Waterman #58 - Who To Call For Restoration Service

[EdBurke]

My Fellow Waterman Collectors,

 

I have already posted this in the pen repair forum.

 

I have a Waterman #58 that needs fairly light restoration, specifically a sac, a nib adjustment, possibly seals and an appropriate clip installed. I would like to send it to a highly recommended repair person accustomed to working on old Waterman hard rubber pens (this one is a red ripple pattern). It is a hard to find pen, so I am trying to be as careful and responsible as possible. I expect that within 15 years my modest collection will end up on the market and for a poor old professor (community college) this #58 is the most valuable pen in my Waterman collection, thus I see this as a restoration for my enjoyment and conservation for the next owner.

 

I will appreciate all recommendations including self-recommendations from experts.

 

Thank you,

Ed

[Jerry Adair]

Ed

Best bet probably Ron Zorn Main Street Pens

No seals on the 58. Is there no clip present and you want to add one? If yes expect to pay $75-100 just for the clip. Ron can easily handle all of your needs and pretty fast as well.

We used to live in Ottawa we had a home on the Illinois river, Birchlawn Place. Sold it to move to Freeport, I sure miss that house. We were also members of the Boat Club. Now we are just east of you in Shorewood, near Joliet.

Good luck with your pen it's a great one. I sold 2 of them at the Chicago show this year.

Jerry

[EdBurke]

Hello Jerry,

 

Thank you for the referral to Ron. I was not sure if he was the Waterman expert or not.

 

I used to mow Bob MacLeavy's lawn on Birchlawn in the early 70s until I turned it over to my kid brother. Birchlawn is one of my favorite streets in Ottawa.If I could afford it I would retire to a house on that street.

I have never been to a pen show, I have picked up pens at antique shops and online from various sources. The Chicago show is usually at the end of classes and the start of final exams for me.

Is Shorewood close to the water? One of the things about central Illinois away from Peoria is that it has no rivers of any size. I miss living near water.

 

Thank you again and best wishes,

Ed

[Jerry Adair]

Ed

It's Jim MacLevy, he was our next door neighbor we were between the Stewarts and Jim we owned the little cedar shake bungalow a 100 foot frontage on the Illinois river. Our address was 1417 Birchlawn Place. We now are close but not on the water. My wife is an attorney and I am a sales guy that is going to retire at the end of this month at 74 it's about time. We are looking at a place in Lake Summerset near Freeport. The two 58's I sold were a ripple and a woodgrain I still have a very nice BCHR with a super flexible nib and is in great shape. I don't think Ron will have the clip but you can try him. He may well have a contact that has one. I talked to Ron a couple of days ago and he was packing for the DC show so you won't be able to get a hold of him probably till Monday. Ron is the Vice President of PCA and is in line to be the next President. If you don't belong to that group you should join it's only $40 a year and you get 3 magazines and a ton of info as well as an incredibly comprehensive library of vintage pen information. His phone is 315-727-3257. You might try 5 Star Pens for the clip Robert often has those very hard to get parts.

[EdBurke]

Thanks again Jerry.

 

I will contact Ron early next week. If the appropriate clip for the 58 is a 2 rivet GF Clip Cap, I think I may have one to send him. I got it with a group of parts a few years ago. I have a few older issues of The Pennant and have considered joining the PCA, but I will join at the end of the year.

 

Congratulations on your impending retirement.

Ed

[Jerry Adair]

Ed

The 58 clip is quite a bit larger than the 52 clip. I just measured mine and the 52 is 1.156 long vs. the 58 at 1.32. In addition the 58 clip is wider at the top. The 52 clip will look a bit lost on your 58

Jerry