Waterman #7

[davisgt]

What makes a Waterman #7 so collectible and expensive?

 

Todd

[Rick Krantz]

a lot of it depends on the nib/color. A common red in ripple rubber might be found for $200, while a black nib in ripple rubber will set you back like $2000. The plastic line is a bit different in price, but still, the nib/colors make them more or less valuable.

[rhosygell]

I fail to understand really, it is a 55 essentially with a longer cap and a marginally bigger nib. Save a fortune and bag a nice 55 with a decent nib.

[Buzz J]

Based on observation, #7 just aren't out there in great numbers. Further divide that small number by the number of color nibs available and the supply "shrinks" even further. Collectors are doomed - instead of one #7 completing their collection, they need nine (or ten) different color variations! Short supply and collector interest = high price.

 

As rhosygell points out, equal function can be had for less $.

 

John

[gregamckinney]

I fail to understand really, it is a 55 essentially with a longer cap and a marginally bigger nib. Save a fortune and bag a nice 55 with a decent nib.

 

I have both, but I'm glad I don't have to choose just one.

 

One point for the 7 is that it is unlikely (though not impossible) to find a 55 with a Blue or Pink nib.

 

Regards, greg

[davisgt]

Yeah, I have the opposite problem. I have this beautiful Brown keyhole nib, but alas, no Waterman #7 body to go with it.

 

Todd

[Vintagepens]

I fail to understand really, it is a 55 essentially with a longer cap and a marginally bigger nib. Save a fortune and bag a nice 55 with a decent nib.

If you are buying for function, that's good advice.

But collector value clearly isn't based upon function.

[Dlpens]

Well this is a subject of great interest to me as I tried to collect all of the Waterman 7s, within reason. It is a wonderful collectible. The red ripple is a wonderful material and the introduction of the colored band at the top of the cap to match the nib was genius. Instead of one pen now you needed more if you wanted to have the series. There have been many articles accessing the rarity of each nib so the price/value of each pen goes up not only on condition but on the cap band and nib. My set is only missing the gray nib. I have a near mint gray cap/barrel. And yes, I did buy a black 7 complete with perfect band and great nib with "black" imprinted.

 

But, there are still other models out there! And I will never own them! One is a Waterman 7 with original Toledo work on the barrel. It exists as I have not only seen it but I helped sell it at a Chicago Pen Show auction many years ago. Even then, the pen brought over $3,000.00 and was sold to a Brazilian doctor.

 

The other Waterman 7 I never expect to see is the iconic "White". We have seen references to it on a Waterman 7 tray and some papers but no one has ever seen one to my knowledge.

 

And of course, while the original number was 7, other colors were added over time but the name of the pen never changed. So there is no Waterman 8, or 9 or 10. Brown came later and is also very difficult to find.

 

For those interested, there is a collector/dealer in St. Louis who makes and sells reproduction bands and separators. They look fantastic on the caps.

 

And that reminds me, the original early Waterman 7s did not have white separators so to have a complete collection one would also need the early versions and then the later versions. Good luck!

[gregamckinney]

Well this is a subject of great interest to me as I tried to collect all of the Waterman 7s, within reason. It is a wonderful collectible. The red ripple is a wonderful material and the introduction of the colored band at the top of the cap to match the nib was genius. Instead of one pen now you needed more if you wanted to have the series. There have been many articles accessing the rarity of each nib so the price/value of each pen goes up not only on condition but on the cap band and nib. My set is only missing the gray nib. I have a near mint gray cap/barrel. And yes, I did buy a black 7 complete with perfect band and great nib with "black" imprinted.

 

But, there are still other models out there! And I will never own them! One is a Waterman 7 with original Toledo work on the barrel. It exists as I have not only seen it but I helped sell it at a Chicago Pen Show auction many years ago. Even then, the pen brought over $3,000.00 and was sold to a Brazilian doctor.

 

The other Waterman 7 I never expect to see is the iconic "White". We have seen references to it on a Waterman 7 tray and some papers but no one has ever seen one to my knowledge.

 

And of course, while the original number was 7, other colors were added over time but the name of the pen never changed. So there is no Waterman 8, or 9 or 10. Brown came later and is also very difficult to find.

 

For those interested, there is a collector/dealer in St. Louis who makes and sells reproduction bands and separators. They look fantastic on the caps.

 

And that reminds me, the original early Waterman 7s did not have white separators so to have a complete collection one would also need the early versions and then the later versions. Good luck!

 

... and all the colored nibs in jet black plastic pens too!

greg

[Dlpens]

... and all the colored nibs in jet black plastic pens too!

greg

 

Yes, the black plastic Waterman 7s from the 30's are also very collectible but for some reason they do not command the prices of the ripple models.

 

And then you have the same sets of Waterman 5s!

[Buzz J]

... and all the colored nibs in jet black plastic pens too!

greg

 

Yes, the black plastic Waterman 7s from the 30's are also very collectible but for some reason they do not command the prices of the ripple models.

 

And then you have the same sets of Waterman 5s!

 

And some of the #5s are imprinted 94 instead of 5. It's enough to drive you to drink (actually that threshold is much lower than this). The red & pink in this poor picture are stamped 94 but are otherwise indistinguishable from a black plastic #5.

 

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn312/BuzzJ/Waterman94b.jpg

[FredRydr]

Strange, but I prefer the less popular jet black celluloid versions over the hard rubber red ripple. I have celluloid No. 7s in all the nib colors except for the most common one, the red nib! Silly, eh?

 

You can save a bit of money with the No. 5s, and in my humble opinion, the No. 5 red ripples are more attractive than the No. 7s, because the former have a graceful flare at the top of the cap where the color band is.

 

If anyone has a jet black celluloid No. 7 with no color disk (such as the No. 5 in the photo above), please let me know if they want to unload it. Like the red one, they are common enough, but I just don't have one.

 

Fred

[Buzz J]

Strange, but I prefer the less popular jet black celluloid versions over the hard rubber red ripple. I have celluloid No. 7s in all the nib colors except for the most common one, the red nib! Silly, eh?

 

You can save a bit of money with the No. 5s, and in my humble opinion, the No. 5 red ripples are more attractive than the No. 7s, because the former have a graceful flare at the top of the cap where the color band is.

 

If anyone has a jet black celluloid No. 7 with no color disk (such as the No. 5 in the photo above), please let me know if they want to unload it. Like the red one, they are common enough, but I just don't have one.

 

Fred

 

I like the blacks as well. I'm impressed that you've got almost all of the black 7s. It must be an impressive array.

 

I'm only half way through the black 5s. :mad:

[FredRydr]

I like the blacks as well. I'm impressed that you've got almost all of the black 7s. It must be an impressive array.

There are only seven, so I figure it is a small "collection" of a set. The pink is always inked. I even have a No. 5 pink! But what is interesting is the brown nib. I have two No. 7 brown nibs: one is very flexy in a No. 7 jet black celluloid barrel with brown disk, and the other is rather firm in a No. 7 EmeraldRay barrel. I've been told by one recognized Waterman expert and author that the brown nib was originally flexy in the early hard rubber pens, but with the release of the pink, the brown designation changed to a firmer nib. FWIW.

 

Fred

[FlexiCat]

I like the blacks as well. I'm impressed that you've got almost all of the black 7s. It must be an impressive array.

There are only seven, so I figure it is a small "collection" of a set. The pink is always inked. I even have a No. 5 pink! But what is interesting is the brown nib. I have two No. 7 brown nibs: one is very flexy in a No. 7 jet black celluloid barrel with brown disk, and the other is rather firm in a No. 7 EmeraldRay barrel. I've been told by one recognized Waterman expert and author that the brown nib was originally flexy in the early hard rubber pens, but with the release of the pink, the brown designation changed to a firmer nib. FWIW.

 

Fred

 

Fred,

You are quite right, according to my own research. I do recall reading, can't cite the source, that the later brown nibs were firm while the early ones flexed. I found a brown in an antiuqes flea market but it is one of the firms, in a #5 black.