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Delum
December 20th, 2019, 05:03 PM
In your opinion

FredRydr
December 20th, 2019, 07:49 PM
Waterman 7 era nibs.

gbryal
December 20th, 2019, 11:47 PM
Lots of them are unlabeled and luck of the draw. So far all the ones I own have been one of a kind, and all best.

Chrissy
December 21st, 2019, 01:18 AM
I have several L'Etalon gold nibs fitted into Waterman Phileas pens and all of those nibs are excellent writers. Really smooth nibs.

Pterodactylus
December 21st, 2019, 03:25 AM
Best is relative, mostly also depended on the personal preferences.

Imo there are a lot awesome vintage Waterman nibs out there.

I own some vintage Waterman pens, out of these this tiny 12 1/2 has based on my preferences the „best“ nib (for me).

https://live.staticflickr.com/1536/24518074594_515a3e4ac0_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Dmzxo3)Show_response_866 (https://flic.kr/p/Dmzxo3) by Ptero Pterodactylus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/117783735@N07/), auf Flickr

(Waterman 12 1/2 ..... J. Herbin Emerald of Chivor)

https://live.staticflickr.com/5789/23565279706_c4f72ec695_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/BUodDY)Show_response_838 (https://flic.kr/p/BUodDY) by Ptero Pterodactylus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/117783735@N07/), auf Flickr

(Waterman 12 1/2 BCHR ..... Diamine Ancient Copper)

https://live.staticflickr.com/5639/23191085085_e2e6c6e9cd_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/BkjnCz)Show_response_221 (https://flic.kr/p/BkjnCz) by Ptero Pterodactylus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/117783735@N07/), auf Flickr

I consider this a century old little pen as one of my all time favorite pens


Another awesome vintage Waterman I own is this safety 45.

https://live.staticflickr.com/8584/16628157980_826973e95d_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rknE3Y)Show_response_653 (https://flic.kr/p/rknE3Y) by Ptero Pterodactylus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/117783735@N07/), auf Flickr

(Waterman 45 Safety BCHR ..... Montblanc Mystery Black)


https://live.staticflickr.com/5713/22888457820_8a277f1276_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ASzk67)Waterman45_picture_07 (https://flic.kr/p/ASzk67) by Ptero Pterodactylus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/117783735@N07/), auf Flickr


So you will get very different answers what’s the best depending whom you will ask. :welcome:

aurore
December 23rd, 2019, 02:28 AM
Within last 40 years Le Man 100 from the 1st year (1983), fine grade in particular.

jbb
December 23rd, 2019, 10:14 AM
My Waterman Hundred Year nib is pretty darn nice. :)

Cyril
April 4th, 2020, 03:56 PM
Are all the Waretman 100 year Nibs are basically the Same ( good ) special quality? Are they different than other nibs like Ideal 3/4/5?

I have seen one nib for sale. I am curious and interested in this nib.

pajaro
April 4th, 2020, 07:46 PM
I have used a lot of Waterman nibs, and most are superb. Some corroded, like Laureat. I found the best to be Carene fine, but I don't know if they will age with the grace of some other Waterman nibs.

Deb
April 5th, 2020, 01:49 AM
The good old Ideal in the Waterman 52, for me, whether flexible or firm.

Scrawler
April 6th, 2020, 01:44 PM
The one on the left

W5 flex stub.

53221

penwash
April 6th, 2020, 08:04 PM
Ah, Waterman nibs...

Having restored a lot of fountain pens (and being a flexible nib nut) for a number of years now, of course I've seen my share of Waterman nibs.

Here are a few of my favorites, sorry the first three don't have the nib in the shot, but I promise the writing sample is from the Waterman IDEAL nibs in each pen:

A beautiful blue Stalwart:

https://live.staticflickr.com/4532/26351521049_a6df69ac6e_c.jpg

I was so, sorry to see this one go, but the new owner loved it.

And this little Thorobred:

https://live.staticflickr.com/4440/35525591614_95891390be_c.jpg

And this Waterman 3:

https://live.staticflickr.com/4361/36673582963_d2b6561b63_c.jpg

Going back in time:

https://live.staticflickr.com/4266/35029448690_afc89c69c4_c.jpg

And then this one:

https://live.staticflickr.com/846/43403123842_f52eee6675_c.jpg

I have a couple more but I'll stop here.

I often tell new owners of vintage pens that Waterman is not the only brand who make excellent flexible nibs, and not to get hung up on it. But there is definitely a legitimate reason why vintage Waterman pens are sought after even today.

amk
April 7th, 2020, 06:28 AM
Bang per buck: The Hundred Year / Emblem nib.

Why? Because it's a fantastic nib and often comes with a miserably rotten celluloid pen attached. Junk the pen, or fix the rotten ends, and you've probably paid peanuts for a real joy of a writer.

pajaro
April 7th, 2020, 09:19 PM
Bang per buck: The Hundred Year / Emblem nib.

Why? Because it's a fantastic nib and often comes with a miserably rotten celluloid pen attached. Junk the pen, or fix the rotten ends, and you've probably paid peanuts for a real joy of a writer.

This I can agree with. I bought on ebay a fantasy pen, probably acrylic, that has an emblem nib in it. This is a sublime writer, but it's not flexy or anything like that. A firm nib, pleasing to me.

Cyril
May 6th, 2020, 06:52 AM
I have very little knowledge of vintage Watermans pens and that knowledge is growing up. When I bought my Watermans I was guessing the pen will be ok and have a good nib. As a result, I ended up getting to buy a lot of rubbish.
Recently I won a Waterman nib and I was after A "PINK NIB" BUT THIS NIB WAS A PURPLE NIB. So when I purchased it I was completely mistaken. When I got it I had to pay about £100 plus the customs charges. Well, I am quite disappointed to learn this nib doesn't work, hard nail and very dry and have to put a lot of pressure to get very odd writing. So I had to debate days with the seller to it accept return and to get my money back. At last, I got it and preparing the nib to sent back.

This nib is kind of Manifold nib and very large and writes very dry.

penwash
August 10th, 2020, 08:00 PM
One more I just got and restored:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50210496966_def82a374f_c.jpg

Cyril
August 12th, 2020, 04:32 AM
Penwash , Your pen is amazing.
Beautiful wrting and all the ink you are using is classic old colours.
I am also a fan of brown/ coffee/ chocolate/ rusty red ink. What are these ink they are gorgeous ink, I must say!!

penwash
August 12th, 2020, 08:36 AM
Penwash , Your pen is amazing.
Beautiful wrting and all the ink you are using is classic old colours.
I am also a fan of brown/ coffee/ chocolate/ rusty red ink. What are these ink they are gorgeous ink, I must say!!

Thank you, Cryril.

The ink was originally J. Herbin Rouge Caroubier, which has the right amount of "pastel" hues, but a bit light red for my taste. So I mix it a bit with black ink which produce the above dusky red color.

Sometimes a little experiment with ink yields a unique and cool result.

pajaro
August 13th, 2020, 04:41 PM
Beautiful flex writing! Interesting and beautiful 52 1/2V pen. If I could use a flexible nib I would prefer a pen like that to a Carene. Can't walk and chew gum at the same time, though.

Cyril
March 21st, 2021, 03:06 PM
My one of the favourites is this nib.
Waterman Ideal REG.US No2 nib.

Cyril
March 21st, 2021, 03:14 PM
And this Franken Waterman Pen with "Waterman No7 Red Waterman Ideal. Nib".

Cyril
June 22nd, 2021, 05:22 PM
Best is relative, mostly also depended on the personal preferences.

Imo there are a lot awesome vintage Waterman nibs out there.

I own some vintage Waterman pens, out of these this tiny 12 1/2 has based on my preferences the „best“ nib (for me).

https://live.staticflickr.com/1536/24518074594_515a3e4ac0_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Dmzxo3)Show_response_866 (https://flic.kr/p/Dmzxo3) by Ptero Pterodactylus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/117783735@N07/), auf Flickr

(Waterman 12 1/2 ..... J. Herbin Emerald of Chivor)

https://live.staticflickr.com/5789/23565279706_c4f72ec695_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/BUodDY)Show_response_838 (https://flic.kr/p/BUodDY) by Ptero Pterodactylus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/117783735@N07/), auf Flickr

(Waterman 12 1/2 BCHR ..... Diamine Ancient Copper)

https://live.staticflickr.com/5639/23191085085_e2e6c6e9cd_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/BkjnCz)Show_response_221 (https://flic.kr/p/BkjnCz) by Ptero Pterodactylus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/117783735@N07/), auf Flickr

I consider this a century old little pen as one of my all time favorite pens


Another awesome vintage Waterman I own is this safety 45.

https://live.staticflickr.com/8584/16628157980_826973e95d_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rknE3Y)Show_response_653 (https://flic.kr/p/rknE3Y) by Ptero Pterodactylus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/117783735@N07/), auf Flickr

(Waterman 45 Safety BCHR ..... Montblanc Mystery Black)


https://live.staticflickr.com/5713/22888457820_8a277f1276_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ASzk67)Waterman45_picture_07 (https://flic.kr/p/ASzk67) by Ptero Pterodactylus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/117783735@N07/), auf Flickr


So you will get very different answers what’s the best depending whom you will ask. :welcome:

I think I got the same safety pen. Same nib as this Broad italic. and the only difference is the body which has two gold bands.

I'll every happy if that is the same nib. I cross my all fingers and my toys as well.
:)
I love your pen. :)

guyy
June 22nd, 2021, 06:24 PM
Waterman NY stubs are really nice. You might call them italics, but i think Waterman called them stubs. They’re as nice as the best MB broads terms of line variation and give.

amk
June 23rd, 2021, 02:32 AM
I have a Waterman Exclusive with a broad 18k nib. Writes like a fire hose. It's not perhaps up there for flex lovers, but for me, it's a really, really enjoyable nib with a nice bounce to it.

Also a Carene factory stub. Finally laid hands on one, after stupidly not buying the one I tried in Selfridges about ten years ago.

BoBo Olson
October 1st, 2021, 05:35 AM
Some beautiful pens, and even more beautiful writing.
Shames me to have nibs good enough to do such writing and never even really trying. I do do a nice Capitol L.:facepalm:

Robalone
March 16th, 2022, 11:54 PM
68322

MNCRM
May 27th, 2022, 09:20 AM
Waterman 7 era nibs.

Yep, totally agree.
Key-holed pink, red, brown & blue, and also the round-holed like the one you posted days ago.
Maybe another good question would be which feed was the better, spoon or tip-fill.

manolo
September 6th, 2022, 03:57 AM
I have a Waterman Exclusive with a broad 18k nib. Writes like a fire hose. It's not perhaps up there for flex lovers, but for me, it's a really, really enjoyable nib with a nice bounce to it.

Also a Carene factory stub. Finally laid hands on one, after stupidly not buying the one I tried in Selfridges about ten years ago.

I am very happy with the F nib in the Waterman Exclusive, and would love to try a B or an OGL, it must be really funny in such a skinny pen.

BoBo Olson
September 17th, 2022, 06:09 AM
So many beautiful pens.
So many with grand writing style.

I have two '52 Wet Noodles, one a two stage 7X, the other 6X. Both pen's are a bit worn.
My Soennecken Wet Noodle is a tad better, in it is a single stage 7X. ...just any of my Wet Noodles are more than my skill level.

I also have a @ 1990 Waterman Mann 200, with an 18 K F nib that is as narrow as my Pelikan 200's EF nib. The old flame war of Waterman's narrower nib vs Pelikan's twist out nib had a basis.

That flame war died out when the skinny Japanese nibs became mainstream.

sirtoti
December 30th, 2022, 03:16 PM
I find Waterman "Ideal" nibs wonderful, both vintage and 80's/90's.