Waterman Hard Rubber Self-Fillers
Waterman Pen Profiles: Early Self-Fillers - Lever-Fillers - Overlay Patterns
For more, see Waterman eyedropper-fillers & Watermans in plastic, c. 1929 to date
6520: Waterman Remex Self-Filler No. 101: one of Waterman's earliest self-fillers, and so rare that most advanced collectors have never seen a complete example; construction is all-aluminum, with a hard rubber press-fit section assembly, sleeve rotates rather than slides to expose filler bar; this example is new old stock, and the hardened sac is preserved with the pressure bar laced in place exactly according to the William Ferris patent 799,897 of 1905 (Ferris' patent 950,817 of 1910 is the one covering the usual Waterman sleeve-filler design); 14 cm long, superficial shop wear, "PAT. APPL'D FOR" imprint.
DATE: c. 1905 •
CONDITION: near mint • NIB: fine flex • $1650 
10833: Waterman 412 SF: black hard rubber sleeve-filler with sterling silver "Filigree" overlay, 14 cm long, #2 New York nib is smooth and lively, writes a nicely shaded line; number at end of barrel is worn but legible, "4" in hundreds place is omitted as is the norm in pre-1908 pens. A few shallow bumps to the cap crown, nickel plating of pressure bar is largely intact. A fine example of one of Waterman's uncommon early self-fillers.
DATE: c. 1907 • CONDITION: VG-fine • NIB: medium fine flex
• $1800
8982: Waterman 12P: rare black chased hard rubber pump-filler, 14.4 cm long, nickel plated clip, hard rubber faded but sound, with nice sharp imprints and good chasing -- a fully functional example of one of Waterman's earliest and least common self-fillers.
DATE: c. 1908 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: extra-fine
flex • $685
10242: Waterman 12P: rare mottled hard rubber pump-filler, 13.8 cm long, good color, imprints worn but mostly legible, including patent dates and arrow on filler knob. Filler knob end has been shortened by about 5 mm, possibly due to breakage of the original end notch. #2 nib has surface roughness, but is a wonderful, soft writer; pen is mechanically sound and filler works perfectly. Waterman pump-fillers are hard to find, but are truly rare in mottled.
DATE: c. 1910 • CONDITION: G* • NIB: fine flex •
$650
3779: Waterman 12P: rare black chased hard rubber pump-filler, 14.8 cm long, good imprints with 1897 and 1900 patent dates; moderate, even fading, a nice clean example of one of Waterman's earliest and least successful self-fillers.
DATE: c. 1910 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: extra-fine flex • $675
10555: Waterman 12 SF: black chased hard rubber sleeve-filler, fancy gold filled barrel band, 14 cm long, crisp and glossy, though chasing bolder on cap than on sleeve, as is typical. Feed with patent imprints, #2 New York nib opens up wide with only slight pressure, but use with a light touch as there is the beginning of a hairline just starting from the vent hole. Sleeve-fillers are not at all common in such good condition.
DATE: c. 1912 • CONDITION: fine-exc* • NIB: fine flex • $325
10561: Waterman 16 SF: large black chased hard rubber sleeve-filler, 14.5 cm long, even wear, has been reblackened, mechanically sound, notable long-tined #6 New York nib provides great line width variation. Sleeve-fillers in sizes larger than 12 or 14 are rare.
DATE: c. 1912 • CONDITION: VG* •
NIB: medium fine superflex • $800
10832: Waterman 12 PSF coin-filler: black chased hard rubber, nickel clip, 13.4 cm long; well-used, chasing worn smooth, imprints all legible, lower clip rivet loose (clip will not snap back if ball end is pulled away from cap). Long-tined New York #2 nib has considerable flex and a bit of tooth. A good example of one of Waterman's shortest-lived and scarcest filling systems.
DATE: c. 1913 • CONDITION: G*
• NIB: fine flex • $465
10090: Waterman 0512½ PSF Oriental: black hard rubber lever-filler, 13.7 cm long, gold filled overlay with uncommon hand-engraved pattern; early production, with two-piece sprung pressure bar, bold imprints on posting end, metal excellent noting engraved initial on cap crown, some corrosion around cap vent holes (see details) -- metal otherwise near mint. Notable nib, smooth and flexible, feed with bold patent date imprint.
DATE: c. 1915 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: fine flex •
$1200
10506: Waterman 0512½ PSF: early black hard rubber clipless lever-filler with rose gold filled "Gothic" pattern overlay, 13.5 cm long; one of Waterman's first lever-fillers, with narrow raised barrel threads and two-piece sprung pressure bar. Imprints on hard rubber posting end are mostly worn away, commensurate wear to overlay, initials on indicia. Long-tined New York #2 nib is a wet writer and very soft, should be used with a light hand.
DATE: c. 1915 • CONDITION: VG • NIB: medium fine flex
• $685
9874: Waterman 0552: black hard rubber lever-filler, 13.8 cm long, gold filled "Gothic" pattern overlay, earlier production with 18K gold filled mark on clip, globe emblem on metal filler piece in lever head recess; nice smooth responsive #2 New York nib, not great line width variation. End number worn off, though imprint on side of posting end quite strong. Nicely engraved monogram on indicia, metalwork crisp, only a couple of dots of brassing.
DATE: c. 1918 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: extra-fine
flex • $565
8439: Waterman Remex sleeve-filler: black chased hard rubber, 14.1 cm long, unusual Canadian-made subbrand version of Waterman's pre-lever self-filler, apparently assembled out of obsolete parts; no imprints, feed is square-sectioned Aikin Lambert style, nib is typical Canadian Remex, with "14 KT./R" in a diamond, "2" below, even the globe logo on the pressure bar has been effaced; originally clipless, comes with a contemporary nickel plated slip-on clip (easily removed, if desired).
DATE: c. 1918 • CONDITION: fine
• NIB: fine stub flex • $300
10585: Waterman 552½: black hard rubber lever-filler with classic "Filigree" overlay in solid 14K gold; 13.5 cm long, no model number imprint on barrel end, imprint on side of barrel end worn but fully present; some shallow small bumps to side of cap top (see detail), otherwise clean, noting moderate even fading to hard rubber. #2 nib is smooth and responsive.
DATE: c. 1918 • CONDITION: fine •
NIB: fine flex • $1100
10377: Waterman 0752: black chased hard rubber lever-filler, 13.7 cm long, gold filled trim, hard rubber crisp and glossy, overall condition excellent but for flaking of the clip plating (see detail); monster super-broad #2 nib, stress crack from vent hole has been welded underneath.
DATE: c. 1920 •
CONDITION: fine* • NIB: extra broad stub flex • $275
4243: Waterman pencil: black chased hard rubber with a most unusual left-handed mechanism; 13.2 cm long, gold filled trim, early clip with large rivets, marked "18KT FILLED"; hard rubber chasing worn, but no brassing to metal, imprints all strong. Externally similar to the earliest Waterman pencils, introduced in 1922, but no lead reservoir, lead can be advanced by turning either the nose cone or the top end of the barrel. We have seen only two or three similar examples to date.
DATE: c. 1921 • CONDITION: fine • $275
8645: Waterman pencil: black chased hard rubber ringtop, 9.9 cm long, gold filled trim, crisp and dark, scratch through "PAT. APL'D FOR" imprint, uses 1.1 mm lead; matches 52 1/2 V or 42 1/2 V pen.
DATE: c. 1923 •
CONDITION: fine • $45
6383: Waterman 552½ LEC: hand-engraved solid 14K gold over black hard rubber lever-filler, 13.1 cm long; only minimal bumps to ends, cap crown nearly perfect, Ideal globe appears on both lever end and on plate below; for some reason, no "LEC" on barrel end; indicia engraved with extra, post-factory, scrollwork in order to cover over a monogram (see detail), clip ball has been resoldered back in place (noticeable only under magnification); notable New York #2 nib, responsive and offering a very wide range of line variation.
DATE: c. 1923 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: fine stub flex • $1100
8622: Waterman pencil: black chased hard rubber ringtop, 9.9 cm long, gold filled trim, crisp and glossy, "PAT. APL'D FOR" imprint, uses 1.1 mm lead; matches 52 1/2 V or 42 1/2 V pen, comes with spring-retracting pin-on chain.
DATE: c. 1923 • CONDITION: near mint • $65
10840: Waterman 552½: black hard rubber lever-filler with smooth 14K solid gold overlay, 13.5 cm long, extremely clean example with a great nib that can go from fine to double broad with ease; name on barrel, but no dings -- very hard to find on a smooth finish.
DATE: c. 1924 • CONDITION:
exc-near mint • NIB: fine superflex • $1100
9598: Waterman 0552½ LEC: black hard rubber lever-filler with crisp gold filled overlay in Sheraton (grouped parallel lines) pattern; 12.8 cm long, metal is like new but for corrosion around cap breather holes and tiny spot of blistering next to clip (see details); #2 nib is smooth, opens with pressure, but more for general writing with restrained but elegant line variation.
DATE: c. 1924 • CONDITION: exc* •
NIB: fine flex • $565
10052: Waterman 552½: black hard rubber lever-filler, smooth solid 14K gold overlay, 13.35 cm long, fully marked, slight fading to hard rubber, model number imprint on barrel end almost entirely worn away; elegantly engraved monogram on barrel, a few light marks to the sides of the cap, noteworthy nib is extremely smooth and flexible.
DATE: c. 1924 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: medium stub flex
• $950
10178: Waterman pencil: black hard rubber with gold filled "Sheraton" pattern overlay, 13.1 cm long; early production, uses 1.1 mm lead, next to no wear, minimal fading to hard rubber, but name on barrel and scattered pinprick blistering on the overlay (see details).
DATE: c. 1924 • CONDITION: fine-exc*
• $90
10831: Waterman 58: oversize woodgrain hard rubber lever-filler, largest in the line at 15.3 cm long; 18K gold filled trim, nice clear imprints, excellent color, plating nearly perfect. Massive manifold #8 nib is a smooth writer.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: fine rigid • $1600
8455: Waterman cigar cutter: blade and metal fittings have patches of pitting, but the imitation ivory celluloid body is clean with only slight rubbing at the top right corner on the Rotary emblem. Only one of these to date has been found in its original box, which bears a presentation imprint from Frank D. Waterman. Given this evidence and the tiny number of these cutters known, it has been suggested that they were made exclusively for FDW to give as gifts to his fellow Rotarians.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: VG-fine •
$385
9405: Waterman 452 Filigree: black hard rubber lever-filler, sterling silver overlay, 13.75 cm long, a couple of tiny marks to the side of the cap top rim, hard rubber imprints good, name engraved on indicia; responsive #2 nib writes an elegant line, can be made to open up with pressure.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: fine-exc
• NIB: fine semiflex • $525
10097: Waterman pinback: campaign button for Frank D. Waterman's campaign for mayor of New York City, 21 mm diameter, read about the campaign here..
DATE: c. 1925 •
CONDITION: fine • $35
8641: Waterman pencil: black chased hard rubber ringtop, 9.9 cm long, gold filled trim, hard rubber crisp, minor wear to metal cap; uses 1.1 mm lead; matches 52 1/2 V or 42 1/2 V pen.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION:
fine-exc • $50
8644: Waterman pencil: black smooth hard rubber ringtop, 9.9 cm long, gold filled trim, imprint with 1924 patent date, uses 1.1 mm lead; matches 52 1/2 V or 42 1/2 V pen, slight fading to hard rubber.
DATE: c. 1925 •
CONDITION: VG • $45
2631: Waterman store sign: baked enamel on steel, 76 x 20 cm (30 x 8 inches); chips to the enamel & rusty patches; the perfect wall decoration for a pen room; shipping weight 4 lbs.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: G*
• $425
2632: Waterman atlas book cover: from a series intended for distribution in schools, this covers the United States; 33 x 48 cm (13 x 19 inches), reverse has map of USA w facts & figures about cities & states; new old stock, minor age spots.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: fine • $45
10678: Waterman 552½ LEC: black hard rubber lever-filler with solid 14K green gold overlay in Sheraton (grouped parallel lines) pattern; 13 cm long, light bumps to ends, indicia engraving has been covered with a matching solid gold plate; nib has a very fine tip, opens up to a considerable degree with slight pressure.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • NIB: extra-fine flex
• $1000
10570: Waterman 0552½ LEC Filigree set in box: black hard rubber lever-filler with full 18K gold filled overlay, 13.1 cm long, earlier pattern with six intersecting strips instead of the more common four; crisp with wear apparently only from polishing, only slightest fading to hard rubber, nib is very flexible and responsive, opens up wide with light pressure; matching pencil uses 1.1 mm lead. Box is rather a mess, included as is.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: medium fine flex •
$800
7329: Waterman pencil: black hard rubber, 13.15 cm long, uses 1.1 mm lead, gold filled trim, crisp imprints with 1924 patent date, no eraser, propel only mechanism, "18K FILLED" on clip; matches 52 or 52 1/2 pen.
DATE: c. 1925
• CONDITION: exc-near mint • $75
7199: Waterman cigar cutter: celluloid body warped and markings badly worn, blade well-used; rare piece also bears Rotary emblem. Only one of these is known with its original box, which bears a presentation imprint from Frank D. Waterman. Given this evidence and the tiny number of these cutters known, it has been suggested that they were made exclusively for FDW to give as gifts to his fellow Rotarians.
DATE: c. 1925 •
CONDITION: fair • $150
10650: Waterman 452½V Filigree: black hard rubber ringtop lever-filler, 9.65 cm long, sterling silver overlay; moderate fading to hard rubber, metal is clean with only light marks, #2 New York nib writes a heavy, wet line and opens up wide with the slightest pressure.
DATE: c. 1926 • CONDITION:
fine • NIB: broad superflex • $285
9406: Waterman pencil: large smooth black hard rubber, 14.1 cm long, gold filled trim, matches 55 or 56 pen; uses 1.1 mm lead, 1924 patent imprint; clean, only slight fading to hard rubber, some tool marks to nose cone.
DATE: c. 1926 • CONDITION: fine • $95
10786: Waterman 0552½V: black hard rubber lever-filler ringtop with green gold filled "Filigree" overlay; 9.5 cm long, #2 nib is not the choice for huge line width variation, but puts down a smooth and effortlessly shaded line. Moderate fading to hard rubber.
DATE: c. 1927 • CONDITION: fine
• NIB: fine flex • $180
10376: Waterman pencil: large woodgrain hard rubber, 14.1 cm long, gold filled trim, matches 55 or 56 pen; good color, 1924 patent date imprint, uses 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1927 • CONDITION: fine-exc
• $120
10316: Waterman 0552½V: black hard rubber ringtop lever-filler with smooth gold filled overlay, 9.6 cm long; a couple of pinprick dings, otherwise very clean with only a bit of brassing at the posting end of the barrel; nib is fairly tightly sprung, will give nice shading.
DATE: c. 1927 •
CONDITION: fine • NIB: extra-fine flex • $180
8640: Waterman pencil: black smooth hard rubber ringtop, 9.8 cm long, gold filled trim, minor wear and marks to metal cap; uses 1.1 mm lead; matches 52 1/2 V or 42 1/2 V pen.
DATE: c. 1928 • CONDITION: fine •
$50
10830: Waterman 58 Ripple: oversize red and black hard rubber lever-filler, largest in the line at 15.5 cm long; gold filled trim, massive manifold #8 nib is a smooth writer with an unusual semi-oblique Relief-style tip. Hard rubber is boldly patterned, with extremely deep and crisp imprints on the barrel. Lever appears to be a gold-plated nickel replacement, and the barrel has a sealed longitudinal hairline crack from the back of the lever opening (see details: in the hand, neither is readily apparent without close inspection. Woodgrain section and black hard rubber feed.
DATE: c. 1928 • CONDITION: fine*
• NIB: medium oblique rigid • $1250
10712: Waterman 52: black hard rubber lever-filler, sterling silver overlay, 11.4 cm long, a three-quarter length French-market model with covered barrel end and no model number imprint, the engine turning pattern similar to the USA "Gothic", but different. Full French hallmarks, 18K gold nib is responsive and slightly toothy, some shallow bumps to the barrel overlay (see details), lever is nickel silver rather than sterling (appears to be original, as plate under lever end is matching).
DATE: c. 1928 •
CONDITION: fine • NIB: extra-fine flex • $600
5943: Waterman pencil: green gold filled ringtop, grouped parallel lines ("Sheraton") pattern, 10 cm long, uses 1.1 mm lead, crisp and unbrassed, but scattered light nicks; matches 0552½V or 0542½V pen.
DATE: c. 1928 • CONDITION: fine • $50
8621: Waterman pencil: black hard rubber ringtop, 9.9 cm long, green gold filled "Pansy Panel" overlay, matches 0552 1/2 V or 0542 1/2 V pen, uses 1.1 mm lead; some tool marks on crown piece, monogram "M. T. C." on indicia (perfect for a Swan collector!).
DATE: c. 1929 • CONDITION: VG • $60
8746: Waterman combination: Ripple hard rubber lever-filler, 14 cm long, gold filled trim, no brassing, excellent color, surface of cap slightly rippled; #2 nib very fine, toothy if pressed hard enough to open up significantly; outstanding specimen of a rare and uncatalogued model, from the estate of a former Waterman employee.
DATE: c. 1929 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: extra-fine flex • $1250
9977: Waterman 01852V Ripple in box: a scarce pen in mint condition -- an Olive Ripple hard rubber ringtop lever-filler, 11.6 cm long, gold filled trim, price sticker at end of barrel, hard rubber unfaded, crisp and glossy, imprints deep and razor-sharp, completely unworn; pen appears to have been dipped, probably in the store. In blue cardboard box with instructions. Note that most 52V colored Ripple (i.e., other than red and black) pens bear clips -- ringtop versions are much less common.
DATE: c. 1929 •
CONDITION: mint • NIB: fine flex • $600
9818: Waterman 7 Ripple: near-legendary Ripple hard rubber lever-filler with Toledo-work overlay, 14.4 cm long, Red band at cap top with matching Red keyhole-vent nib. Though the other components are in excellent condition, the iron-based overlay has large patches of deep corrosion. Never released in the USA, the Toledo 7 appears to have been sold only through a few high-end European retailers. Only a handful of examples are known -- many badly worn or corroded -- making this the rarest 7 of all. We have priced this pen at a fraction of what a fully intact version would fetch.
DATE: c. 1929 • CONDITION: fair* • NIB: medium
flex • $1400
9988: Waterman 52½: black hard rubber clipless 3/4-length lever-filler, 11.25 cm long, seven-sided sterling silver London-hallmarked engine turned overlay with enamel-inlaid perpetual calendar. A very rare and characteristically English model, very smooth and responsive nib.
DATE: 1929 •
CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: medium flex • $2250
10816: Waterman 454 Moderne: black hard rubber lever-filler, sterling silver "Night and Day" overlay, 13.6 cm long, smooth and responsive #4 nib, monogram on barrel indicia, good clean example of a scarce and desirable Art Deco classic.
DATE: c. 1930 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: fine stub flex •
$950
9864: Waterman 51V Ripple in box: rare Canadian-made model, not sold in the USA, 10.8 cm long, nickel plated trim, bold imprints, glossy hard rubber, fully-marked #1-size Waterman nib; appears unused, came to us in a USA-market blue box (included).
DATE: c. 1930 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: medium
fine • $320
9630: Waterman 94 Ripple pencil: Olive Ripple hard rubber, 12.65 cm long, excellent color, strong imprint, unusual with nickel plated clip; uses 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1932 • CONDITION: exc • $145
10402: Waterman 52 combination: rare hard rubber lever-filler with sterling silver overlay incorporating a retracting propelling pencil in the end of the barrel; 13.5 cm long, barrel end twists to extend Mordan-mechanism pencil (uses VS lead); full London hallmarks, maker's mark for Mappin & Webb, though overlay identical to others bearing Waterman's FDW mark. Fine barleycorn pattern, multiple scattered shallow dings, dent to clip ball, soldered patch to front edge of barrel overlay (see detail), smooth and responsive #2 Canada nib.
DATE: c. 1933 • CONDITION: G* • NIB: fine flex • $1650
9677: Waterman 554 LEC Gothic set in box: black hard rubber lever-filler, 14K solid gold overlay, 13.8 cm long, with matching 1.1 mm pencil; both crisp with 1933 presentation inscriptions, pencil has some bumps to crown piece, pen has raised ridge on side of posting end, partially redone bead on barrel end (see details). Pen lever is post-globe style, but may be original -- it is fully 14K marked. #4 nib is a smooth and effortlessly elegant writer. Box has some internal staining; both pen and pencil have considerable heft -- there is over $400 worth of gold in the pen alone.
DATE: c. 1933 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: extra-fine
semiflex • $1650
6604: Waterman pencil: gold filled "Gothic" pattern over black hard rubber ringtop, 10.6 cm long, uses 1.1 mm lead, mechanism propels and retracts; matches 0552½V or 0542½V pen.
DATE: c. 1934 • CONDITION:
fine-exc • $60
10828: Waterman 3: tan veined grey pearl "Steel Quartz" lever-filler, 12.8 cm long, chrome plated trim; strong imprints, two-tone hard rubber feed, #2 nib has a bit of tooth and a lot of flex, excellent color, sealed hairline from clip opening looks like a scratch (see detail).
DATE: c. 1938 • CONDITION:
fine-exc* • NIB: extra-fine flex • $145
4696: Waterman 52 combination: rare hard rubber lever-filler with 9K solid gold factory overlay incorporating a retracting propelling pencil in the end of the barrel; 13.7 cm long, barrel end twists to extend Mordan-mechanism pencil (uses VS lead); full London hallmarks, crisp fine barleycorn finish, only minor marks to metal, initials "S.J.M." on indicia, #2 Canada nib, cap thread engagement short but solid.
DATE: c. 1939
• CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: medium flex • $2650
10783: Waterman 403: uncommon late production overlay, black hard rubber lever-filler with "Gothic" pattern in sterling silver; 13.1 cm long, no number on barrel end, metal crisp with 1942-dated inscription on indicia; notable factory italic nib.
DATE: c. 1940 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: medium italic
flex • $650