Waterman Made In India?

May 20, 2008

Does anyone know anything about Waterman making pens in India? Probibly in the 1950's to 1970's. I have come across Waterman's made there from time to time here in Asia. At first I though maybe they were fakes but I'm pretty sure they are not after some research. They tend to be pretty cheap pens, likely made under license. Right now I have one that looks like a W5 and another that doesn't look like any Waterman I know but is called a Waterman 63. Theses like most tend to be eyedropper fillers as most Indian fountain pens were and still are today. It wouldn't surprise me that Waterman made pens there. Since India was such a closed market with super high import taxes for a long time other companies made pens in India including Mabie Todd, Pilot, Eversharp and maybe others. Any info would be helpful. Thanks, BOB

May 20, 2008

Bob,

That is what got me started on looking for Eyedroppers in general and a Waterman Eyedropper in particular.

My late father had one which I remember destroying while trying to unscrew the section.As a kid I could not open it with my hands so I did the next best thing I could think off.........gripped the section with me teeth real hard and turned it.

It opened allright but the section was.........you know what(destroyed).

I remember thinking "Whats the big deal with teeth marks on a Pen", when Dad was really mad at me! Now I understand.

It was made of grey smooth plastic/resin.........with straited clear windows(11-12 of them) on the barrel where the barrel met the section for seeing the ink level.

Silver colour clip and a screw on cap.The cap end and barrel ends were both curved(not flat tops).Nib was silver in colour(was too young to know the material)

Bob, I really hope that the ones you have are similar and also that someday you would be willing to sell them.

In case that is ever the case, I want it.

Fateh.

PS: Could you please post a picture?

May 20, 2008

If there was a Waterman facility in India, that might explain why I have some new stock Parker Quink made in India. With the merging of Waterman and Parker under Sanford, it would be possible for Parker to make product in a previously Waterman premises.

No real information here, just speculating...

May 21, 2008

If there was a Waterman facility in India, that might explain why I have some new stock Parker Quink made in India. With the merging of Waterman and Parker under Sanford, it would be possible for Parker to make product in a previously Waterman premises.

No real information here, just speculating...

Yes, I saw a nice collection of Waterman, Parker and other ink bottle awhile back. Some of the waterman and Parker bottles were Made in India. This doesn't surprise me as ink is expensive to ship so making it local is a good idea. Likely would have a high tax too. I think ink is more commonly made locally than we might think. I know for sure Parker used to make ink here in Thailand and Pilot still does. It was for the SE Asia market only. Sheaffer and Parker also made ink (and pens) in Australia. I get the pens all the time and see the ink every so often. Cheers, BOB

May 21, 2008

Hi, Here's a photo of one of the nicer one. It's a Waterman 715 eyedropper with a 14kt W5 nib on it. Like Fatahbajwa's father's pen, the section is very tight and hard to get one and off. I find that to often be the case in the eyedroppers. Nice looking Waterman. Made in India. Cheers, BOB

May 21, 2008

Hi, Here's a photo of one of the nicer one. It's a Waterman 715 eyedropper with a 14kt W5 nib on it. Like Fatahbajwa's father's pen, the section is very tight and hard to get one and off. I find that to often be the case in the eyedroppers. Nice looking Waterman. Made in India. Cheers, BOB

Bob,

Do remember me in case you plan to sell it.(I hope you do).

Its just like the one my father had except that the colour was grey.

Fateh

June 8, 2008

Hi Speerbob,

Waterman's were indeed made in India in Mumbai by a company called "Mhatre pens and plastics" under license. This was the same company that made pens called Plato and also another brand called Doric. Sadly this company was closed in early 1980s due to labour unrest led by a famous Labour union leader in Mumbai...

With regard to the latest watermans and parkers in India, it is distributed in India by Luxor Writing Instruments Pvt Limited. Luxor makes lower end Parkers in India like the Vector and Beta and the Parker Quink. W'man ink and pens is still an imported item here. Luxor has no relation to erstwhile Mhatre.

Regards,

Hari

Edited June 8, 2008 by hari317

May 20

Update on the whole fiasco of quality based on Waterman Pens being "Made in India". Official reply form the Director of Waterman India Distributor

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Thanks for the questions raised by you and I would like to explain the same accordingly.

Word “Paris” denotes that Waterman Brand belongs to Paris and it has no relation with the Place of Manufacture.
All the components of Waterman comes to us from France only ( from the original Waterman Company at Nantes France).
We only assemble these components here at India as per the standard process defined by the Waterman.
It is also to inform that only few finishes are assembled by us in India. Most of the product completely assembled received from France only and we fit only Refills in the same ( which is again received from France).
Waterman Products carries the same warranty whether it is assembled at India or at France and will be repaired / replaced free of cost in case of any manufacturing defect.