Waterman 52X Frankenpen?

[Snargle]

Here's an interesting Waterman pen I just grabbed this morning at a local flea market. It's a Waterman 52X (marked on end of barrel) in Orange (Red?) hard rubber, a #5 Waterman nib, and black hard rubber Waterman cap from some other pen. The cap has a handyman's repair job of wire wound around the clip and cap to hold it in place and secured with a spot of solder. I'm assuming the cap is not original, but I'm curious about the nib. Most references I've found suggest that the 52X is a 55 body with a #2 nib. This one is definitely a #5. Looks like I'll be hunting around for an orange cap to match the body.

 

 

 

[Snargle]

I just finished cleaning up the pen and refitting it with a new #17 sac. I dipped the pen and wrote a few scribbles. That's a really nice nib...medium flex and very smooth. I posted a WTB ad for a matching cap, but even with the ugly mismatched cap, it's still a keeper!

[crescentfiller]

That is the Waterman Hemingway, a most excellent pen!

 

Best,

Daniel

[Snargle]

That is the Waterman Hemingway, a most excellent pen!

 

Best,

Daniel

What is a Waterman Hemingway? I don't find any information on such a pen model with an online search. Details please!

[crescentfiller]

What is a Waterman Hemingway? I don't find any information on such a pen model with an online search. Details please!

 

 

I was just kidding. Take a look at this pen and you'll understand.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Montblanc-ernest-Hemingway-fountain-pen-mont-blanc-1992-limited-edition-writers-/161649419903?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25a30e667f

[mhphoto]

The 52X is a fairly rare model. It was a Waterman 55 body/cap with a section made to take the more common (and cheaper) #2 nibs, so people who wanted a bigger pen but didn't care to pay the premium for the larger #5 nib could save a bit of money. I've never seen one in the cardinal color though. My guess is the original cap broke, they grabbed a black one from a W55 parts pen, did something obscene to the loose clip, and called it a day. But since yours has a #5 nib I guess someone also had a cardinal 55 section and nib too? Weird little pen you got but it probably still writes like a dream, so enjoy!

Edited July 26, 2015 by mhphoto

[Snargle]

The 52X is a fairly rare model. It was a Waterman 55 body/cap with a section made to take the more common (and cheaper) #2 nibs, so people who wanted a bigger pen but didn't care to pay the premium for the larger #5 nib could save a bit of money. I've never seen one in the cardinal color though. My guess is the original cap broke, they grabbed a black one from a W55 parts pen, did something obscene to the loose clip, and called it a day. But since yours has a #5 nib I guess someone also had a cardinal 55 section and nib too? Weird little pen you got but it probably still writes like a dream, so enjoy!

If I happen to find a matching cap at an affordable price, I'll swap it, but for now, I'm just happy with my Frankenpen. It's a great writer and an interesting conversation piece, even if it will never win a beauty contest!