady Patricia(n) derivatives ever came in rubber but the size similarity also makes it a possibility.

Probably very wrong on all counts.

Edited by vintage penman, 01 July 2013 - 12:22 PM.

[George]

Does the pen have a chrome or gold filled lever? Also, you write "It's cap does not match the typical 94 or 52-V style". The cap obviously has no cap band if that's what you are referring to, but other than that what makes the cap style different from a regular 94 cap? Could the cap lip have been shaved down after the repair to hide the history of a cap band?
Regards,
George

Edited by George, 01 July 2013 - 08:18 PM.

[david i]

Does the pen have a chrome or gold filled lever? Also, you write "It's cap does not match the typical 94 or 52-V style". The cap obviously has no cap band if that's what you are referring to, but other than that what makes the cap style different from a regular 94 cap? Could the cap lip have been shaved down after the repair to hide the history of a cap band?
Regards,
George

Hi George,

Believe the lever is chrome. My bad for not shooting a couple angles before leaving town. It differs from 94 cap indeed d/t bandless lip and chrome trim. Too, most Waterman pens, when lacking cap lip/band, have a decorative notch (incuse line). This lacks that too.

Recollection is the cap is full length placed next to a 94 cap, but I can confirm that upon my return. A.. significant... shave would be necessary to remove all signs of prior cap-band.

Then, of course, there is that fact that the pen definitively is not a 94

regards

david

[vintage penman]

Now's the time to spill the beans Dr I.........what is it exactly ?

[david i]

Now's the time to spill the beans Dr I.........what is it exactly ?

Hi,

I'll be home this weekend. Interesting photos to follow...

regards

-d

[Teej47]

Must be Canadian.

Tim

[vintage penman]

Judging by the lack of photos etc I suspect this thing has evaporated or something.......

[david i]

Judging by the lack of photos etc I suspect this thing has evaporated or something.......

Or the poor doc has been busy of late.

I"ll try to shoot the answer before I head out of town...

regards

-d

[david i]

So, presented perhaps for the first time in the history of collectible pendom:

Three Waterman-94 related Olive Ripple pens.

At left is a conventional Waterman 94: Gold-filled cap-band/lip and trim, Waterman identifiers, "94" on butt of pen

In middle is an Aikin Lambert version, essentially a rebadged Waterman, sold presumably at a lower price point, featuring chrome-tone trim, notched bandless cap (similar to other Waterman bandless caps), Aikin lever, small Aikin nib feed, probably a "Mercantile" imprint on barrel, though I forgot to check

At right is the mystery pen. Also 94-sized, bandless but without notched lip, chrome tone trim, but with Waterman markings. Next post will feature final info on the mystery Waterman.

regards

david

[soot]

Collector's value and rarity aside, that mystery pen is very attractive. Very clean lines.

[david i]

Finally, the explanatory photo set...

The pen has a #3 on butt, perhaps a connection to the early-mid 1930's celluloid #3 done in the USA.

This one is Canadian (good call by Tim). Late parts use? Canada with a HR #3 line (not done in USA) perhaps available in other rubber patterns?

I've never seen another.

Canadian origin diminishes the force of anomaly a bit for this pen, but even in the Canadian context (itself inviting weirdness, relative to the USA standard for Waterman), this is a most unusual pen.

regards

david

[vintage penman]

Finally, the explanatory photo set...

The pen has a #3 on butt, perhaps a connection to the early-mid 1930's celluloid #3 done in the USA.

This one is Canadian (good call by Tim). Late parts use? Canada with a HR #3 line (not done in USA) perhaps available in other rubber patterns?

I've never seen another.

Canadian origin diminishes the force of anomaly a bit for this pen, but even in the Canadian context (itself inviting weirdness, relative to the USA standard for Waterman), this is a most unusual pen.

regards

david

That it has a #3 nib is also unusual - the celluloid #3 usually came fitted with a #2 nib. How very peculiar.

[Procyon]

Wow! That is truly unusual.