Another rare waterman le man 100: le man 100 bicentenaire de la révolution française

[georges zaslavsky]

Hi

 

Let me introduce you the Waterman Le Man 100 Stylo Officiel de la revolution française.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/georges2/dcp_0252.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/georges2/dcp_0253.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/georges2/dcp_0254.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/georges2/dcp_0255.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/georges2/dcp_0256.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/georges2/dcp_0257.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/georges2/dcp_0258.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/georges2/dcp_0259.jpg

It was a very limited edition of the 1st generation of the man 100 made in 1989 for the anniversary of the bicentenary of the french revolution. Needless to say, not many of these were made and to see one for sale mint, uninked and with its boxes and papers is something unusual. I found one at my favorite penshop Morastylos, I immediately reserved it two weeks ago and bough it yesterday. Needless to say that I am happy. Let's review the pen

 

1)Appearance

The pen is not much different from a normal except that the clip is special and remembering the 200th anniversary of the french revolution and at the end of the cap there is written 1789-1989 bicentenaire de la revolution française. The color is black and the gold plating hasn't shown a single point of wearing. Something that tells you a lot about the quality of Waterman in the 80's. The pen is black with gold trim which means a good and minimalistic appearance combining elegance and sobriety. The classic lines of the man 100 are going well through the decades and never get old, owning a man 100 or a man 200 is a sign of having good taste in fountain pens.

 

2)Weight

That version of the man 100 is of resin which less heavy than laquered brass corpse of my man 100 patrician. Ergonomics are excellent, it is not a too light nor a too heavy pen, it is a better pen than the exception or the edson.The pen never tires the hand.

 

3)Filling system

The converter or the waterman big cartridge are the usual means of filling the pens but you can also use a man 100 as an eye dropper. The converter is very user friendly and extremely reliable. Waterman cartridge are vailable in any color you want so no worries here. The man 100 pen is an immediate starter and never knows troubles unless you have not rinced it with cold water when the pen was full of dried ink.

 

4)The nib

This man 100 has the older nib with the hole and not the globe. On this man 100's nib, it is written waterman 1883-1983, ideal 18k750 - Paris. Despite the nib was uninked I tested its flex and can confirm you that the first generation man 100 are top quality nibs.

 

5)Conclusion

That purchase strengthened my love for the man 100. The man 100 is pen which is attractive and which is very well made perhaps far better made than what Waterman produces today. I know that here many aficionados love the man 100 and the man 200. I am getting another man 100 patrician in July but this time a blue one with a full flexible medium nib. I will perhaps have a man 100 Night & Day one day or an oliver wood or a macassar wood man 100. Man 100 or Man 200 purchases are contagious.

 

[goodguy]

WOW,what a find and what a pen,with so much meaning.

I congratulate you both for the pen and a great taste.

 

Does it have a LE number on it ?

How many were produces ?

 

[JFT]

Very nice pen, congratulation!

 

Now one question Flexible nib? do you mean custom ground nib?

[georges zaslavsky]

no, it is a stock flexible nib.

[DustyBin]

If I may be so rude.... what did you pay for ti? Does it have a significant premium over other Man 100 models?

[georges zaslavsky]

I paid 240 euros for it with the whole goodies, it is less than what I paid for the green patrician. It was only made in 1989 only and to find one with the whole package is nearly impossible even on epray. Mine is mint in box and uninked.

Edited August 11, 2008 by georges zaslavsky

[ethernautrix]

Wow! That is GORGEOUS! Congratulations, Georges!

 

I love the clip.

 

Waterman was the first fountain pen I ever bought, so I have very warm feelings for them. I have a Le Man 100 and a Le Man 200, and they are both fabulous!

[fatehbajwa]

you mentioned that it can be used as an eyedropper filler.is the case with all man 100 pens ?

[georges zaslavsky]

Wow! That is GORGEOUS! Congratulations, Georges!

 

I love the clip.

 

Waterman was the first fountain pen I ever bought, so I have very warm feelings for them. I have a Le Man 100 and a Le Man 200, and they are both fabulous!

Thank you ethernautix.

I totally agree with you about the man 100 and 200 I offered my father a man 100 and he loves it a lot, he writes with it more than with his parker 25. As I said and will continue to affirm it, the man 100 and the man 200 are the best high end watermans ever made, they beat the edson and the exception in terms of fit, finish, nib smoothness and overall quality.

[georges zaslavsky]

you mentioned that it can be used as an eyedropper filler.is the case with all man 100 pens ?

yes, it is the case with all man 100s as well as the edson and the exception. I know a friend who uses his man 100 as an eye dropper and no probs.

Edited August 11, 2008 by georges zaslavsky

[MYU]

Georges, you stated that it is mint in box and uninked. I take it that this was when you acquired it and that it has now been inked? Or are you keeping it as a collection item? If you have inked it, does it flex as well as you expected it to?

 

I'm pleased to hear that you find it to be above the typical quality of Waterman today. It shows that Waterman still has "the stuff".

Edited August 12, 2008 by MYU

[HerosNSuch]

Truly a thing of beauty. I have officially found my grail. I hope that you truly enjoy that wonderful piece of stylographic art. Truly a splendid find, and in the outer box, mint, with papers and a clean converter. I am envious.

[georges zaslavsky]

Georges, you stated that it is mint in box and uninked. I take it that this was when you acquired it and that it has now been inked? Or are you keeping it as a collection item? If you have inked it, does it flex as well as you expected it to?

 

I'm pleased to hear that you find it to be above the typical quality of Waterman today. It shows that Waterman still has "the stuff".

Hi MYU

 

I have not inked it and it will be a collection item only. I tried a normal man 100 with the same first generation nib, it has as much flex as an older Omas Paragon extra fine nib. Unlike the Patrician which is one of my daily users, this one will not be inked. Next Watermans for me: a man 100 Patrician in blue with flexible medium nib and a man 100 Opera with a flexible fine nib. For other man 100s, I will see what versions I need.

[satrap]

Georges, you stated that it is mint in box and uninked. I take it that this was when you acquired it and that it has now been inked? Or are you keeping it as a collection item? If you have inked it, does it flex as well as you expected it to?

 

I'm pleased to hear that you find it to be above the typical quality of Waterman today. It shows that Waterman still has "the stuff".

Hi MYU

 

I have not inked it and it will be a collection item only. I tried a normal man 100 with the same first generation nib, it has as much flex as an older Omas Paragon extra fine nib. Unlike the Patrician which is one of my daily users, this one will not be inked. Next Watermans for me: a man 100 Patrician in blue with flexible medium nib and a man 100 Opera with a flexible fine nib. For other man 100s, I will see what versions I need.

===========

 

Hello Georges,

 

Do you have any info on whether Mr. Mora has the Etoile or other silver LeMan 100? Thanks!

 

 

diane

[georges zaslavsky]

Hello Georges,

 

Do you have any info on whether Mr. Mora has the Etoile or other silver LeMan 100? Thanks!

 

 

diane

Hi

 

He has one full sterling man 100 for sale for 500€ and another one in sterling but with the black plastic forehand, black plastic end barrel and end cap for 400€. Better contact him through mail or by phone if you are interested in these pens because he rarely if not never sells pen abroad. Also a good advice, this guy has a serious reputation, the mora family is 78 years in the business, so I would not and never compare him with ebay. His customer service is five stars and I know many other satisfied customers who were coming from other countries.

 

hope this helps

 

regards

 

georges

[fatehbajwa]

Are these man 100's in SS?

[DustyBin]

I paid 240 euros for it with the whole goodies, it is less than what I paid for the green patrician. It was only made in 1989 only and to find one with the whole package is nearly impossible even on epray. Mine is mint in box and uninked.

 

 

Hi George.... sorry to have two topics going on this pen...

 

In anticipation of the one I've just one on ebay.... can you tell me how much is different from the standard black model. Is it 'just' the emblem on the clip, the cap end piece and the packaging?

[georges zaslavsky]

Are these man 100's in SS?

those man100s are in sterling silver. Mr Mora has the exact same pen for sale at 400€. Also, I must tell you that man100s in sterling silver are never cheap so don't hope to have a good deal on these because sterling silver man100s always keep their value high.

[georges zaslavsky]

Hi George.... sorry to have two topics going on this pen...

 

In anticipation of the one I've just one on ebay.... can you tell me how much is different from the standard black model. Is it 'just' the emblem on the clip, the cap end piece and the packaging?

Aside the emblem on the clip and on the cap end piece as well as the packaging, it is not much different from the first generation man100. Yet, the whole packaging with the pen makes the difference. A man 100 bicentenaire de la revolution française without the goodies is not what I would call a good deal. Mine also came with a year of warranty. I wonder if the one you have seen for sale on epray is mint, uninked and has not a single scratch and all its goodies. I wouldn't go personally via the epray route if I wanted one in pristine condition but through penshows or specialized dealers.

[DustyBin]

Hi George.... sorry to have two topics going on this pen...

 

In anticipation of the one I've just one on ebay.... can you tell me how much is different from the standard black model. Is it 'just' the emblem on the clip, the cap end piece and the packaging?

Aside the emblem on the clip and on the cap end piece as well as the packaging, it is not much different from the first generation man100. Yet, the whole packaging with the pen makes the difference. A man 100 bicentenaire de la revolution française without the goodies is not what I would call a good deal. Mine also came with a year of warranty. I wonder if the one you have seen for sale on epray is mint, uninked and has not a single scratch and all its goodies. I wouldn't go personally via the epray route if I wanted one in pristine condition but through penshows or specialized dealers.

 

 

Here's the listing...

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...N:IT&ih=017

 

The chap has excellent feedback and a stated return policy, so if it isn't as listed, I'll just pop it back to him. I notice that Mora stylos site now only has one listed under the used section