Forgotten Waterman pens

I’ve recently discovered a category of pens which I’ve found a delight to use, and beautiful to look at. But, I see very few mentions of them in the pen collecting community. This may just be my perception though, and I’ll probably find quite a number of ardent Waterman specialists who will tell me otherwise!

The pen community talks about the Parker 51, Vacumatics and Duofolds, a whole range of Sheaffers, the Wahl Eversharp Skyline, Ringtops, The Waterman 52, Red Ripples, Patrician and 100 Year pen, Conway Stewart Dinkies and 58s to name but a few of the stars, but seldom talk about the Watermans of the 1940s. A time which was tough for Waterman.

What’s more interesting is you see plenty of them about on Ebay and pen selling sites. The pens I’m talking about are the English W2, W3, W5 and a few other similar pens from the same era made in the States and Canada. The pictures here show a good ol' US of A version.

I’ve now got a number of these, and I love them. I wonder if they get overlooked because they are quite functional – or they appear so in the photography of sites selling them. But in the flesh, the plastics used are wonderful. Reflective, deep, changing colour when viewed in different light. The nibs on each one of mine are a delight to use too, fine with varying degrees of flexibility and fun.

Best of all, they’re not particularly expensive. You should try one. Hmmm. Maybe this is another secret I should have kept to myself?

Stuart R Stevenson now stocks Lamy

Lamy A103 three pen case

The range of fountain pens and paraphernalia at London art and crafts shop Stuart R Stevenson is increasing. In fact, they now have quite an impressive display of brands available. I’ve noticed over the last week that they have now become a Lamy stockist too. I bought myself a Lamy A103 pen case from there just yesterday for £12 to replace the one I lost. It’s nice to be able to give my business to local, enthusiastic independent shops.

South West Pen Show – Sunday 22 February 2009

It’s the South West Pen Show in Bristol this weekend. Full details can be found on the UK Pen Shows website. Sadly I won't be able to make it, but thanks to Jeremy Collinridge and Ian Williamson for organising it.

Covent Garden market

During my lunch hour I wandered over to the Jubilee Market at Covent Garden. I used to go there quite often in my lunch hour, but as I’ve changed jobs I’m no longer within short walking distance. So my trips there only average about once every six months. On a Monday they have an antiques market. More of a house clearance / flea market actually. There are no specialist pen sellers. There used to be one about five years back, but not any more. The collection she had were not the best quality anyway, and quite expensive. Still it did give you the opportunity to browse some fountain pens in the flesh, a rare joy in the days of the internet. There are however a few pens to be found on the general stalls. Don’t expect to find anything fantastic, I’m sure the specialists get a look at anything before it ends up here. But there are one or two more modern and slightly battered pens to pique your interest. I have bought a few pens from here, and passed on a couple that in hindsight I should have had. Ones that have made it home with me were an Eversharp demi-Skyline set in green moiré. Nice looking and boxed, but the nib was XXF and pretty scratchy. I also got a couple of Parker 51 Vacumactics, £15 for the pair. The body was blown on one, from a poorly replaced diaphragm I guess, but it did have a great gold-filled blue diamond cap which was well worth the £7.50. Today I found a teal Parker 51 special with a good broad nib and a great condition transitional Esterbrook in green for £5, my first Estie. The amusing chat with the stallholder was worth the trip alone.

There'll be tears...

This snow has made me change my going to work gear. I've put on my walking boots, Goretex jacket and, of course, some thermal underwear. I've also swapped my briefcase for a rucksack, easier to put on my back and keep my balance on the ice. I put my Lamy pen case in the front pocket which has a vertical zip down the side of the rucksack. This morning on my way into work, I realised the pen case wasn't there. A frantic rummage revealed no joy. Got into work, emptied everything out. Still no pens. Where could it be? I finished my book last night on the train home, so in the evening I had put it on the bookcase and put a fresh one in my bag. Maybe the pen case had fallen out and was on the floor? Sent my wife a text asking her to check , text back "sorry not here". So I've come to the conclusion that it must have fallen out my bag when I got off the train and put my book back in the bag. I'm sure I remember seeing it then, and I'm sure I was careful, but ... And, what pens were in there you may ask. Sadly two of my favourites. Not the usual Safari's or Lamy Studio that are my most usual companions to the office and could have been replaced easily, but a 1940's Parker Duofold AF with a beautiful cursive italic nib and a Parker 51 with the smoothest nib and most perfect ink flow I own (owned?) - all the better that I bought it for just £20 five years ago. Gutted. Oh, and my other thought as I travelled to work - I'm going to have to use a ballpoint today.

Got an idea

Want some small notebooks? Then have a look at these "idea pads".

Just 20 unlined pages and a simple card, woodprint cover. Saddle stitched (staped) and measuring just 120mm x 80mm, they're very cute and made of a nice bonded, fountain pen friendly paper. I got them from Magma books (£4 for thr set of 4) in Clerkenwell, but they're also available online from http://www.sortdesign.com/

Sort Design is the Society of Revisionist Typograhers. Typography being a subject close to my heart, and they specialise in Letterpress printing of stationery if you need to send out some wedding invitations!

Hmmm. I seem to be doing more paper collecting than pens at the moment.