Waterman Ideal Jr.

[CJ_ung]

Just picked up this Waterman Ideal Jr. from a local antique shop today. It has a lot of line variation, but I'm wondering if it can be deemed "vintage full flex".

I don't know a whole lot about the pen and I was wondering if any of you have any useful information about it (namely when it's from perhaps and how to disassemble it).

Thanks!

FPN isn't allowing me to upload photos, so here is a link to the Google Drive folder containing the photos.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5zYIJvn6F81fkZ0UWJVMkg4NzFXMUo2U0RLaWg0Tmt3SVp0S2hyMVdmY1hNX3NLTUtkdFE&authuser=0

[Ernst Bitterman]

It's from sometime in the late 1930s or early 1940s, to judge by the clip. Looking at how hard you were working to get that degree of flex out of it, I'd say it isn't more than semi-flex; it looks like it's bending at the face of the section, and a flex point will have more of its business happening in the tines.

 

I've got a few disassembly pointers here and here. There's more advanced stuff on the page upstream from those, but usually it's just a matter of needing a fresh sac.

[Mauricio]

CJ_ung,

 

Looking at pictures of writing samples allows you to see its line variation (providing the nib is not being over flexed), but writing samples do not allow to determine the level of flexibility in a nib. The only way to properly determine flexibility of a nib is in the hands of a very experienced flex writer. Since you are new to this pen and flex nib, I suggest you do not push it to its max. Instead, flex it moderately and develop your flex writing skills with it. To learn more about this, please see the following article I created several years ago about grading flexible nibs ... http://www.vintagepen.net/grading-flex-nibs.html

 

Waterman made great pens and wonderful flex nibs. Hope you can get it up and running and you can enjoy it.

[CJ_ung]

Thanks for the info and links. Much appreciated!!

It's from sometime in the late 1930s or early 1940s, to judge by the clip. Looking at how hard you were working to get that degree of flex out of it, I'd say it isn't more than semi-flex; it looks like it's bending at the face of the section, and a flex point will have more of its business happening in the tines.

 

I've got a few disassembly pointers here and here. There's more advanced stuff on the page upstream from those, but usually it's just a matter of needing a fresh sac.