If you have been checking back with my site, you’ve likely noticed that not many pens are going up. I’ve started a new job, my family is gearing up to move. That along with family matters have been taking up all my time. So for now, I am taking a break from pens. Hopefully, I’ll return in the future.
Thanks for checking in,
Danny
Waterman 452 – Wet Noodle (See Price Here)
This is a beautiful Waterman 452. That is a Waterman 52 with a sterling silver overlay. The pen is in exellent condition. The overlay looks fabulous with great color, only light wear, and no dings. There is lgiht surface scratching throughout and a personalization that reads “PEW”. The black hard rubber body has some fading to a dark blackish brown. Imprints on the back end of the barrel are mostly unreadable, but the “452” is still crisp. The 14kt. Waterman #2 is a phenomenal wet noodle that is near paintbrush soft. With a light touch this writes normally as a fairly wet XXF. It is decently smooth for an XXF, but since it is so soft it is hard to keep the tines perfectly aligned for normal writing. This nib is made to flex, and it flexes at the slightest incerase in pressure. Range of flex is great going easily from XXF (0.2mm) to BBB (1.5mm). This would be an easy nib to overflex due to its softness, but if you stay within the above range, you’ll be fine. Responsiveness is also quite good. The “detail flex” writing was all done in a less than 5mm window and mostly within 2.5mm window. This would make a great nib for artists and calligraphers alike. XXF wet noodle with paintbrush softness are ultra rare, and this one comes on a gorgeous 452.
SIZE: 5 1/2″ Capped
NIB: 14kt. Waterman #2, XXF to BBB (0.25mm-1.5mm) SUPER FLEX (See “Grading Flex Nibs” for How I Grade)
FILLING: Lever
CONDITION: Excellent
Restration Work:
Waterman 22 – Wet Noodle (SEE PRICE HERE)
The Waterman 22 was made with a tapered cap that was meant to be posted to give the balance and feel of dipped pen. These tend to be fairly fragile due to the how thin the hard rubber is on the cap and section. This one survived quite well save for one blemish. The cap had a dreaded crack and the lip was slightly chipped. I trimmed the lip just enough to make the chip disappear and filled the crack with a glue made for bonding hard rubber. The glue is dyed black, but this pen’s hard rubber has faded some to a dark brown, so the glue does not blend in perfectly. But if it was black you would see it, and even as it is if you didn’t know it was glue you would just assume the rubber didn’t fade as much in that area. The point being that the crack is no longer a functional issue (it’s probably now the least likely spot on the cap to crack), but it is small cosmetic one. This 22 comes with two gold-filled repousse bands, which are in lovely shape. The original imprints are still mostly readable, but do have some wear. The 14kt. Waterman #2 is a fantastic wet noodle that writes normally as a wet XF. It is smooth, though it does require a soft touch. And due to that softness the tines do have a little trouble staying in line. In other words, this is best used as a dedicated flex pen than a daily writer. Range of flex is very nice going from XF to BBB (0.3mm to 1.6mm). The feed is abundantly wet, so the responsiveness can suffer a little when you first start flexing, especially if your ink is getting low. It’s one of the 22s that made it, and it’s a lovely noodle to boot.
SIZE: 5 1/2″ Capped
NIB: 14kt. Waterman #2, XF to BBB (0.3mm-1.7mm) WET NOODLE (See “Grading Flex Nibs” for How I Grade)
FILLING: Eyedropper
CONDITION: Good
Restration Work:
Restoration Services and Prices
I’ve been restoring vintage fountain pens for many years now and have offered my services to customers from time to time. I’ve entered a season of life where I have a need for flexibility due to the care our two autistic sons, so I thought I’d start offering my services more broadly to generate a little income while staying flexible.
Check out the restoration page for a list of services and prices, and email me at dannystr78@gmail.com to get things started.
Wahl-Eversharp Gold-Filled Skyline – Super Flex
This is a standard size Skyline in a full gold-filled body. Overall, the condition is pretty good. The only spot of brassing I could see is a little on the edges of the lever from rubbing on the pen cap when it is posted. There is a decent sized ding on the body (see pic), and one very small ding on the cap. Often these pens are full of pin prick dings and scratches all over. The 14kt. Eversharp nib is beautiful, wet writer. Silky smooth and soft nib with lots of flow. It writes normally as a F/M (0.55mm). The flex comes quite easily with decent range going up to at least 1.5mm. For a near medium nib, the flex responds with surprising snappiness. The flow is more than enough to keep up, which isn’t surprising for a Skyline. Overall, great pen in a durable and beautiful metal body.
SOLD
SIZE: 5 1/4″ Capped
NIB: Eversharp 14kt., F/M to BBB (0.55mm-1.5mm) SUPER FLEX (See “Grading Flex Nibs” for How I Grade)
FILLING: Lever
CONDITION: Good
Restoration Work:
Waterman Ink Vue with “RED” Nib – Medium Flex
Here is Waterman’s unique “Ink Vue” pen. These pens use a small rubber sac in the back of the barrel to pull ink into a transparent ink chamber in the barrel. It’s Waterman’s answer to the Parker Vacummatic. You actually fold the little lever in half and pump it 10 or times with nib immersed to fill the barrel. This barrel holds a ton of ink, so it can take a little bit to fill it. It is a very unique and fun system. The pen is in great condition. There is a little brassing on the lever that is not very obvious, a tiny bit on the bottom of the clip, and a very tiny bit on the edge of the band. The barrel still has great transparency, so you have no trouble seeing the ink slosh around in there. There is very light surface scratches on the body from normal use, but it’s pretty clean. The 14kt. Waterman 5 “RED” nib is, unfortunately, a bit of disappointment in the flex department. Normally, these have great flex, and this one only has a “Medium Flex” quality. Normal writing is lovely. It’s an XF (0.3mm) with just a hint of “stubbishness.” It’s smooth, wet, and just a beautiful writer. Flexed, this nib ranges up to BB (1.5mm), which is pretty decent. Flex keeps up without any issues. But ease of flex is meh and as is it’s responsiveness. Another lesson and just how imprecise a science these flex nibs are. Even the color coded nibs have a great deal of variety. Flex aside, this is still a remarkable and unique vintage pen that writes fabulously and looks superb. No one is going to even think it’s old, just classic.
SOLD
SIZE: 4 1/4″ Capped
NIB: Waterman #5 “RED”, XF to BB (0.3mm-1.5mm), MEDIUM FLEX (See “Grading Flex Nibs” for How I Grade)
FILLING: Ink Vue Lever
CONDITION: Excellent
Restration Work:
Waterman 52 – Good Flex
Here is vintage Watermen 52 in BCHR. The black hard rubber on this pen looks really nice. Only faded a little to a dark grayish black. The chasing is still quite good with only minimal loss of texture. Almost no wear on the cap chasing. A little more on the body. Imprints are very crisp and look almost new including the original red paint in the “52” at the end of the barrel. The nickel trim has seen better days, however, as it shows lots of pitting on the clip. Much less on the lever but still noticeable. The 14kt. Waterman 52 is a beautiful writer as a XF with good flow. Nib just feels like a writer especially if you like them fine. The flex is good ranging up to BB (1.3mm). It has decent responsiveness, but it does lack some of the ease of flex that a “super flex” nib would have. People often associate the flex grades with the quality of nib, but that really isn’t the case. Nibs are just made to excel at different things. This one is made to be an all around great nib with some good flex when you want it. The full size 52 body makes it a great all around vintage writer.
PRICE: $259.99
SIZE: 5 1/4″ Capped
NIB: 14kt. Waterman #2, XF to BB (0.2mm-1.3mm) GOOD FLEX (See “Grading Flex Nibs” for How I Grade)
FILLING: Lever
CONDITION: Good
Restration Work:
Mabie Todd S.F. Wood Grain – Super Flex
Here is an absolutely gorgeous Mabie Todd Swan Self Filler in Wood Grain hard rubber and in a vest pen size. This pen looks almost unused. The color is great with little to no fading of the hard rubber. The imprints still have some of the original white paint. The Swan on the top of the cap still looks crisp as well. The black wide lever (a feature fairly unique to Mabie Todds) looks new as well. The pen is all mint condition. The 14kt. Swan nib is a wet and and soft XXF. The previous owner appears to have used some detergent to clean it out. I’ve cleaned and cleaned this, but every now and then some tiny trace of detergent gets in. I say that because I think all these measurements are accurate, but they may be slightly smaller if there is even a hint of detergent currently affecting this fill of ink. Anyway, there is a little bit of a scratch as expected on an XXF nib. The flex comes easily and the flow keeps up very well. Responsiveness is good but not as good as I would expect of this fine of a nib. A very nice flex nib nonetheless on an outstanding Swan.
PRICE: $399.99
SIZE: 5 3/8″ Capped
NIB: 14kt. Swan, XXF to BBB (0.2mm-1.6mm), SUPER FLEX (See “Grading Flex Nibs” for How I Grade)
FILLING: Lever
CONDITION: Mint
Restration Work:
Aikin Lambert Capital Dainty with A.A. Waterman Nib – Wet Noodle (See Price Here)
Here is a beautifully preserved Aikin Lambert Capital Lady Dainty. The Dainty is almost the same size as the Waterman 52 1/2V. The BCHR is in near mint condition. The chasing is crisp as new and there is still plenty of shine on the body. Imprints are also impressively crisp. There are just a few small scratches on the lip of the cap. The gold-filled lever has a littel brassing, but the ring top looks to be in good shape. The original Aikin Lambert nib was in poor shape, so I subbed in an amazing 14kt. A.A. Waterman nib that I’ve had lying around for awhile. The nib is the correct size, just differnt company. Normally, this wet F (0.4mm) has a nice little line variation that gives your writing a bit of character. The flex comes easily raning up to BBB (1.5mm), but it has superlative responsiveness. This makes detail flex easy. The combination of these high quality traits puts this nib squarely in the the “wet noodle” category. Having an alternative nib may make this less desirable for a collector, but for the flex nib user it’s an upgrade.
SIZE: 4 3/8″ Capped
NIB: 14kt. A.A. Waterman #2, F to BBB (0.4mm-1.5mm)), WET NOODLE (See “Grading Flex Nibs” for How I Grade)
FILLING: Lever
CONDITION: Excellent
Restration Work:
Waterman 42 1/2 – Wet Noodle (See Price Here)
Here is Waterman’s 42 1/2 Safety pen with a fabulous wet noodle #2 nib. This is a full length safety pen measuring 5″ long, but is thinner model (thus the “1/2”). The diameter of the the pen, however, is wider than a typical 52 1/2. The original BCHR is in great shape. It has minimal fading and is just a shade off the original black. The chasing is still quite crisp and the imprints look as good as new. I have replaced the original seals and the pen functions as good as new. The 14kt. Waterman #2 is a fabulous wet noodle. Normally, it writes as a very smooth XXF / XF (0.25mm) with steady but not overly wet flow. The flex comes easily and is quite springy. It ranges from XF to BBB (1.6mm). The feed keeps up spledidly and the responsiveness is quite good. It’s a high quality Waterman in fantastic condition with a stellar nib.
SIZE: 5″ Capped
NIB: 14kt. Waterman #2, XXF / XF to BBB (0.25mm-1.6mm), WET NOODLE (See “Grading Flex Nibs” for How I Grade)
FILLING: Safety Pen / Eyedropper
CONDITION: Excellent
Restration Work:
Aurora Gold-Filled Pen – Wet Noodle
Here is a lovely vintage gold-filled vest-sized pen very similar in style to a Waterman 52V. There is no actual company hallmarks on the pen itself, but the nib does say “Aurora.” What I can tell you is that Aurora did start in 1919, that this pen has all the markings of a European styled model, and that therefore it could be an early Aurora. Regardless, it is a high quality pen with a high quality nib. The 18kt gold-filled overlay is in great condition with no dings or dents, and it only has some light scratching. The orange hard rubber under the overlay is visible under the cap and has very little fading to it. There is little to no brassing on the body, and the chasing still looks great. The 14kt. Aurora nib is a long and slender tined beauty that writes normally as a surprisingly smooth XXF. The flex is phenomenal. Wonderfully soft this nib easily swells to BBB (l.6mm) lines, and is also very responsive allowing for some great control. Whether you want a nice springy XXF writer or want something with soft, responsive flex, this pen is a great choice.
SIZE: 4 3/8″ Capped
NIB: 14kt. Aurora #2 , XXF to BBB (0.2mm – 1.6mm) WET NOODLE
FILLING: Lever-filler
CONDITION: Excellent
Restration Work:
Mabie Todd Swan GF with Over/Under Feed – Wet Noodle
Here is a gorgeous made in New York Mabie Todd Swan eyedropper with a beautiful gold-filled overlay. Overall, the pen is in great condition. There is no brassing on the overlay and capped looks like a little used pen. The imprints are gorgeous and there is no personalization. There is a little scratching on the end of the barrel where the cap was posted, and there is a lot of scratching (but still no brassing) on the section from the cap being taken on an off. The cap fits very snuggly. Like it’s not coming off without a firm tug. In fact, it might be a little too snug, but is best uncapped by twisting the cap while you pull. The 14kt. Swan #2 is a beautifully soft and smooth writing XF. My original test was on paper that had some hand oil on it which is why I originally had it as an XXF. The flex comes very easily with excellent responsiveness. The range is excellent going up to BBB (1.6mm), and the feed is plenty wet. It’s a gem of a nib that both writes beautifully and has fantastic flex action.
SIZE: 5 3/16″ Capped
NIB: 14kt. Mabie Todd “Swan” #2 , XF to BBB (0.3mm – 1.6mm) WET NOODLE
FILLING: Eye Dropper
CONDITION: Excellent
Restration Work:
Wahl-Eversharp Doric Blue Shell with “FLEXIBLE” Nib – Wet Noodle – (See Price Here)
Here is Wahl-Eversharp Doric in a beautiful blue. What I think Wahl called “blue shell.” This is a vac-filling modeling comes with the rarer white gold trim. The body looks great with very minimal scratching. There is also no signs of any crazing or crystalizing of the celluloid. The clip looks great with no signs of plate loss. The band does have a little bit of brassing here and there. I replaced the plunger and rejuvenated (rather than replaced) the packing seal. Personally, I agree with the pen restorers who see no need to replace the seal if they original can be rejuvenated. I also had to put in a replacement pin at the top of the section as the original was missing. There is also a small chip out of the top of the section threads inside the barrel. This blemish has no effect on functionality and is completely hidden inside the barrel. The pen fills extremely well. Something to note, this cap does not post. Or at least it posts very, very loosely, but I find it more than comfortable unposted. The 14kt. Eversharp “Flexible” nib is a wonderfully springy and smooth writing XF. For reasons I cannot determine, when the pen sits unused for a few hours or so it needs a second to start writing. Once it starts, it never runs dry. It reminds me of some modern Platinum pens in that regard. The flex is fantastic. This isn’t a paintbrush soft, but it is wonderfully easy to flex and has a superb springy action. The feed has no trouble keeping up and the range is outstanding going from XF (0.3mm) to BBB (1.7mm). Dorics were made to be top of the line pens, and this pen definitely exemplifies that quality.
SIZE: 5″ Capped
NIB: Wahl-Eversharp “Flexible”, XF to BBB (0.3mm-1.7mm), WET NOODLE (See “Grading Flex Nibs” for How I Grade)
FILLING: Vac-Fill
CONDITION: Excellent
Restoration Work:
Conklin Crescent Ring Top Paintbrush – Wet Noodle
Here is a nice Conklin Crescent ring top. The model imprint is worn and unreadable, but I think it would be something like a 33P where the first 3 refers to the #3 nib size, the second three to the ring top, and the P to the fact that it’s a “pocket” sized pen. The hard rubber on this is faded some but still very dark. The chasing is worn almost smooth and only partially visible. Imprints are also quite worn and only pieces can be read. I don’t see any brassing on the ring top or crescent. The 14kt. #3 Conklin is a paintbrush wet noodle. It’s bouncy, fun, and just beautiful to use. Normally, it writes as a wet X (0.3mm) but it takes almost no pressure to get line variation. Responsiveness is excellent even though the nib is as soft as it is. If you really push this nib (please don’t for longevity’s sake), you will get some railroading. But if you use good form and stay within a good range, the feed keeps up well. This nib is particular suited for small and detail flex work. Or to just add a little flex flair to your normal writing. It’s a blast to use.
SIZE: 4 3/8″ Capped
NIB: 14kt. Conklin #3, XF to BB (0.3mm-1.4mm), WET NOODLE
FILLING: Crescent filler
CONDITION: Good
Restoration Work:
Waterman “Signature” Rosewood – Wet Noodle (SEE PRICE HERE)
This is I believe the Wahl “Signature” pen which followed the Tempoint but preceded the gold seal and personal point models. This one comes in what Wahl called “Rosewood” hard rubber, very similar to Waterman’s wood grain hard rubber but generally a bit redder. The hard rubber has faded a little and lost it’s original sheen, but the color is still very good. The gold-filled roller clip is in very good condition with no brassing. The cap bands are also in good shape with just one tiny spot of brassing on one of the lower bands. The lever, however, does have some brassing along the edges. The 14kt. Wahl #2 is a beautifully soft wet noodle. What I would call near paint brush soft. Normally, the nib writes as a very wet XF. The tines require almost no pressure to start spreading, so it doesn’t provide a super smooth writing experience. Responsiveness is very good considering the nib’s softness and the range is excellent going from XF (0.3mm) to BB (1.5mm) with ease.
SIZE: 5 3/16″ Capped
NIB: 14kt. Wahl #2, XF to BB (0.3mm-1.5mm) WET NOODLE (See “Grading Flex Nibs” for How I Grade)
FILLING: Lever
CONDITION: Good
Restration Work:
Waterman 94 -Wet Noodle (SEE PRICE HERE)
This Waterman 94 comes in Watermans “Steel Quartz” celluloid, a dark celluloid with chips of silver pearl and flecks of red. The body has only very light surface scratching, and I’ve buffed much of it out. The trim is chrome and is in pretty good shape. The clip and cap band have some surface scratching, but the lever is pretty clean. Imprints are crisp and easy to read. The 14kt. Waterman keyhole nib is astonishing. The flex is ultra soft while also fantastically responsive. It’s a nib that comes very close to rivaling the fantastically flexible Waterman PINK nib. Full disclosure: this nib did have a small chip out of the side edge back across the breather hole. I asked Greg Minuskin to weld in a donor chip of gold, and as usual he did a fantastic job. From the top side you would never spot it. As with all Greg’s welds, the expectation is that these will easily hold for the life of the pen. This is especially true for an unstressed spot like this particular spot. The range of flex on this is very good going from XF to BB (1.5mm). The flex is effortless and the nib responds to the slightest movements of your hand. Normally, this writes as a wet XF that is very soft. It has a pleasant sweat spot, but because of the softness of the nib it does require a soft touch to write normally.
SIZE: 5″ Capped
NIB: 14kt. Waterman #4 Keyhole, XF to BB (0.3mm-1.5mm) WET NOODLE (See “Grading Flex Nibs” for How I Grade)
FILLING: Lever
CONDITION: Good
Restration Work:
Restored Pens For Sale: 