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Hi gang, Some of you may remember me as Bonhams Auctioneers former penman-in-chief. Well, I've moved on to San Francisco's PBA Galleries, and we're launching our debut Fine Pens sale on Thursday, July 19th at 11:00 am PST. Here's a link to the online sale listings: https://www.pbagalleries.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/454/ The catalogue goes to press today and will be mailed shortly. It's a fairly big sale, 361 lots, including many modern and vintage Montblancs; rare vintage eyedroppers from Waterman, Parker, Aiken Lambert, Edward Todd and others; limited edition Montegrappas, Namikis, Stipulas, OMAS, Sheaffers and more. As a big personal fan of Henry Simpole's wonderful creations, I'm especially pleased to offer four rare Simpole overlay pens. Our buyer's premium is 20%, with a 1% discount for cash or cash-equivalent payments (Bonhams premium was 25%, no discounts). Definitely factor the buyer's premium into your bid amounts! There's no credit card maximum (Bonhams max was $25K). You can register to bid on our website (the process is simple), and you can bid online, in person, by phone or by absentee bid. I've tried to include a broad range of pens to suit various budgets, and I hope that many of you will find treasures to enhance your collections! Our next sale will be on December 6th, and we're accepting consignments now. You can contact me at: ivan@pbagalleries.com. Cheers, Ivan Ivan Briggs Director of Fine Pens and Comics PBA Galleries Pictured: HENRY SIMPOLE: Tendril Sterling Silver Filigree Limited Edition Fountain Pen: Premiere Example. Estimate: $1000-1500 The Tendril's wonderfully elaborate openwork filigree was inspired by a Japanese silver overlay pen that Mr. Simpole saw in a 1990s auction catalogue. The filigree is overlaid on a Conway Stewart body. 160mm. Broad 18K gold Conway Stewart nib. Outer box, lacquered wood display box lined in red velvet and cream satin, illustrated leaflet, signed limitation certificate. Limited Edition: No. 1 of only 6 examples made. Excellent condition, not inked. Henry Simpole is the consummate penmaker's penmaker, and his overlay pens are among the very best limited edition writing instruments of the modern era. Each of his designs is handcrafted in small numbers to the most exacting standards, and they perfectly blend the superior aesthetics of the eyedropper era with the advanced materials and filling technology of the present day. Mr. Simpole's pens are exceedingly difficult to obtain on the secondary market, and the few examples offered in this sale represent a rare opportunity for collectors to obtain his legendary handiwork.

Just acquired this pen yesterday. I am curious about the model. The shop owner could not tell me the name of this particular model. It looks very similar to Waterman Executive, and Gentleman but not quite. The nib seems to be a steel one.

Good evening from France, I just received this pen which was included in a lot of pen I bought online. It says Pat'd May 24 1898 on the cap and the Waterman #2 nib seems to have some reasonable flex. Any one able to help me identify the model? When it comes to vintage pens I am mostly focused on Mabie Todds and am rather out of my depth here ;-) Have a very good day guys,

So how can one tell if a pen is a Dauntless or a Stalwart?

I've been restoring pens for a little under a year. I absolutely love it. So much to learn and really lovely people. I've got some nice pens, but mostly ones you would expect for someone just getting started and with not a lot of cash to burn. I always try to be on the lookout and have made a few good scores by always spending time searching when I can. But....nothing close to this. Took a little risk and it paid off. Paid off pretty damn well. Waterman 554 Hand Engraved Vine No inscription No dings . No scrapes or scuffs visible without a loupe. I haven't done anything to it yet besides a quick pass with a sunshine cloth. Nib is good, tiny tine adjustment needed. I've got to get into zen mode, get the section off and get the restoration going. It shouldn't different than any other pen once I shut up all the excited and scared yelling going on in my head. Without further ado.....my very first Waterman edit: Much thanks to the one the only Sensei Greenie for making me pull the trigger. Not the first time he's done me a solid.

Can anyone help me identifying this Waterman pen. I couldn't find the model of this pen. I found some identical pens with different pattern though in said to be in 18k gold overlay. Could this be also in 18k gold? P.s. it's not mine, I just found it for sale somewere.

Hello everyone, I am tempted by one Waterman's #7 pen with PINK nib. I mean - I'm tempted to shell out $$$$ and finally get one. I own #7 with YELLOW nib, #5 with RED nib, and several other vintage Waterman's with different nibs. While I was looking at the pen with PINK nib, one thing occurred to me - the tines seemed shorter than what I've seen on a typical PINK nib. Then I've googled images and some previous examples of pens I haven't bought, and I've noticed that some have shorter and some have longer tines. In fact, I thought some nibs (current on sale included) may have their nibs cut (???). Does anyone has any information regarding this? Did Waterman's have different designs of pink nibs i.e. were there any evolution? What I'm worried about is that a nib with PINK inscription may be "corrected" by cutting down the tines - if they've got damaged. So there may be many pink nibs out there with correct metallurgy but incorrect dimensions, being sold for a hefty price as if they were in the original shape and form. Below is some clarification of my question, based on the photos I've found on the internet - one of them is currently on sale... Picture 1 (bellow) - what I consider a proper PINK nib, with tines length and tip shape as designed (I'll call this a benchmark example) Picture 2 (bellow) - another example of a pink nib which is arguably (?) benchmark design Picture 3 (bellow) - "yard find" a bit dirty nib, but it seems accurate Pictures 4 and 5 (bellow) - following are two examples of nibs marked "pink" but... the shape is different. Shoulders are wider, tines are shorter... first one I was contemplating to buy but I am not sure... very pricey for something that may have been altered. Another concern of mine is - if we assume that someone has "fixed" damaged pink nib, thus grinding down easily damaged tines, then re-tipped ... the metal alloy may still allow for extra-flexibility but if the design has changed, using this nib as intended may be pushing it too far - to the damage. It may became similar to RED nib and... well, hence the question and topic for a debate, before I decide to spend money. Thanks!

Just wanted to post my music nibs. I have a #4 and a #5, the #4 is fitted in a Waterman's 94 in Persian celluloid, the #5 is in a Waterman's 55. Amazing nibs!!

Hi there! I just purchase a vintage Waterman Ideal that I can not identify. Here the pictures: https://i.imgur.com/qxBF2jg.jpg https://i.imgur.com/0DOa0Fo.jpg https://i.imgur.com/44XXxFQ.jpg https://i.imgur.com/xaPV0MN.jpg https://i.imgur.com/BuqWOfR.jpg https://i.imgur.com/YqUoIAB.jpg https://i.imgur.com/XyVPkrz.jpg From this source: https://vintagepens.com/FAQhistory/waterman_numbering.shtml I suspect that this is a 0552 V or 0552 1/2V LEC (I don't know how much is 'slender' diameter) but this pen has no imprint at the bottom of the barrel and the nib has a rounded breather hole (no heart shaped). Would you please help me with this identification? Thanks!

Hi all, I've got a weird problem with my Waterman Expert Rollerball pen (https://jet.com/product/Waterman-Expert-Black-with-Gold-Trim-Fine-Point-Rollerball-Pen-S0951680/1aa4b5be1b6a417e863fa54fe31332d5) and Pilot G2 refills (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004P3LW0U/). According to everything I've read on here and other places, the refills should fit just fine. However, the refill is loose inside the barrel. The nib (is that what it's called?) drops down about an eighth of an inch when I lift it off the page. Are there two different sizes I'm not aware of? Has a piece fallen out of the pen that reinforces the refill? Am I just that dumb? Thanks for any and all help!

Another light review, with a few snaps... Preamble (as usual, skip this bit if you don’t like preambles): We have been incredibly fortunate to be able to get our hands on some pretty nice pens over the last few years. The posting of my last review prompted quite a lengthy conversation between “She who must be obeyed” and myself, about the difference between luxury pens, affordable pens and just pens that we have enjoyed. There is such a wide range in the wild, of pens that can be regarded as affordable. However, when a pen costing $2 can indeed be described by some as expensive, and conversely, a $200 pen has been recently described as affordable/reasonably priced. Factor in, the diverse disposable income between different individuals, affordability and value for money can vary widely between from person to person. So, although being fortunate to be able to do a couple of reviews on what are regarded as “high end” pens, I seem to have missed out on having a go at doing a reasonable review on a couple of pens that are family workhorses. In this case, the review here is part of a review of pens “we like”, rather than, “oooh look what we got”. We would like to introduce to you, the Lamy Safari. The Pen Lamy Safari, in charcoal finish, with matching black nib, supplied with cartridge convertor and a free ink cartridge. Purchased online from either eBay or amazon (can’t remember to be honest, but it was one of those two) at the same time as I ordered a pack of A4 writing pads. I think the cost was about £15 at the time, with a matching convertor for another £5. First Impression Arrived in a jiffy bag which contained a small pen sized cardboard box. The box had a small divider in the centre with the convertor on one side. Very business like, no wasting of material in packaging, pen, convertor, box. Done. Box consigned to recycling bin, and now possibly back in the system as brown wrapping paper somewhere. Without a doubt, it felt well made in the hand. It is a light feeling pen, and I believe it is made from similar materials to what lego bricks are made from. Stand on a lego brick with a bare foot, and the brick wins. Every time. The finish is a sort of matt rather than shiny finish and end to end, has no sharp edges or mould flashing. So far so good. More diving into the details. The pen comes with a black finished nib to match, in fine. The cap has a matching clip, in black. More later. Unboxing. Although covered above, if I was new to the pen hobby (takes a huge step back), I would have to say, that it is simple but impressive. Recyclable cardboard packaging, cartridge already in the pen with a cardboard ring to keep it from piercing inside the section, and the convertor by it’s side. Again, if I was new to the hobby, I would have been quite impressed. The pen doesn’t exit from it’s packaging in need of a fanfare, it is too business like. It is obvious straight away that this is intended to be used and used and used. Take the pen out, ink it and get that letter written. Remember, the fancier and bigger the packaging, the more cost is passed to the consumer OR less goes into the pen itself in materials and quality. In this case, I felt that we had at this point, got good value for money. One thing I DID do, is recycle the box and the separator ring, then drop the free cartridge straight into the pen to get it in action. More about that later. Overall Look of the pen. When I was a youngster, many many many years ago, I started my love affair with fountain pens, and have handled some interesting designs (parker 25 as an example). Well, that was (coughs) 40 years ago now. The Lamy looks briefly reminiscent of an old school fountain pen I once came across. Minimalist, functional. However, the Lamy is much more modern looking and for sure looks better made. The aforementioned Parker 25 was a regular fave of mine, futuristic looking and, at the time, a couple of weeks saving with school pocket money was sufficient to snare it. Unfortunately due to youth and the passing of time, it is no longer in my possession. The Lamy seems to have some of the same minimal/modernistic look about it. The nib. This one came in a “fine” and finished in black, to match the pen. The nibs are VERY easily removable, small bit of sticky tape and tug. Brilliant for any tinkerers or cleaning. The size looks in keeping with the overall size and design of the pen, again, functional looking. Had I been that schoolboy once again, this would have been definitely on the list to save up for. Loaded the pen with it’s free Lamy cartridge and tried to write. The best I can now say is that it wrote. It felt dry (definitely NOT scratchy) but wasn’t pleasant. Out with the 30x loupe and there was NOTHING visibly wrong with the nib. Took the nib off completely, again, all good. Then came the lightbulb moment. Lamy cartridge went to the bin, did not stop at go, did not collect £200. Convertor fitted and Waterman serenity blue sucked up. 3, 2, 1, bingo. Instant writing karma. Nice fine line, not scratchy, but not over smooth. Needed using, to smooth it down for sure, but definitely an extra fine to fine line. Nice and wet. The nib is not flexy, but didn’t feel like a hard nail. The nib material is simple pressed steel with some sort of tipping material, which means the nib does have a tiny amount go “give. Again, the nib definitely feels like it is going to deliver years of use. The cap. Functional, furnished with a black shiny clip. It contrasts with the charcoal finish, which is a nice touch. It will post, if you HAVE to, but it doesn’t add anything to the look or usability and looks awful posted. It is a click fit/push fit (slip cap), which is not my favourite method of connecting cap to body, but it is quick and works. Positive with a nice soft click, and I going to say it again, functional. Overall, it works well and should return the owner a good operating life. Filling system. Cartridge convertor. Comes supplied with a free blue Lamy cartridge. I purchased the optional convertor as I do prefer bottled ink. However, I did try the cartridge, and in my honest personal opinion, was just a waste. The ink didn’t play nice at all with the pen so binned it. The convertor is VERY well made, and locates positively, aided by a couple of small locating lugs. Very smooth to fill, doesn’t leak, and reinforces the overall impression of good design and function. The section. Interesting section, it has two shaped facets to promote a “correct” grip. At first, I thought “school pen”, but after a little use, I started to appreciate it. I am not sure if left handers or people with different pen gripping techniques will appreciate it, but, I really liked it. The matt material is not slippy, the end of the section has a nice shaped raised bit to stop fingers going near the nib. Again, good design. Section diameter is a tad on the smaller side for my fat fingers, but for the majority, I am sure will find it reasonable. So what now? It is stuffed into my work bag, in the little area where pens are kept, no case, next to a metal ballpoint. It is loaded with Waterman ink and is in every day use. The nib has indeed polished itself now and writes exactly as it should. I would say the EF nib runs more towards F, but that could be due to the flow properties of the ink, which, the Lamy inks being dry in this pen, MAY now deliver a true EF. However, I won’t go there. Waterman in this pen plays nice. Yes. You read correctly. It is stuffed into my work bag. The pen is robust, and can not only take a good beating, the finish just doesn’t seem to easily pick up scratches, so always looks pretty nice! Keep it in a proper pen pouch and it should stay looking new for a number of years. Cost? £15 for the pen and an extra £5 (approx) for the convertor. Not the cheapest combo on the market, but it is well made for the money (haven’t said value here as it really is subjective). In comparison, a pack of 50 Bic biro’s can be obtained online for approx £10, which, although would last anyone a considerable amount of time, every single bit is disposable and would head direct to landfill. Pics As usual, a few “show and tell” snaps. And Finally The big question. If I was in the market for such a pen, would I buy one? A resounding yes. As either a beginner to the hobby, or for someone who wants a daily beater, yes. If you are saving up to be able to get one of these, again, yes. BUT, if it is going to be your only pen, I would try and save a little longer, and look towards the Lamy Al-Star, which has a range of coloured anodised aluminium bodies/caps and do look a bit higher quality/look/feel. A colleague has had a silver grey al-star for a number of years now, he was gifted as a leaving present from his previous company and it’s his only pen. He loves it. The Al-Star will NOT write any better, it is merely look and feel. But then again, Safari’s come in a huge variety of colours and release different colours from time to time, so plenty of choice. Oh, and DO get the convertor.

It's been a couple of years since I've found a Kultur color I didn't already have. So I figure I have almost all, if not all. I don't include post production advertising or printing. And I didn't include the Eiffel Tower because I've only ever seen a ballpoint. I did include the Croft, Harley, and 2000 pens because they were Waterman Kultur models. So below are pictures of the 62 distinct colors. If you know of more feel free to comment. But I might just cover my eyes to avoid the knowledge. 4 Croft and 6 Harley: 7 Solid Color: 9 Marbled Opaque: 11 Metallic Solids: 2 Fluorescent and 3 Reflectis: 3 Glitter and 7 Matte Color Demos: 8 Clear Color and 2 Marble Demos

So, I found this pen for sale, but I have no ideea what is it worth. It's a waterman, and the seller claims it's lever is sterling silver. Is this pen worth 140$ not knowing if it works or not? https://m.olx.ro/oferta/waterman-stilou-anii-1920-IDaGGqh.html

Hello all, I have recently purchased an used Waterman Pro Graduate and it has a problem: it writes discontinuous. After I have removed the nib and the feed, I had found 2 problems: - dry ink was deposited on the feed; - the ink channel of the feed is some how twisted and it's not straight any more (see attached photos). While the dry ink is easy to remove, I do not know how to make the ink channel straight again. The feed material is plastic. Any ideas? Thank you in advance!

Hi, I recently decided to upgrade my paper with Rhodia, but so far I have had only terrible experience with it. I write with Waterman's Harmonious Green, but the ink seems to never fully absorb. It is safe to touch with e.g. paper towel or another page in just about 30 seconds, but even after a week or more all it takes is just to lightly touch the paper with little sweaty hand and the ink smears like it was fresh. When I write on regular Xerox paper or a normal notepad from a supermarket, it is just perfectly fine and no problems there. So, I reckon it must be either me or the ink. Since I never had any problems with my sweat being overly aggressive (watch straps or plating on them last me for years) my bet is on the ink. I think it is just not compatible with Rhodia paper. Can someone here perhaps tell me if you have encountered same problem with Waterman on better papers? Also, if anyone can recommend me some other emerald-green-ish ink that is holding well on Rhodia it will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I found a great site that had an assortment of Waterman catalogs from 1885 to 1936. They are a great resource. But what happened (other than WW2) for the years between 1937-1945. I was looking for info on the Hundred year pens. Did they have catalogs those years? Any idea of where to see them?

Any help greatly received, In 1998 my mother gave me a pair of pens, a Waterman Silver Ballpoint and an accompanying fountain pen. I lost the ballpoint pen but still have the fountain pen. I really want to get the ballpoint pen again for sentimental value. Please see the attached pictures of the fountain pen and let me know if I have any hope in finding the ballpoint pen (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pJIyMS-y__OSq_ISjW0gFEjoK88CPlLx?usp=sharing)? I think it is a Waterman Laureat but silver. I used this refill "2384-04-43/1" (http://www.pensfromheaven.com/pen_refills_waterman.htm). The pair were not expensive and seemed to perhaps be a budget range from the company (perhaps €20-50 in 1998). Many thanks to you all,

Hello, I just got my first flex pen: a Waterman 52 1/2V. I love writing with the flexible nib but I am having usage/maintenance issues (which is perhaps compounded by the 52 1/2V's small size!) I have some questions that I would appreciate any help or thoughts on. 1) I have to dip my pen past the nib for and onto the body of the pen itself to suck the ink up properly. I will not be able to suck up any ink if I only dip the tip of the nib in. Is this normal? Can it be fixed? 2) Is there any way to see or know how full the pen is? I'm thinking about weighing it on a foodscale and I'm wondering if there's a different way.

This is actually my third CF. The first was inherited from my grandmother, who passed away some time ago. My dad went to get the gold plated body polished, but ended up losing it, pen and converter and all. My second was a lemon from an eBay seller, which had many cracks as well as an underperforming nib. Based on my experience in getting a refund, I suspect that this was due to the shipping process because he proved very good at getting the refund back. Which brings me to this pen. I’ve wanted to replace the lost CF, since I adored the nib design on it. I found this also on eBay and got quite a reasonable price. Note: When there are 2 rating, the top is for my satisfaction, while the lower is for how much it could do, for that particular category. For example, I might be extremely satisfied with a stiff nib (5/5) but the lower rating would be (1/5) since it couldn’t flex at all. The ratings are not included in the final score. Initial Impressions Box and Instructions (5/10) I bought this pen used, but it came in a standard and, I think, modern Waterman box. This consisted of a blue cardboard and faux-leather box and a white cardboard outer sheath. Whilst not very exciting, it was a nice touch from the seller. No instructions were included. Aesthetics (17/20) The pen has a mesmerising moire pattern. There are superimposed designs on the lined silver finish which give the pen a very sophisticated feel. Some of the moire pattern is a bit off and inconsistent, so points are deducted. The cap band and barrel trim come together when the pen is capped and the moire pattern aligns beautifully if properly positioned. The silver coloured trim is very high quality and is not scratched even after use as a pocket pen for about 4 months. This pen’s grip section is on the thinner side but is still fairly comfortable. The rather long section is completed by the “Skripsert” type nib which is well-integrated into the section and is flush with the pen. Engravings on the pen are obviously high quality. Whilst they may not be obvious due to the colour scheme, they are legible when required and disappear when you’re not looking for them. “WATERMAN CF” is inscribed into the cap band, whilst the barrel trim is engraved with “MADE IN FRANCE”. The clip is a little large in comparison with the pen, but is expertly plated like the rest of the trim. It integrates well into the pen, with the clip ending with the cap top. Initial Feel (8/10) As someone who appreciates a hefty pen, this did not disappoint. Although small, the Waterman CF is quite solid and fairly heavy for its size. The moire pattern is quite ergonomic and provides a very nice grip, since I tend to post this pen and grip it fairly high. The barrel isn’t flush with the trim ring, though. Filling (5/10) The pen didn’t come with a converter, but I had bought one earlier. It’s a squeeze type, which has quite a tough sac but otherwise works. What is annoying is that it’s proprietary to not only the brand, but to the model of the pen. This means that if I happen to lose or break this, I’d have to either pay $40 for a new one or refill the cartridge for the rest of my days. Performance Smoothness (9/10) Satisfaction (7/10) Rating The nib has a very good performance on all papers. It’s smooth, but has some feedback which I didn’t mind. What I didn’t expect was for the nib to sometimes squeak, which has scared me on quite a few instances. Flexibility (5/5) Satisfaction (3/5) Rating The 18K nib was quite springy, but as it was already a broadish medium, there was little line variation to be had. Nevertheless, I didn’t expect any flex, so this slight variation was a nice surprise. Flow (10/10) Satisfaction (9/10) Rating The pen has a wet flow of ink, which keeps the nib well supplied. I haven’t yet had any hard starts or skipping during my use of this pen at all, which is quite pleasing and a relief since it would be a nightmare to prime the feed using a squeeze converter. General reliability (15/20) An annoyance with this pen is its tendency to leave a ring of ink on the section near the nib. This is quite minor, since I don’t grip so far down anyways, but my compulsive requirement to wipe it off has given my fingers a variety of colours. Other than that, the pen has not failed in its performance as of yet. I take it to places where I don’t expect to write too much, since it’s not the most ergonomic of pens for me. The nib, however, is smooth enough to warrant me to want to use it more often than not. Construction and Ergonomics Fit (8/10) The exterior of the pen is done flawlessly. The cap slips on firmly and stays closed. The clip does not wobble, and like I’ve said before, the plating on this pen’s trim is flawless. The section unscrews rather roughly, which is a minor concern. Clip (4/10) This pen’s clip is very stiff. It’s hard to open manually, and doesn’t slip on surfaces easily. The clip on my pen is also ever so slightly misaligned which is OCD-terrifying. However, this doesn’t affect the functionality. Posting (7/10) The CF’s balance is great posted, and I almost always use it that way. The cap isn’t the most secure when posted, but usually stays on most of the time. Miscellaneous (Extra thoughts) Value for money (8/10) I got this pen for $90US. Not an incredible deal, but a fair price for a pen in excellent condition. Considering the fact that $90 doesn’t get much these days, I am quite pleased with the purchase. Innovation (5/5) This pen was amongst the first cartridge pens, and the first commercially successful ones. In that respect, the Waterman CF is quite historically significant. Image and Advertising (3/5) Strangely enough, the pen isn’t as well known or respected as the 51. Whilst having a more conventional design, the fact that the first successful cartridge pen isn’t celebrated more is quite a surprise. Buying experience (4/5) I bought this pen on the internet, through eBay. I didn’t expect much and was rather wary after my previous experience. Free shipping was a very nice touch, even though I didn’t communicate much with the seller. Total (113/150)=75.3% This pen is a very pleasant writing instrument, although too small for extended use in my larger hands. It’s quite an underrated and underexposed pen, in my opinion. I feel that the extremely specific filling system and rarity of converters has put of potential collectors who would rather have an easily replaceable part as opposed to something that is expensive and difficult to find. The Waterman CF is a pen I take out in order to make quick notes or fill in forms. I find it visually appealing but cannot write with it for an extended amount of time. Since I’ve been through 3 of these, I am happy to say that I have found another piece that will stay with me in my collection.

Hi, I am a Laureate user (and Swan Mabie Todd) and am curious as to this waterman. It seems a lower quality pen but I cannot find it anywhere? It is tubular shaped, with Waterman made in France at the bottom of the cap. It appears to have a steel nib and is very light? I have never seen anything like it! If anyone can point me in the right direction i would appreciate it.

I'd gotten away from actually "hand" writing over the last "x" number of years in this digital age, but had always enjoyed it. I recently started writing more, I didn't like the pushing/pressing feel of the usual ballpoint. I'd always liked the "feel" and the visual elegance of a fountain pen but never used them much...thinking them "messy". That's recently changed and I've been using fountain pens quite a bit. I came by a Daniel Hechter pen set and have purchased a couple inexpensive fountain pens recently. I suspect my wife will be gifting me a premium pen that we'd recently come across. I'd appreciate some tips and insight regarding the finer points of fountain pens, the better inks, and the preferable/recommended paper that will create a smoother writing experience; I don't like a too "scratchy" of a feeling when writing. Comments on the above are welcome. I however, am not here for a "social media" experience. I believe it detracts from "real" social interaction and long ago deleted the few accounts of that type I had...so I'm not here for web-based camaraderie. Again, knowledgeable pointers would be appreciated. Thanks!

Dear members, I have inherited some fountain pens from my aunt who inherited them from husband around 1985. They have been kept in very good conditions, some in original packing I believe. I tried to do some research myself but as I am not expert I would like you to help me identify if they have any value. I managed to identify Geha 722 (as it has original packing and is very nice, I like it myself to be honest) but I have some Pelikan, centropen, I think a Russian one and some others I am not so sure about. I know there is Waterman but I dont know what type it is. I am posting pictures and would appreciate a lot if you could help me. Thank you in advance for this help. BTW, uncle was in professional army at high position and traveled around the world a lot, maybe some of pens he received as gift I assume. The first picture is mixture (on the left starting with a pencil suisse made, then pen I dont know, has Benzinol written on the handle (I guess used as branded gift), then the green one is the Russian one, then Waterman but I dont know type, then Pelilkan, again I dont know type and then Geha 722.) The second is capturing the sets I have, I believe the pen on the right is MontBlanc as the roller pen has it written on it but the fountain pen has only a mark M in some kind of circle or square or what it is, then the middle one is Centropen (but dont know what type) and the one on the left I dont know, there is only some mark which reminds me of Euro but it is probably supossed to mean the nib of the fountain pen but I have no idea what brand that is.

Hi My dad gave me what I think is a vintage (maybe 60s) Waterman Ideal fountain pen. The nib is gold, marked "Watermans" and has some flex. The cap is marked Waterman, Ideal, Made in England. The sac has cracked and I need a new aerometric converter but it appears to be crimped on (I don't want to force anything until I understand how it can be removed). I have added 5 photos below: -nib, -cap, -pen, -ideal marking -aerometric converter I would be interested in knowing more specifically the date range of the pen, anything interesting about it and whether the converter can be removed (if so, how), and what I need as a replacement unit. It would be great to get this working again. TIA, Marina

Hi everyone, I know there was a Waterman factory in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in the early 20th century but I was never able to find the date of when it closed (the year). I was only able to find out when it started operating and what happened to the building afterwards through Google searches. I think knowing when it closed to be able to guess what models it last produced would be interesting. Thank you all very much in advance!

I have a Waterman Expert II that I have been using for the past 5 years. It is an old pen (if I understand correctly, it's made in the late 90s) that has been lying around the house for a while that I've found 5 years ago and started using to write notes during work. I've noticed for a while now that whenever I don't use the pen for a while (say for example a week or two), then try to use it, it would not write until after a bit of trying, like it was dry. At first I felt this was a normal thing about fountain pens (as it was the only fountain pen I had for a while), but then I realized that I haven't had this problem with other (newer) fountain pens that I've purchased recently. I'm trying to figure out why this happens and what I can do to solve it. I suspected it was the nib. It was bent badly at some point (not sure how, probably an accidental drop, or a malicious colleague using my pen while I wasn't looking) so I had it replaced. However, even with the new nib, it still has the same issue. The cap of the pen also doesn't close as well as it used to. It used to snap. Nowadays, it closes, but there's no "click" or snap. It feels loose, but it does look like it closes properly to me. I tried to give it to a shop to repair it, but they said that they couldn't find a replacement part for the cap as it's an old pen. I'm thinking this is likely the reason, but I'm not sure. Perhaps it's the way I'm cleaning it? I only rinse it with water every once in a while, no ammonia. I use the same ink all the time (Noodler's Dark Matter). Could the cap be the reason? If it is, and since I can't replace the cap, should I just "retire" the pen, and use another one as my daily? When I don't use the pen, I keep the pen stored upright (nib pointing upwards) as is recommended by others in this forum.