Waterman 32V – Good Flex – (On Ebay)

Here is a nice Waterman 32V, the vest pen version of the 32. These are from the era where Waterman was transitioning away from hard rubber to modern plastics. The feeds and sections  remain hard rubber but the body is s high quality plastic, which makes long term care much easier while maintains the benefits of ebonite feeds. The body is in good condition with only some light marks on the end of the barrel from posting and a few scratches on the barrel end. The chrome trim is great condition with no signs of plate loss. The 14kt. Waterman #2 nib is a great writing XF. It is beautifully smooth and perfect flow. Not too wet, not too dry. It also has some lovely flex. The flex has many traits of a “super flex” grade. It has great range going from XF (0.3mm) to BBB (1.8mm), with great flow, and some good responsiveness. It’s just a bit on the stiff side to be a “super flex,” thus the “good flex” grade. This size pen is great. Very portable but when it posts it feels like a full size pen. Plus, you get vintage Waterman writing and flex.

SIZE:  4 1/4″ Capped

NIB: Waterman #2, XF to BBB (0.3mm-1.8mm) GOOD FLEX (See “Grading Flex Nibs” for How I Grade)

FILLING: Lever

CONDITION: Excellent

Restoration Work:

• Pen thoroughly cleaned & flushed
• Nib polished and tuned to write smoothly
• Nib and feed ultrasonically cleaned and adjusted for optimal flow
• Body and trim cleaned and polished
• New sac installed
• Test driven for a week to insure quality

Waterman 412 – Super Flex (On Ebay)

Here is a fantastic Waterman 412 eyedropper. The sterling silver filigree overlay is in nice condition without a lot of signs of use. The hard rubber body has faded a little but not a lot. The “412” imprint is good and easy to read. It has no personalization. It is also a clipless model. The 14kt. Waterman #2 is wonderful. It writes normally as a smooth XF (0.3mm). It is not the typical wet vintage nib, nor is it too dry. It’s just about right. The nib feels great on the page in normal writing. The nib flexes with a nice range having swells up BBB (1.7mm). The feed is plenty wet to keep up. Responsiveness is decent as well. It’s a great all around nib in a gorgeous, vintage 412.

SIZE:  5 3/8″ Capped

NIB: Waterman #2, XF to BBB (0.3mm-1.9mm),  SUPER FLEX (See “Grading Flex Nibs” for How I Grade)

FILLING: Lever

CONDITION: Excellent

Restration Work:

• Pen thoroughly cleaned & flushed
• Gold filled filigree cleaned and polished
• Nib polished and tuned to write smoothly
• Nib and feed ultrasonically cleaned and adjusted for optimal flow
• Test driven for a week to insure quality

Waterman 0552 – Super Flex  (On Ebay)

A Waterman numbered 0552 means a 52 with a gold filled overlay (the “05”). This gold filled overlay has some very nice floral etching throughout. There is little to no brassing on the body that I can see. There are a couple of scratches on the body. Nothing serious. “F.V.M” is the personalization on the barrel. Just above those initials is a small spot where some of the overlay was scraped off (see pics). The lever has some brassing and the “Ideal” globe is partly worn off. The “0552” imprint has worn completely off. It’s obviously been used, though the overall appearance is still pretty good. The black hard rubber is still very dark. It’s somewhere between a very dark brown and black. The 14kt. Waterman #2 nib is an almost stubbish XF/F (0.35mm). It writes like a typical wet Waterman nib with some really nice character due to the natural line variation. The flex on this pen is also nice ranging up to BB (1.6mm). The feed is quite wet and keeps up very well. This would make a great do everything pen. Good writer, good flex.

SIZE: 5 3/8″ Capped

NIB: Waterman #2, F/XF to BBB (0.35mm-1.6mm),  SUPER FLEX  (See “Grading Flex Nibs” for How I Grade)

FILLING: Lever

CONDITION: Good

Restration Work:

• Pen (barrel, section, nib, feed, & cap) thoroughly cleaned & flushed
• Nib and trim polished
• Nib and feed ultrasonically cleaned
• Nib and feed tuned to write smoothly and with optimal flow
• Overlay cleaned and polished
• Test driven for at least a week to insure quality

Waterman 0552 1/2 Pen & Pencil Combo – Super Flex  (On Ebay)

Here is a beautiful Waterman 0552 1/2 (a 52 1/2 in gold filled overlay) with matching Waterman pencil. The gold-filled overlay looks beautiful. It has some brassing on the clip, as well as some on the crown of the cap and end of the barrel. The pencil has no brassing that I can see. Both pieces are engraved with the initials “R.P.W.” The 14kt. Waterman #2 is a rather wet writing XF (0.3mm), but it’s wetness makes it feel more like a F. It’s smooth and has the soft feel typical of Waterman flex nibs. The flex is quite good ranging up to BBB (1.7mm) quite easily. The feed is plenty wet. Responsiveness is decent. Not out of this world, but decent. Overall a gorgeous vintage set.

SIZE:  5 1/4″ Capped

NIB: Waterman #2, XF to BBB (0.3mm-1.7mm)  SUPER FLEX (See “Grading Flex Nibs” for How I Grade)

FILLING: Lever

CONDITION: Excellent

Restration Work:

• Pen thoroughly cleaned & flushed
• Nib polished and tuned to write smoothly
• Nib and feed ultrasonically cleaned and adjusted for optimal flow
• Pen body polished
• New sac installed
• Test driven for a week to insure quality

Wahl Wood Grain Ring Top XXXF – Wet Noodle (See Price Here)

This Wahl ring top is in a beautiful ebonite wood grain patter. This pen was used but well cared for. I say that for a couple of reasons. First, the pen is in fantastic condition. Although there are some dings on the top of the cap (normal from everyday use with a pocket chain), the gold filled trim shows no signs of brassing. The response trim on top of the cap is especially impressive. The only brassing is on the crown of the lever. Further, the color of this pen is superb. It even has some of its original shine. Very little signs of and fading. The second reason I say it was well cared for is that the barrel on the threads sustained a very small crack. But this crack was repaired by a legitimate pen repairer. An internal metal sleeve was inserted and bonded to the inside of the barrel. With such robust reinforcement the threads of barrel are now far stronger than they were ever new. Further, the crack is not very obvious. I actually missed until I saw the internal metal sleeve on disassembly. But the real winner of this pen is the 14kt. Eversharp “Flexible” #2 nib. This is a very, very rare XXXF (0.1mm) Eversharp wet noodle nib. Just look at the whisper lines this nib produces. The nib is not a paintbrush or near paintbrush in flex, but it does come rather easily. The responsiveness is about as good as you can get in a fountain pen. There is some feedback on the nib in normal writing, but who writes with a XXXF nib? If you are looking for a do everything nib, this probably isn’t for you. If you are looking for a beautiful tool for art or calligraphy, this may be the one. The price here reflects the rarity of the nib. The beauty of the pen doesn’t hurt either.

SIZE:  4 1/4″ Capped

NIB: Wahl #2, XXXF to BBB (0.1mm-1.7mm) WET NOODLE (See “Grading Flex Nibs” for How I Grade)

FILLING: Lever

CONDITION: Good (Excellent except for that small crack)

Restration Work:

• Pen thoroughly cleaned & flushed
• Body thoroughly polished.
• Nib polished and tuned to write smoothly.
• Nib and feed ultrasonically cleaned and adjusted for optimal flow
• New sac installed
• Test driven for a week to insure quality

Minerva Brevetto 60 – Good / Super Flex  (On Ebay)

Minerva was a sub-brand of Omas. In my experience with Minerva the quality of the pen is on par with Omas, but the pens are paired down a bit (less trim, etc.). But I’ve only restored a handful. This pen probably dates to the late 40s-50s. It is a black celluloid in an almost identical style to an Omas of the same era. Gold filled trim is in great condition with no brassing. The pen is a piston filler, and it works great. There does appear to be a few very light teeth marks on the piston knob, but you’ll miss them unless you are looking close. The right tine of the nib has a little bit of a raised are toward the breather hole. At some point someone wanted this nib to write a bit finer than XF and attempted to reduce the flow. That’s how I found the nib. This left that right tine with a mark due to being bent down a bit. I adjusted the nib and functionally it’s strong, stable and writes great, but there is still that aesthetic mark. Anyway, the nib is a 14kt. Minerva XF (0.3mm). It writes plenty wet without overdoing it, and it’s also plenty smooth. I’ve graded the flex as a “good flex.” Ease of flex is closer to super flex, but the range is a little limited and there is a very occasional chance of a railroad. Basically after four lines or so the sample writing, it railroaded. I gave the pen a slight shake, and it picked up back. Four lines later, the same thing, and so on. Still, it’s a great pen for normal writing or flex work.

SIZE: 5 1/8″ Capped

NIB: 14kt. Minerva, XF to BB (0.3mm-1.5mm)  GOOD/SUPER FLEX (See “Grading Flex Nibs” for How I Grade)

FILLING: Lever

CONDITION: Good

Restration Work:

• Pen thoroughly cleaned & flushed
• Pen cap and body polished
• Nib polished and tuned to write smoothly
• Nib and feed ultrasonically cleaned and adjusted for optimal flow
• Ink sac replaced
• Test driven for a week to insure quality

Waterman 52 Red Ripple – Wet Noodle (On Ebay)

Here is a hard to find Waterman 52 Red Ripple with an XXF wet noodle nib. The red ripple hard rubber has a little bit of fading, but it still has pretty decent color. The gold filled trim is in overall good condition. The lever has a few nicks (see pics), but otherwise there is no brassing on the trim. Imprints are good and crisp and easily readable. The barrel bears the inscription “Helen Mitchell” with “L.C.C.I.” under the name. The 14kt. Waterman #2 nib is wonderful. It’s a XXF (0.2mm) that is pretty decently wet for so fine a nib. If you write very lightly, it only has a hint of feedback, which you would expect for so fine a nib. But it really takes very little pressure to cause the tines to start flexing, so you have to write very soft. It’s not really a pen for normal writing. The flex is near paintbrush soft and ranges up to BBB (1.7mm), but really it’s best around the 1.2-1.5mm range. If you are looking for monster lines, this isn’t the one. But if you are looking for something crisp, calligraphic lines, this is your pen. Responsiveness is fantastic as would be expected from such a fine flex nib. One warning; the nib is a little finicky about using the proper technique. Put more pressure on one tine (poor technique), and it will start to railroad. The XXF wet noodles is the most in demand flex nibs, and this one is on the highly desirable 52 Red Ripple. It’s probably not going to last long.

SIZE:  5 3/8″ Capped

NIB: 14kt. Waterman #2, XXF to BBB (0.3mm-1.7mm),  WET NOODLE (See “Grading Flex Nibs” for How I Grade)

FILLING: Lever

CONDITION: Excellent

Restration Work:

• Pen thoroughly cleaned & flushed
• Nib polished and tuned to write smoothly
• Nib and feed ultrasonically cleaned
• Nib and feed adjusted for optimal flow
• New sac installed
• Test driven for a week to insure quality