A slightly different bit of Waterman memorabilia
Started by Eric O. Costello, Jul 05 2010 10:40 PM
6 replies to this topic
#1
Posted 05 July 2010 - 10:40 PM
I'm not sure how well it's known in the pen community, but Frank Waterman, the head of Waterman in the 1920s, ran in 1925 as a Republican for Mayor of New York City against James (Beau James, Gentleman Jimmy) Walker, and did about as well as one might expect a Republican to do in that era (or nearly any other era, save recent years). Waterman didn't run a very inspiring campaign, and against a thousand-watt Jazz Age man like Walker, didn't stand a chance. He got smoked by a better than two-to-one margin.
The fact that Walker was corrupt, and left office in disgrace a few years later, leads one to think.
In any event, here's a memento of the campaign, from my collection. I've seen a few of these kicking about, and they're not expensive. Query if one could argue Waterman, the firm, took its eye off the ball in the 1920s because its head was distracted.
The fact that Walker was corrupt, and left office in disgrace a few years later, leads one to think.
In any event, here's a memento of the campaign, from my collection. I've seen a few of these kicking about, and they're not expensive. Query if one could argue Waterman, the firm, took its eye off the ball in the 1920s because its head was distracted.
#4
Posted 06 July 2010 - 01:04 AM
SNIP
In any event, here's a memento of the campaign, from my collection. I've seen a few of these kicking about, and they're not expensive. Query if one could argue Waterman, the firm, took its eye off the ball in the 1920s because its head was distracted.
I'm not a Waterman historian, though I have at least heard of this campaign. Hard to know the impact on the company, though I have heard that part of Waterman's falling behind the style/materials curve had to do with its investment in hard rubber manufacturing, just when other companies were swinging to plastic, at least iirc.
Neat button.
-david
David R. Isaacson MD. Website: VACUMANIA.com for quality old pens with full warranty.
Email: isaacson@frontiernet.net
Email: isaacson@frontiernet.net
#5
Posted 06 July 2010 - 02:50 AM
I cannot see it either. Nor can I see Eric's other picture in his other thread.
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