Are Waterman 52 and 52 1/2 Sections interchangeable? Was gifted a section with an ideal #4 nib that works great and am trying to build a pen around it.

[WhyDoIWatchTheCowboys]

I'm fairly confident my section fits in a standard 52/54 body but wanted to be sure. I can provide caliper measurements of the diameter if that is helpful. Here are some pics of the section and a writing sample from when I dip tested it. I was gifted it along with a well kept and functioning Parker 21 and 45 and told this nib would be a lot of fun if I can find a pen to put it in.

IMG_3596.HEIC IMG_3597.heic IMG_3598.heic IMG_3600.heic IMG_3602.heic IMG_3603.heic IMG_3609.heic

[shalitha33]

I am no waterman expert and therefore can be very wrong. 

 

52 1/2 and 52 have different sections and is not compatible with each other. feed on the 52 1/2 is different to that of  52. 

I believe there is a narrow bit at the end of the feed that's intended for the 1/2 size section. I.e a type 2 will not fit.

although this could be just the ones I have.
 

• barrel sizes for 52 and 54 are the same and the same goes for caps . they are interchangeable.
• barrels for 92 , 94 are larger than that of 52, 54 and the same goes for caps.
• 52v, 54v share the same caps as 52 and 54 they just have shorter barrels. 
• Overlay pens are even shorter than the no-overlay (bchr, ripple, woodgrain etc)sections looks the same. 
• 12 p.s.f ande 14 p.s.f have the same sizes but might not be interchangeable with 52 and 54 pens.  
  I may have cracked a barrel trying to mix the two :(.
   

nibs are interchangeable between various 12, 52 and 92 pens as well as 14, 54 and 94. 

I dont know anything about later celluloid 52s and 32, 32v etc pens.

 

In order to hunt of parts, these site may be of some use.
 

• http://fivestarpens.com/waterman-pen-parts.html
• http://vintagewatermanpens.com/product-category/all-pen-parts/all-pen-parts-waterman-parts/page/3/
• https://pentooling.com/partswatermanusmade.html

That said ebay probably is the cheaper option.

 

 

 

[WhyDoIWatchTheCowboys]

49 minutes ago, shalitha33 said:

I am no waterman expert and therefore can be very wrong. 

 

52 1/2 and 52 have different sections and is not compatible with each other. feed on the 52 1/2 is different to that of  52. 

I believe there is a narrow bit at the end of the feed that's intended for the 1/2 size section. I.e a type 2 will not fit.

although this could be just the ones I have.
 

• barrel sizes for 52 and 54 are the same and the same goes for caps . they are interchangeable.
• barrels for 92 , 94 are larger than that of 52, 54 and the same goes for caps.
• 52v, 54v share the same caps as 52 and 54 they just have shorter barrels. 
• Overlay pens are even shorter than the no-overlay (bchr, ripple, woodgrain etc)sections looks the same. 
• 12 p.s.f ande 14 p.s.f have the same sizes but might not be interchangeable with 52 and 54 pens.  
  I may have cracked a barrel trying to mix the two :(.
   

nibs are interchangeable between various 12, 52 and 92 pens as well as 14, 54 and 94. 

I dont know anything about later celluloid 52s and 32, 32v etc pens.

 

In order to hunt of parts, these site may be of some use.
 

• http://fivestarpens.com/waterman-pen-parts.html
• http://vintagewatermanpens.com/product-category/all-pen-parts/all-pen-parts-waterman-parts/page/3/
• https://pentooling.com/partswatermanusmade.html

That said ebay probably is the cheaper option.

 

 

 

I’m a little in awe of how through and enormously helpful this response was. Sincerely, thank you so much. 
 

I ordered a 54 body today that is in excellent shape for a good deal and am planning on getting the sac from Anderson pens. Just need to hunt down a cap now.