Waterman Eyedroppers
Waterman Pen Profiles: Eyedropper-fillers - Safeties - Overlay Patterns
For more, see Waterman hard rubber self-fillers & Watermans in plastic, c. 1929 to date
9860: Waterman 0502: gold filled "Chased" pattern eyedropper-filler, 13.1 cm long, posting end somewhat faded, but number and "WATERMAN" present and legible; spoon feed with patent imprints and long internal tail, scratch on underside, a couple of digs to the section flange; metalwork excellent, fancy monogram engraved on indicia, nice early #2 nib is a smooth writer, enough flex for an elegantly shaded line.
DATE:
c. 1902 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: extra-fine semiflex • $1100 
9133: Waterman 322 Commercial: black hard rubber taper-cap eyedropper-filler, solid 9K English-hallmarked barrel overlay, 14.6 cm long; pre-Globe cap imprint worn but fully legible, seam split at front of overlay rewelded (see details); long-tail feed with patent imprints, early slender #2 New York nib.
DATE: c. 1905
• CONDITION: exc* • NIB: medium fine flex • $1200
9137: Waterman 12: black hard rubber eyedropper-filler with London-hallmarked sterling silver overlay, bloodstone seal cap top, 13.2 cm long; seal-top Watermans are rare, and most often found in England and France, but this is an uncatalogued pattern never before seen -- though the hallmarks leave no doubt about it being factory-original. Canadian-made #2 nib, patent imprints on feed, some tool marks to lower barrel overlay; note that "WATERMAN" imprint on cap lip is upside-down -- perhaps to reflect usage of the cap as a seal?.
DATE: c. 1907 • CONDITION: VG • NIB: broad italic semiflex • $6000
5324: Waterman 14 VS: smooth black hard rubber safety pen, 11.6 cm long, rare first version with threaded turning knob and mechanism where nib turns as it extends and retracts; strong imprints, cork seal has not been replaced; 3 mm hairline at edge of vent hole of #4 New York nib (see detail).
DATE: c. 1908 • CONDITION:
fine-exc* • NIB: fine flex • $250
6130: Waterman 14: black hard rubber eyedropper-filler with fluted gold filled overlay and bloodstone cap top seal; 13.3 cm long, a rare but fully catalogued factory model most often found in France and England (a version appears on p. 53 of Waterman's 1908 USA catalog under "Special Mountings" as Emerald End Special Fluted, priced at $50 -- more than three times the cost of a full sterling silver Snake); French hallmarks, no dings, but one small test mark on the seal bezel, imprints on posting end worn but mostly legible; toothy #4 New York nib, spoon feed with patent date imprints.
DATE: c. 1908 • CONDITION: VG-fine • NIB:
extra-fine flex • $2650
9110: Waterman 504 Wreath: black hard rubber straight-cap eyedropper-filler with solid 14K gold overlay, 13.5 cm long, crisp imprints and engraving, extraordinary condition with original "Roman" matte finish entirely intact, only a few tiny marks to the cap and some nicks on the barrel next to the "wreath" (see details). Patent imprints on spoon feed, elegantly engraved monogram on indicia.
DATE: c. 1908 • CONDITION: exc
• NIB: extra-fine flex • $3500
9134: Waterman 402: black hard rubber straight-cap eyedropper-filler with enameled sterling silver overlay, 14.1 cm long; English-retailed, with the posting end marked "CALLOW OF MOUNT ST. MAYFAIR". Very clean, with no dings, or any tool marks to the posting end, though there are losses to the original inlaid white enamel stripes which have been restored with what appears to be cold enamel of a darker color -- losses which involve only the frontmost part of the barrel overlay, but the better part of the cap (condition otherwise would be excellent). Factory-made Waterman overlays with enamel work are extraordinarily rare, and appear to have been made only for a handful of ultra-luxe European retailers. This is only the second example we have seen in over 20 years of collecting.
DATE: c. 1908 • CONDITION: VG-fine* •
NIB: extra-fine flex • $6500
9139: Waterman 214: black hard rubber half-overlay eyedropper-filler with acid-etched .999 fine silver barrel; 13.9 cm long, unusually heavy #4 New York nib, monogram lightly engraved on indicia; etched Waterman overlays are rare, and even more so as a 214 rather than a 212.
DATE: c. 1908 • CONDITION: fine • NIB:
medium stub manifold • $2875
9687: Waterman 12: English-market black hard rubber half-overlay eyedropper-filler, 13.2 cm long, 9K solid gold barrel overlay, London-hallmarked with Waterman factory maker's mark; pattern is a combination of twist and deeply hand-chased floral scrollwork -- uncatalogued, and hitherto unknown. Indicia is monogrammed, gold has been polished down, so that the date letter cannot be read..
DATE: c. 1908 •
CONDITION: VG-fine • NIB: fine flex • $3850
9728: Waterman 22: rare mottled hard rubber taper-cap eyedropper-filler, 14.7 cm long; good globe imprint on barrel, 1903 last patent date, right side of imprint partially heat-reversed; patent imprints on feed, #2 New York manifold nib, good color to hard rubber, cap very slightly bent. Waterman taper-cap pens are not uncommon in black, but are very rare indeed in mottled.
DATE: c. 1908 • CONDITION: fine-exc* • NIB:
fine rigid • $600
9753: Waterman 512½ Colonial: slender black hard rubber eyedropper-filler, 12.1 cm long, solid 14K gold overlay in scarce fine parallel lines pattern, especially rare with factory cabochon at cap top; elegantly engraved monogram in indicia, minor bump marks to cap, overall nice and clean, smooth and responsive #2 New York nib.
DATE: c. 1908 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: fine flex • $1800
9985: Waterman 0504: black hard rubber straight-cap eyedropper-filler with smooth gold filled overlay, 13.5 cm long; beautiful and elegant, bears French "DOUBLÉ OR" hallmarks with initials of Waterman's pre-WW1 European agent, L. & C. Hardtmuth; added clip is also typical of Hardtmuth-retailed pens. Big New York #4 nib writes an extremely fine line, feed bears patent imprints, overall condition is outstanding with only a few pinprick marks to the sides of the posting end.
DATE: c. 1908 • CONDITION:
near mint • NIB: needlepoint semiflex • $1100
8616: Waterman 420: giant black hard rubber eyedropper-filler with full sterling silver Filigree overlay; 17.5 cm long closed, 23 cm open -- truly enormous. A very early example, with especially rounded ends, very clean oversize #10 nib. Few of these pens are known, and they seldom come to market.
DATE: c. 1909 • CONDITION: VG-fine • NIB: extra-fine semiflex • Full details on request
9861: Waterman 14: smooth black hard rubber slip-cap eyedropper-filler, 13.4 cm long, well-worn, evenly faded, scratches to cap; used by as well as made by Waterman -- barrel bears an "EMPLOYEE" imprint. #4 New York nib is marked "ACCOUNT", perhaps a bookkeeper's pen. Number imprint at barrel end worn away, clip is marked "GERMAN SILVER".
DATE: c. 1912 • CONDITION: G • NIB: extra-fine rigid • $275
9964: Waterman 415 Filigree: large black hard rubber eyedropper-filler, sterling silver overlay, 13.7 cm long, slight fading to hard rubber, posting end has been polished down but end number still legible; elegantly engraved monogram in indicia, amazingly smooth and paintbrushlike #5 New York nib.
DATE: c.
1915 • CONDITION: VG-fine • NIB: broad superflex • $1000
9986: Waterman 412½ POC Oriental: clipless black hard rubber screw-cap eyedropper-filler, sterling silver overlay, 12.7 cm long; the hand-engraved "Oriental" pattern is uncommon enough on lever-fillers, but this eyedropper-filler version is extremely rare. Distinctive Ferris-patent feed with cutout tail, very flexible #2 nib gives great line width variation with light pressure, imprints at barrel end bold and deep, noting some tool marks (see detail). Ex-Fischler collection.
DATE: c. 1915 • CONDITION:
fine • NIB: medium fine flex • $1800
4291: Waterman 0512½VS Baby: smooth gold filled overlay safety with rare double cap; 9.3 cm long, has been recorked, turning knob fully marked, virtually no plating wear, but inner cap rim dinged and wavy (see detail), barrel engraved with name.
DATE: c. 1917 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • NIB: fine flex •
$450
9492: Waterman 13: a legendary rarity with a stanhope viewer in the cap, made to commemorate Waterman's 35th anniversary; black chased hard rubber eyedropper-filler, 13.4 cm long, fancy gold filled barrel bands, correct nickel silver clip (this apparent mismatch is typical on this model); view through stanhope shows Waterman's Pen Corner in downtown New York City; nice clean condition, slight fading, even wear, all imprints clear. It has been suggested that these pens were made for Frank D. Waterman to present as personal gifts.
DATE: c. 1918 • CONDITION: VG-fine • NIB: medium flex • $2875
8403: Waterman 14: black hard rubber eyedropper-filler with smooth sterling silver overlay and bloodstone cap top seal; 13.1 cm long, a rare but catalogued factory model most often found in France and England (a version appears on p. 53 of Waterman's 1908 USA catalog under "Special Mountings" as Emerald End Special Fluted, priced at $50 -- more than three times the cost of a full sterling silver Snake); London hallmarks are worn but mostly legible, one ding to the side of the cap, #4 nib with unusual turnup grind at tip; the smooth silver version of this pen is several times rarer than the fluted version in gold.
DATE: c. 1918 •
CONDITION: G-VG • NIB: medium oblique • $2950
9184: Waterman 442½V in box: black hard rubber ringtop safety, 9.6 cm long, smooth sterling silver overlay with hard to find telescoping outer cap; metal clean, imprints on hard rubber strong, initials "M.W.D." on barrel. Patent imprints on feed, responsive nib.
DATE: c. 1918 • CONDITION: exc • NIB:
fine stub semiflex • $550
8907: Waterman 472: uncommon black hard rubber screw-cap eyedropper-filler with smooth sterling silver overlay; 13.1 cm long, London hallmarks, number at barrel end is simply "72" with no hundreds column digit, as is typical for English-market Watermans; 1925-dated presentation inscription, nice stub #2 nib has an incipient hairline from the vent hole, but should be stable if used without excessive writing pressure; even wear, light marks to metal, one tiny stress crack where barrel overlay crimped in place (see detail; for some reason these are extremely common in English-market Waterman overlays).
DATE: 1920 •
CONDITION: VG* • NIB: medium italic • $565
10093: Waterman 41 Ripple: rare US-made French-market slender hard rubber safety, 11.5 cm long, crisp and glossy, original cork seal has not been replaced but appears to be sound, pen has never been filled, nib is a French-hallmarked 18K warranted replacement of excellent quality, good writer with restrained line width variation.
DATE: c. 1930 • CONDITION: mint* • NIB: fine semiflex •
$400
4089: Waterman 42½V Ripple: clipless vest pocket red and black hard rubber safety, 9 cm long, has been recorked, barrel imprints strong, model number imprint on turning knob weak.
DATE: c. 1930 • CONDITION:
fine-exc • NIB: extra-fine semiflex • $225