Can You Spot This Waterman?

[write to me often]

Dear Fountain Pen Lovers,

 

I was given a Waterman fountain pen by my dad (probably a vintage or an old model) but cannot spot the model of the pen. It looks like Waterman Slim but the nib is different.

 

Could you please help?

 

Thanks

[Xof72000]

Hi !

 

It looks like a Waterman Cotele to me.

[write to me often]

  On 9/6/2012 at 6:25 PM, Xof72000 said:

Hi !

 

It looks like a Waterman Cotele to me.

 

 

It really looks like so and I am quite surprised because never heard the model either. Thank you.

[Ernst Bitterman]

This is starting to become a bit of a hobby horse for me; I'm certain enough to say so publicly-- the model name on that item is Super Master, not Cotele. I'll be crass and quote myself:

 

  Quote

...had found it only in one other source, with the label “Cotele (?)” on it, with subsequent additional statements indicating that the identification was rather tentative. In looking at possible French words all I can find is the thus-accented ”côtelé”, meaning ribbed, as part of the French term for corduroy cloth, which is not really in keeping with the theme of the pen, unless perhaps descriptive of its slender nature; “It’s as slim as a corduroy strip” seems an unlikely ad phrase, even in France. The breakthrough came in finding the box I had originally purchased my example in, as the sticker on the bottom gave the model as “Super /M”, and I was able to seek uses of the word “Super” in a catalogue of the 2010 auction the collection belonging to the erstwhile owner of the company. The picture attached to the word SUPERMASTER in the catalogue was clear enough for a match, and in the case of Waterman pens, I will take two crossing references like that as sufficiently definitive.

 

I've had a little discussion in email with Walter Chang on this point, and while the result of that was to move me from 99% certainty to something more like 96.8% (we fed each other's misgivings about the 2010 auction as a resource), I'm certain enough to ask for better documentation than I've got to prove I'm wrong.

[esteroids]

I've been frustrated by this for a while. I have a couple of these and a couple of similar models with what I call a streamlined nib and solid clip. One is stainless, one is plastic solid color, one is brass with solid color lacquer and plated nib, and one is marbled lacquer with 18k nib. I also have another stainless pen similar but a bit larger. The odd thing perhaps not so odd for French Waterman) is that even identical looking sections are not interchangeable. I call them either Masters or Cotelle mystery pens.

 

I have the impression that the 18k is the Cotelle and the steels are Masters, but cannot verify any of it. I've threatened a few times to quit work, abandon all responsibilities and devote my life to identifying modern slim Watermans but the task seems too overwhelming. Could someone please come forward with the all-telling catalog?

 

Craig

[CRB]

Here is a page from a 1988 Waterman catalogue, at which time they were calling this pen the Super Master. The tiny text at the bottom reads:

 

"Super Master Writing Instruments... Colorful lacquer and matte finishes are highlighted by 23.6K gold plated clips, trim and nib."

 

[Ernst Bitterman]

That's a better reference than I've had in hand by a couple of powers of magnitude.

 

  Quote

I have the impression that the 18k is the Cotelle and the steels are Masters, but cannot verify any of it....

 

Just a thought-- "côtelé", as Google has translated it for me, might also describe the section of the Executive (linear grooves), which would fit with your application, as it otherwise looks very much like the Super Master and bears a gold point:

http://dirck.delint.ca/beta/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Waterman-0403.jpg

Edited September 7, 2012 by Ernst Bitterman

[Left FPN]

  On 9/7/2012 at 5:40 PM, CRB said:

Here is a page from a 1988 Waterman catalogue, at which time they were calling this pen the Super Master. The tiny text at the bottom reads:

 

"Super Master Writing Instruments... Colorful lacquer and matte finishes are highlighted by 23.6K gold plated clips, trim and nib."

 

 

Please, what other models are in that catalogue...

[CRB]

  On 9/7/2012 at 7:59 PM, Force said:

  On 9/7/2012 at 5:40 PM, CRB said:

Here is a page from a 1988 Waterman catalogue, at which time they were calling this pen the Super Master. The tiny text at the bottom reads:

 

"Super Master Writing Instruments... Colorful lacquer and matte finishes are highlighted by 23.6K gold plated clips, trim and nib."

 

 

Please, what other models are in that catalogue...

 

Le Man Specialty (Opera, Olive and Briarwood)

Le Man 100, Le Man 200

Gentleman

Executive

Laureat

Super Master

[RMN]

  On 9/7/2012 at 8:51 PM, CRB said:

  On 9/7/2012 at 7:59 PM, Force said:

  On 9/7/2012 at 5:40 PM, CRB said:

Here is a page from a 1988 Waterman catalogue, at which time they were calling this pen the Super Master. The tiny text at the bottom reads:

 

"Super Master Writing Instruments... Colorful lacquer and matte finishes are highlighted by 23.6K gold plated clips, trim and nib."

 

 

Please, what other models are in that catalogue...

 

Le Man Specialty (Opera, Olive and Briarwood)

Le Man 100, Le Man 200

Gentleman

Executive

Laureat

Super Master

 

Now it would be super if you could find the time to scan that catalogue and put it in a PDF-file....

 

I would thank you in advance....

 

Thank you...

 

D.ick

[CRB]

The catalogue is scanned into multiple JPG files. I don't know how to convert them to one PDF file. If someone wants to contact me via PM about that, I'd be happy to give it a try. Otherwise I could publish a link to a web album.

 

Joe

[Left FPN]

  On 9/7/2012 at 8:51 PM, CRB said:

Le Man Specialty (Opera, Olive and Briarwood)

Le Man 100, Le Man 200

Gentleman

Executive

Laureat

Super Master

 

Great you have a couple of documents that are missing from my modern era catalogues, the Executive and Super Master. I would love to have copies of them even in jpg form until someone assists with the pdfs. Please post your link or PM me with it if you would not mind, thanks.

 

I have catalogues from around the 1989/90 era which are void of these two models so they must have ceased production around the 1988/89 period.

Edited September 8, 2012 by Force

[CRB]

  On 9/8/2012 at 4:55 AM, Force said:

..snip... Please post your link ...snip...

 

Okie dokie

 

1988 Waterman Catalogue

[Ernst Bitterman]

As an early agitator for these scans (in a PM), I guess I should give back a little. Who wants a colossal PDF version?

[secrep]

  On 9/8/2012 at 2:57 PM, Ernst Bitterman said:

As an early agitator for these scans (in a PM), I guess I should give back a little. Who wants a colossal PDF version?

 

 

Thanks!

[Left FPN]

Yes and thanks from me...that's filled another gap.

[RMN]

Thank you CRB and Ernst

 

 

D.ick

[CRB]

Thank you Ernst; nice work. That makes it legible. I'm glad to see the information get to everyone who has an interest in these pens.

 

Cheers,

Joe

[write to me often]

  On 9/7/2012 at 5:40 PM, CRB said:

Here is a page from a 1988 Waterman catalogue, at which time they were calling this pen the Super Master. The tiny text at the bottom reads:

 

"Super Master Writing Instruments... Colorful lacquer and matte finishes are highlighted by 23.6K gold plated clips, trim and nib."

 

 

 

That's great! I do appreciate what you have done. However, with all my respect, all those pens, even Cotele or Super Master, it is all described with gold plated clips and nibs. However, this has a steel nib and clips. So there is still a bit possibility that, this pen might be something else.

[Left FPN]

I bought and sold these 3 last year. The steels were untipped.

 

 

 

and I somehow regret selling this one in gold,

 

 

Edited September 9, 2012 by Force