Vintage Waterman Pen!!!

Looking for details and value on this vintage "red" waterman ideal fountain pen!!!

Any information would be wonderful!!!

 

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Thank you!

 

How long is it with the cap on and what color is the band on the cap?

 

It is 5" long with the cap.

 

Red Ripple #5, looks like the band is purple? The nib looks pretty dirty, you can rinse it in warm water, the ink should come off easily so you can see the makers mark, a gold mark if any and if it's in good condition.

 

Waterman lever-fill fountain pen. Popularly called a 'woodgrain' from the red-black ripple effect. Dates to around 1910-1920. The colour on the cap indicates the type of nib. Nib, if original, will be 14kt gold and most likely will say "WATERMAN'S IDEAL" (or words to that effect).

IF it works - Value is about $200-$300. Possibly a bit more, but not much more.

 

Most commonly called a "red ripple". A damaged or replacement nib affects the value, yours looks like the tipping is gone.

 

Don't throw it out. Pens can be re-tipped. There's not many people who do it, but it can be done. And tipping lasts for DECADES. Once it's done, it'll last a damn sight longer than you ever will.

 

Thank you for the great replies!! It seems as though there may be ink stuck in the pen. Is there any solution you can use to clear it?!?

 

This is a VERY old pen. It's 80 or 90 years at least.

Inside is a rubber ink-sac, a J-shaped pressure-bar and the lever that presses on the bar to force the ink in and out of the pen.

For it to work, the sac has to be leak-proof and pliable and springy. After all this time the sac has probably perished. It's either turned to muck, or it's turned rock hard.

To work, the pen would have to be entirely disassembled, cleaned, and have a new sac fitted, then reassembled accordingly.

Once that's done, it should work fine. There are pen-repairers in the 'States and in Britain and a couple in Australia who do this. But it's a niche market, and they have waiting lists which stretch for weeks.

 

Don't force the lever - it will break

There should be a number imprinted on the bottom of the barrel