For a long time I have been thinking of owning a waterman.... and now I am the proud owner of two...
here are they.....
The first one(the bottom one in picture) is 11.5 cm long, the barrel imprint is 'WATERMAN'S, REG U.S PAT. OFF'', and a globe
with 'IDEAL' imprint, the nib says 'WATERMAN'S,IDEAL REG U.S PAT. OFF', and a number which is not very visible, but it seems'2'.
There is no other imprint, no number at the backside. the condition is good enough to assume they are not worn away...
they simply had never been there. It is almost completely black and shiny(in Indian climate most safeties turn brown).
It fills up nicely, and has a beautiful fine flex nib.
so anybody has any idea what is it?


The 2nd one is more worn , 10.5cm in length,but it has a lot more imprint. the barrel says 'WATERMANS IDEAL FOUNTAIN PEN NY U.S.A, SAFETY PEN'. Three patent dates are there 1884, 1899, 1902. the back has a number 42. The nib is weird. it says 'Waterman's', 14ct,
W-2B, and after it there is a star like mark. the nib's size is roughly a swan #2 like.

Both the pen had two clip.(must be add on). the 42 got some scratches on its cap for it. they are imprinted 'ARGUS MFG. CO,
CHICAGO, USA.' both have patent date , FEB 21, 1922for one, and the other have date JAN27, 1914.

So anybody can help me identify them or share some info about them?

Hi bluemoon

Actually your pens identify themselves, they are Waterman 42s, one has what is likely to be a replacement nib, the three that I have all have the Reg US Patent Office marked nibs.

The 4 in the model number specifies a Safety pen, the 2 gives you the nib size, there are Safety Pens with other size nibs so a 44 would have a size 4 nib and so on.

Waterman made 42 safety models for years so a W2B nib as standard is by no means an impossiblity just that I haven't seen a 42 with a W2B nib fitted.

I hope this helps you.

Cheers, John