Verification Pictures: https://imgur.com/a/uwI5K5z

📖 Christians Verlag, Hamburg, 1993. English edition (translated from the German by Christopher Erskine), hardcover

📐 116 full color pages, around 330 instruments cataloged, covers Simplo Filler Pen Co / Montblanc-Simplo from 1908 to 1947

🔎 Condition: C, cover is worn but pages are all clean.

💵 $350 + $15 shipping, insured, CONUS

Selling my copy of the Rösler guide. Most recent one sold by PenTooling was for $400, ebay $500 and $600. If you collect pre-war Montblanc this is probably one of the most important books you can own, it catalogs the pen and nib offerings Simplo put out model by model from 1908 through 1947, and the appendix lists nearly every model produced in that stretch so you can pin down what you are holding.

The rest of the book is full color, the period catalogs, ads and photographs reproduced along with the miscellaneous non-pen products Montblanc sold.

Out of print for a long while now.

Please comment before DM. PayPal G&S.

Vintage 1910-1920’s Waterman’s overlay fountain pens in sterling silver and gold plated brass.

📷 Verification & Gallery

Much more uncommon these days than in the past, glass cartridge Waterman's pens from the 1930's are a bit trickier to restore but incredibly convenient to clean out and load with any ink. the Yellow Purse pen Esterbrook is free with any purchase on this post, first come first served.

Most if not all pens have been completely rebuilt, restored, and fitted with a silicone ink sac, which is chemically inert and allows you to use any ink including sheen/shimmer, modern, japanese inks. Just be aware that the trade off is nib creep, so keep these pens stored standing nib up, or I can swap to a rubber latex ink sac (vintage safe inks preferred, but imo theyre cheap enough to replace regularly).

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SOLD HM2608009 — Waterman's | 32 Glass Cartridge | Black Celluloid | #2 Flex

💰 Price: $280 SOLD
🥇 Grade: C
🔱 Nib: Waterman's Ideal Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. 2
🖋️ Line Spec: F/EEF – 4B | 0.30mm V / 0.15mm H – 1.50mm (10.00x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 350g Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Glass cartridge (JiF conversion)
📐 Dimensions: 110.56mm capped / 143.24mm posted / 103.43mm uncapped / 8.30mm grip ⌀
⚖️ Weight: 16.018g capped / 8.832g uncapped

If you're learning flex stubs, this is the pen I'd start you on. Unflexed it writes an EEF hairline on the crossstroke, and deliberate pressure opens it to a true 4B, a 10x spread out of a #2 nib. It takes firm pressure before the tines spread, so ordinary handwriting stays consistent and the big swells only come when you press for them.

Filling is by glass cartridge. There's no sac and no lever to service; you top the cartridge up from any ink bottle with a pipette, and the whole assembly rinses clean fast. Any ink goes, including the shimmers and iron galls I keep away from sac fillers, and the webbed celluloid ink window shows how much ink is left at a glance.

Jif-Waterman, the French arm, introduced glass-cartridge pens in 1936, and David Nishimura dates the modern cartridge era to that program. The first runs were converted American production, which is why this barrel reads Made in USA; shorter pens were built on the 32, longer ones on the 92. The 32 code is simple, 3 for Waterman's 1929 economy celluloid series and 2 for the nib size. The clip is set with marcasite, small faceted pyrite stones, the same jewelry material common on 1920s and 30s brooches.

Tested on Tomoe River 68gsm White with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

HM2608010 — Waterman's | 32V | Black Celluloid | #2 Flex

💰 Price: $250
🥇 Grade: C
🔱 Nib: Waterman's Ideal Canada 2
🖋️ Line Spec: FM/F – 4B | 0.45mm V / 0.25mm H – 1.60mm (6.40x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 300g Super Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Lever
🎈 Sac: Silicone
📐 Dimensions: 107.46mm capped / 135.73mm posted / 100.55mm uncapped / 7.75mm grip ⌀
⚖️ Weight: 11.939g capped / 7.316g uncapped

This Canadian 32V is an amazing writer, super expressive once the tines start flexing. The Canada 2 sits at a fine line unflexed and opens past 6x to a 4B swell under moderate pressure. You can run it as a plain daily fine and pull the variation out only when you want it, the controlled flex Canadian 2's are known for.

Waterman Canada built its pens at St. Lambert, and the Canadian side ran celluloid earlier and in more colors than the US line did. The model code goes 3 for the economy celluloid series introduced in 1929, 2 for the #2 nib, V for vest-pocket, the short format; capped it's under 11cm, posted it's a full-length writer. The Made in Canada imprints are perfect, deep and sharp, which matters at this age because polishing usually eats the imprints first.

Graded C, all parts original. There are deeper marks at the end of the barrel; you won't catch them face on, but hold the pen at an angle to the light and they will show. A fresh silicone sac is fitted, the right pairing under celluloid nitrate since it won't off-gas inside the barrel, and it opens the pen to any ink you like. Store it nib-up, since silicone can let ink creep toward the feed.

Tested on Tomoe River 68gsm White with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

HM2608011 — Waterman's | Junior | Black Celluloid | Junior Flex

💰 Price: $270
🥇 Grade: B
🔱 Nib: Waterman's Ideal Junior Made in USA
🖋️ Line Spec: B/F – 6B | 0.70mm V / 0.35mm H – 1.90mm (5.43x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 250g Semi Brush Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Lever
🎈 Sac: Silicone
📐 Dimensions: 121.03mm capped / 146.36mm posted / 112.72mm uncapped / 8.10mm grip ⌀
⚖️ Weight: 13.056g capped / 8.416g uncapped

Super wet and super wide. The feed on this Junior keeps the line saturated through everything the nib can do, and the nib can do a lot: 0.70mm verticals over 0.35mm cross strokes before any pressure, then a full 6B spread at flex. The tines move at brush-light pressure, so you get most of that range without working for it, and the variation shows up even in ordinary handwriting.

Junior sold under its name with no number code; Waterman's old numbering system had unraveled by the celluloid years, and the Junior tier just got a name, down to its own Waterman's Ideal Junior nib stamp. Both arms made them, US pens in black like this one and Canadian pens in marbled blue with Canada Junior stamps.

Graded B, all parts original with light use. A silicone sac went in at the bench; it won't degrade the celluloid, ink choice is wide open, and it stores best nib-up since silicone can wick ink toward the nib.

Tested on Tomoe River 68gsm White with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

SOLD HM2608012 — Waterman's | 92 Glass Cartridge | Marbled Grey Celluloid | #2 Flex Stub

💰 Price: $400 SOLD
🥇 Grade: B
🔱 Nib: Waterman's Ideal Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. 2 U.S.
🖋️ Line Spec: M/EEF – 5B | 0.60mm V / 0.15mm H – 1.70mm (11.33x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 335g Super Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Glass cartridge (JiF conversion)
📐 Dimensions: 122.81mm capped / 160.94mm posted / 116.66mm uncapped / 8.90mm grip ⌀
⚖️ Weight: 15.521g capped / 10.558g uncapped

A crisp stub that's also a soft flex, on one #2 nib. Unflexed it writes true stub contrast, 0.60mm verticals against 0.15mm hairline cross strokes, with edges clean enough that letterforms hold their shape. Press and the downstroke runs out to a 5B line, an 11x spread end to end that stays soft through the whole range; you can write compact stub text all day and open it up for a signature.

The base pen is a US-made 92 in marbled grey celluloid, converted by Jif-Waterman for the glass-cartridge program the French arm started in 1936. In the model code, 9 marks the slender celluloid series Waterman introduced around 1932 and 2 marks the nib size; the longer cartridge pens were built on it. Nishimura counts the JiF program as the start of the modern cartridge era, glass cartridges in 65mm and 52mm lengths, sealed with a cork stopper the feed tail pushes open.

There's no sac inside and nothing organic to age in the barrel; flushing the system through is super quick, and any ink is safe in it. Graded B, all parts original and extremely mint, the grey marble's color perfect where celluloid this age usually ambers.

Tested on Tomoe River 68gsm White with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

SOLD HM2608013 — Waterman's | 92 | Black Celluloid | #2 Flex

💰 Price: $350 SOLD
🥇 Grade: B
🔱 Nib: Waterman's Ideal Canada 2, F.D.W. B 14 585
🖋️ Line Spec: FM/F – 6B | 0.40mm V / 0.25mm H – 2.00mm (8.00x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 320g Super Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Lever
🎈 Sac: Silicone
📐 Dimensions: 127.84mm capped / 164.25mm posted / 123.28mm uncapped / 7.95mm grip ⌀
⚖️ Weight: 14.823g capped / 9.786g uncapped

I absolutely love stamped import hallmarks on a nib, and you almost never find them on gold nibs, on Waterman or otherwise. Reading this set: F.D.W. is the sponsor's mark registered for Waterman's British imports, 14 and 585 state the gold standard two ways, 14 carat and .585 fineness, and B is the assay date letter, 1937/38 in London's uppercase cycle. Britain assayed imported gold on arrival, so this Canadian-built pen sold into Britain picked its marks up at the border, and the barrel bands carry hallmark imprints of their own, with a period owner's E.L.Steyn engraved just below.

As a writer it sits between F and FM unflexed and opens to a full 6B line, an 8x range under moderate pressure; plain handwriting stays compact, and the full spread is there when you push for it. The 92 decodes as Waterman's slender celluloid series, in production from about 1932, the 9 naming the series and the 2 its nib size, the 52's silhouette modernized in celluloid. Most 92s came in colored celluloid; this one runs black with gold-plated trim and three gold bands, the doubled barrel bands in a French jewelry-inspired style Waterman used far less often.

Graded B, everything original, with the personalization disclosed above and priced in. The sac is silicone, my standard fit under celluloid nitrate; run whatever ink you like and store the pen nib-up.

Tested on Tomoe River 68gsm White with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

About the Restoration: Every HM pen is fully rebuilt, heat-set, nibs tuned, and restored using a proprietary food-grade process. No toxic/carcinogenic chemicals (kerosene, wenol, simichrome) touch these pens at any stage. Ebonite and celluloid nitrate are rejuvenated to bring back material integrity and softness, then finished with a layer of carnauba wax to provide UV and moisture protection.

Must leave comment before DM. Happy to provide additional macro photos or writing samples on request.

For my full catalog of available pens and nib units please refer to my website linked in profile, I post daily workshop updates on my socials with sneak peeks. Can also follow my Reddit profile for some updates here and there when I can't find the time to sit down and write these long listings. Restorations and nib units guaranteed for two years with proof of purchase (my handwritten receipt).

here's some recent pictures of the restoration process! enjoy

🚚 Price includes non-refundable US shipping, fully insured | International quoted on request (VAT/tariffs buyer's responsibility) | PayPal G&S

I restore vintage pens, mostly from the 1890s to 1930s.

Somewhere in there, the inevitable happened: I stopped being able to look at old pens without wanting to make one.

These six are a collaboration with u/littlehollowcustoms. Logan machined and finished the bodies. I made the nib units: restored vintage 1930s American nibs from my own stockpile, heat-set and tuned into jowo6 ebonite feeds. Which means we get to say a sentence I don't see often in this industry: these are made in the USA from finial to nib.

The bodies are ebonite based on a vintage Parker formula, mottled the old way: two rubber compounds compressed together and left deliberately heterogeneous, so the pattern runs through the rod and never repeats. Most modern ebonite is usually very uniform and a bit sterile as a result.

Full transparency: I sell vintage restorations, but nothing here is for sale. Five went to private hands before I finished photographing them, and I kept the sixth as a demo, so this is just a show and tell.

📷 Verification & Gallery

Another week another set of cool pens to share, here are some glass safety pens with some other super cool french pens. Enjoy and ask me any questions, happy to help guide you down the vintage rabbit hole. I avoid pasting links on listings so feel free to comment/chat.

Safety pens are eyedroppers with a retractable nib mechanism, even though they are vintage pens, they have no limitations on inks and are often way more friendly with troublesome inks that would otherwise clog your feeds since you can flush the entire mechanism.

:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆*.*ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆

1. Unic | 1 Safety | Red Mottled French Ebonite, GF Waves Guilloché Overlay | 18ct #2 Flex

💰 Price: $350
🖼️ Gallery: Gallery Link
🥇 Grade: B, brassing at the lower finial end of the overlay
🔱 Nib: Unic OR 18ct Iridium
🖋️ Line Spec: FM/F – 4B | 0.40mm V / 0.35mm H – 1.35mm (3.86x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 380g Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Safety
📐 Dimensions: 117.52mm capped, 121.96mm uncapped, 152.74mm posted, 9.37mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 18.799g capped, 13.149g uncapped

Bright red mottled ebonite under a gold-filled waves guilloché overlay, the style Unic built its early reputation on.

The #2 18ct nib is a soft, snappy writer. Unflexed you get a fine line with a touch of stub character, 0.35mm across and 0.40mm down, and it opens to about 4x that under firm pressure. Not a super wide flex, but a soft one with good line variation, clean snapback, and flow that keeps up the whole way.

The model imprint is on the rear turning knob, faint but legible. Unic worked in Paris from 1919 into the early 1960s, and overlay safeties like this one were their specialty in the first decade, ebonite bodies under silver and gold. Surprisingly little was ever written about the company for how much they produced.

Grade B. The ebonite is in great condition with bright mottling, and the overlay shows some brassing, mainly at the lower finial end. It's subtle, and you won't notice it in normal use. Fully disassembled and rebuilt with a fresh cork seal and o-rings, fresh silicone grease through the mechanism, cycles tested, nib heat-set and tuned.

Tested on Tomoe River 68gsm A5 white with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

2. Unic | Fountain Pen & Glass Nib Safety Duo Set | Black Ebonite, Gold Trim | 18ct #2 Flex + #2 Milk Glass

💰 Price: $500 SOLD
🖼️ Gallery: Gallery Link
🥇 Grade: A2, NOS matching factory set with original leather flap case
🔱 Nib: Unic OR 18ct Iridium · #2 milk glass
🖋️ Line Spec: gold: FM/F – 5B | 0.50mm V / 0.30mm H – 1.87mm (6.23x) · glass: F | 0.25mm
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 280g Semi Brush Flex (gold) · n/a (glass, rigid)
⛽ Filling Type: Safety (both pens)
📐 Dimensions: 127.38mm capped, 120.26mm uncapped, 159.85mm posted, 10.39mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 16.172g capped, 10.608g uncapped

An absolutely mint matching set straight from the factory, a flexible 18ct Unic safety and its glass-nib companion, in the original leather flap case exactly as sold.

The gold #2 is an amazing flexible nib. It spreads from a 0.30mm fine line to nearly 1.9mm on light pressure, better than 6x, and the return is quick and clean. The milk glass nib is a fixed 0.25mm point in opaque white, insanely precise and perfectly smooth, closer in feel to a rounded pencil point than to any modern extra fine. Two very different writers in one case; you swap them depending on what you're writing.

Sets like this usually shipped with a stylograph or a pencil as the second writer instead; a glass nib was much more versatile than either. The 18ct gold also dates the set before the wartime restrictions that pushed French makers onto steel nibs.

A2, mint. Neither pen shows any use, and the set is complete, case and all. Both still went through a full service, new cork seals and o-rings, fresh silicone grease, mechanisms cycled, nibs tuned.

Tested on Tomoe River 68gsm A5 white with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

3. Bayard | Pocket Vest Safety | Black Chased Ebonite | #1 Black Glass Nib

💰 Price: $450 ON HOLD [pending sale]
🖼️ Gallery: Gallery Link
🥇 Grade: A2, NOS minty
🔱 Nib: #1 black glass, unstamped
🖋️ Line Spec: F | 0.25mm
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: n/a (glass, rigid)
⛽ Filling Type: Safety
📐 Dimensions: 92.59mm capped, 97.96mm uncapped, 129.15mm posted, 8.34mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 8.326g capped, 6.141g uncapped

A vest-pocket safety that never got carried, black chased ebonite with two cap bands and an ultrafine carbon-black glass nib.

The #1 glass point lays down a 0.25mm line, and the character changes as you rotate it, super smooth on some angles, a pencil-like bite on others. Really nice for sketching and shading, since you can pick the side that matches the style you need. Capped it's just over nine centimeters and disappears into a pocket; posted it's back to full writing length. I really enjoy writing with this pen, and it's in an impeccably mint condition with an absurdly rare black glass nib (very different color than modern production glass nibs).

Bayard took the name from Pierre Terrail, seigneur de Bayard, the French knight 'sans peur et sans reproche,' without fear and beyond reproach, and their early ads drew him with a nib for a shield and a pen for a spear. This one comes from their 1930s safety production, sized for a vest pocket.

A2, new old stock, minty. Crisp chasing end to end, both cap bands bright, no sign it was ever inked. It still got a full service, fresh cork seal and o-rings with fresh silicone grease, and the mechanism runs smooth through its whole travel.

Tested on Tomoe River 68gsm A5 white with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

4. Bayard | Standard Safety | Black Chased Ebonite | #2 Milk Glass Nib

💰 Price: $400
🖼️ Gallery: Gallery Link
🥇 Grade: A2, NOS minty
🔱 Nib: #2 milk glass, unstamped
🖋️ Line Spec: FM | 0.50mm
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: n/a (glass, rigid)
⛽ Filling Type: Safety
📐 Dimensions: 118.96mm capped, 122.96mm uncapped, 153.99mm posted, 9.37mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 13.655g capped, 10.641g uncapped

A full-size Bayard safety in chased black ebonite, unused, with a white milk glass nib and a large ink capacity.

The #2 milk glass writes a steady 0.50mm line, smooth with a tactile feel you can sense through the barrel. Pressure doesn't change it; you get the same line on the last page as the first. You fill the barrel directly with an eyedropper, the nib retracts down into the ink behind a sealed cap, and with no sac taking up space the ink capacity is fantastic.

The chasing is the same style you see across Bayard's famous models, still crisp and bright on this one. Bayard's first pens were chased and mottled hard rubber like this, safeties and eyedroppers, before lever-fillers took over the line in the late 1920s.

A2, new old stock, minty. Imprints sharp, chasing unworn. Stripped and rebuilt anyway, new cork and o-rings, fresh silicone grease, mechanism tested, and the glass nib checked at every angle.

Tested on Tomoe River 68gsm A5 white with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

5. Unbranded | Glass Nib Safety | Black Chased Ebonite | #4 Clear Glass Nib

💰 Price: $425
🖼️ Gallery: Gallery Link
🥇 Grade: A2, minty
🔱 Nib: #4 clear glass, unstamped (size 4 or 5)
🖋️ Line Spec: F | 0.25mm
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: n/a (glass, rigid)
⛽ Filling Type: Safety (American friction-pin mechanism)
📐 Dimensions: 120.74mm capped, 121.84mm uncapped, 152.86mm posted, 9.75mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 12.693g capped, 10.232g uncapped

A huge clear glass nib, a full size 4 or 5, on an unbranded French safety in black chased ebonite.

It writes like a very good pencil. The point lays down a 0.25mm line with very nice control over the ink, and you can adjust the flow just by rotating to a different side of the glass, drier on one side, wetter on another.

There's no maker's imprint anywhere on it. The construction points to Unic or Météore, both Paris houses making safeties like this in the 1930s, and it uses an American-style friction-pin safety mechanism.

A2, minty, with sharp chasing. Torn down and rebuilt, fresh cork and o-rings, fresh silicone grease, friction pin checked, and the nib tested through a full rotation on paper.

Tested on Tomoe River 68gsm A5 white with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

6. G.A. Mercier | #4 Safety | Mottled Ebonite & Sterling Silver Trim | 18ct #4 Artist

💰 Price: $650 OBO
🖼️ Gallery: Gallery Link
🥇 Grade: B-, some dents to the top of the cap
🔱 Nib: G.A. Mercier 18 CT 1st Quality, #4 18ct
🖋️ Line Spec: FM/F – 6B | 0.50mm V / 0.30mm H – 2.10mm (7.00x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 260g Semi Brush Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Safety
📐 Dimensions: 124.71mm capped, 127.62mm uncapped, 161.39mm posted, 9.33mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 16.05g capped, 11.40g uncapped

G.A. Mercier of Toulon, founded 1915 by Joseph Mercier, built provincial French ebonite pens well south of the Paris houses. The flagship "Grand Aigle" line had its nibs stamped "G.A. Mercier 18 CT 1st Quality." This Safety is the sister to an oversized #6 Mercier I restored previously, in a less common configuration: sterling silver bands and a sterling cap finial, every piece of trim stamped.

The body is mottled French ebonite, the pattern well-defined and the color still bright, with crisp imprints across the barrel and stamps on the sterling silver. Grade is B-, with some dents to the top of the cap.

The 18ct #4 nib is an Artist grind with a cursive italic character: 0.30mm horizontal hairlines and 0.50mm vertical strokes that open to a full 2.10mm on the downstroke, 7.00x line variation at 260g Semi Brush Flex. It is a very soft writer with wide, easy line variation and clean flex snapback. Feels more like a brush when flexing, as I have never tried to write with spaghetti.

The rear-pinned safety mechanism was serviced with modern FKM O-rings and the knob action calibrated. Ebonite rejuvenated and lightly hand-polished, natural softness restored. Nib heat-set and tuned for flex and smoothness.

Tested on Sanzen TR 52gsm cream with Diamine Sherwood Green.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

About the Restoration: Every HM pen is fully rebuilt, heat-set, nibs tuned, and restored using a proprietary food-grade process. No toxic/carcinogenic chemicals (kerosene, wenol, simichrome) touch these pens at any stage. Ebonite and celluloid nitrate are rejuvenated to bring back material integrity and softness, then finished with a layer of carnauba wax to provide UV and moisture protection.

Must leave comment before DM. Happy to provide additional macro photos or writing samples on request.

For my full catalog of available pens and nib units please refer to my website linked in profile, I post daily workshop updates on my socials with sneak peeks. Can also follow my Reddit profile for some updates here and there when I can't find the time to sit down and write these long listings. Restorations and nib units guaranteed for two years with proof of purchase (my handwritten receipt).

here's some pictures of the restoration process for safety pens! enjoy

🚚 Price includes non-refundable US shipping, fully insured | International quoted on request (VAT/tariffs buyer's responsibility) | PayPal G&S

📷 Verification & Gallery

want some nice vintage flexible gold nibs for your modern fountain pen? look no further than these niceties, heat-set and tuned so they won't starve of ink when you flourish and easily rinse out any glitter and shimmer.

i still have one more smooth firm gold #5 nib from my last penswap listing here: Waterman's #5

*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆

1. Jowo 6 Nib Unit | Waterman's | #5 Ideal | 14k Gold | Medium Flex Stub

💰 Price: $350 SOLD
🖼️ Gallery: Gallery Link

🥇 Grade: B
🏠 Housing: Nikko Black Ebonite, JOWO #6
🔱 Nib: Waterman's Ideal 14kt 5 Made in U.S.A.
🖋️ Line Spec: M/FM – 4B | 0.65mm V / 0.40mm H – 1.53mm (3.83x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 370g Flex
📐 Dimensions: 22.51mm nib length past housing
⚖️ Weight: 1.802g

Buttery is the word for this nib. It is a stub-ground Waterman's Ideal #5 that stays smooth at every point in the flex cycle, backed by a feed set juicy enough that the line never starves mid-flourish.

Un-flexed, you write a medium downstroke against a finer cross stroke, so ordinary handwriting picks up decent variation on its own. Push forward with deliberate pressure and the tines open to a 4B swell past 1.5mm, close to a 4x spread, and they return with a gentle controlled snap.

The nib is 1930s to 1940s production. Waterman stamped Ideal on its nibs for half a century, and the #5 sat in the middle of that range, large enough for a full swell and the size modern conversions favor. This one is set in a black Nikko ebonite JOWO #6 housing and drops straight into any pen that takes a #6 unit.

Tuned at the bench with the tines aligned and the tipping smoothed to a polish, then heat-set over a matched ebonite feed and run through a full writing test. Graded B for light use wear, the imprint clear and the nib original and sound.

Tested on Tomoe River 68gsm A5 paper with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

2. Jowo 6 Nib Unit | Waterman's | #5 Ideal | 14k Gold | Medium Super Flex Stub

💰 Price: $400 SOLD
🖼️ Gallery: Gallery Link
🥇 Grade: B
🏠 Housing: Nikko Black Ebonite, JOWO #6
🔱 Nib: Waterman's Ideal 14kt 5 Made in U.S.A.
🖋️ Line Spec: M/F – 5B | 0.60mm V / 0.30mm H – 1.63mm (5.43x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 330g Super Flex
📐 Dimensions: 22.14mm nib length past housing
⚖️ Weight: 1.768g

At certain angles this nib resonates on the page, a faint hum up as you write that some well polished modern nibs also exhibit. Even unflexed, the stub grind runs your downstrokes at a full medium while cross strokes hold fine, so everyday writing picks up fantastic subtle variation with no effort at all.

The flex is the smoother surprise. Moderate pressure opens the tines past 1.6mm, better than a 5x spread, and the opening is so even that your flourishes, swash capitals, and long entrance strokes swell without a hitch in the flow.

Stubs of this era were working nibs, made for correspondence hands that wanted shading without snag, and the softly rounded edges forgive rotation far better than a crisp italic. The Ideal on the imprint is older than the nib by half a century; Waterman's first New York operation traded as the Ideal Pen Co. in the 1880s, and the 1884 three-fissure Ideal feed patent is the one the company was built on. This size 5 dates to the 1930s and 1940s, the tail end of American flex production, heat-set over a matched ebonite feed in a black Nikko ebonite JOWO #6 housing and tested as a complete unit.

Graded B, slight wear from use with a legible imprint, original throughout.

Tested on Tomoe River 68gsm A5 paper with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

3. Jowo 6 Nib Unit | Waterman's | #17 Hundred Year | 14k Gold | FM Flex

💰 Price: $475
🖼️ Gallery: Gallery Link
🥇 Grade: C
🏠 Housing: Nikko Black Ebonite, JOWO #6
🔱 Nib: Waterman's Hundred Year Pen 17 Made in U.S.A.
🖋️ Line Spec: FM/F – 4B | 0.40mm V / 0.30mm H – 1.47mm (4.90x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 390g Flex
📐 Dimensions: 22.32mm nib length past housing
⚖️ Weight: 1.844g

A beautiful oversized #6 sized nib that is superbly bouncy and soft. The tines give under ordinary writing weight, so your line breathes a little even when you ask nothing of it, and deliberate pressure swells it to a 4B, close to a 5x spread from the fine unflexed line. The variation is the fun, forgiving kind; it shows up in your signatures, letter closings, and daily pages without any calligraphic technique behind it.

The imprint reads Hundred Year Pen 17. In 1939 Waterman answered the lifetime-guarantee wars of Parker and Sheaffer by warranting this pen for a full century, and molded it in Lucite before any other maker had put that material on a pen. The 17 was the standard nib of the lineup, dwarfed only by the oversize 18. This one is tuned, heat-set, and writing-tested in a black Nikko ebonite JOWO #6 housing, so any modern pen that takes a #6 unit can host it.

Graded C for visible use wear, the imprint worn but legible and the nib original and structurally sound.

Tested on Tomoe River 68gsm A5 paper with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

4. Jowo 6 Nib Unit | Montblanc | 146 Monotone | 14k Gold | Broad Semi Flex Stub

💰 Price: $600
🖼️ Gallery: Gallery Link
🥇 Grade: B
🏠 Housing: Nikko Red Ebonite, JOWO #6
🔱 Nib: 4810 M 14k Montblanc 585
🖋️ Line Spec: B/F – 5B | 0.75mm V / 0.30mm H – 1.63mm (5.43x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 400g Semi Flex
📐 Dimensions: 22.87mm nib length past housing
⚖️ Weight: 2.240g

Contrast is the point of this custom ground flexible nib. A vintage Montblanc 146 medium/broad reground to a crisp stub, it lays your downstrokes as a true broad while cross strokes hold a fine edge, so every stroke comes out sharply defined. Strong snapback combo'd with crispness; press downwards with a firm hand and the swell stretches past 1.6mm, which is over 5 times the difference from the thinnest lines.

The nib is a 1980s to 1990s monotone 14k gold, stamped 4810 over Montblanc 585 (gold purity). The 4810 is the summit height of Mont Blanc in meters, cut into the company's nibs since the 1910s, and monotone gold places this one before two-tone became the standard face of the 146.

Flow is set generously to match the grind. In my testing it much prefers wetter, high-viscosity inks, which shade richly through the broad face; drier inks feel underfed at this width. The unit is heat-set in a red Nikko ebonite JOWO #6 housing and writing-tested as an assembly, a straight drop-in for any pen that accepts a #6.

Graded B for light use wear, the imprint crisp and the nib sound; the stub is a documented post-factory grind, not original.

Tested on Tomoe River 68gsm A5 paper with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

About the Nib Units: Every HM unit is inspected under magnification, flex-cycled, flow-optimized, and tested as a complete assembly. All work done using a food-grade process, no harsh chemicals at any stage. Refer to bio and socials for more details.

Must leave comment before DM. Happy to provide additional macro photos or writing samples on request.

For my full catalog of available pens and nib units please refer to my website linked in profile. Restorations and nib units guaranteed for two years with proof of purchase (my handwritten receipt).

🚚 Price includes non-refundable US shipping , fully insured | International quoted on request (VAT/tariffs buyer's responsibility) | PayPal G&S

📷 Verification & Gallery: https://imgur.com/a/mZWANxv

selling more of my modern pens to fund equipment (just ordered a CNC...wish me luck making custom ebonite feeds).

*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

1. Pilot 743 FA w/ FNF Red Nikko Ebonite 3 slit feed

💰 Price: $350 OBO SOLD
🥇 Grade: A2

The #15 (size 5 nib) Pilot Falcon nib is a nice semi-flex soft writer, can't call it a flex nib as much as a superbly soft nib. Heat-set and tuned, with a red nikko ebonite feed with 3 ink channel grooves to increase inkflow, unlikely to get railroading like the default feed unless you go wild on the flourishing or push the nib beyond safe limits.

the con-70 is my favorite converter so far even though I dislike vacuum fillers, it's such a convenient c/c with a lot of capacity and great for my chunky fingers that cramp up cleaning out the regular piston converters.

comes with box papers, rhodium plated con-70 converter.

2. Platinum 3776 UEF, Laurel Green

💰 Price: $200 OBO SOLD
🥇 Grade: A2

One of my favorite modern nibs (roughly size 5/6) for it's incredible 0.20-0.30mm lines depending on the ink and paper combo, i absolutely love the precision and the pencil-feedback when writing super small fonts or detailed sketches. But letting so as I recently got a vintage platinum with an even finer tip, not as smooth as this one but I don't really mind sharp tipping.

comes with box papers, gold plated platinum converter.

3. Majohn P138 Flex Nib, Silver Overlay Trim

💰 Price: $30 OBO
🥇 Grade: C

One of the best modern flex nib (roughly size 6) pens to have been released in a long while, perhaps ever, cost to performance there is nothing that comes close. love the nib's cut out as it's very much the vintage conklin halfmoon, but is fully cut through to increase the flex limits. this one is their upgraded pen model that is heavily-heavily inspired by a montblanc LE (marcel proust) that has a silver plated overlay. there's some brassing spots on the overlay but overall in great shape. Piston filling unit is in great shape and holds a good deal of ink.

comes with box papers.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

Must leave comment before DM. Happy to provide additional macro photos or writing samples on request.

🚚 $10 US shipping, fully insured | International quoted on request (VAT/tariffs buyer's responsibility) | PayPal G&S

📷 Verification & Gallery: link

ever thought of upgrading that jowo 6 custom pen from your favorite penmaker? well, now you're thinking of it, you are welcome :)

*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆

1. Waterman's | #5 Ideal | 14k Gold | EEF Flex (JOWO 6)

💰 Price: $350
🖼️ Gallery: Gallery Link

🥇 Grade: B
🏠 Housing: Nikko Black Ebonite, JOWO #6
🔱 Nib: Waterman's Ideal 14k 5 Made in U.S.A.
🖋️ Line Spec: EEF–BB | 0.15mm – 0.90mm (6.00x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 380g Flex
📐 Dimensions: 22.77mm nib length past housing
⚖️ Weight: 1.726g

A thin 0.15mm cross stroke, which is even thinner than what most Platinum 3776 EUF nibs can consistently write at, is matched with a soft flexible bounce. Add some moderate pressure and you will add a 6x spread to your EEF hairline up to BB.

This late 1930’s to 1940’s Waterman’s size 5 nib has a circular breather hole to denote it's less flexible status in the nib line up, which was generally adopted after the 1930's. Does not mean they are always stiff manifolds but they are more rare to find with flexible tines, as the industry shifted to ballpoint pens in the 1940's. These nibs served bookkeepers and clerks writing small, exact figures all day and the soft springy gold nib made writing much less tiring.

Tuned at the bench, the tipping smoothed and brought up to a polish, then heat-set over a matched ebonite feed in the Nikko black ebonite JOWO #6 housing and writing-tested as a complete unit. Graded B, light wear from use, the imprint clear and the structure sound.

Tested on Tomoe River 52gsm cream with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

2. Waterman's | #5 Manifold | 14k Gold | F (JOWO 6)

💰 Price: $300
🖼️ Gallery: Gallery Link

🥇 Grade: B+
🏠 Housing: Nikko Black Ebonite, JOWO #6
🔱 Nib: Manifold Waterman's Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. 5 Made in U.S.A.
🖋️ Line Spec: F | 0.25mm
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: Manifold, no flex
📐 Dimensions: 22.55mm nib length past housing
⚖️ Weight: 2.265g

A soft, smooth manifold. The 0.25mm tipping holds a steady F line under any pressure you give it, and the thick gold cushions the point so the firmness never feels like a nail. Press harder and you get a slightly thicker, wetter line while the tines hold their set.

Manifold nibs existed because offices needed duplicates before photocopiers: you wrote over a stack of carbon transfer sheets, and the nib had to be pressed hard enough to print every layer. That is why the gold is cut thick, and you can feel it in this nib's 2.265g heft. The Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. stamp places it in the mid-1920s through the 1930s, when Waterman sold the Manifold grade beside its flex lines for exactly that desk work.

It will perform well even on less absorbent paper given it's strict ink flow regulation, so copy paper for the most part should perform well (tested on some generic Hammermill), will of course perform best on fountain pen friendly paper.

After tuning, the tip was smoothed and polished, the nib heat-set to an ebonite feed in the Nikko black ebonite JOWO #6 housing, and the assembly run through a full writing test. B+ for a clean nib with only slight use and a sharp imprint.

Tested on Tomoe River 52gsm cream with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

3. Waterman's | #7 Purple Keyhole | 14k Gold | Stiff Fine (JOWO 6)

💰 Price: $325
🖼️ Gallery: Gallery Link

🥇 Grade: B+
🏠 Housing: Nikko Black Ebonite, JOWO #6
🔱 Nib: Purple Waterman's Ideal Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. Made in U.S.A.
🖋️ Line Spec: F | 0.25mm
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: Stiff fine, no flex
📐 Dimensions: 22.58mm nib length past housing
⚖️ Weight: 2.193g

The tip of this Purple grade curves down slightly at the point, posting geometry, so the nib stiffens exactly where it meets the paper and you press clean, even 0.25mm strokes with no force. A slight architect bias keeps your horizontals extra crisp while the width holds a steady F.

In 1927 Waterman launched the No. 7 at seven dollars with a simple idea: grade every nib by color and band the cap in matching casein, so you could walk up to a pen counter and ask for a Purple instead of guessing at a grind. Pink was the flexible fine, Purple the stiff fine, Red the standard, Blue the stub, Green the rigid manifold, Yellow the left-hand point, Grey the oblique, and the last colors arrived by decade's end. The nibs are a 1920s #5 in size, the smaller No. 5 companion of 1928 came in five colors of its own, and the line sold into the early 1940s.

Purple's job was exactness. Ledgers, standardized forms, carbon copies, anywhere the line had to match from the first entry to the last, and that downturned point pressed perfect duplicates through transfer paper without forcing the hand. On a single sheet today it reads as pure precision, smooth and consistent, and it will feel different from your modern nibs even with the same grind.

The tines were tuned and the tipping smoothed to a polish, then the nib was heat-set into the Nikko black ebonite JOWO #6 housing over an ebonite feed and writing-tested assembled. B+ with light use and a strong imprint.

Tested on Tomoe River 52gsm cream with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

4. Mabie Todd Swan | #4 England | 14ct Gold | Flex Stub, Repaired (JOWO 6)

💰 Price: $300
🖼️ Gallery: Gallery Link

🥇 Grade: D
🏠 Housing: Nikko Black Ebonite, JOWO #6
🔱 Nib: Swan 4 14ct Mabie Todd & Co. Made in England
🖋️ Line Spec: M/F – 6B | 0.60mm V / 0.30mm H – 2.15mm (7.17x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 410g Semi Flex
📐 Dimensions: 22.19mm nib length past housing
⚖️ Weight: 1.844g

A factory flex stub, two ranges in one nib. At rest your downstrokes run 0.60mm against 0.30mm cross strokes, stub contrast with no pressure at all, and firm pressure opens the tines to a 2.15mm 6B, over seven times the hairline. Wetness holds even with dry inks, so the widest strokes fill solid without railroading.

The D grade is the repair, nothing else. This nib was bent, most likely from careless capping, and repaired; you can see the work, and the price accounts for it. The tines run thick through that area, the writing is untouched by it, and what you get is a cosmetic scar on a nib performing at full strength.

Swan gold nibs of the 1930s came out of Mabie Todd's English factories, in the decade the company ran one of London's largest pen plants at Harlesden and ranked among the wealthiest firms in the city. Two lines left those benches side by side: stiff Eternal manifolds for office work, and the flexible Swans that built the brand's reputation with writers. This is the flexible line, and an extremely expressive example of it.

Tuning trued the tines, the tipping was smoothed and polished, and the nib was heat-set to an ebonite feed in the Nikko black ebonite JOWO #6 housing before a full writing test as a unit. The imprint is legible and the stub writes as it left the factory.

Tested on Tomoe River 52gsm cream with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

About the Nib Units: Every HM unit is inspected under magnification, flex-cycled, flow-optimized, and tested as a complete assembly. All work done using a food-grade process, no harsh chemicals at any stage. Refer to bio and socials for more details.

Must leave comment before DM. Happy to provide additional macro photos or writing samples on request.

For my full catalog of available pens and nib units please refer to my website linked in profile. Restorations and nib units guaranteed for two years with proof of purchase (my handwritten receipt).

🚚 Price includes non-refundable US shipping , fully insured | International quoted on request (VAT/tariffs buyer's responsibility) | PayPal G&S

📷 Verification & Gallery: link

ever thought of upgrading that jowo 6 custom pen from your favorite penmaker? well, now you're thinking of it, you are welcome :)

*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆

1. HM1225085 — Waterman's Ideal #5, 14k Gold, UEF Flex (JOWO 6)

💰 Price: $325
🖼️ Gallery: https://heronsmooncake.smugmug.com/Rpenswap/Unified-Catalog/HM1225085-Watermans-Ideal-5-UEF/n-KTKvnr
🥇 Grade: B+
🏠 Housing: Nikko Black Ebonite, JOWO #6
🔱 Nib: Waterman's Ideal #5, 14k Gold ("Waterman's Ideal 14k")
🖋️ Line Spec: EEF–BB | 0.15mm – 0.86mm (5.73x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 360g Flex
📐 Dimensions: 21.88mm Nib Length (Past Housing)
⚖️ Weight: 1.757g

A Waterman's Ideal #5 in 14k gold from late American production, the 1930s into the 1940s, stamped "Waterman's Ideal 14k."

The highlight here is hairline first. At rest the tines lay a 0.15mm EEF cross stroke, finer than most dedicated needlepoints and more even than a modern Platinum UEF. The tipping geometry is tight, with precise tactile feedback under the hand. Under 360g of moderate pressure, a true Flex on the scale, the tines open to a 0.86mm BB for a 5.73x range. Very nice strong snap.

The tines are sharp. Past full flex they will cut paper, and the EEF profile wants a light, controlled hand on the upstroke to keep the hairlines clean. Aligned and heat-set before seating, the tipping smoothed and the base given a light burnish. Sits in Nikko black ebonite on a JOWO #6 ebonite feed. B+ for honest writing wear, the imprint crisp and legible, the structure sound.

Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Diamine Imperial Purple.

2. HM1225114 — Waterman's | #5 England | 14ct Gold | Firm (JOWO 6)

💰 Price: $325 Sold
🖼~~~~~~~~️~~ Gallery~~: https://heronsmooncake.smugmug.com/Rpenswap/Unified-Catalog/HM1225114-Watermans-5-England-Firm/n-qhStSb
🥇 Grade: A
🏠 Housing: Nikko Black Ebonite, JOWO #6
🔱 Nib: Waterman's 14ct England 5
🖋~~~~~~~~️~~ Line Spec: EF | 0.20mm at rest (firm, light bounce, no flex~~)
🌡~~~~~~~~️~~ Flexibility Pressure: Bouncy, no~~ ~~flex
📐 Dimensions: 22.71mm nib length past housing
~~⚖~~️~~ Weight: 1.745~~~~g

A Waterman's #5 in 14ct gold from the company's British production, stamped "Waterman's 14ct England 5." Waterman's English arm hallmarked its nibs in carat rather than the American "Ideal 14k," and the stamp style places this one in the 1930s or 40s, late in the maker's flex era.

This is a firm, precise nib rather than a flexing one. It writes a sharp 0.20mm line with a trace of pencil-like feedback that makes it easy to steer, and it has a soft gold give under the hand that stops short of real line variation. Flow is well balanced and the tip stays smooth through the feedback.

Tuned and aligned, with the tip eased before seating. Fitted to a JOWO #6 housing in Nikko black ebonite on a matched ebonite feed. Graded A, a clean nib with a legible imprint and sound structure.

Tested on Sanzen TR 52gsm cream with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

3. HM1225115 — Waterman's | #5 England | 14ct Gold | Flex Stub (JOWO 6)

💰 Price: $375
🖼️ Gallery: https://heronsmooncake.smugmug.com/Rpenswap/Unified-Catalog/HM1225115-Watermans-5-England-Flex-Stub/n-kWmJjw
🥇 Grade: A−
🏠 Housing: Nikko Black Ebonite, JOWO #6
🔱 Nib: Waterman's 14ct England 5 (stub)
🖋️ Line Spec: F/EF – 4B | 0.70mm V / 0.25mm H – 1.50mm (6.0x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 370g Flex
📐 Dimensions: 21.77mm nib length past housing
⚖️ Weight: 1.917g

A Waterman's #5 stub in 14ct gold from English production, stamped "Waterman's 14ct England 5." It is a stub and flexes, so it shows off stroke contrast before any pressure and opens well past it under the hand.

At rest the stub puts a broad 0.70mm downstroke against a crisp 0.25mm cross stroke, the contrast a stub builds in. Add 370g of pressure, a nice Flex on my scale, and the tines open to 1.50mm for a 6.0x range. The sides of the stub are sharp and the line runs juicy and wet. On a dry feed or a cartridge-converter pen it can outrun its ink and railroad if you flex fast, so it suits a generous filler and a controlled hand.

The tines were trued and the tip polished, then set to the feed under heat. Housed in Nikko black ebonite on a JOWO #6 ebonite feed. Graded A−, light honest wear, the imprint clean.

Tested on Sanzen TR 52gsm cream with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

4. HM1225116 — Waterman's | #17 Emblem | 14k Gold | Flex Stub (JOWO 6)

💰 Price: SOLD $375
🖼️~~ Gallery:~~ https://heronsmooncake.smugmug.com/Rpenswap/Unified-Catalog/HM1225116-Watermans-Emblem-17-Flex-Stub/n-BKJJHH
🥇 Grade: A
🏠 Housing: Nikko Black Ebonite, JOWO #6
🔱 Nib: Waterman's Emblem Pen 17
🖋️ Line Spec: EF – 5B | 0.70mm V / 0.20mm H – 1.80mm (9.0x)~~~~~~
~~🌡~~️ Flexibility Pressure: 320g Super~~ ~~Fle~~x
📐 Dimensions: 21.77mm nib length past housing
⚖~~~~~~~~️~~ Weight: 1.75~~7g

A Waterman's Emblem #17 in 14k gold, stamped "Waterman's Emblem Pen 17." Waterman launched the Hundred Year Pen in 1939, and after wartime material rules ended the Lucite run, the line was folded into the Emblem pen and its nib in the early 1940s. The #17 is the second largest nib from that family.

Ground as a stub and stamped to flex, it pairs built-in stroke contrast with a long expressive range under pressure. Its resting line splits wide and fine, a 0.70mm vertical over a 0.20mm cross stroke, and at 320g of moderate pressure, Super Flex on the scale, the tines open to 1.80mm for a 9.0x range. The tip is buttery and smooth through the flex with no scratch at the turns. It drinks ink and lays it down heavy, so give it absorbent paper and a full fill.

The tip was smoothed and the tines aligned before heat-setting. Mounted in a Nikko black ebonite JOWO #6 housing over an ebonite feed. Graded A, a clean and well-kept nib with a sharp imprint.

Tested on Sanzen TR 52gsm cream with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

5. HM2604002 — Moore | #6 | 14k Gold | Oversized Manifold (JOWO 6)

💰 Price: $375 Sold
~~🖼~~️~~ Gallery~~: https://heronsmooncake.smugmug.com/Rpenswap/Unified-Catalog/HM2604002-Moore-6-Manifold/n-VqPNF4
~~🥇~~~~ ~~Grade: A+
🏠 Housing: Nikko Black Ebonite, JOWO #6
🔱 Nib: The Moore Pen 6, 14k gold
~~🖋~~️~~ Line Spec: EF/F | 0.20mm H / 0.30mm V at rest (firm, no flex~~)
~~🌡~~️~~ Flexibility Pressure: Manifold, bouncy, no~~ ~~flex
📐 Dimensions: 23.33mm nib length past housing
~~⚖~~️ Weight: 2.185~~g

A Moore #6 in 14k gold, stamped "The Moore Pen 6" and cut with the heart-shaped breather hole. The #6 is an oversized nib, and at 23.33mm past the housing it reads big on the page. Moore built its name in Boston from the early 1900s on the Non-Leakable safety pen, and by the late 1920s its gold nibs ran from fine flex up to the firm manifold grade this one belongs to.

This is a manifold with unusual spring. At rest it lays a 0.20mm cross stroke against a 0.30mm downstroke, and it holds that firm line under a heavy hand, repeatable stroke to stroke. Lean into it and the tines give more than a typical manifold, closer to a soft bounce than a dead-firm board, which makes for a forgiving daily writer that takes pressure and angle changes in stride. Flow is generous and the tip is smooth across long, well-finished tines.

The tines were realigned and the tipping smoothed, then the nib heat-set to its feed. Set into a Nikko black ebonite housing on a matched JOWO #6 ebonite feed. Graded A+ for a clean, well-preserved nib with a crisp imprint and a striking breather cut.

Tested on Sanzen TR 52gsm cream with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

6. HM1225117 — Waterman's | #4 Keyhole England | 14ct Gold | Flex Stub (JOWO 6)

💰 Price: $450 Sold
~~🖼~~️~~ Gallery~~: https://heronsmooncake.smugmug.com/Rpenswap/Unified-Catalog/HM1225117-Watermans-4-Keyhole-England-Flex-Stub/n-m98RxS
🥇 Grade: A
🏠 Housing: Nikko Black Ebonite, JOWO #6
🔱 Nib: Waterman's Ideal England 4 (keyhole)
~~🖋~~️~~ Line Spec: F/EF – 6B | 0.70mm V / 0.25mm H – 1.90mm (7.6x~~)
~~🌡~~️~~ Flexibility Pressure: 400g Semi~~ ~~Flex
📐 Dimensions: 22.26mm nib length past housing
~~⚖~~️ Weight: 1.731~~g

A Waterman's #4 in 14ct gold from English production, stamped "Waterman's Ideal England 4," with the keyhole breather hole collectors prize on Waterman flex nibs. A flexible factory stub with a wide topend for a #4.

Unflexed, the stub already highlights a 0.70mm downstroke from a 0.25mm cross stroke. Under 400g of pressure, Semi Flex on the scale, the line opens to 1.90mm for a 7.6x range. The tipping is sharp and keeps the strokes crisp rather than soft. English nibs of this period snap back harder and sit a touch stiffer than their American counterparts, with the same expressive line at the end of it. The long tines ask for a trained flex hand; push them unevenly and they can spring out of true, which then takes a shim and a careful reset.

Aligned and smoothed at the tip, the assembly heat-set for clean flow. Seated on a JOWO #6 ebonite feed in a Nikko black ebonite housing. Graded A, clean with a legible imprint.

Tested on Sanzen TR 52gsm cream with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

7. HM2603012 — Waterman's #4 New York Nib, 14k Gold, 280g Semi-Noodle Flex (JOWO 6)

💰 Price: $575
🖼️ Gallery: https://heronsmooncake.smugmug.com/Rpenswap/Unified-Catalog/HM2603012-Waterman-4-NY-Nib/n-pJf5Mg
🥇 Grade: B+
🏠 Housing: Nikko Red Ebonite, JOWO #6
🔱 Nib: Waterman's #4 New York, 14k
🖋️ Line Spec: EF–3B | 0.20mm – 1.30mm (6.5x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 280g Semi Brush Flex
📐 Dimensions: 22.68mm Nib Length
⚖️ Weight: 1.994g

A Waterman's #4 in 14k gold from the New York factory. L.E. Waterman started in New York in 1884 and built the brand on the "Ideal" imprint and a patented three-fissure feed. This #4 was a factory fit on the 14, 24, 44, and 54. Early New York 4's run longer in the tine than later production and write softer for it. This one tracks close to the 1927 #7 Pink in feel, with tight hairlines and a clean, well-defined return.

It is one of the softer 4's I've tuned. At 280g it sits in Semi Brush Flex, a 0.20mm hairline stretching to 1.30mm for a 6.5x range, and those fine 0.20mm strokes are the point of it, among the finest on a flex nib of this size and clean enough for delicate flourishing. The tines come back tightly controlled, without bounce. Flex engages on light pressure; lean on it harder and the tipping can bite the paper, so it writes as a finesse nib.

Tine alignment was corrected and the tipping smoothed to sharpen the return. Seated in Nikko red ebonite on a JOWO #6 ebonite feed. B+, with light honest use and no prior repairs. A drier ink such as Pelikan 4001 crisps up the fine strokes further.

Tested on Rhodia 80gsm with Waterman Serenity Blue.

8. HM2603020 — Mabie Todd Swan #4 England, 14ct Gold, 380g Flex (JOWO 6)

💰 Price: $625 sold
🖼️ Gallery: https://heronsmooncake.smugmug.com/Rpenswap/Unified-Catalog/HM2603020-MT-Swan-4-Flex/n-z6fssB
🥇 Grade: B+
🏠 Housing: Nikko Red Ebonite, JOWO #6
🔱 Nib: Mabie Todd Swan #4 England, 14ct Gold ("Swan 4 14CT Mabie Todd & Co LTD Made in England")
🖋️ Line Spec: EF/F – 6B | 0.20mm / 0.25mm – 1.89mm (9.45x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 380g Flex
📐 Dimensions: 47mm total nib length, 23mm overhang past housing
⚖️ Weight: 2.056g

A Mabie Todd Swan #4 in 14ct gold from English production, stamped "Swan 4 14CT Mabie Todd & Co LTD Made in England." Mabie Todd kept a continuous English presence from the 1910s and moved its gold nib work from New York to Birmingham and Liverpool through the mid-1920s. The imprint and stamp style place this one in the late 1920s into the early 1930s.

The headline is a 9.45x range from a stub which is pretty wild. The cross stroke sits at 0.20mm against a 0.25mm vertical, stub line variation at rest, and 380g of moderate pressure, a Flex on the scale, opens the tines into a 6B at 1.89mm. The flex is smooth and controlled, the return settles cleanly, and the ball tip runs clean across the rotation with no skip on the cross strokes.

A fit note: the nib overhangs 23mm past the JOWO #6 housing against its 24mm length, with a 47mm total length. Check cap clearance on smaller modern hosts before committing it to a body for daily carry. The tines were aligned and the tipping eased, then heat-set to the matched feed. In Nikko red ebonite on a JOWO #6 feed. B+, honest use behind it and the imprint still crisp.

Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Diamine Imperial Purple.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

About the Nib Units: Every HM unit is inspected under magnification, flex-cycled, flow-optimized, and tested as a complete assembly. All work done using a food-grade process, no harsh chemicals at any stage. Refer to bio and socials for more details.

Must leave comment before DM. Happy to provide additional macro photos or writing samples on request.

For my full catalog of available pens and nib units please refer to my website linked in profile. Restorations and nib units guaranteed for two years with proof of purchase (my handwritten receipt).

🚚 Price includes US shipping , fully insured | International quoted on request (VAT/tariffs buyer's responsibility) | PayPal G&S

📷 Verification & Gallery: link

some awesome lever, twist, and button fillers from top vintage manufacturers. a few grails, and a few relistings, pm with any questions and OBO's.

:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆

1. Wahl Eversharp Doric Gold Seal Oversize, Black Celluloid GPT, #10 Adjustable 14k Flex

💰 Price: $2500
🖼️ Gallery: link
🥇 Grade: A
🔱 Nib: 10 Made in USA Eversharp Adjustable
🖋️ Line Spec: F/EF – 3B | 0.25mm V / 0.20mm H – 1.39mm (6.95x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 350g Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Lever-Filler
📐 Dimensions: 146.56mm capped, 135.16mm uncapped, 11.06mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 20.55g capped, 12.54g uncapped

The Doric was Wahl Eversharp's Art Deco flagship, introduced in 1931 and designed by Robert Black under patent D81,742, its name taken from the fluted columns of Greek temples. Twelve facets run the full length of barrel and cap, capped at both ends by pyramid crowns. This is the Oversize, the largest of the three Doric sizes and the scarcest, a noticeably bigger pen in the hand than the Standard. First-generation production from 1931 to 1933 is marked by the larger Gold Seal medallion seen here, and this example came from the Wahl Eversharp Pen Co. of Canada, a smaller run than the US output that fills most collections. The black celluloid shows no shrinkage, unusual in a material that commonly crystallizes or ambers with age.

The adjustable nib is the Doric's defining feature, patented as number 1,980,159 and sold under the slogan "nine points in one." A slider above the nib slot lets the writer move from a locked manifold setting to a fully released flex. Locked, it lays a controlled, shock-resistant line of the kind 1930s clerks and ledger keepers wanted. Released, the same nib drops to a 0.20mm hairline and opens to 1.39mm at 350g, a 6.95x range with clean snapback, with the cursive italic grind giving 0.25mm vertical against 0.20mm horizontal. This is the #10, the largest adjustable nib Wahl built and fitted only to the Oversize, and the slider runs cleanly through its full locked-to-released range on this example.

Celluloid nitrate rejuvenated and polished, the twelve faceted edges resharpened crisp and surface imperfections removed, then sealed under carnauba wax for UV and moisture protection. Nib and feed heat-set and tuned, structure intact throughout. Fitted with a silicone sac, so please store upright just in case there is nib creep. This is a trade off to use all inks regardless if they are vintage-safe or not, and will not off gas (won't degrade celluloid nitrate).

Tested on Sanzen Tomoe River 52gsm cream with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

2. Wahl Eversharp Doric Standard, Cathay Green Celluloid NPT, #5 Adjustable 14k Flex

💰 Price: $800
🖼️ Gallery: link
🥇 Grade: C
🔱 Nib: 5 Made in USA Eversharp Adjustable
🖋️ Line Spec: F – 6B | 0.25mm – 2.05mm (8.2x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 350g Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Lever-Filler
📐 Dimensions: 134.52mm capped, 118.90mm uncapped, 9.35mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 16.0g capped, 9.5g uncapped

Cathay is one of the rarest Doric colorways, about as scarce as Coffee. This Standard shows the celluloid at its best: bright pearl weaves run through a deep green ground, the marbled stripes still vivid as the pen turns in light, and there is no crystallization. The Doric was Wahl Eversharp's 1931 Art Deco line, designed by Robert Black under patent D81,742 and named for the fluted columns of Greek temples. Twelve facets run down the barrel and cap, with pyramid crowns at each end.

The adjustable mechanism gives this nib five working settings, set by a slider above the nib slot that runs from a locked manifold to a fully released flex (patent 1,980,159, "nine points in one"). Locked, it writes a controlled 0.15mm dry line that resists shock and pressure. Released, the same nib starts at 0.25mm hairlines and opens to 2.05mm at 350g, an 8.2x line variation with full snapback and clean tipping. The slider moves smoothly through every notch here, and that much working range on a single mint nib is uncommon.

Personalized "BR" on the clip, with light scratch marks to the rear of the cap. Faceted edges refinished crisp and sealed under carnauba wax for UV and moisture protection. Ebonite components rejuvenated, the hairline on the cap lip sealed and smoothed. Nib and feed tuned, the gold patinated to a deep amber. The Grade C reflects the repair and the personalization. Fitted with a silicone sac, so please store upright just in case there is nib creep. This is a trade off to use all inks regardless if they are vintage-safe or not, and will not off gas (won't degrade celluloid nitrate).

Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

3. Mabie Todd Swan Eternal 46, Mottled Red Ebonite GPT, 14ct ENG #6 Cursive Italic Flex

💰 Price: $1,300 sold
🖼️ Gallery: link
🥇 Grade: B+
🔱 Nib: Swan 6 14ct Mabie Todd & Co. LTD Made in England
🖋️ Line Spec: BB/FM – 7B | 0.95mm V / 0.50mm H – 2.64mm (5.28x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 410g Semi Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Lever
📐 Dimensions: 140.10mm capped, 178.39mm posted, 133.23mm uncapped, 10.16mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 21.625g capped, 12.876g uncapped

This Eternal 46 sits at a transition point in Mabie Todd's history. The Swan "Self-Filling" lever pen arrived in 1920 with its patented self-locking lever, and the Eternal Swan range followed in Great Britain in 1924, though most early examples were still built in the New York factory until production crossed to England in 1925. This is one of those transitional pens: a New York body fitted with an English-made Swan #6 nib, which dates the writing end to 1925/1926.

The body is mottled red ebonite, rejuvenated and hand-polished back to depth of color without flattening the chasing or imprints. The gold-plated trim is minty with minimal brassing, and the imprints read worn but clear, which puts the body at B+. It is a substantial pen at 140mm capped and posts to 178mm, closer to an oversize than a standard Swan.

The nib is a Swan #6 in 14ct, ground as a cursive italic and built to flex, a combination that rarely turns up together at this size. Held flat, the italic grind alone gives line variation, near 0.95mm down the stroke against a 0.50mm cross. Lean into it and the line opens to a full 2.64mm, better than five times its finest width, with quick, clean snapback on release. That comes to 5.28x variation from a single nib, before the italic character underneath. Most Swan Eternals of this period shipped as rigid manifolds, so a wide-flexing cursive italic like this is a real rarity. At 410g it sits in Semi Flex territory: it wants a firm, deliberate hand, and it writes a wet, smooth line with superb tipping and flow that stays regulated to the edge of its range.

Mottled ebonite rejuvenated and hand-polished. The English Swan #6 nib fitted, heat-set, and tuned for smoothness.

Tested on Sanzen TR 52gsm cream with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

4. Mabie Todd Swan Eternal 54, Mottled Red Ebonite GPT, Eternal #4 14ct ENG Nib

💰 Price: $450
🖼️ Gallery: link
🥇 Grade: C+
🔱 Nib: Swan Eternal 4 14ct Mabie Todd & Co Made in England
🖋️ Line Spec: F, Cursive Italic (Stubbish) | 0.35mm horizontal / 0.45mm vertical
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: Soft Manifold
⛽ Filling Type: Lever
📐 Dimensions: 117.13mm capped, 107.78mm uncapped, 150.37mm posted, 8.37mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 15.7g capped, 8.9g uncapped

By the early 1920s Mabie Todd was making more of its pens in mottled hard red rubber, a shift from the black and cardinal hard rubber of its earlier eyedroppers and safeties. The Eternal Swan line was introduced in Great Britain in 1924, but the pens were almost all made in the New York factory until 1925, when popularity and management changes moved production to England. The English-made nib dates this one to 1925/1926.

The Eternal was Mabie Todd's manifold nib, built for carbon-copy work and steady, repeatable daily writing. This #4 is an uncommon soft example, with a natural stubbish cursive italic that most Eternals never had. At rest it writes a crisp 0.45mm vertical and 0.35mm horizontal, opening to roughly 1.34mm under moderate pressure, with reverse writing down near 0.20mm. Keep the pressure moderate; it wasn't built for the tensile strength that hard flex demands. Flow is wet and well-regulated, smooth and bouncy across the range, and the #4 size sits naturally for journaling and everyday correspondence.

Imprints are worn but legible: the model number 54 ETN on the end finial, the Swan logo on the cap crown, and the hallmarks along the barrel. The lever arm shows some wear, while the cap trim and three bands remain in excellent condition with minimal brassing. Mottled ebonite rejuvenated and hand-polished, its color and softness restored without over-polishing. Nib heat-set and tuned for smoothness. The C+ grade reflects the worn barrel imprints and lever-arm wear, offset by the strong trim and clean ebonite.

Fitted with a latex sac, but can swap to a silicone sac if you want to use more diverse and troublesome inks (remember silicone sacs will creep ink so keep pen upright in storage).

Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

5. Mabie Todd Swan 4460 (1060) Torpedo, Black Celluloid 3-Band GPT, #4 14C Gold Artist Super Flex

💰 Price: $800
🖼️ Gallery: link
🥇 Grade: B+ Mint Vintage Restored ✨ Carnauba Waxed
🔱 Nib: Swan #4 K 14C-585 Mabie Todd Co LTD. Made in England
🖋️ Line Spec: EF - 6B | 0.25mm - 2.00mm (8.0x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 320g Super Flex
⛽ Filling Type: "Leverless" Twist-Filler
📐 Dimensions: 136.3mm capped, 123.5mm uncapped, 9.36mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 16.6g capped, 10.9g uncapped

An extremely rare and interesting pen for anyone appreciating a story to come with the pen. This 4460 has a faded 1060 imprint right next to the 4460 imprint. This 4-leverless, 4-sized nib, 60-black xylonite Swan is one of the largest of the flexible nibbed Swans of the time, as #6 nibs were generally equipped with Eternal (manifold rigid) nibs to better compete with the growing competition by Miles Martin Pen Co's Biro Ballpoint pens, the beginning of the end of the days of flexy goodness. PAT No. 390585, Type B Imprint, 1949 production year (restamped), likely even 1948 as a prototype model that someone decided must fit in the mold of the new modeling system. The "K" imprint on the nib has not been documented; usually the "C" imprint was for Calligraphy pens, made shortly after in 1953, but no documentation yet on the K imprint.

A very long-tined artist nib with lovely snapback for its length (the usual tradeoff is length vs snapback). Maximum tine flex reaches 2.00mm with a significantly thinner line at no pressure (0.25mm), well within the EF cutoff, for a strong 8x line variation. This is the budget Waterman Pink nib at roughly half the price; a writing-sample comparison is in the gallery. The grip section measures a generous 9.36mm against the Waterman 7 Pink's 8.67mm. Best for intermediate to advanced calligraphers; very little feedback, but the longer tines are not beginner friendly. Excellent for crazy hairlines, feather up and use side strokes when flourishing.

Mint including the factory "1060" hidden imprint. Black xylonite hand polished, "softness" restored, coated with carnauba wax for UV and moisture protection. Fitted with a fresh latex sac. Nib heat set and tuned for flex and smoothness.

Tested on Rhodia 90gsm with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

6. Mabie Todd Swan "Swan Pen", Gold-Filled Waves Overlay, #2 Oblique Broad 14ct Nib

💰 Price: $295
🖼️ Gallery: link
🥇 Grade: C
🔱 Nib: Mabie Todd & Co 14ct #2 Oblique Broad
🖋️ Line Spec: FM-5B, Oblique Broad | 0.40mm horizontal / 0.85mm vertical - 1.78mm (4.45x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 380g Semi Butter Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Lever
📐 Dimensions: 129.99mm capped, 112.49mm uncapped, 8.29mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 13.1g capped, 8.5g uncapped

Mabie Todd's "Swan Self-Filling Pen" (Lever-Filler) was first introduced in 1920 as a patented "self-locking lever" to prevent accidents where the lever arm catches onto the liner of your pockets.

This engine-turned gold-filled overlay in a waves pattern is one of the earlier lever fillers from MT&Co's NY production at the peak of its popularity before production migrated to Britain. Personalized with the name ALBERTO. Beautifully smooth oblique broad nib with a linear snappy flex profile. Amazing writer at multiple angles for immense writing variation.

Imprints are extremely crisp and clear. Plating loss on the grip section, likely due to prolonged ink submersion. Some brassing to the clip-ball, cap and rear finial with some scratches and dents. Nib heat set and tuned for smoothness.

Tested on Rhodia 80gsm A5 pad with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

7. Parker Duofold Senior Streamline, Sea Green and Pearl Celluloid GPT, #2 18k Flex

💰 Price: $600
🖼️ Gallery: link
🥇 Grade: B+
🔱 Nib: Parker Duofold Pen 18ct Canada
🖋️ Line Spec: F - 4B, Cursive Italic | 0.35mm horizontal / 0.50mm vertical - 1.80mm (5.14x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 330g Super Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Button-Filler
📐 Dimensions: 128.76mm capped, 125.94mm uncapped, 154.05mm posted, 10.51mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 19.776g capped, 12.706g uncapped

The streamlined Duofold replaced the squared flat-top in 1929. This is the Senior in Sea Green and Pearl: green and white pearl celluloid striped through with translucent veins, considerably more vivid in person than the Lapis or Burgundy that survive more commonly. The 18ct nib stamp and the Canadian "Pen 18ct Canada" marking place this in the late 1944 Canadian run, when Parker Canada was still pushing export pens into the French market. US production ran from 1929 until 1933 or 1934, while Canadian production continued the design into the late 1940s, and the Canadian and English nibs from this window tend to be the bouncier of the two.

That bounciness shows here. The #2 lays a 0.35mm fine baseline that opens to 1.80mm at 330g Super Flex pressure, a clean 5.1x line variation, with a slight cursive italic character in the tipping (0.35mm horizontal hairlines, 0.50mm vertical downstrokes). The Christmas-tree feed runs wet and keeps up with the snapback. It writes best with a relaxed grip and shows good ink saturation on fountain-pen-friendly paper.

Complete celluloid restoration, with the barrel and cap deinked back to original color. Ebonite blind cap and collar restored. Nib and feed tuned for flow at full deflection. Button-filling mechanism rebuilt with a fresh latex sac and tested with water.

Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

8. Parker Duofold Junior, Jade Celluloid GPT, Soft #2 14k

💰 Price: $250
🖼️ Gallery: link
🥇 Grade: C-
🔱 Nib: Parker Duofold Pen Made in U.S.A.
🖋️ Line Spec: FM - 3B, Cursive Italic | 0.45mm horizontal / 0.60mm vertical - 1.36mm (3.02x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 470g Semi Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Button-Filler
📐 Dimensions: 116.22mm capped, 108.56mm uncapped, 148.20mm posted, 8.82mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 16.462g capped, 9.871g uncapped

Jade Duofold ran from the mid-1920s into the early 1930s and sold heavily through the decade. Bright translucent green celluloid with gold-plated trim. The Junior is sized for shirt-pocket carry, with the same button-filler and the same April 25, 1911 patent date hallmark stamped into the barrel.

Standard Duofold #2 nibs are firm; this is the Soft #2 variant, writing 0.45mm horizontal hairlines that open to 1.36mm at 470g for a 3.0x variation in the FM to 3B range. Semi Flex by my scale, with a slight cursive italic character in the tipping (0.45mm horizontal, 0.60mm vertical) that gives handwriting natural variation without behaving like a true flex nib. A forgiving everyday writer, close to the Pilot Custom 743 FA in feel, with the snapback closer to a controlled bounce.

Jade ambers, and that is part of the grading on this pen. The barrel shows period darkening from ink oxidization; the cap is near-mint after restoration, with no hairlines or crystallization and intact structural integrity. The gold-plated trim is clean with light brassing around the clip washer and ball. Crisp barrel imprint, with some marks to the ebonite blind cap and the knurled cap finial. Grade C- overall, reflecting the colorway and the trim wear.

Restoration involved extensive celluloid cleaning to release bonded ink residue from the barrel, finished with a light hand-polish and a carnauba wax seal for UV and moisture protection. Nib and feed tuned. Button-filling mechanism tested with water. Fitted with a silicone sac, so please store upright just in case there is nib creep. This is a trade off to use all inks regardless if they are vintage-safe or not, and will not off gas (won't degrade celluloid nitrate).

Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝
About the Restoration: Every HM pen is fully rebuilt, heat-set, nibs tuned, and restored using a proprietary food-grade process. No toxic/carcinogenic chemicals (kerosene, simichrome) touch these pens at any stage. Ebonite and celluloid nitrate are rejuvenated to bring back material integrity and softness, then finished with a layer of carnauba wax to provide UV and moisture protection. Refer to bio and socials for more details.

Must leave comment before DM. Happy to provide additional macro photos or writing samples on request.

For my full catalog of available pens and nib units please refer to my website linked in profile. Restorations and nib units guaranteed for two years with proof of purchase (my handwritten receipt).

🚚 Price includes US shipping, fully insured | International quoted on request (VAT/tariffs buyer's responsibility) | PayPal G&S

Mottled hard rubber is my favorite pen material, and these three highlight the material in all it's glory: a Waterman 20 eyedropper, a Montblanc 12 Safety, and a modern Tohma turned from Nikko ebonite. Roughly a century separates the oldest from the newest, and all three are in remarkable condition.

Some material history.
Vintage mottled is the earliest of the multi-tone rubber patterns, dominant from the 1890s through the late 1910s: red-orange and black pigmented hard rubber pool into each other like cooling lava rather than forming stripes or grain. The 1920s replaced it with structured patterns, woodgrain from 1923 and Waterman's Ripple from 1926, developed jointly with the H.P. & E. Day rubber works.

The Waterman 20 is the giant of the early eyedropper line, carrying the #10 nib, at roughly 49mm the largest nib Waterman made. For its size the 20 is one of the best fountain pens ever made: control, balance, and the mechanical simplicity of an eyedropper, nothing to fail and a huge ink supply behind a giant nib.

The Montblanc 12 Safety I wrote up in detail in a previous post.

The Tohma is the white elephant here, but doesn't look out of place at all. Kiyotaka Toma is one of the very few living independent makers producing fountain pen nibs fully in-house, and his oversized pens are built around them. This Kumataka 55 carries his signature in-house #55 nib, inspired by the MB12, and the nikko ebonite swirls magically across the pen.

Sitting next to a Waterman 20 and a Montblanc 12, it holds its own, which is about the highest compliment I can pay most modern pens.

The Montblanc 12 Safety is the grail of grails for most Montblanc collectors, and this one is the rarest configuration I have ever had in front of me: red mottled hard rubber with an 18ct nib.

Some history. Montblanc began as the Simplo Filler Pen Co. in Hamburg in 1908. Catalogues from around 1912 show the safety range topping out at a No. 8, so the 12 came later: the red star Rouge et Noir version of the 12 dates to roughly 1914 to 1923, and after ReN was discontinued the 12 continued under the Montblanc name with the white cap star through the late 1920s. The documented red mottled examples date to about 1924 to 1929.

The #12 Montblanc nib runs about 44mm, larger than a Waterman #8 (~41mm) and smaller than a Waterman #10 (~49mm). In my experience the MB12 nibs are the most consistently soft of all the giant nibs, softer than the Parker Black Giant #12 and Dunhill Namiki #50 examples I have handled. This one is 18ct, which points toward French-market delivery, since French law required 18ct as the minimum to market a nib as gold.

The Montblanc 12 Safety is the grail of grails for most Montblanc collectors, and this one is the rarest configuration I have ever had in front of me: red mottled hard rubber with an 18ct nib.

Some history. Montblanc began as the Simplo Filler Pen Co. in Hamburg in 1908. Catalogues from around 1912 show the safety range topping out at a No. 8, so the 12 came later: the red star Rouge et Noir version of the 12 dates to roughly 1914 to 1923, and after ReN was discontinued the 12 continued under the Montblanc name with the white cap star through the late 1920s. The documented red mottled examples date to about 1924 to 1929.

The #12 Montblanc nib runs about 44mm, larger than a Waterman #8 (~41mm) and smaller than a Waterman #10 (~49mm). In my experience the MB12 nibs are the most consistently soft of all the giant nibs, softer than the Parker Black Giant #12 and Dunhill Namiki #50 examples I have handled. This one is 18ct, which points toward French-market delivery, since French law required 18ct as the minimum to market a nib as gold.

[✨Vintage Restoration] One of my favorite vintage pens of all time. The oversized Doric by Wahl-Eversharp, introduced in 1931. This example in Jet Black with gold plated trim.

combined reduced listings for previous restoration projects, feel free to dm with questions. only nib unit, does not come with pen. nibs can be polished upon request.

📷 Verification & Gallery: https://imgur.com/a/MLbHfcF

*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆

1. SOLD HM2603073 Mabie Todd Swan #4 England, 14ct Gold, 330g Butterflex

💰 Price: $645 SOLD
🥇 Grade: B+
🏠 Housing: Nikko Red Ebonite, JOWO #6
🔱 Nib: Mabie Todd Swan #4 England, 14ct Gold
🖋️ Line Spec: EEF/B – 4B | 0.15mm / 0.80mm – 1.54mm (10.27x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 330g Super Flex
📐 Dimensions: 22.32mm Nib Length
⚖️ Weight: 1.992g

Mabie Todd's Swan Self-Filling Pen — the lever-filler that anchored the modern Swan catalog — was patented in 1920 with a self-locking mechanism designed to prevent the filler arm from being tripped in pocket carry. Through the 1920s the #4 became the larger flex size in the core lineup, fitted to the standard Swan 44, the smaller Swan 54, and their Eternal siblings. Of the two common Swan flex sizes, the #4 carries the reputation; the #2 is the more frequent survivor. The English imprint places this nib after the mid-1920s shift from New York to the Birmingham and Liverpool factories, with the imprint style consistent with production after 1925/26. Seated in a Nikko red ebonite housing with a JOWO #6 ebonite feed, ready to write.

The headline is a 10.27x flex multiplier driven by an extraordinarily fine EEF horizontal profile. At 0.15mm the cross strokes land finer than most dedicated needlepoints can deliver, and the range carries cleanly to a 1.54mm full flex under 330g of pressure — super flex behavior with enough structure for daily carry. At rest the tipping lays down EEF horizontal by B vertical (0.15mm / 0.80mm), firmly in crisp flexible stub territory. Moderate pressure opens the tines smoothly into a solid 4B with well-defined swell-to-hairline transitions and snapback that returns to hairline without drift. Flexible stubs and oblique grinds are among the most expressive vintage profiles because the unflexed character and the flexed behavior each contribute an independent range; this #4 balances both in unusual measure, and it is the strongest example kept from any Swan #4 series in this restoration cycle.

Tine alignment and heat-setting were addressed before the nib was seated into the housing. B+ reflects honest writing wear with crisp imprint legibility. A natural fit for experienced flex writers, calligraphers drawn to flexible stubs with true hairline cross strokes, and collectors after a top-tier Mabie Todd flex example — ink character, from hairline to full flourish, reads cleanly across the range. Tested on Rhodia 80 gsm, inked with Waterman Serenity Blue.

2. SOLD HM2603076 Mabie Todd Swan #6 England, 14ct Gold, 380g Superflex

💰 Price: $615 SOLD
🥇 Grade: B+
🏠 Housing: Nikko Red Ebonite, JOWO #6
🔱 Nib: Mabie Todd Swan #6 England, 14ct Gold
🖋️ Line Spec: F/BB – 6B | 0.35mm / 0.90mm – 2.08mm (5.94x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 380g Flex
📐 Dimensions: 23.34mm Nib Length
⚖️ Weight: 2.365g

Mabie Todd Swan held a continuous English presence from the 1910s, shifting its main gold nib production from New York to Birmingham and Liverpool through the mid-1920s. The Eternal Swan and the standard flexible Swan ran as parallel lines rather than sequential ones — Eternal nibs were stiffer manifolds with some softness, while the flexible line, this nib's lineage, retained the true flex character that defined the brand's reputation. The English imprint and size class place this nib after the Eternal Manifold Swans were already in production, likely late 1920s into the early 1930s. Seated in a Nikko red ebonite housing with a JOWO #6 ebonite feed, ready to write.

The #6 is a substantial size in the Mabie Todd catalog. Its 23.34mm nib length and 2.365g weight outscale most other size 6 nibs vintage and modern, sitting dimensionally closer to modern size 8 nibs. The scale pairs visually with oversized modern bodies — proportionate nib presence on a heavy barrel rather than the reverse. As a true flex in the flexible Swan line, 380g of pressure delivers a 5.94x multiplier from a 0.35mm / 0.90mm rest to a 2.08mm full flex. The unflexed profile is what sets it apart: F horizontal against BB vertical puts it in flexible stub territory before any pressure is applied, and moderate pressure opens the tines cleanly into a solid 6B with the stub edge sharpening contrast on every downstroke.

The tipping runs unusually generous for a nib this size. That buys durability and forgiveness under pressure now, and real room for a future custom grinder to re-profile toward an italic, architect's, oblique, or needlepoint flex without compromising structure. Snapback is responsive for a nib this soft — tines return to position without overshoot. Tine alignment and heat-setting were addressed before the nib was seated into the housing. B+ reflects honest writing wear with crisp imprint legibility and full structural integrity. Best suited to experienced flex writers drawn to large-format flexible stubs, owners of oversized modern pens who want proportionate nib scale, and collectors open to a future re-grind — ink character, sheen, shading, and shimmer all read cleanly across the broader strokes. Tested on Rhodia 80 gsm, inked with Waterman Serenity Blue.

3. HM2603012 Waterman's #4 New York Nib, 14k Gold, 280g Semi-Noodle Flex

💰 Price: $545 
🥇 Grade: B+
🏠 Housing: Nikko Red Ebonite, JOWO #6
🔱 Nib: Waterman's #4 New York, 14k
🖋️ Line Spec: EF–3B | 0.20mm – 1.30mm (6.5x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 280g Semi Brush Flex
📐 Dimensions: 22.68mm Nib Length
⚖️ Weight: 1.994g

L.E. Waterman & Co. was founded in New York in 1884, and the company's "Ideal" imprint — paired with the patented three-fissure feed — defined the early American fountain pen from the 1890s onward. From the 1890s into the 1920s, Waterman's New York nib factory produced the most softly tuned and most collected flex nibs in the American industry, and the #4 served as the workhorse medium of the catalog. It was the factory-fitted size on the 14, 24, 44, and 54 — the backbone of Waterman's upgraded lineup against the smaller #2 line. Early New York 4's are sought for a specific set of traits: tines run noticeably longer than later 1920s–1930s production, the nib body sits marginally larger than the #2, and they are often softer than the slightly larger #5. This one tracks closer in character to the legendary 1927 #7 Pink, with tight hairlines and well-defined snapback. Seated in a Nikko red ebonite housing with a JOWO #6 ebonite feed, ready to write.

One of the softest 4's restored from this New York cohort. At 280g it sits squarely in semi brush flex territory, with a 6.5x multiplier stretching a 0.20mm hairline out to 1.30mm under full flex. The hairlines carry the nib — at 0.20mm they land among the finest on any flex nib of this size, and they are the trait that suits this unit to Spencerian work with delicate flourishes. Snapback is tightly controlled. Tines return without bounce or overshoot, which is what tight Spencerian form demands. Flex engages under light pressure only; pushed harder, the tipping risks cutting the paper — this is a finesse nib, not a workhorse. Incredible nib patina.

Pre-assembly: tine alignment corrected, tipping smoothed, light burnish at the base to sharpen snapback. B+ reflects honest writing wear with no prior repairs. A light-touch nib for experienced flex writers, Spencerian and Engrosser's Script practitioners, and collectors after a grail-tier vintage flex in a modern serviceable housing. Works with any standard fountain pen ink; a drier ink such as Pelikan 4001 brings out crisper hairlines. Tested on Rhodia 80 gsm, inked with Waterman Serenity Blue.

4. HM1225092 — Mabie Todd & Co. NY Eternal #6 Nib, 14k Gold, Manifold FM (Bock 380)

💰 Price: $615
🥇 Grade: B+
🏠 Housing: Nikko Black Ebonite, Bock 380
🔱 Nib: Mabie Todd & Co. New York Eternal #6, 14k Gold
🖋️ Line Spec: FM | 0.40mm
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: Manifold, no flex
📐 Dimensions: 49.77mm total nib length, 28.24mm overhang past housing
⚖️ Weight: 2.277g

Mabie Todd & Co. introduced the "Eternal" imprint in the early 1920s as the top-tier manifold nib in its catalog — a stiff, reinforced gold writer designed for clerical and carbon-copy work, sitting alongside the flexible Swan line rather than replacing it. The earliest Eternals were produced at the New York factory before Mabie Todd consolidated gold-nib manufacturing in Birmingham and Liverpool through the mid-1920s. New York Eternal nibs are markedly less common than their later English counterparts; surviving examples typically date to roughly 1920–1925, before the production shift across the Atlantic.

The #6 in the Eternal lineage is a substantial nib by any era's standard. At 49.77mm total length and 2.277g, it outscales most #6 nibs vintage and modern, sitting dimensionally closer to a contemporary #8. The proportions pair naturally with oversized modern bodies and Bock 380-class housings. Seated here in a Nikko black ebonite housing with a Bock 380 ebonite feed, ready to write. Fit note: nib clearance against the cap is tight on smaller hosts — verify with a chopstick check before committing the nib to a body for extended carry.

Manifold by design — built to lay the same line under any pressure. The character lives in the tip and how the nib responds to writing angle. The 0.40mm FM tipping lays a wet, even FM line that turns bolder and more saturated at a higher angle, finer and crisper at a lower one, without skipping or stuttering across the rotation. Soft-firm under the hand. Long writing sessions stay effortless and predictable, and the nib takes pressure cleanly on the downstroke without spread.

Best suited to writers who want a substantial vintage gold nib for confident, predictable daily writing, owners of oversized modern bodies looking for a proportionate gold front end, and collectors of early American Mabie Todd production where the New York Eternal lineage matters.

Tine alignment corrected, tipping smoothed, light burnish at the base to sharpen baseline contact. Heat-set into the Bock 380 housing with the matched ebonite feed for clean flow from the first stroke. Imprint legibility is crisp; structural integrity is full.

Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Diamine Imperial Purple.

5. HM2603020 — Mabie Todd Swan #4 England, 14ct Gold, 380g Flex (JOWO 6)

💰 Price: $635
🥇 Grade: B+
🏠 Housing: Nikko Red Ebonite, JOWO #6
🔱 Nib: Mabie Todd Swan #4 England, 14ct Gold ("Swan 4 14CT Mabie Todd & Co LTD Made in England")
🖋️ Line Spec: EF/F – 6B | 0.20mm / 0.25mm – 1.89mm (9.45x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 380g Flex
📐 Dimensions: 47mm total nib length, 23mm overhang past housing
⚖️ Weight: 2.056g

Mabie Todd Swan held a continuous English presence from the 1910s, shifting its main gold nib production from New York to Birmingham and Liverpool through the mid-1920s. The English #4 ran as the larger flex size in the standard catalog, fitted to the Swan 44, the smaller Swan 54, and their Eternal siblings. Of the two common Swan flex sizes, the #4 carries the reputation for refined flex behavior; the #2 is the more frequently surviving size. The English imprint and stamp style place this nib in the late 1920s into the early 1930s, with the flex line running in parallel with the Eternal manifolds rather than after them. Seated in a Nikko red ebonite housing with a JOWO #6 ebonite feed, ready to write.

Fit note: nib overhang sits at 23mm past the JOWO #6 housing's 24mm length, with a 47mm total nib length. Verify cap clearance on smaller modern hosts before committing the nib to a body for extended carry.

The headline is a 9.45x flex multiplier driven by a stub character at rest — EF horizontal against F vertical (0.20mm / 0.25mm) sits in flexible stub territory before any pressure is applied, and 380g of moderate pressure opens the tines cleanly into a solid 6B at 1.89mm. The unflexed line already carries the contrast of a stub: sharper downstrokes, finer cross strokes. Expressive range comes on top of that. Flex behavior is smooth and controlled, with snapback returning to the rest position without overshoot, and the ball tip glides cleanly across the rotation without skipping or roughness on cross strokes.

Best suited to experienced flex writers, calligraphers drawn to flexible stubs with naturally occurring stroke contrast, and collectors of mid-production English Mabie Todd Swans where the flex line ran in parallel with the Eternal manifolds.

Tine alignment corrected, tipping smoothed, light burnish at the base to sharpen baseline contact and snapback. Heat-set into the JOWO #6 housing with the matched ebonite feed for clean flow from the first stroke. B+ reflects honest writing wear with crisp imprint legibility and full structural integrity.

Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Diamine Imperial Purple.

6. HM1225085 — Waterman's Ideal #5, 14k Gold, 360g Flex (JOWO 6)

💰 Price: $315
🥇 Grade: B+
🏠 Housing: Nikko Black Ebonite, JOWO #6
🔱 Nib: Waterman's Ideal #5, 14k Gold ("Waterman's Ideal 14k")
🖋️ Line Spec: EEF–BB | 0.15mm – 0.86mm (5.73x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 360g Flex
📐 Dimensions: 21.88mm Nib Length (Past Housing)
⚖️ Weight: 1.757g

A Waterman's Ideal #5 nib in 14k gold from the late 1930s into the 1940s, late-stage American production. The #5 sat one step above the workhorse #4 in the Waterman catalog. Seated in a Nikko black ebonite housing with a JOWO #6 ebonite feed, ready to write.

The character of this nib is hairline-first. At rest the tines lay down 0.15mm EEF cross strokes — finer than most dedicated needlepoints can deliver — with cross-stroke consistency that outpaces a modern Platinum UEF for hairline definition. Tipping geometry is tight, producing precise tactile feedback that rewards trained handwriting and Spencerian practice.

Under 360g of moderate pressure — true Flex tier on the canonical 6-tier scale — the tines open cleanly to a 0.86mm BB for a 5.73x multiplier. The topend reads measured; the headline trait remains the EEF hairline profile and its consistency under the hand. Snapback is immediate and clean, with tines returning to position without overshoot.

The tines are sharp. Pushed past full flex they will cut paper, and the EEF profile demands a light, deliberate hand on the upstroke to keep feathered hairlines clean. Best suited to Spencerian writers, daily-EF enthusiasts who want occasional swell, and collectors after a true Waterman Ideal #5 of the celluloid era. Tine alignment and heat-setting were addressed before the nib was seated into the housing. B+ reflects honest writing wear with crisp imprint legibility and full structural integrity.

Tine alignment confirmed, tipping smoothed, light burnish at the base. Heat-set into the JOWO #6 housing with matched ebonite feed for clean flow from the first stroke. Imprints are legible; structural integrity is full.

Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Diamine Imperial Purple.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝

About the Nib Units: Every HM unit is inspected under magnification, flex-cycled, flow-optimized, and tested as a complete assembly. All work done using a food-grade process — no harsh chemicals at any stage. Refer to bio and socials for more details.

Must leave comment before DM. Happy to provide additional macro photos or writing samples on request.

For my full catalog of available pens and nib units please refer to my website linked in profile. Restorations and nib units guaranteed for two years with proof of purchase (my handwritten receipt).

🚚 Free US shipping, fully insured | International quoted on request (VAT/tariffs buyer's responsibility) | PayPal G&S

happy holiday weekend! a huge tray of pens up for grabs, freshly restored and ready for your enjoyment. the title of the pen will also be the gallery link.

📷 Verification & Gallery: https://imgur.com/a/ZobiDu0

:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･°❀⋆

1. Parker Duofold Senior Streamline, Sea Green and Pearl Celluloid GPT, #6 18k Flex

💰 Price: $650
🥇 Grade: B+
🔱 Nib: Parker Duofold Pen 18ct Canada
🖋️ Line Spec: F - 4B, Cursive Italic | 0.35mm horizontal / 0.50mm vertical - 1.80mm (5.14x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 330g Super Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Button-Filler
📐 Dimensions: 128.76mm capped, 125.94mm uncapped, 154.05mm posted, 10.51mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 19.776g capped, 12.706g uncapped

The Streamlined Duofold replaced the squared flat-top in 1929 and became the silhouette that defined American fountain pens for the next two decades. This is the Senior in Sea Green and Pearl: green and white pearl celluloid striped through with translucent veins, considerably more vivid in person than the more commonly surviving Lapis or Burgundy. The 18ct nib stamp and Canadian 'Pen 18ct Canada' marking place this in the late 1944 Canadian run, when Parker Canada still pushed export pens into the French market. US production ran from 1929 through 1933–1934. Canadian production carried the design into the late 1940s, and the Canadian and English nibs from this window tend to be the bouncier of the two. This example follows that trend. The #2 lays a 0.35mm fine baseline that opens to 1.80mm at 330g Super Flex pressure, a clean 5.1× line variation with a slight cursive italic character built into the tipping (0.35mm horizontal hairlines, 0.50mm vertical downstrokes). The Christmas-tree feed runs wet and keeps up with the snapback. This nib rewards a relaxed grip and shows off ink saturation on fountain-pen-friendly paper. Complete celluloid restoration, with the barrel and cap deinked back to original color. Ebonite blind cap and collar restored. Nib and feed tuned for flow at full deflection. Button-filling mechanism rebuilt with fresh latex sac and tested with water. Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

2. Wahl Eversharp Doric Standard, Cathay Green Celluloid NPT, #5 Adjustable 14k Flex

💰 Price: $900
🥇 Grade: C
🔱 Nib: 5 Made in USA Eversharp Adjustable
🖋️ Line Spec: EF - 5B | 0.25mm - 2.05mm (8.20x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 350g Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Lever
📐 Dimensions: 134.52mm capped, 118.90mm uncapped, 9.35mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 16.012g capped, 9.481g uncapped

Wahl Eversharp's 1931 Art Deco statement, designed by Robert Black under patent D81,742 and named for the columns of Greek temples. Twelve-faceted barrel and cap, pyramid crowns at both ends, a clean break from the round profiles dominating the American market through the 1920s. Cathay is one of the rarest Doric colorways, on par with Coffee, and this example shows the celluloid at its best: bright pearl weaves running through a deep green ground, no crystallization, the marbled stripes still vivid as the pen turns in light. The Adjustable nib is the Doric's signature, Robert Black's "nine points in one" under patent 1,980,159. A movable slider above the nib slot lets the writer dial five working settings between a locked manifold and a fully released flex. Locked, the nib lays a controlled 0.15mm dry line that resists shock and pressure, the same character clerks and ledger writers used the Doric for through the 1930s. Released, the same nib measures 0.25mm hairlines opening to 2.05mm at 350g Flex pressure, an 8.2× line variation with full snapback and clean tipping. The slider moves smoothly through every notch on this example. Few vintage pens carry this much working range on a single mint nib. Personalized "BR" on the clip, with light scratch marks to the rear of the cap. Faceted edges refinished crisp, sealed under carnauba wax for UV and moisture protection. Ebonite components rejuvenated. Hairline on the cap lip sealed and smoothed. Nib and feed tuned, with the gold patinated into a deep vintage amber. Grade C overall, due to repair and personalization. Fitted with a silicone sac, so please store upright just in case there is nib creep. This is a trade off to use all inks regardless if they are vintage-safe or not, and will not off gas (won't degrade celluloid nitrate). Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

3. Waterman's Lady Patricia, Nacre Celluloid NPT, Manifold #2 14k

💰 Price: $250
🥇 Grade: B+
🔱 Nib: Fine Rigid Waterman's Ideal 14k 2
🖋️ Line Spec: EEF | 0.10mm (manifold)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: Manifold, no flex
⛽ Filling Type: Lever
📐 Dimensions: 108.43mm capped, 99.12mm uncapped, 136.73mm posted, 7.89mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 12.930g capped, 7.111g uncapped

Lady Patricia was Waterman's "World's Finest Pen for Women" inside the 1929–1939 Patrician lineup, sized to match the 52 1/2 V at roughly 109mm capped, fitted with the #2 PAT nib and the same celluloid palette as the flagship Senior Patrician. Nacre is one of the five original 1929 launch colorways and the scarcest of them, where mother-of-pearl is marbled through black celluloid. Surviving Nacre examples are typically darkened, hairlined, or crystallized after almost a century. This one came out of an estate desk drawer and shows no UV bleaching, no hairlines, and no crystallization. The barrel hallmark imprints are exceptionally crisp. The #2 PAT nib is stamped "Fine Rigid Waterman's Ideal 14k 2" and writes as a controlled 0.10mm extra-extra-fine manifold. Bouncy on the page without crossing into flex, the same character that put manifold nibs on every period accountant's desk: thick rigid metal that holds line precision under heavy hand pressure where standard flexible tines would spring or spread. Manifold nibs were named for the multi-copy carbon work the pre-photocopier era ran on. They translate cleanly into modern journaling and ultra-fine daily writing. A natural pairing for someone who reaches for a Platinum 3776 UEF or a Sailor Zoom for everyday handwriting. Grade B+, with the only deduction a small sliver of brassing on the cap clip. The pen would otherwise read as NOS. Full celluloid restoration and deinking, releasing bonded ink residue from the barrel walls. Nickel-plated trim hand-polished. Nib and feed tuned. Fitted with a silicone sac, so please store upright just in case there is nib creep. This is a trade off to use all inks regardless if they are vintage-safe or not, and will not off gas (won't degrade celluloid nitrate). Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

4. Parker Duofold Junior, Jade Celluloid GPT, Soft #2 14k

💰 Price: $250
🥇 Grade: C-
🔱 Nib: Parker Duofold Pen Made in U.S.A.
🖋️ Line Spec: FM - 3B, Cursive Italic | 0.45mm horizontal / 0.60mm vertical - 1.36mm (3.02x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 470g Semi Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Button-Filler
📐 Dimensions: 116.22mm capped, 108.56mm uncapped, 148.20mm posted, 8.82mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 16.462g capped, 9.871g uncapped

Jade Duofold ran from the mid-1920s into the early 1930s and was one of the colorways that put Parker on every American desk. Bright translucent green celluloid with gold-plated trim. The Junior is sized for shirt-pocket carry, with the same button-filler and the same April 25, 1911 patent date hallmark stamped into the barrel. Standard Duofold #2 nibs are firm; this is the Soft #2 variant, with 0.45mm horizontal hairlines opening to 1.36mm at 470g pressure for a 3.0× variation in the FM to 3B range. Semi Flex by my scale, with a slight cursive italic character built into the tipping (0.45mm horizontal, 0.60mm vertical) that gives natural variation to handwriting without behaving like a true flex nib. A forgiving everyday writer that compares favorably to the Pilot Custom 743 FA in feel, with the snapback closer to a controlled bounce. Jade ambers, and that is part of the grading on this pen. The barrel shows period darkening from ink oxidization; the cap is near-mint after restoration, with no hairlines or crystallization and intact structural integrity. The gold-plated trim is clean with light brassing around the clip washer and ball. Crisp barrel imprint, with some marks to the ebonite blind cap and the knurled cap finial. Grade C- overall, reflecting the colorway and the trim wear. Restoration involved extensive celluloid cleaning to release bonded ink residue from the barrel, finished with a light hand-polish and a carnauba wax seal for UV and moisture protection. Nib and feed tuned. Button-filling mechanism tested with water. Fitted with a silicone sac, so please store upright just in case there is nib creep. This is a trade off to use all inks regardless if they are vintage-safe or not, and will not off gas (won't degrade celluloid nitrate). Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

5. SOLD Sheaffer Balance Junior, Green Striated Celluloid GPT, Feather #2 14k

💰 Price: $400 SOLD
🥇 Grade: A
🔱 Nib: Sheaffer 2 Self-Filling
🖋️ Line Spec: EF - 4B, Cursive Italic | 0.20mm horizontal / 0.30mm vertical - 1.59mm (7.95x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 170g Feather Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Lever
📐 Dimensions: 121.08mm capped, 107.08mm uncapped, 143.00mm posted, 8.35mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 11.415g capped, 7.000g uncapped

Sheaffer's Junior line ran through the celluloid era as the affordable companion to the Lifetime Balance flagship. Same Balance shape vocabulary introduced in 1929, sized down for shirt-pocket carry, with the W.A. Sheaffer Pen Co. Fort Madison imprint stamped cleanly into the barrel. Green Striated is a quieter colorway in the Sheaffer palette, a dark green pearl over black that reads as professional. The celluloid is mint on this example, with no UV bleaching, no shrinkage, and no crystallization. The ink window stays clear and transparent. The gold-plated trim shows no brassing. Meaningful flex on a Sheaffer #2 is rare. This one has been tuned and ground into Feather Flex territory, with 0.20mm horizontal hairlines opening to 1.59mm at 170g for a 7.95× line variation in the EF to 4B range. Brush-soft response on a Sheaffer body, with long tine flex that earns the "noodle" character collectors talk about. Slight cursive italic in the tipping (0.20mm horizontal, 0.30mm vertical). The trade-off is in the feed: railroading appears when writing too quickly, but the feed has been left unmodified so collectors who prefer drier hairlines can use it as-is. Wet inks load the feed faster and reduce the chance of railroading. The feed channels can be opened on request after purchase if a faster flow is preferred. Period flex shoppers usually go to Watermans, Mabie Todd, or Conway Stewart for this kind of response. A Feather Flex tuned Sheaffer in a Junior body is an unusually compact package for the character, well-suited to a Spencerian or Copperplate writer who wants pocket-portable flex in a recognizable American body. Celluloid lightly polished and waxed. Nib and feed tuned. Fitted with a silicone sac, so please store upright just in case there is nib creep. This is a trade off to use all inks regardless if they are vintage-safe or not, and will not off gas (won't degrade celluloid nitrate). Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

6. Conway Stewart 286, Black Celluloid GPT, #4 14k Flex

💰 Price: $250
🥇 Grade: B-
🔱 Nib: Conway Stewart 14ct Gold
🖋️ Line Spec: FM - 4B, Cursive Italic | 0.45mm horizontal / 0.55mm vertical - 1.88mm (4.18x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 400g Semi Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Lever
📐 Dimensions: 128.37mm capped, 124.62mm uncapped, 163.51mm posted, 8.38mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 14.594g capped, 9.315g uncapped

The Conway Stewart 286 belongs to Conway's pre-war and wartime numbered series, produced from roughly 1936 into the mid-1940s. A full-size lever-filler with gold-plated trim, built into the British middle market to compete with Mabie Todd Swan and Onoto on the same desk. Black celluloid with GPT is the dignified default for the model: dressy enough for a solicitor's desk, unfussy enough for daily ledger work. The nib stamp reads "Conway Stewart 14ct Gold" without a printed size, and the dimensions place it close to a #4 rather than the more common Conway #3, which puts more gold and more tipping under the writer's hand. UK flex from this period sits in a different genre from American Waterman or Mabie Todd flex: softer landings, slightly wetter ink flow, a more European feel under cursive script. This example measures 0.45mm opening to 1.88mm at 400g Semi Flex pressure for a 4.2× variation in the FM to 4B range, with a slight cursive italic character in the tipping (0.45mm horizontal, 0.55mm vertical). Very bouncy and smooth, a nib that suits a writer who already owns American Watermans and wants the UK feel for comparison. Complete ebonite restoration on the collar with preserved hallmark imprints. Trim wear: the cap band and lever box remain mint, and the clip plating shows normal wear from daily usage. Grade B-. Nib heat-set and tuned. Fresh latex sac. Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

**edit: nib is clean with no damages

7. SOLD Conway Stewart 27, Grey Candy Hatch Celluloid GPT, #3 14k Brush Flex

💰 Price: $350 SOLD
🥇 Grade: B+
🔱 Nib: Conway Stewart 14ct Gold
🖋️ Line Spec: F - 6B, Cursive Italic | 0.35mm horizontal / 0.75mm vertical - 2.58mm (7.37x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 250g Semi Brush Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Lever
📐 Dimensions: 129.38mm capped, 115.25mm uncapped, 155.39mm posted, 8.95mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 15.289g capped, 8.739g uncapped

Candy Stripe/ Hatch: one of Conway's signature pearlescent patterns, with grey pearl woven into a tight cross-hatch grid against a translucent celluloid, vivid in the hand and difficult to photograph faithfully. The grid catches light differently from every angle, and the celluloid here is exceptionally well-preserved: no shrinkage, no crystallization, crisp imprints, and the underlying weave still bright after seventy years. Mechanically the model sits in Conway's executive models, lever-filler with GPT, on the Conway #3 14k flex platform. This is a grail-grade example of that nib. The tipping is unusually wide and the tines are exceptionally soft, with 0.35mm hairlines opening to 2.58mm at 250g Semi Brush Flex pressure for a 7.4x line variation in the F to 6B range. A pronounced cursive italic character lives in the grind (0.35mm horizontal, 0.75mm vertical), which makes the same nib double as a wide stub when held flat. One of the best Conway nibs to come through the workshop. Trim condition: the cap band sits mint, the clip and lever show light wear and brassing. Grade B+. Cross-hatch celluloid sometimes shows tiny crystallization spots near the lever slot; none on this example. Feed adjusted to keep up with the flex curve, with nib and feed tuned together for flow at full flex. Fresh latex sac. GPT hand-polished. Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

**edit: did not realize there was a hairline in the nib, originally thought it was a factory cut since it was so perfectly center. discounted price accordingly, super fun nib, if it cracks in half I'll replace the nib for free.

8. Conway Stewart 75, Green Marble Celluloid NPT, #3 14k Flex

💰 Price: $200
🥇 Grade: A
🔱 Nib: Conway Stewart 14ct 3
🖋️ Line Spec: F - 4B, Cursive Italic | 0.35mm horizontal / 0.40mm vertical - 1.63mm (4.66x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 380g Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Lever
📐 Dimensions: 126.04mm capped, 114.87mm uncapped, 157.15mm posted, 8.70mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 14.313g capped, 8.144g uncapped

The Conway Stewart 75 sits in the late post-war numbered range, with nickel-plated trim and a quieter nib character. Swirled green and black celluloid, not a conservative finish. A daily-carry desk pen that saw careful use. The celluloid here is in fantastic condition: minimal UV bleaching, no crystallization, only minor shrinkage at the rear finial that does not affect structural integrity or the lever mechanism. Crisp barrel imprints. The ebonite collar has been fully restored to mint and paired with a juicy feed that keeps up with the nib at full flex. The Conway #3 14k nib measures 0.35mm hairlines opening to 1.63mm at 380g Flex pressure for a 4.7× line variation in the F to 4B range. Slight cursive italic in the grind (0.35mm horizontal, 0.40mm vertical). Smoother tipping than the 286 sibling and faster snapback than the 27, with a slightly firmer initial deflection compared to the other two Conways in this batch. Grade A overall, and a clean daily writer for someone who wants Conway flex character without the flashy patterns of the Candy Stripe. Celluloid lightly polished and waxed. NPT hand-polished. Fresh latex sac. Nib and feed tuned. Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

9. Wyvern No. 5 Short, Green Marble Celluloid GPT, #2 14k Flex

💰 Price: $200
🥇 Grade: A
🔱 Nib: Warranted 14ct 1st Quality
🖋️ Line Spec: F - 4B, Cursive Italic | 0.30mm horizontal / 0.40mm vertical - 1.67mm (5.57x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 360g Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Lever
📐 Dimensions: 116.72mm capped, 108.59mm uncapped, 145.17mm posted, 7.71mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 12.120g capped, 8.591g uncapped

Wyvern is what comes after Conway Stewart and Mabie Todd on a UK collector's shelf. Leicester-based, founded by the Finburgh Brothers in the mid-1890s at the Vulcanite Works on Woodboy Street, in production through 1955. The company name and the dragon-shaped nib logo both come from the wyvern on the City of Leicester's coat-of-arms. Wyvern built well-made lever-fillers for the British middle market for sixty years without the marketing footprint of the larger London houses, and by 1928 was successful enough making warranted 14ct gold nibs to supply them as OEM to other British manufacturers. The No. 5 Short is one of Wyvern's smaller models: trimmed-down barrel length that still posts to a comfortable writing size. Green Marble celluloid, gold-plated trim, clipless torpedo silhouette. The celluloid is mint with the marbled veins still bright through the body, crisp imprints throughout. The 14k Warranted nib measures 0.30mm hairlines opening to 1.67mm at 360g Flex pressure for a 5.6× line variation in the F to 4B range. Slight cursive italic in the tipping (0.30mm horizontal, 0.40mm vertical). Solid snapback, smooth and feedbackless, and easier on a beginner's pressure curve than the wetter Conway or Waterman flexes. Priced for what it is: a charming, lesser-known UK lever-filler for a collector who already owns the obvious British names and wants something with a smaller audience and a story, or a clean entry into vintage celluloid for someone whose first flex pen this will be. Grade A. Celluloid restoration and light polish. GPT hand-polished. Nib and feed tuned. Fitted with a silicone sac, so please store upright just in case there is nib creep. This is a trade off to use all inks regardless if they are vintage-safe or not, and will not off gas (won't degrade celluloid nitrate). Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

10. Waterman's 56, BHR, GPT Cicada Clip, #6 Accountant 14k

💰 Price: $500
🥇 Grade: C+
🔱 Nib: Account Waterman's Ideal New York 6
🖋️ Line Spec: EF, Architect | 0.30mm horizontal / 0.25mm vertical (manifold)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: Manifold, no flex
⛽ Filling Type: Lever
📐 Dimensions: 143.40mm capped, 135.93mm uncapped, 181.59mm posted, 9.46mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 22.823g capped, 14.320g uncapped

The Waterman 56 is the mature commercial American pen of the 1920s: large lever-filler, #6 nib, black hard rubber, gold-plated trim, the model that sat on insurance brokers' and bookkeepers' desks across the United States for a decade. The cicada accommodation clip is the period detail that works very well with this model spec. This example wears that clip cleanly, paired with double floral filigree barrel bands that match exceptionally well against the ebonite barrel. The barrel hallmark imprint is worn but legible, and the chasing pattern holds where it has not been worn smooth from use. The Account stamp marks the configuration: a firm, controlled #6 with an architect grind tuned to lay 0.30mm horizontal strokes and 0.25mm vertical strokes for a 1.2× variation in the EF range. Wide horizontal, narrow vertical, with the cross-stroke variation amplified at an oblique writing angle. Accountants and ledger writers used these for daily ten-hour shifts; the same nib serves a modern journaler or notetaker who values a precise, controlled, durable line with subtle stroke contrast built in. Substantial in the hand, with a girthy 9.46mm grip and a 143mm capped length. Grade C+. Three hours of ebonite restoration brought the BHR back to a deep finish, and the double floral filigree barrel bands came through clean. Ebonite rejuvenated and hand-polished, "softness" restored. Fresh latex sac. Nib heat-set and tuned. Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

11. Waterman's 0752, BHR with Gold-Filled Overlay, GPT, Needlepoint #2 14k Flex

💰 Price: $650
🥇 Grade: D+
🔱 Nib: Waterman's Ideal Reg. U.S. Pat. Off 2
🖋️ Line Spec: EEF - 3B | 0.20mm - 1.47mm (7.35x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 260g Semi Brush Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Lever
📐 Dimensions: 135.13mm capped, 130.11mm uncapped, 168.70mm posted, 8.06mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 14.888g capped, 10.095g uncapped

The Waterman 0752 is the gold-filled overlay version of the standard 52 lever-filler. The model number in Waterman's Standard Numbering System: "07" for the gold-filled solid or filigree barrel band, "5" for the lever fill, "2" for the #2 nib. Black hard rubber under a gold-filled overlay, full-size proportions, same body family as the plain 52 with the dressed-up barrel band. This example carries the floral filigree barrel band specific to the 0752, with the rear-side personalization "A.B.M." imprinted clean into the band. The royal-plate overlay traces to Spain-side Waterman production, which used a thicker gold layer than the standard French and US plate. The clip ball reads as a period replacement, and the ebonite chasing has worn down evenly and smoothly under decades of pocket use. The Needlepoint nib carries the listing. Needlepoint flex is the flagship Waterman flex configuration: an extra-fine baseline that opens dramatically under pressure. This nib measures 0.20mm hairlines (writing more like 0.15mm in practice) opening to 1.47mm at 260g Semi Brush Flex for a 7.35× line variation in the EEF to 3B range. Crisp hairlines with clean edges, sharp tines, exceptional snapback, and a feed that keeps up with the flex curve. This is the configuration that has driven the vintage Waterman flex market for forty years, the nib character Spencerian and Copperplate practitioners pay a premium to find. Comparable Needlepoint-tuned 0752 listings have asked over $1,000 for slightly finer baselines; this one prices conservatively against that comp. Grade D+ overall, with the deduction concentrated in trim wear: the clip ball appears replaced, and the gold-filled overlay chasing has worn smooth in spots. The rear finial imprint is worn but legible. Fitted with a latex sac, but can swap to a silicone sac if you want to use more diverse and troublesome inks (remember silicone sacs will creep ink so keep pen upright in storage). Ebonite rejuvenated and hand-polished. Gold-filled overlay carefully cleaned without disturbing the engraving. Fresh latex sac. Nib heat-set and tuned for flex and smoothness. Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

12. SOLD Waterman's 12, BCHR, Double GPT Barrel Bands, #2 14k Flex

💰 Price: $350 SOLD
🥇 Grade: C+
🔱 Nib: Waterman's Ideal Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. 2
🖋️ Line Spec: M - 4B | 0.60mm - 1.97mm (3.28x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 330g Super Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Eyedropper
📐 Dimensions: 134.58mm capped, 123.25mm uncapped, 174.35mm posted, 7.99mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 9.180g capped, 2.915g uncapped

The Waterman 12 is the cone-cap counterpart to the taper-cap 22. Both are standard-size eyedroppers from Waterman's pre-Self-Filling era, both built on the #2 nib, both black chased hard rubber, distinguished by cap form. The tens digit decodes under Waterman's Standard Numbering System: "1" for cone-cap, "2" for taper-cap. Waterman pushed cone-cap as the production-volume form from 1900 onward, which is why a clean 12 surfaces more often than a clean 22. Double gold-plated filigree barrel bands dress this example up, framing the chased ebonite cleanly without overpowering the details. The chasing remains crisp under polish, and the gold-plated filigree bands are exceptionally clean. The cap shows a darker silhouette where an original accommodation clip once sat before disintegrating; an accommodation clip can be fitted on request. The Waterman #2 flex nib measures 0.60mm hairlines opening to 1.97mm at 330g Super Flex pressure for a 3.3x line variation in the M to 4B range. Bouncy and forgiving rather than wet-noodle dramatic, with the broader baseline that suits a writer who wants flex character without committing to needlepoint hairlines. Eyedropper fill gives the pen its vintage character: a generous ink reservoir for long writing sessions and no sac to wear out, with the trade-off of a more deliberate filling routine. The nib is also easy to swap and heat-set on this model, which makes it a good chassis for any nib experiments. Grade C+. The ebonite was likely polished down with simichrome before. The current surface holds well, but the original depth is gone and cannot be recovered. Double gold-plated barrel bands sit in mint condition. Ebonite rejuvenated and hand-polished, "softness" restored, chasing preserved. Eyedropper assembly tested for seal. Nib heat-set and tuned for flex. Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

13. Waterman's 22, BCHR, Double GPT Barrel Bands, #2 14k Flex

💰 Price: $400
🥇 Grade: C
🔱 Nib: Waterman's Ideal Reg. U.S. Pat. Off 2
🖋️ Line Spec: EF - 4B | 0.20mm - 1.65mm (8.25x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 320g Super Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Eyedropper
📐 Dimensions: 144.82mm capped, 110.50mm uncapped, 170.16mm posted, 6.75mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 5.617g capped, 4.134g uncapped

The Waterman 22 is the taper-cap eyedropper counterpart to the cone-cap 12. Same #2 nib size, same black chased hard rubber body, same Waterman eyedropper fill, same era. The tens digit under Waterman's Standard Numbering System decodes the cap form: "1" for cone-cap, "2" for taper-cap. Taper-cap production runs through the 1900s into the 1910s and was always the rarer of the two; Waterman shifted output toward cone-cap and screw-cap forms from 1900 onward, and surviving taper-caps are the harder catch on the market even when the nib size is common. Double gold-plated filigree barrel bands add the dressed-up detail without overpowering the chased ebonite, and the chasing on this example is exceptionally crisp throughout the body. The imprints are very crisp, and the ebonite is in clean condition under polish. The Waterman #2 flex nib measures 0.20mm needle-grind hairlines opening to 1.65mm at 320g Super Flex pressure for an 8.25x line variation in the EF to 4B range. Sharp tines, very crisp line edges, exceptional snapback, and a wet juicy feed that keeps up cleanly through flourishes. Grail-level flex control on a needle-tipped #2. Grade C. The deduction sits on the rear barrel band, which carries a small chip in the gold filigree. Body and nib are otherwise exceptional. A matching original box is available on request. Ebonite rejuvenated and hand-polished, "softness" restored, chasing preserved. Eyedropper assembly tested for seal. Nib heat-set and tuned for flex. Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

14. Waterman's 12 1/2 PSF, BHR NPT, #2 14k M-7B Flex

💰 Price: $450
🥇 Grade: D
🔱 Nib: Waterman's Ideal New York 2
🖋️ Line Spec: M - 7B | 0.60mm - 2.56mm (4.27x)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: 300g Super Flex
⛽ Filling Type: Lever
📐 Dimensions: 133.13mm capped, 128.10mm uncapped, 164.79mm posted, 6.85mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 10.940g capped, 7.312g uncapped

The 12 1/2 PSF sits between Waterman's eyedropper era and Self-Filling era. It is the slim variant of the standard 12 eyedropper: same length, smaller barrel diameter. The PSF designation stands for "Pocket Self-Filler" and marks Waterman's evolution of the POC pocket series into a lever-fill chassis with the thinner threaded cap geometry that supports a side-mounted lever box. Production sits in the late 1910s into the mid-1920s, bracketed by the PSF chronology Vintage Pen News has reconstructed from period catalogs. The 14k #2 measures 0.60mm baseline opening to 2.56mm at 300g Super Flex pressure for a 4.27× line variation that reaches into 6B territory at full deflection. The width at max is on the rarer side for a #2 of this era; the tipping is wide and smooth, and the feed runs juicy enough to keep up with the curve. A wet, expressive nib that gives a writer real range from medium baseline through bold downstrokes, with the long tine deflection that earns the M-7B framing the title uses. The pen ships with a silicone sac so the buyer can run any ink type, with the caveat that the pen must be kept upright at rest to prevent ink creep onto the nib and into the cap. A latex sac swap is available on request if a more traditional fit is preferred, at the cost of restricting the ink list to non-aggressive fountain pen inks. Grade D, with two material disclosures that drove the grading. First, the lever box is not original. The original disintegrated and was replaced with a 1920s French or Italian third-party part that fits and functions correctly but is not Waterman-stamped. Second, the BHR was extensively recovered, and the pen appears to have been polished down with wenol or simichrome (or bleached) at some earlier point to temporarily restore color before reaching the workshop. As a result, future restorers cannot safely color-restore this ebonite without sanding the surface down further. The current finish holds well, and the nickel-plated trim is otherwise very clean. Two hours of ebonite restoration. Nib heat-set and tuned. Silicone sac installed. Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

15. SOLD French Chased Aluminum Button-Filler NPT, Glass Nib

💰 Price: $350 SOLD
🥇 Grade: B-
🔱 Nib: Unbranded clear glass
🖋️ Line Spec: F | 0.40mm (manifold)
🌡️ Flexibility Pressure: Manifold, no flex
⛽ Filling Type: Button-Filler
📐 Dimensions: 118.83mm capped, 111.64mm uncapped, 150.09mm posted, 8.78mm grip (section)
⚖️ Weight: 26.305g capped, 15.442g uncapped

Aluminum body, glass nib, unbranded French production. France entered the Second World War with a fountain pen industry built on celluloid, gold, brass, and rolled-gold trim. By 1940 those material lines started closing. Gold was redirected to currency reserves, brass to munitions, and several smaller French ateliers shifted to materials outside the regulated chain for both nib and body. Glass nibs appear on this kind of production across Continental Europe through the war: Goldfink, Columbus, Burnham, and a long tail of unbranded German, Italian, and French makers all used them as ersatz tipping when gold became unobtainable. Aluminum followed the same logic for bodies, in the same year (1941) S.T. Dupont turned to aluminum for its first lighter when brass became strategic. The body here is solid aluminum, not an overlay over hard rubber. Chased waves run the length of the barrel and cap, decorative work that gives an otherwise functional wartime pen some visual life. The aluminum gives the pen real weight in the hand: 26.3g capped, with a girthy 8.78mm grip and 118.83mm capped length. Substantial without crossing into heavy. Nickel-plated trim throughout, button-filler mechanism. The maker is unsigned. Unbranded French production was common under the Occupation, with smaller workshops continuing to assemble pens from available materials without registered names on the barrel. The clear glass nib lays a controlled 0.40mm line, single width with no variation under pressure. Glass nibs work by capillary feed along spiral grooves cut into the tipping, with ink running down those grooves to the page rather than between flexed tines. The result is a smooth, rigid writer with manifold character: a precise, dry-leaning line that holds across long writing sessions without skip or hard start. Grade B-. The aluminum carries microscratches from a previous life of carry, intentionally left in place. Polishing the surface flat would remove the patina that gives the pen its vintage character and risk losing detail in the chased waves. Glass nib inspected for crack-free condition and seated cleanly in the section. Fitted with a latex sac, but can swap to a silicone sac if you want to use more diverse and troublesome inks (remember silicone sacs will creep ink so keep pen upright in storage). Tested on Rhodia 90gsm ivory with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝

About the Restoration: Every HM pen is fully rebuilt, heat-set, nibs tuned, and restored using a proprietary food-grade process. No toxic/carcinogenic chemicals (kerosene, simichrome) touch these pens at any stage. Ebonite and celluloid nitrate are rejuvenated to bring back material integrity and softness, then finished with a layer of carnauba wax to provide UV and moisture protection. Refer to bio and socials for more details.

Must leave comment before DM. Happy to provide additional macro photos or writing samples on request.

For my full catalog of available pens and nib units please refer to my website linked in profile. Restorations and nib units guaranteed for two years with proof of purchase (my handwritten receipt).

🚚 Free US shipping, fully insured | International quoted on request (VAT/tariffs buyer's responsibility) | PayPal G&S

exceptionally rare colorway for a doric, but man is it pretty. for vintage lovers, hard to beat out a doric when doing any ranked list. adjustable nib that lets you go from signing checks to flourishing letters in an instant. restoring faceted celluloid is a pain in the butt but really rewarding when finished.

rhodia 90gsm ivory, pelikan 4001 brilliant black.

a very beautiful pen with an even more beautiful writing experience. rare pen with a cool backstory, a restoration I did a while back but spruced it up some more for pics.

a very beautiful pen with an even more beautiful writing experience. rare pen with a cool backstory, a restoration I did a while back but spruced it up some more for pics.

rhodia 90gsm ivory pad, pelikan 4001 brilliant black ink