I am hoping to buy an as new unused Patrician fountain pen and, though I've read what I can find on these pens, would appreciate some detail:

Somewhere I read about corroding parts: what are the problem areas if any and how do any problems come about; also how do you avoid them? I would use the pen, probably with Waterman's own inks.

How do the nibs feel, compared for example with a modern Pelikan 800 and with a modern Parker Duofold (all medium nibs)?

I have a Rhapsody; are the pens very similar in use apart from the size difference? Are the nibs different - like for like grades?

How different are the green mottled finishes between the Patrician and the Rhapsody? Not the coral green: I believe the Patrician comes in another green as well.

Many thanks for any info: am excited at the prospect of getting one of these great pens.

Thomas

Hi Royal,

I will comment on the finishes of the Rhapsody and the Patrician.

Rhapsody is one of those pens that went through a couple of cosmetic changes. There is a Mineral Green (also a Mineral red, I think), which I think is very pretty, and I would describe it as a green with black streaks, but the green is very prominent. I have 4 Rhapsodies (where is Ocala? you know he is jealous of me ), and they are marbled; kind of black with splotches of colour (red, green, 2 blue).

I also have a couple of Patricians (1 jade, 1 coral). The colours can be seen here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/WATERMAN-PATRICIAN-CAR...1742.m153.l1262
(not to worry, I would never pay that much!).

Congrats!! Hope you get your pen for a good price (my coral was a gift from friends; my jade was half price)

Thank you, Satrap. The finishes look very pretty, as you say. Just to be clear about the different green or greenish finishes, can you comment on the colours in the four pictures in this post from Georges (here is the link: http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h...l%3Den%26sa%3DG )?

Maybe you could confirm the Waterman names for the finishes in the two bottom shots (i.e. the ones that are the same except one is rotated)? It's really the green one I'm most interested in, but for future reference it would be good to know all of them!

I'm going to have to pay quite a lot, but will see everything for real first.

Thanks again for the info,
Thomas

Hi Royal,

The Patrician finishes are described as "mottled" finishes, if I remember right.

Well, I hope you won't have to pay a lot, I hope you can find a good sale!
Also, I have had my Patricians for several years, and have yet to experience any corrosion issues. Maybe a repair person can chime in here.

Well, I hope you won't have to pay a lot, I hope you can find a good sale!
Also, I have had my Patricians for several years, and have yet to experience any corrosion issues. Maybe a repair person can chime in here.
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Hi Satrap,
Sounds encouraging.... now just to see the pens for real. By the way, how would you describe the way they write - smooth, flex, etc, etc. Sorry to launch the Spanish Inquisition!

T

Hi Satrap,
Sounds encouraging.... now just to see the pens for real. By the way, how would you describe the way they write - smooth, flex, etc, etc. Sorry to launch the Spanish Inquisition!

T

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Hi Tom,

Well, you have opened a can of nibs! I am "old school" Waterman fan and my favourite pens are the LeMan line. Wait until Georges finds this thread! He won't even consider another Waterman as being in the same league as the LeMan 100. Great, smooth nibs. Not flexy, but I wouldn't say "nail" either.
LeMan was the best thing Waterman ever did.

Mineral green Rhapsody:

http://cgi.ebay.com/WATERMAN-LE-MAN-200-RH...1QQcmdZViewItem

Hi Satrap,

Nice to hear from you again! Funny thing is I've come across more enthusiasm for these Waterman 100 and 200 range pens in the few days I've been looking at this make than for all the other makes, including Pelikan, which has given me very dependable and positive results. If I get the Patrician I'll have a Rhapsody and a Patrician, each in a green finish. And it all started with looking for a replacement for my disappeared Laureat (I knew so little I didn't even know it was called that), with an enterprising sales manager saying: 'you might like to try this instead....'!

On the corrosion issue, perhaps certain inks, e.g. Waterman's own inks, would minimize the chances of its happening. In the end I take the view life's too short, so get on and use and enjoy! Finally, I wonder if the finish of the Mineral Green in the Rhapsody (200) is very similar to the Patrician (100). I think the amount of black and green varies quite a lot one pen to another within each model anyway - so I've been told.

Once I get the Patrician I can safely withdraw from FPN, knowing I've spent enough and will never need another pen....... but the trouble is: I can resist anything except temptation!

T

I have had four modern patricians. One came with some corrosion and one developed a spot of corrosion. In both pens the corrosion happended in the same place. The plastic section has a metal ring at the nib end of it. Mine developed corrosion on the lip of the metal ring almost where the metal touches the nib.

The nibs were very firm, and a little on the dry side. If by some chance you tend to hold your pen at a very high angle of attack, say 70 degrees or higher, you will find this dryness is more noticable on the upstroke, at least in my limited experience. I had Richard Binder smooth and adjust and open the flow a little on one of my pens and it was then a wonderful nib. I had medium nibs and they were not overly wet or fat mediums.

I think they are nice pens, though a tad on the heavy side compared to some, when adjusted correctly. Just my two cents. j

I own a green patrician since may 2008 and the nib is one of the smoothest you can get on a waterman better than on an exception or an edson. The patrician was never made in four colors but in three lapis blue, marbled green and coral red.
I have already reserved a blue patrician through my favorite penshop so I don't have worry about it. Problems with epray as usual is that none of the pen that are for sale are warranted.

I have Patrician in Coral and Green, Fine points. They've not suffered any corrosion; they are well kept and protected from "the element" (apologies to the Benz Collection....I couldn't resist They are wonderfully smooth writers, do not have much spring, and IMHO draw a nice line that is just write for my copious note taking; pen feels about medium-heavy weight . Overall I like these pens and hope you do too

Thank you for your contributions and sorry not to have replied much sooner, as I've been too busy to log in to the board for over a month - or just tried to beat the addiction! I didn't get the green Patrician as the cosmetic condition wasn't as good as the photo suggested, but if one comes up again I definitely would be interested.

Meanwhile have been using a marbled green Rhapsody and now it is run in (it was new old stock) it is starting to come on song nicely - so far just used with Florida Blue.

Best wishes,
Tom

Glad it worked out for you. enjoy that pen, j