Ok, I know I've read this somewhere, but cannot find it at the moment. I'm considering buying what I believe to be a Waterman overlay. It has a Waterman nib, Waterman leverbox and a 9ct (375) overlay which is also marked F.D.W., however, no apparent marking at the barrel end, where I would expect to see 552 or 552 1/2. It's a full overlay (cap and barrel, but not LEC) and hallmarked on both pieces (FDW only on barrel). Is this an aftermarket overlay made for waterman for export? I believe the FDW is Waterman's makers mark for precious metals, correct? I guess I just want to make sure this is the real deal before I buy it, and there aren't any other considerations I should be looking at. For what it's worth, the pen is in excellent condition, no cracks, chips, etc.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks!
Brian

Brian:

These two pens are both marked simply "STERLING"; the 452 on the cap edge and the 452 1/2V LEC on the barrel edge.



And both have their model number marked on the barrel end.

I have the 452 1/2 V Sterling Silver Vine Pattern, and it also is clearly marked on the end.

Todd

FDW was the hallmark used for export precious metal overlays (standing for Frank D Waterman, L.E. Waterman's son and the one who really made the company a pen-making giant).

David Nishimura will have to chime in on the end mark. I have had a few Waterman pens come through that had the ends worn enough so that the model number was nearly unreadable - requiring serious work with lighting to make it out. In one case, the rest of the pen was in better-than-average shape. I am guessing a past user had a habit of rubbing the end of the pen on something that wore out the end before the rest of the chasing and imprint.

Pens for European export - and 9ct was nearly exclusively a British Export item - have some different variations from the standard US pens. Wait for David N to chime in.

John

Yes, it's the real deal.

English Waterman. No number on the barrel end. They're just like that.

Awesome, that's what I thought, but it's always good to check twice. I'm going ahead with the purchase. It really is a beautiful pen and can't wait to post a pic of it!

Brian

I should note that UK-market Waterman overlays do sometimes have model numbers imprinted on the ends of their barrels, but invariably lacking any digits beyond the tens place.

The hallmarks in question are normally London. Where the overlays were manufactured remains to be established, though Alex Crum Ewing maintained that Mordan provided at least some, special, overlays to Waterman for their UK pens. It would not be surprising if most of the ordinary patterns were in fact US-made, and UK-hallmarked.

Update: Got the pen yesterday and it is really an amazing pattern. It's a clipless model and has some writing underneath the lever that I haven't been able to make out quite yet, but it appears to be patent dates with USA on the bottom. Hope to have a picture this weekend.

Oh, and for those wondering, an amazing nib, as expected!

Brian