Mahogany Waterman 32 Variants

[Estragon]

I found this spread interesting and thought I'd post a photo while I still have all three. The Mahogany 32 is an unusual model, which I believe to have been made in the US exclusively for export to England/France (most pens bear a "United States of America" imprint on the barrels and/or caps). If, to the contrary, someone has a scan of a US catalogue/advert featuring one, please do share. On this assumption, Mahogany was only available Stateside on 94s with gold-plated furniture. But white metal complements this color quite strikingly on the export 32.

 

The off-catalogue trim configurations among these and similar Waterman exports are all over the place. See, for example, this old post about a mahogany 94 with NP Patrician-style clip: http://fountainpenboard.com/forum/index.php?/topic/6189-two-unusual-waterman-94s/ Waterman 94s are also found with with Ink-Vue-style clips. Some have speculated that these were later repairs/replacements. Considering the frequency with which they crop up and the abovementioned trim variations among Waterman's export models, however, I'm inclined to think that these too left the factory this way.

 

The 32 is another case in point. Unlike US and Canadian 32s, these pens usually crop up with spatulate levers resembling those of a 94 (e.g. the 2nd and 3rd pens below). I believe the clip of the center pen is most common but there were other variants, including the 94-stye clip on the first pen – oddly enough this is paired with an atypical lever that is standard on neither the 32 nor the 94. The pen on the right appears to have had its clip re-riveted but the clip itself is one I've seen before on these pens. Note also that all pens in this shot are stamped '32' on the butt of the barrel but no two pens are of the same length.

 

 

Anyone have any other variants s/he'd like to share?

Edited November 15, 2018 by Estragon

[Greenie]

Sorry for the poor quality snap. Mine has the clip and lever from your middle pen, but a wider band.

 

[Estragon]

Nice – I'd forgotten about those! The blue and cream 32 was also made with a wide band, IIRC. So it appears that every piece of trim on these pens was subject to variation.

[Greenie]

So you can go fully crazy completist on this -

Three clip variations

two cap band variations

two lever styles

 

There might be 12 different styles! Hopefully not.

 

 

My Blue and Cream one has the rivet clip (like your middle mahogany), thin band, and the narrower/straighter tab (like you left most mahogany)

[christof]

...late to the party, but mine has an old style clip and lever:

 

Waterman's 32, Mahogany by C.M.Z, auf Flickr

 

C.