Vintage Waterman Ideal 32A

[EventHorizon]

First Impressions

First impression was the colors of the pen. They are very vivd and I can see no fading or poor craftsmanship

 

Appearance

The pen is in very good condition and has had no repairs. There are no cracks on the cap or barrel but it is missing the thin band for the cap. As the mottled colors are very bold it does not detract from the overall appearance. I would consider this pen Vintage Bling

 

Design

The design of the pen is very clean and low profile. The lever for the fill system has a small metal guard to protect the celluloid which I have not seen on other pens and the clip seems very sturdy. The length is 6-3/8" posted and 5" capped. The weight is 0.5 oz when full of ink.

 

Nib

The nib is 14 kt and Italic. This is the first time I have used an italic nib and I am surprised at how much I like it. It is very flexible and lays down a generous line that is also noticeably darker than a normal nib. The one picture shows the difference between this nib and an Esterbrook 2668 nib. The strokes are very smooth on paper even on a side stroke. The up strokes are a little rough but as stated, this is the first time I have used this type of nib and my writing style is not the best.

 

Filling System

Basic lever fill and so far the pens holds a nice supply of ink.

 

Cost and Value

This pen was a gift about a year ago so I am not sure of the cost. As for value, I am still working on that.

 

Conclusion

I find this pen to be a pleasant surprise. When I first got it and saw the nib, I was not sure but now that I have been using it for a week and written many pages of notes, I will try to find more like it. The colors are part of the theme of my collection so that works out well. I would recommend this vintage Waterman to all FPN members

 

Along with the attached picture, more can be seen here.

Edited September 9, 2007 by EventHorizon

[PAKMAN]

Nice review and nice looking pen. Kind of a switch from the typical colors of the day for Waterman. Hope you continue to enjoy this great pen!

[hardyb]

I picked up a gray marbled/mottled one (medium fine stub nib) at the Miami Pen show and it real performs very well. Here is to vintage pens!