Found A Waterman In The Attic, Can You Help Me Identify It? (And Use It...)

[miguelroboso]

Hello everyone,

I found this old Waterman in the attic, it belonged to a relative of mine.

Can anybody help me identify it from the images attached?

Also, I would really like to use it, and to know how to properly maintain it. I never used a fountain pen that fills with a lever like this. I tried to pull it down but it is not coming smoothly. It is a metal lever. How does exactly work?

I only know that it is an "Ideal", since it is written all over the pen (nib, cap, lever), and that it came with a pencil that, also, I don't know how to use. The last picture attached is the pencil.

Thanks,

Mic.

 

[Inga]

If the lever is having a hard time coming down, you probably need a new sac.

[AndrewC]

Wow! What a find! The pen looks like it might be a custom overlay.(Overlay is where some metal is used to form a jacket of some sort and is put on over the original pen. Some were cut out, others were solid. Some were done by the pen company, others were done by jewelers or craftsman. I do not recognize the pattern as Waterman, but since it says "Ideal" over much of it, it may well be a Waterman. "Ideal" was a line of theirs for a while.) If you look at the end of the overlay you can see that there is chasing, which would have been the original pattern of the BHR (black hard rubber). Are there any numbers on the end of the pen? If so, those would tell what model and size the pen is. Don't pull on the lever at this point as the rubber sac inside has stiffen with age and you can damage the filling mechanism. I would recommend you send the pen to a qualified repair person for fixing. Although re-saccing is not that hard, a rubber pen with an overlay could present challenges. The picture of the pencil is actually, I think, two pencils. Long thing sticking out is what would hold lead. Hold the fatter end and twist the pencil to see if the extension retracts. If so, find the right sized lead (1.1 or .9 mm probably) and feed the pencil. The match to the pen probably works by twisting either the nozzle end or the clip end. If the lead extends and retracts all you need do is feed the pencil. The end cap with the clip probably pulls off, where there might be an eraser, and under the eraser is the chamber that holds the leads.

 

Depending on where you are, there are different people to do the work for you. It should not be very expensive at all. Or, if you are near any upcoming pen shows, take it there and there are usually repair people there. You could watch the work, and get people to tell you about your pen set. Here is a link to a list of pen repair people, pen sites, etc. Pen Hero is a great resource- see under Pen Repair- http://www.penhero.com/PenBookmarks.htm

Edited September 21, 2014 by AndrewC

[Tadeusz]

The picture of the pencil is actually, I think, two pencils. Long thing sticking out is what would hold lead. Hold the fatter end and twist the pencil to see if the extension retracts. If so, find the right sized lead (1.1 or .9 mm probably) and feed the pencil. The match to the pen probably works by twisting either the nozzle end or the clip end. If the lead extends and retracts all you need do is feed the pencil. The end cap with the clip probably pulls off, where there might be an eraser, and under the eraser is the chamber that holds the leads.

 

I think that the piece with the long tube is the insert that fits inside of the pencil body.

 

I may be wrong, but based on the pencils that I own and have seen, and the fact that the tiny tube does not look like it would be a standalone pencil.

[pen lady]

One of the pencil tops looks like an Eversharp to me. But what a stunning Waterrman set, you are so luck to have found that gem! And BTW I believe early Waterman pencils don't advance and retract the lead, they advance only. To retract, you wind back the top and manually push the lead into the nozzle.

Edited September 22, 2014 by pen lady

[miguelroboso]

Thanks to everybody for the replies!

So, first off, the pencil. I omitted the information that it is, as some of you pointed out, a single pencil, and that the slim piece goes inside the pencil body. I believe that there was a spring inside the "fat" part of the interior, as the slim part goes into it, but it does not come automatically. However, I really don't know. The interior slides inside the body to a certain point, then I need to screw it in. I will ask waterman directly to see if they have a (ahahah) manual for it.

 

As for the pen, it has "waterman" on the nib and on the clip, and "ideal" on the lever and at the very top of the nib (the "L" is worn out, it just says "IDEA".

I was expecting to see numbers somewhere, but I found none. Both top and bottom are gold. The top of the cap looks like a rose, I will post a picture as soon as I come home this evening.

 

Maybe I will just send it to repair and ask them to tell me if they have any idea of what model it is.

As for pen shows, there is the Michigan Pen Show coming up, I will wait for it and go get it fixed.

 

Thanks for the help!

[Jerry Adair]

Thanks to everybody for the replies!

So, first off, the pencil. I omitted the information that it is, as some of you pointed out, a single pencil, and that the slim piece goes inside the pencil body. I believe that there was a spring inside the "fat" part of the interior, as the slim part goes into it, but it does not come automatically. However, I really don't know. The interior slides inside the body to a certain point, then I need to screw it in. I will ask waterman directly to see if they have a (ahahah) manual for it.

 

As for the pen, it has "waterman" on the nib and on the clip, and "ideal" on the lever and at the very top of the nib (the "L" is worn out, it just says "IDEA".

I was expecting to see numbers somewhere, but I found none. Both top and bottom are gold. The top of the cap looks like a rose, I will post a picture as soon as I come home this evening.

 

Maybe I will just send it to repair and ask them to tell me if they have any idea of what model it is.

As for pen shows, there is the Michigan Pen Show coming up, I will wait for it and go get it fixed.

 

Thanks for the help!

Mike Krut will be there and he is an excellent repairman. Tell him Jerry Adair sent you and he will add 25% to his regular price! Just kidding he is one of my best friends

Jerry

[miguelroboso]

Mike Krut will be there and he is an excellent repairman. Tell him Jerry Adair sent you and he will add 25% to his regular price! Just kidding he is one of my best friends

Jerry

Good to know, I will ask him to take a look at the pen!

[RMN]

What a very lovely set.

 

I congratulate you, although if it belonged to family, the reason you got it is probably less nice.

 

 

D.ick

[ac12]

First, congrats on a NICE pen.

Second, I suggest you use it as a heirloom pen. IOW, keep it safe at home, where it can't be damaged/lost/stolen.

[RMN]

First, congrats on a NICE pen.

Second, I suggest you use it as a heirloom pen. IOW, keep it safe at home, where it can't be damaged/lost/stolen.

I agree

 

I have no idea of the value, but it won't be cheap...

 

 

D.ick

[miguelroboso]

oh yeah, this won't leave my house after I repair it