Although other manufacturers had offered retracting-nib safeties since just before the turn of the century – most notably, the straight-action Moore Non-Leakable – Waterman's entry into the market expanded the design's acceptance exponentially.  

A number of books state that Waterman introduced their first safeties in 1907, but we have not been able to locate any references in company publications prior to 1908 (the November 1907 Pen Prophet makes no mention of safety pens).  The 1908 Waterman catalog offered standard and short models with three different nib sizes (#2, #4, and #5).  Gold filled barrel bands were an option, as was silver filigree overlay.  Model numbers were the same as the cone-cap series, with the addition of an "S" (e.g., 12S).

Early models had a threaded turning knob at the end of the barrel (a feature later copied by Kaweco in Germany) and a spirally-cut track inside the barrel, so that the nib turned in relation to the barrel as it was extended and retracted.  Black, red, and mottled hard rubber versions were offered.

The threads were eliminated from the end knob somewhere between 1910 and 1912 (an ad from April 1909 still shows a threaded knob, as does the British December 1910 Pen Prophet; in the Fall 1912 Pen Prophet the threads are gone).  Shortly thereafter, the tracks inside the barrel were made straight so that the nib traveled forward and back without turning, propelled by a helical piece (usually termed a "spiral") attached to the turning knob.

 By 1912, Waterman had introduced a range of new overlay patterns for its smaller models, including full overlays, telescoping caps, and chatelaine suspension hooks.

The largest Waterman safety was the 20, carrying a huge #10 nib; the smallest was the safety version of the more common cone-cap "World's Smallest" miniature.  Both are now quite rare and valuable.

Waterman numbering system FAQ

Original 1920s Waterman eyedropper instruction sheet

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Link to Waterman safeties for sale