I've got a Waterman Emblem that needs a new sac, and I've got the wind up me because of a lot of reading regarding the eeZee-Break plastics in some Taperites od much the same vintage. Does one need to be notably cautious drawing the section on an Emblem with a slip-cap, or am I being a great girl's blouse about the project?

The best way to answer the question is with a tale.......

I repaired a Waterman Taperiate at a show a few years ago. I knew it was fragile, but did get the pen apart, restored it and handed it back to it's owner. He turned to his friend who was seated next to him and said "you owe me a beer!"

Handle with care.

I am interested to know, Ron, what you'd do if, despite your best efforts (or as a result of an accident in the workshop), you did have a 'disaster' with a customer's vintage pen?

(After going "Aaaaargh! Oh, Drat!", that is )

I don't think the Emblems are quite as fragile as th e Taperites or 897's? of which more than one has died at my hands. Emblems, I believe being the higher end pen, and successor to the Hundred year pen. I will happily stand corrected in this statement.
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The reason I ask is because the plastic doesn't feel like that on any of my other pens of similar age; I will assume that Ron's tale applies to Waterman pens of all degrees. I may end up just sending it out (eventually) for the resac because it's got a bad case of crumbleosis in the clear bit on the end that I definitely can't address.

There are pens that just need to see someone with a lot more experience....
I currently have 3 pens in Ron's hands that I just did not want to deal with for various reasons...
Even a restorer needs another restorer once in a while.....
For me it is usually Ron or Richard depending on the pen and what it needs.... and the turn around time I am looking for....

For some reason, the dark blue Taperite-era Watermans are much more breakage-prone than the other colors. Open with extreme care (and warming of the entire forebarrel!).