Is This A 515?

[chunya]

Hi,

 

Can anyone throw any light on this pen. I've had a 515 before, but it was quite a bit different from this one, which also doesn't seem to match others I can find.

 

I presume this is from the 1940's or so, and it has a sticker which reads: 'Waterman's No. 515 Medium 40/- (incl P Tax) ... at £2 that was quite expensive at the time.

 

However, the only imprint is on the barrel which simply reads: 'Waterman's Made in England'. The nib reads 'Waterman's Ideal England'. What is also odd is that all the 515's I've seen from this period have a sing;e broad cap band.

 

This also seems smaller than the one I had before, measuring only 13cm capped.

 

Ant thoughts?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Left FPN]

I have a 1947 catalogue which shows the Commando 515 with a double ring cap as per yours. The lever filler is different in that yours looks....sorry 'cheaper'.

[chunya]

Hi Force,

 

Thanks for that, and the lever was another thing I meant to point out, So it looks like it is a 515 but with a replacement (cheaper) lever.

 

Edit.

 

I just found this earlier post: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/276356-my-first-waterman-ideal-5/

 

and what is interesting is the last post by Stanley Howler, his description of his pen seems to match mine!

Edited March 15, 2018 by chunya

[Left FPN]

I think your lever is original to the barrel.

[chunya]

Hi Force,

 

Was there possibly a wartime/post war restriction on using certain materials, hence the cheaper lever and absence of a lever box? Does your catalogue give a price for the pens?

Edited March 15, 2018 by chunya

[Left FPN]

Yes perhaps due to the war.

 

Sorry, no prices.

 

 

[chunya]

Thanks for that scan, Force.

I can't remember where I saw it, but there was a Wartime advert for the 515 giving the price as being $5 ... not sure if the conversion was still 2/6 = $1 (I'm of an age when we called a half crown (2/6) a 'half dollar' ) if so that would have been a retail price of £1 2s 6p