Waterman Harlequin

[CharlieB]

When I first began collecting fountain pens about four years ago, I discovered the Waterman Man 100, and promptly fell in love with the design, the size, the weight, and the performance of this pen.

 

Soon thereafter, I acquired a Waterman Opera, a variant of the Man 100, and I grew to love this pen as well.

 

I kept reading that there was another variant of the Man 100, the Harlequin, with a design that was very similar to the Opera, but with different chasing on the pen barrel and cap.

 

In four years of searching, I only found one of these pens on eBay, and I was outbid by a country mile. After getting no response to my searches, I gave up on my search for a Harlequin about a year or so ago.

 

This afternoon I was in Kensington, Maryland to get the oil changed on my car. Afterwards, I decided to swing by Pen Haven and say hello to Bert Heiserman. While we were talking, I looked down into the pen display case and saw what I thought were two Operas. I asked Bert if I could see his Operas. When he pulled out the tray and set it on the counter, I nearly fainted.... because one of those pens was not an Opera, but a Harlequin! Seeing the Harlequin and the Opera next to each other in the tray emphasized both the similarities of the two pens.

 

Of course I purchased the Harlequin. It is an absolutely gorgeous pen, with the chasing in a diamond pattern rather than the "swoosh" pattern that characterizes the Opera. It writes like a charm. And Bert -- one of the finest gentlemen in the entire fountain pen community -- sold it to me for a very fair price. And, yes, he knew what it was he was selling. Bert knows more about fountain pens than I will ever know, even if I live another 50 years!

 

For those who are keeping track.... yes, I did go to Pen Haven on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend. That's unusual, but it was definitely worth it. On Saturday, Bert fixed the nib on my new Etruria. On Sunday, he sold me a Harlequin. What a great weekend!

Edited March 10, 2008 by CharlieB

[satrap]

Congrats, CharlieB! It couldn't have happened to a nicer person. Well, actually, it COULD have, but I am no longer in DC.

[MicheleB]

Doesn't Pen HEAVEN count as church on Sunday? ;-)

[girlieg33k]

Only to true believers, Michele...

 

Charlie, congratulations on finally finding your Waterman Harlequin! Not only did I have a good chuckle -- but I nearly fainted at the part about you nearly fainting! It makes one wonder what would happen if you finally found a waterproof version of Waterman Florida Blue to go in the Harlequin. Smelling salts, Stat!

 

 

Edited March 10, 2008 by girlieg33k

[Deirdre]

Not only did you find the Harlequin, you found it in the wild! Very cool.

[Richard F]

It's a beauty. Alas, mine is an EF with no iridium on the nib. Very scratchy.

[steersbylitning]

Charlie, you are *so* lucky -- not only to find this pen you've been looking for, but to be able to buy it from Bert Heiserman. I don't miss many things about the DC area (despite having lived there most of my life) other than family and friends who are still there, but one of them is Pen Haven and Bert in particular.

 

Gorgeous pen -- use it in good health!

 

Debbie

 

 

 

[aphotog3]

Hi Charlie B. !!

 

Saw your note about the Harlequin Waterman Fountain pen and was wondering waht you paid for it several years ago?

 

You could just call me now at: 315-xxxxxxx in Upstate New York..I do have one for sale and the Ball point pen as well.

 

 

Many thanks.

 

 

Jerry Fine

 

 

Email removed.

Edited October 10, 2014 by RMN

[Left FPN]

Charlie has not been active since 2012.

[aphotog3]

does anyone else know any Waterman Harlequin FP prices for present day?

 

Thanks.

 

 

J.Fine

[Left FPN]

Expect to pay a little more than an Opera if the pen is in excellent to mint condition.

 

Ebay (world) completed listings (though some will say not) will guide you on pricing.

[RMN]

Hi Charlie B. !!

 

Saw your note about the Harlequin Waterman Fountain pen and was wondering waht you paid for it several years ago?

 

You could just call me now at: 315-xxxxxxx in Upstate New York..I do have one for sale and the Ball point pen as well.

 

 

Many thanks.

 

 

Jerry Fine

 

Email removed.

 

 

It is not very wise to leave your full name, email and telephone on an open forum like FPN

 

As the OP is unlikely to react I have removed these info from your post.

 

The OP always could send you a PM

 

 

D.ick

Moderator.

[Richard F]

It's a beauty. Alas, mine is an EF with no iridium on the nib. Very scratchy.

I noticed this thread is alive again, which leads me to update my old post: A few years ago I sent this pen to Greg Minuskin for retipping. He did a superb job, and now this pen writes a smooth, wet line.

[georges zaslavsky]

I have a waterman le man 100 harlequin with a f nib which wrtites outstandingly well