Hope you're having a good week! Don't forget that our August meeting will be held next Thursday, that's Thursday August 22 (which is a departure from our usual third-Thursday-of-the-month date) at the Vancouver Pen Shop from 6:00pm - 8:00pm (full details here) . Hope you can make it!
He writes:
"I have been a serious vintage pen collector now for well over a decade and a half, but delving into the early precious metal overlays just seemed out of my grasp. Then, as time went on, they started to surface at prices well within my budget ... and I was quick to respond. Still, as much as the gold overlays turned up, it seemed that the sterling silver ones just were not that abundant, especially in the filigree finish. Admittedly, I have always been a big admirer of the Art Nouveau period and this one is no exception regarding impressive fountain pens. So nailing an early sterling silver filigree ‘Art Nouveau' style fountain pen was just wonderful when one came my way. I should mention that regardless of manufacturer, these pens are not inexpensive and with the more upper end pen companies like Waterman, Conklin and Parker, you can expect to lighten your pocket book considerably. Fortunately, the pen in question did not break the bank and once in hand, I was just thrilled to have it.
(photo courtesy of Christopher ~ please click on image to enlarge)
(above: a detail from the painting "Salome" by Franz von Stuck -1863-1928)
So, what exactly came my way?! Well first off, it’s a Waterman’s Ideal product, produced by the company in 1903. Secondly, it is an eyedropper with the old style lengthy vulcanized rubber grip section. A long cap, of course, indicates that this is an early period writing instrument, and a clipless one with a slip on cap at that. In fact, everything about this olde trooper comes forth as a pen for the beginning of the last century. Over the vulcanized black rubber barrel and cap is a floral Art Nouveau sterling silver filigree overlay, beautifully crafted and finely finished, possibly by the Geo W. Heath Company of New York.
Still, and personally, I do feel that the real treasure in this brilliant olde treasure revolves around the Waterman’s Ideal 14K Gold nib. For the truth be told, it is an original factory broad with tipping totally intact and tons of available flex, making it an absolutely gorgeous writer. And just to make this nib apply itself to perfection on paper, it was placed over a Waterman ‘Spoon Feed’ and inserted well into its section. To test this writing option, I removed both nib and feed and, in turn, tried both at different lengths coming out of the section. But in the end, its original placement proved absolute perfection and with this, Waterman will once again become part of my vintage pen collection."
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