Help Neededwith Identifying This Waterman

August 6, 2013

Hi,

I recently picked up this Waterman Ideal pen through an impulsive, last minute buy as I thought that it would go well with my similar coloured Duofold and Victory pens (and it was going cheap!). When it arrived it was not quite as described, but I'm still quite pleased with it, I think! It is the first Waterman's that I've added to my small collection.

The barrel is clearly marked, as can be seen in the photo, as being made in Canada. The nib is only inscribed with 'Waterman's Ideal England' (not gold then, although a gold colour?) and it's not at all flexible.

It is a fairly small pen, 10cms to nib, 12 cms capped and 14.5 cms posted.

The lever is silver-coloured with a slightly elongated rounded head, although the thin cap band is gold colured.

The cap seems extremely long for the size of the barrel, but this may just be the design (not having any experience with Watermans). There is no clip and looks as if there never was one.

Any help with pinning this down as near as possible would be greatly appraciated.

Many thanks

Mario

Hi again,

Found 32V impressed on the end of the barrel, so I presume this is the model, but still can't seem to locate one like this. Is it all original?

Edited August 6, 2013 by chunya

August 7, 2013

Hi.

Look here.

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/193063-waterman-ideal-32/

regards

August 7, 2013

Hi.
Look here.
https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/193063-waterman-ideal-32/
regards

Hi Konis,

Thanks for that link.

What surprises me is that considering this seems to have been such a common pen, there seems to be not a great deal of information out there (free on the net as opposed to specialist books) compared to say Parkers and Conway Stewarts, especially when it comes to pinning down say the decade of manufacture. Is it from the 1930s or 1940s?

It looks as if this is probably not the original nib as it seems that they are commonly found with full flex to wet noodle nibs, and this one certainly isn't.

There was also a lot of discussion on and photos of different clips, this one is without a clip and it doesn't seem to have ever had one. is that likely?

The cap seems to have either lost it's lustre compared to the barrel; the band is gold whereas the lever is silver coloured, which would seem odd .... so is it possibly not the original?

So many questions !

Many thanks

Mario

August 7, 2013

I am no expert on vintage but the condition of cap versus barrel caught my eye too, and with different coloured trims, it is quite possible you have a Frankenpen.

D.ick

August 7, 2013

Not necessarily.

Photos are weak and the pen in condition run of the mill.

In the publication Max Davis and Gary Lehler "Waterman past and present. The first six decades" stated period of its production in the years 1933-1938.

They produced a lot of very similar stylistically models: 32, 92, 3

Pens with a letter "V" were shorter than those without the letter. These pens determined "pocket size pens"

http://images53.fotosik.pl/22/a12b7fe088ff04bc.jpg

(Picture from "Waterman past....")

My Watermans 3V and one Waterman 301V.

http://images51.fotosik.pl/22/fbb7c873a16b7b29.jpg

Size comparison: Waterman 3 and Watermans 3V.

http://images55.fotosik.pl/22/c614719c341db307.jpg

Pen should have clip and maybe nib like on pictures.

http://images54.fotosik.pl/22/12e5d90194e44514.jpg

http://images51.fotosik.pl/22/375e8b1ad74deaf6.jpg

http://images52.fotosik.pl/22/50aec760ed324771.jpg

http://images51.fotosik.pl/22/9eaabff91a978f43.jpg

http://images54.fotosik.pl/22/bfcc57ee7cdc66d7.jpg

Pens were produced in the USA and Canada

Waterman 301V made in Canada.

http://images55.fotosik.pl/22/d45cbc4bd83994a2.jpg

All should be marked at the end of a barrel

http://images53.fotosik.pl/22/5e828094aa55ebe9.jpg

regards

August 8, 2013

H Konis,

Many thanks for all the research, it is greatly appreciated. I do apologise about the quality of the photographs, some days they turn out fine, others not so good.

The photo on the listing was very poor, but the seller decsribed it as being in vgc with no flaws etc. When it arrivesd I realised that the description was a little inaccurate, but it was a 'charity' and so they do need the money!

Looking at all the pictures you've posted, where all the clips match the rings, I am really thinking that the cap does not belong to the pen. Another oddity, and I hope the photo shows this, is that the cap has a 'clip cap', pretty much like the Parkers did.

The pen needs a new sac, I've never tackled this job before so maybe this pen will be a good one to practise on.

Kindest Regards

Mario