Leman 100 - Or Not?

[phouniac]

Dear Seasoned Waterman Forum Readers,

 

I am asking for your help to confirm or crush my belief that I finally managed to buy a LeMan 100.

 

I bought this from local online auction based on a couple of (not so good) photos. I also got a response to my question confirming that the underside of the nib had gills, which for a LeMan noob like me is the only way to tell the difference between the 100 and 200 models - at least so googling has let me to believe.

 

It looks "right" and is of correct length (about 14.3cm, i.e. 5"5/8) - and has gills under the nib. But I am a bit uncertain due to the nib. It reads "Waterman 1883 1983 18K 750", but does not have the globe logo or the text "Ideal". While googling I read from one website that there was a LeMan 100 nib before "Ideal" text and a globe logo, but I have not been able to find a picture of one.

 

So what did I buy?

 

Bonus question: What does the "L" under the nib mean ("large" as broad in French?)

 

 

 

 

[Left FPN]

Man 100...not all had globes....Anniversary etc.

 

http://captainchang.com/pens/modern-waterman-1990.html#man100

 

Yes, L = broad

Edited August 20, 2012 by Force

[Scribblesoften]

It looks to be in good shape, with the box, converter, and everything. Did you get it for a good price? Man 100's are very nice pens. I hope you enjoy it.

[phouniac]

You can judge yourself whether it was a good deal or not: I paid an equivalent of US$ 100 for it.

[georges zaslavsky]

yes a first year man 100 from 1983 that you got at way below market price which is normally of 250-300$

[phouniac]

Thank you Force for the confirmation and the link.

 

I was able to find a picture of the 100th Anniversary "limited edition" mentioned in the end of the article. However, while the nib looked the same as in mine, the box did not, e.g. mine has no special sash and the converter in that picture looked different; mine looks almost exactly like the modern converter I got with my Carene.

 

I would like to believe that this indeed is the first year edition but in a wrong box

 

Edit: while writing my response to Force, georges zaslavsky had confirmed the 1983 edition - THANKS!

I still think the box is not the original.

Edited August 20, 2012 by phouniac

[Xof72000]

I still think the box is not the original.

 

 

Don't pay to much attention to the box (unless you are a real purist), as you don't write with it ... :embarrassed_smile: ... and it often ends in a drawer, specially when you have 4-5 of them...

 

Just FYI, here's a usefull link towards Nathalie's web site, showing the 3 kinds of nib made for the Man 100 (http://pennibink.weebly.com/1--some-general-information--quelques-informations-geacuteneacuterales.html) ... yours is the flexiest one, nice found !

[Left FPN]

I still think the box is not the original.

 

 

Don't pay to much attention to the box (unless you are a real purist), as you don't write with it ... :embarrassed_smile: ... and it often ends in a drawer, specially when you have 4-5 of them...

 

Just FYI, here's a usefull link towards Nathalie's web site, showing the 3 kinds of nib made for the Man 100 (http://pennibink.weebly.com/1--some-general-information--quelques-informations-geacuteneacuterales.html) ... yours is the flexiest one, nice found !

 

The box is from the correct era and I think it is the pens original home.

 

While I do agree in part, the correct model/era box does play a part in the pricing for some pens.

Edited August 20, 2012 by Force

[phouniac]

Thank you all for your very swift help! And Xof2000, thanks for the great link to the nib pictures that my googling did not bring up

[haldane3]

Very nice pen and a nice deal. Enjoy!

[Left FPN]

cough...