Product Description
Type Vintage pen, working well and in beautiful condition.
Product Name Model 5 "Purple" - Colorband series of Red Ripple pens, the #5 pen is the smaller of the two sizes.
Manufacturer and Year Waterman, made in USA - circa 1920s
Length 5-1/16"
Filling System Lever filler. We've replaced the sac and it's working very well.
Color Red ripple hard rubber with gold plated trim. The feed is also red ripple hard rubber.
Nib FINE FIRM gold Waterman's Ideal "Purple" keyhole nib in good condition. It's very fine with nice tipping.
Since this pen has a purple colorband, it is correct that it should have a Purple nib. These nibs were described by Waterman as "Writes without pressure .... Popular with accountants." These are close to extra fine, by modern western standards, with no flex.
Condition Excellent +, with very rich and sharp ripple patterning. The clip looks quite nice, with just some brassing around the ball end. The upper edge of the cap band has some touches of brassing; the very lower edge has plating wear. The lever bar has brassing and plating wear. Very solid and well attached clip. The purple colorband (which we think is a later replacement) has turned a little grey, and there are some fine surface crackling on it. Part of the colorband fits smoothly against the cap, but part of it is uneven. The imprint is somewhat smoothed down, but is still readable.
The filling system is working well, and we'll guarantee it for a year.
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