Waterman Expert with "L" nib

April 20, 2006

I´ve just found a Waterman Expert at ebay, with a nib engraved L instead of M or F. The vendor says it is a broad, and it does look like one. Does anyone know what this L might mean?

regards,

Rique

Edited April 20, 2006 by Rique

April 20, 2006

Rique, I am not completely sure but I recall that sometime during the 1990's one or more European pen manufacturers had the bright idea to change the nomenclature for pen sizes. They began by substituting "L" (I presume meaning "large") for "B." It turned out that the standard pen size indicators are so conservative and aculturated that the experiment was dead in the water before it got started. I think I have seen exactly one nib on one occasion that had the "L."

Hence, I will suggest that the pen you have is a slice of history that will never come again. Keep hold of that nib, even if you get another nib mounted for writing enjoyment.

I hope this info helps.

April 20, 2006

Thanks a lot, FrankB! I was thinking, maybe this L is supposed to mean something in French (since the pen is made in France), but I couldn´t come up with a suitable word beginning with an L...

regards,

Rique

April 20, 2006

"Large" in French means "broad, wide" so this is just normal French market marking.

Best

Michael

April 20, 2006

So could this mean the "XS" on the Rotring Core means eXtremely Small? I also note that it has l, s, and m at the top of the barrel in little hexagons.

April 20, 2006

So could this mean the "XS" on the Rotring Core means eXtremely Small? I also note that it has l, s, and m at the top of the barrel in little hexagons.

Wait a minute, what color is your Core? I think the letters in the hexagons may be the color (i.e. Lysium)

I think XS is fine.