Waterman 7 Red Ripple Color Band Removal

[jaxxon]

Acquired a Waterman 7 in quite good condition with the exception of the cap color bands. I would like to replace them, one color and 2 white. I know of several sources for bands or I could make them if I could find the correct color material. The bigger problem is knowing how they were installed originally. In all my reference material it is stated that they are a problem from shrinkage and cracking but not a clue as to how to remove them. The material above the rings looks pretty fragile to me to unscrew. I would appreciate any tips you might have in making the change. TIA Jack

[FarmBoy]

The end of the cap is threaded into the cap body in a manner similar to the top of a Duofold cap. The rings are held in place by friction and simply slid over the threads to sit on the shoulder of the cap top. Be prepared for the color band to crumble and the white bands to snap.

 

You may find that the bands are anything but round and are not a production of two concentric circles.

 

Make your replacements sufficiently large that you can turn them down by hand to a nice clean fit with the hard rubber. If the cap isn't perfectly round or concentric you will need to be prepared to adjust the thickness of the 3 band assembly to match what it was so the top and body line up correctly. This is easiest done by making the center band slightly thicker than needed and removing material as needed.

 

For the white easiest is to use sheet polystyrene. For the color you go hunting at the local flea market for anything that looks vintage and has that warm feel and is the right color and you attack it with all manner of machine shop to get the part you want.

 

Or you might see if David Nishimura has any bands or Rob/Rita Lott has any left.

[jaxxon]

Thanks Farm Boy. That is exactly what I wanted to know about that cap piece above the rings. I sort of figured as much but needed to be certain before I buggered up the cap

[Estragon]

I thought I'd raise this thread from the dead to ask if the earlier Waterman 7 color bands *without* the white rings can be removed in this way as well – by unscrewing the crown. Just wanted to be sure beforehand.

[Estragon]

I've made an effort to unscrew the crown with modest application of heat, but no cigar. Does anyone know whether this can be accomplished on pens like this one? -->

 

[Vintagepens]

I'd leave the original band alone unless it is totally wrecked.

The only replacement bands I would recommend are those made from casein plastic by Mark Hoover. Pretty much all the others I've seen have the wrong look.

[CS388]

I've made an effort to unscrew the crown with modest application of heat, but no cigar. Does anyone know whether this can be accomplished on pens like this one? -->

 

 

That's a particularly beautiful cap, the way the ripples run into the clip is unusually precise.

[Estragon]

Not mine, unfortunately – just a photo I had floating around on my hard drive. Interesting too how short the tines are on that Pink nib.

[Estragon]

I'd leave the original band alone unless it is totally wrecked.

 

My problem is that the nib color doesn't match the band color, and the proper nib would be far more difficult to find...

[Stylomeister]

I have the exact same pen but with a Canadian nib.

 

The first year edition had no white cap bands (apparently) and the ring becomes more of a brown colour after many years. I left mine exactly as it is.

 

The proper casein colour band would be more of a reddish colour I think, not pink. I noticed someone is selling these on eBay the other day - these are what you'd need to look for and not some plastic replacement. The base of the Clip-Cap accomodation clip is typically wider on the first generation pen (and perhaps on some early second) so adding the white bands would not necessarily be 'original'.

[Vintagepens]

The casein bands for sale on eBay are, I believe, being sold directly by Mark Hoover. As far as I know, he's the only one who has made repros using original materials, and at last word, he's been running out of the material for a number of the colors -- so if you need any, get them now.

 

PS "Accommodation clip" is typically used to indicate a removable, slip-on clip.