My first Waterman has arrived( Le Man 100 Opera)

[ianmedium]

I am completely over the moon with this pen and I have not even written with it yet!

This truly is NOS unused Cartridge converter never been inked, open guarantee card the lot!

i love how there is even a hand signed card from the assembler of the pen to be returned with any issues so they can fix it I guess. I wonder if the person still works for Waterman.

I will add writing samples later but I just wanted to share this beauty with you all!

Oh, the nib! extra fine with tons of flex in it even gently pushing down, this is going to be a fun writer!

included is a shot with my vintage 1946 Cyma, a perfect match I think!

thanks for looking!

[ianmedium]

A quick writing sample, this nib is something else!!
 

[PithyProlix]

Great, beautiful pen at an excellent price. Congrats! 

 

I just have a plain black Le Man 100 but also with an EF nib. Although I am mainly oriented towards Japanese pens and the first few Dupont models, it's still one of my absolute favorites. While it's not a nail, I wouldn't say that mine's a flex nib - just a comfortable softness. 

[PithyProlix]

Oh, I just noticed the list of pens in your FPN signature. "... easily beats them all for writing quality and enjoyment." Now that's saying something! 

[ianmedium]

2 minutes ago, PithyProlix said:

Oh, I just noticed the list of pens in your FPN signature. "... easily beats them all for writing quality and enjoyment." Now that's saying something! 

Oh I really mean that, I do like my other pens which get a lot of use but right out of the box this nib has something rather special. It is like it has been to one of those expert nib grinders who adjusts a nib to just spot on. M. Chalmel certainly knows what they are doing when it comes to tuning nibs. this is a lovely soft nib and I have been practicing and this one is capable of some lovely line variation, not quite up to my 1920´s Parker but for a modern pen very close but of course, it is much smoother than the Parker, My Hitchcock is a wonderful nib for jotting down quick notes, beautifully smooth but very firm, same for my Dupont which is from the same period as the Waterman.

Actually, the other nib that was a big surprise was the TWSBI, It took a few figure of eights on brown paper but I was shocked then how good a cheaper steel nib could perform.

[PithyProlix]

It's a wonderful pen to write with - there's 'something special', as you write, that is difficult for me to put in words. I generally like smaller pens - this pen is the largest I currently have in use - but it feels just right unposted. Mine is inked with vintage Waterman Bleu Nuit (more of a grey teal, really), which may have been contemporaneous with this pen, and the combination sings. 

 

I have three non-flagship gold nib Watermans from around that era - an Executive, Exclusive, and Lady Charlotte - and, while they are all really good pens, they do not come close to my Le Man 100. (Someday I will try a Gentleman but I would be surprised if that one approached my Le Man.) 

 

EDIT: I forgot to add that it is super reliable! 

[ianmedium]

Just a quick shot with some of my other pens to give and idea of size, I don’t have my 149 anymore as I gave it to a friend as a gift but my two Stipula Tuscan dreams are the same size as the 149. I’m not really aware of modern pens sizes as I prefer older pens but I would say the Waterman is nearer large than medium.

 

left to right are: Twsbi vac, Stipula Tuscan dreams one with broad italic the other fine, Waterman Le man 100, MB Hitchcock, Dupont, Montegrappa Historia, Aurora, Sheaffer, Pelikan, MB156, Omas.
 

[Carrau]

Congratulations on your pen.  I had inherited a couple of my Dad’s Parkers, and the Le Man Opera was the first fountain pen I purchased, when it was first offered. I think part of my attraction was how good it looked with my legacy Duofold in Pearl/Black.  One caution with this pen, is the tendency for the gold collar at the end of the section to corrode.  I’ve linked a FPN thread about this.  One excellent suggestion, is to avoid filling with the nib, and fill the convertor or cartridge instead, so as to avoid any ink contact with the ring.

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/363056-does-the-collar-on-the-waterman-le-man-100-corrode/

[ianmedium]

28 minutes ago, Carrau said:

Congratulations on your pen.  I had inherited a couple of my Dad’s Parkers, and the Le Man Opera was the first fountain pen I purchased, when it was first offered. I think part of my attraction was how good it looked with my legacy Duofold in Pearl/Black.  One caution with this pen, is the tendency for the gold collar at the end of the section to corrode.  I’ve linked a FPN thread about this.  One excellent suggestion, is to avoid filling with the nib, and fill the convertor or cartridge instead, so as to avoid any ink contact with the ring.

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/363056-does-the-collar-on-the-waterman-le-man-100-corrode/

Thank you so much for this advice and your congratulations! I will be sure to follow it and read the topic. I can see the connection with the Duofold, I have a 1920´s "Big Red" and the shapes are very similar.

What surprised me was how light the pen is. I read it was a resin over brass body similar to the Chinese lacquer over my Dupont´s body but this must be of much thinner brass as it is a delightful weight and perfect balance unposted (apart from my Omas I don´t post.

[manolo]

1 hour ago, ianmedium said:

Thank you so much for this advice and your congratulations! I will be sure to follow it and read the topic. I can see the connection with the Duofold, I have a 1920´s "Big Red" and the shapes are very similar.

What surprised me was how light the pen is. I read it was a resin over brass body similar to the Chinese lacquer over my Dupont´s body but this must be of much thinner brass as it is a delightful weight and perfect balance unposted (apart from my Omas I don´t post.

 

The Man Opera is lighter than a regular Man 100 with the regular black lacquer, but I don't know the details begind it.

[ianmedium]

35 minutes ago, manolo said:

 

The Man Opera is lighter than a regular Man 100 with the regular black lacquer, but I don't know the details begind it.

I shone a light down the barrel and it is brass lined just feels so light compared to other brass lined pens I have used before

[ianmedium]

Just found the serial number on the cap, 34737. Does this number have any relevance other than it´s unique number. I know some numbers are codes for dates or places of manufacture?

[wspohn]

Congratulations on having an excellent pen. All of the 100s are great - I have a range of them, including both Opera and Harlequin - pic of that one below.

 

 

 

I also love the sterling silver Man 100s and have a few of those versions, but aside from being expensive, they are also heavier than the plastic pens.

[ianmedium]

On 6/11/2023 at 5:59 PM, wspohn said:

Congratulations on having an excellent pen. All of the 100s are great - I have a range of them, including both Opera and Harlequin - pic of that one below.

 

 

 

I also love the sterling silver Man 100s and have a few of those versions, but aside from being expensive, they are also heavier than the plastic pens.

Those two are beautiful. What I am finding is how smooth their extra fine nib is. I write very small and the nib allows real control over other fine nibs I have but not suffering by being a paper shredder.

I notice your location as well, I lived in Van for 16 years before moving to Austria. Do you belong to the pen club, i do and just found out there are online meetings so I am hoping to attend the next one which will be at around 3am my time. It is a lovely club. I used to go in the days when it was at Richards pen store opposite Oakridge mall!

[wspohn]

Hi Ian.  Yes, I went to the meetings at Richard's store so we likely met there.  I retired a few years ago and hated battling traffic (I live on the North Shore) to get to meetings so stopped going but I still participate in special pen purchases they do and keep in touch via email from time to time.

 

My only regret on retiring is that I no longer have a need to write all day long using various fountain pens!