Waterman Safety Pen

[rammerman]

Hi,

 

I managed to get a Waterman safety pen off the bay. I have also been intrigued by the design. Now that i have got it. I wanted to know how to fill it. I have read a couple of onlline descriptions on 2 websites. It does not make sense to me. Could some one kindly explain please.

[allthebestpens]

Hi rammerman,

 

First turn open and shut the nib from the bottom and make sure the unit is working properly. It shouldn't be too loose. Then when you turn back the nib into the section, begin to fill it up with with an eyedropper. Once it is filled, open up the nib and begin to write. It is that simple. When you are done writing, turn the bottom once again to retract the nib and it will then lock into place, thus not being able to leak any ink out of it. (this is the safety feature)

 

Good luck and enjoy. These Waterman safety pens make wonderful writers.

 

Scott

[eckiethump]

 

Good luck and enjoy. These Waterman safety pens make wonderful writers.

 

Scott

 

They also start writing right away as the nib is constantly immersed in ink when the pen has ink in it. Fill with water first, since its an e-bay purchase, to check the back end cork seal is still intact, leave overnight with a a tissue around the bottom, nib upwards.

et

[rammerman]

Good luck and enjoy. These Waterman safety pens make wonderful writers.

 

Scott

 

They also start writing right away as the nib is constantly immersed in ink when the pen has ink in it. Fill with water first, since its an e-bay purchase, to check the back end cork seal is still intact, leave overnight with a a tissue around the bottom, nib upwards.

et

 

Thanks a lot for the advice. Guess where the pen is coming if there are problems!!!

[Vintagepens]

Unless the pen has had its seal replaced, don't even bother trying to fill it. You'll end up with a huge mess, and very likely the hard rubber will end up with water spotting and fading.

If, once the nib has been extended, it is pushed back into the barrel by ordinary writing pressure, you can be sure the seal is no good. You can also do a suction test with the nib retracted. Either wipe the barrel mouth clean before putting your lips to it, or use a short section of vinyl tubing that is a snug fit over the barrel end, and put your lips to the tube end instead.

 

It is very unusual to find an old safety with the original cork seal still sound. It is virtually never the case with any pen that was actually used; the only pens I normally find with passable seals are those found in unused condition -- and even most of these have seals which have shrunk and deteriorated with age.

[eckiethump]

Good luck and enjoy. These Waterman safety pens make wonderful writers.

 

Scott

 

They also start writing right away as the nib is constantly immersed in ink when the pen has ink in it. Fill with water first, since its an e-bay purchase, to check the back end cork seal is still intact, leave overnight with a a tissue around the bottom, nib upwards.

et

 

That's the way I test them, I also recent;y came across 15 of these NOS, from probably the 1920's, all the rear end seals held up without leaks on testing, and subsequently were tested with ink when nibs were installed.

et

When needed, I use the "o" rings supplied by Vintagepens, rather than cork seal, in Waterman safety pens

Edited July 15, 2010 by eckiethump

[rammerman]

Unless the pen has had its seal replaced, don't even bother trying to fill it. You'll end up with a huge mess, and very likely the hard rubber will end up with water spotting and fading.

If, once the nib has been extended, it is pushed back into the barrel by ordinary writing pressure, you can be sure the seal is no good. You can also do a suction test with the nib retracted. Either wipe the barrel mouth clean before putting your lips to it, or use a short section of vinyl tubing that is a snug fit over the barrel end, and put your lips to the tube end instead.

 

It is very unusual to find an old safety with the original cork seal still sound. It is virtually never the case with any pen that was actually used; the only pens I normally find with passable seals are those found in unused condition -- and even most of these have seals which have shrunk and deteriorated with age.

 

Thanks david. I shall try this out and what eric said about trying water first with a kitchen towel to see if it leaks.

[Vintagepens]

Thanks david. I shall try this out and what eric said about trying water first with a kitchen towel to see if it leaks.

 

It seems I was not clear enough. When I wrote, "don't even bother trying to fill it", I meant you should not put ANY liquid into it -- not ink, not water. Unless the pen is new old stock and never filled, the chances of the seal being good are virtually nil.

[eckiethump]

Thanks david. I shall try this out and what eric said about trying water first with a kitchen towel to see if it leaks.

 

It seems I was not clear enough. When I wrote, "don't even bother trying to fill it", I meant you should not put ANY liquid into it -- not ink, not water. Unless the pen is new old stock and never filled, the chances of the seal being good are virtually nil.

 

I receive for repair a fair number of Safety pens, they average out at 50% don't leak. YMMV

Eric

[Vintagepens]

I receive for repair a fair number of Safety pens, they average out at 50% don't leak. YMMV

Eric

 

Ah, I should have been more specific.

The likelihood of getting a safety with sound seals is indeed going to be higher in areas where safeties were longer in active use. In the USA, the popularity of safety pens declined early and steeply, so very few examples found in the wild are ink-tight.

[eckiethump]

I receive for repair a fair number of Safety pens, they average out at 50% don't leak. YMMV

Eric

 

Ah, I should have been more specific.

The likelihood of getting a safety with sound seals is indeed going to be higher in areas where safeties were longer in active use. In the USA, the popularity of safety pens declined early and steeply, so very few examples found in the wild are ink-tight.

 

Point taken, many of the pens I receive are French Safeties and I assume Waterman Safeties for the French market, 18ct nibs.

Eric

[rammerman]

I receive for repair a fair number of Safety pens, they average out at 50% don't leak. YMMV

Eric

 

Ah, I should have been more specific.

The likelihood of getting a safety with sound seals is indeed going to be higher in areas where safeties were longer in active use. In the USA, the popularity of safety pens declined early and steeply, so very few examples found in the wild are ink-tight.

 

Point taken, many of the pens I receive are French Safeties and I assume Waterman Safeties for the French market, 18ct nibs.

Eric

 

I just got my safety pen today. It is an american safety pen. The nib says Waterman New york #2 nib. The twist mechanism works well but the seals as you guys said is non existent. If i try to write with it the nib retracts back with minimal pressure. Like wise the screw at the bottom where the cap turns into does not seal well too. Is this fixable?. The pen itself is in good condition.The nib is flex and a "B" itallic by the looks of it.

Edited July 16, 2010 by rammerman

[Garageboy]

Nothing is unrepairable with the restorer these days. Send it in to someone. When David warned of not putting any liquid in, it's because if the hard rubber on the outside has been oxidized and gets wet, it'll discolor