Pen Profiles: Safety Pens, Moore Safeties, Waterman Safeties
7471: American Fountain Pen Co. Moore's Non-Leakable: mottled hard rubber retracting-nib safety, 14.6 cm long, early model without safety post inside cap; pen has been recorked, fine tightly-sprung nib.
DATE: c. 1906 •
CONDITION: VG • NIB: extra-fine flex • $400 
7252: American Fountain Pen Co. Moore's Non-Leakable: long mottled hard rubber retracting-nib safety, 15.3 cm long, marked "3.50" on posting end, good barrel imprints, cap imprints worn but legible, early model without safety post inside cap; pen has been recorked, nib is an old replacement, marked "MOORE PEN" instead of "AMERICAN FOUNTAIN PEN", slightly toothy but very flexible, opens up with light pressure.
DATE: c. 1906
• CONDITION: VG-fine* • NIB: extra-fine flex • $425
9055: American Fountain Pen Co. Moore's Non-Leakable: mottled hard rubber retracting-nib safety, 12.4 cm long, 1903 patent cap imprint, safety post in cap; has been recorked, smooth-writing #4 American Fountain Pen nib.
DATE: c. 1915 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: extra-fine flex • $485
7837: American Fountain Pen Co. Moore's Non-Leakable: black chased hard rubber retracting-nib safety, 11.9 cm long, early model without safety post inside cap, crisp and glossy with original price band, "1" and "2.50" on sides of barrel posting end; original seal not guaranteed, pen can be recorked at additional cost.
DATE: c. 1915 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: extra-fine flex • $225
8339: American Fountain Pen Co. Moore's Non-Leakable: mottled hard rubber retracting-nib safety, 12.6 cm long, marked "3.50" and "2" on posting end, strong imprints on both cap and barrel, safety post inside cap, correct "AMERICAN/FOUNTAIN/PEN CO." imprint on nib; some scratching to barrel (see detail), nib is an elegant writer, though tipping material is a bit scant.
DATE: c. 1915 • CONDITION: VG-fine • NIB:
extra-fine flex • $425
7250: American Fountain Pen Co. Moore's Non-Leakable: black hard rubber retracting-nib safety with full gold filled filigree overlay; 11.9 cm long, hard rubber nice and dark, metalwork crisp with only flaws a tool mark on the posting end and an adjacent spot of missing gold (see detail); cap indicia has been engraved, pen recorked, nib is quite toothy on rougher paper but extremely flexible.
DATE: c. 1915 • CONDITION:
fine-exc* • NIB: extra-fine superflex • $1250
7802: American Fountain Pen Co. Moore's Non-Leakable: retracting-nib safety, full gold filled overlay over black hard rubber, 11.7 cm long, fine parallel lines pattern with scroll borders, fancy hand engraving at end of barrel, extremely clean, one ding and monogram on cap indicia, American nib, Moore's 1896 patent imprint on end of barrel; has been recorked.
DATE: c. 1916 • CONDITION: fine-exc* • NIB: fine superflex
• $850
9330: Astra safety: mottled hard rubber vest-pocket, 9.3 cm long, imprints shallow but crisp, "42" on end knob; nib is small but smooth, tip slightly angled, easy for right-handed use.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: exc-near
mint • NIB: medium reverse oblique italic flex • $160
7615: Caw's safety: rare early pen, black chased hard rubber, 11.1 cm long, barrel bands marked "DOUBLÉ/18K", crisp imprint, lists patent dates from 1895 to 1904; pristine surfaces, original seal has not been replaced and is not ink-tight, replacement Parker nib.
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: exc* • NIB:
fine • $585
7541: Ebos safety: miniature hard rubber ringtop, 8 cm long, German-made, with handsome Italian-made gold filled overlay; Ebos-marked 14K nib also has "00" size imprint (not visible without disassembly); excellent quality, comparable to the baby safeties of Montblanc and Astoria, seal has been restored, internal mechanism repaired.
DATE: c. 1928 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: fine semiflex • $485
8669: Mabie Todd Blackbird safety: black chased hard rubber, English-made, 12.5 cm long, white casein roundel inlaid on cap top; good imprints, chasing worn but present, shadow of a slip-on clip visible on the cap, Blackbird nib is 14K; Mabie Todd safeties are hard to find.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: VG • NIB:
extra-fine flex • $465
9296: Montblanc baby safety: black hard rubber miniature, 6.3 cm long, like new, with "0"-size Montblanc nib; has not been recorked, but seal holds a vacuum, all imprints bold, hard rubber glossy and unfaded, casein cap star lustrous and unstained. A pristine classic, just purchased from an old collection.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: extra-fine stub semiflex • SOLD
7247: Moore Non-Leakable: black chased hard rubber retracting-nib safety, 13.6 cm long, scarce large model (14.6 mm diameter at cap and sleeve), original model band on cap, sleeve end marked "5 50", "QUICK TURN" cap imprint; new old stock, has been recorked, replacement #6 warranted nib.
DATE: c. 1919 • CONDITION: near
mint • NIB: fine semiflex • $425
7249: Moore Non-Leakable: small hard rubber retracting-nib safety ringtop with full chevron-pattern gold filled overlay, 9.7 cm long, very clean but for brassing to posting end (see detail); has been recorked, nib is a bit toothy but very flexible indeed.
DATE: c. 1921 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: fine superflex
• $595
8741: Parker-Osmia safety: black hard rubber, 13.9 cm long, with nickel-plated slip-on clip bearing the mark of Sirt, Parker-Osmia's Hungarian agent; milling at ends is good, turning knob is imprinted "6" and "F", flat Canadian-style spearhead feed, #6 Parker-Osmia nib is boldly imprinted; Parker-Osmia operated only from late 1927 to the end of 1929, when Parker sold Osmia back to its former owners. Parker-Osmias are uncommon, but Parker-Osmia safeties are extremely rare -- and are the only safeties ever to be sold under the Parker name.
DATE: c. 1928 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: fine semiflex • $2000
8667: Soennecken safety: unusual black chased hard rubber clipless model, 12.7 cm long, with a ventless Hicks New York 18K gold nib with French hallmarks; condition is like new, but the original barrel imprint of this French-market pen appears to have been polished away -- most likely out of WW1-era anti-German sentiment. Early production Soenneckens often carried New York-made nibs, but most were from A. Morton.
DATE: c.
1913 • CONDITION: exc-near mint* • NIB: extra-fine flex • $325
8460: Viala Valair: miniature French-made hard rubber safety, 8.6 cm long, hallmarked sterling silver overlay, unusual left-handed mechanism (end knob turns counter-clockwise to extend nib -- handle with care!); 18K semistub Viala-marked nib, with leather carrying pouch.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: fine semiflex • SOLD
9211: Viala Lilliput safety set in box: French black hard rubber miniature black hard rubber safety, 8.25 cm long, hallmarked silver overlay with transparent pink guilloche enamel, with matching 1.1 mm pencil in box with instructions. Aside from the losses to the enamel on the cap and a shallow crease on the pencil's nose cone, the set is like new; the pen's seal has not been replaced, but appears sound and passes a suction test.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: medium • $425
5324: Waterman 14 VS: smooth black hard rubber safety pen, 11.6 cm long, rare first version with threaded turning knob and mechanism where nib turns as it extends and retracts; strong imprints, cork seal has not been replaced; 3 mm hairline at edge of vent hole of #4 New York nib (see detail).
DATE: c. 1908 • CONDITION:
fine-exc* • NIB: fine flex • $250
9233: Waterman 14 VS: smooth black hard rubber safety pen, 11.6 cm long, rare first version with threaded turning knob and mechanism where nib turns as it extends and retracts; strong imprints, cork seal has not been replaced, early #4 nib missing tipping on one side; hard rubber crisp and glossy with deep, bold imprints, some scratching to cap from old add-on clip.
DATE: c. 1908 • CONDITION: fine-exc* • $250
4291: Waterman 0512½VS Baby: smooth gold filled overlay safety with rare double cap; 9.3 cm long, has been recorked, turning knob fully marked, virtually no plating wear, but inner cap rim dinged and wavy (see detail), barrel engraved with name.
DATE: c. 1917 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • NIB: fine flex •
$450
8646: Waterman 412½V Scroll: small black hard rubber ringtop safety, 9.75 cm long, full sterling silver overlay with scarce and desirable telescoping two-piece cap; indicia engraved with name, scattered marks to cap rim, end knob, axial ding to inner cap (see detail); attractive, mechanically sound, a fine writer with wide and effortless line width variation.
DATE: c. 1918 • CONDITION: G-VG • NIB:
extra-fine flex • $425
9184: Waterman 442½V in box: black hard rubber ringtop safety, 9.6 cm long, smooth sterling silver overlay with hard to find telescoping outer cap; metal clean, imprints on hard rubber strong, initials "M.W.D." on barrel. Patent imprints on feed, responsive nib.
DATE: c. 1918 • CONDITION: exc • NIB:
fine stub semiflex • $550
8639: Waterman 45: large black hard rubber clipless safety, 13.8 cm long, smooth solid 9K gold factory overlay with full London hallmarks; hard rubber is worn but sound, overlay is engraved with initials "G. L. B."; no real dings, but some light marks to the forepart of the barrel, and some tight stress hairlines to the metal at the cap rim and front edge of the barrel (see detail; this is typical of 9K overlays where the hard metal is spun down onto the hard rubber); big, smooth-writing #5 New York nib.
DATE: 1919 • CONDITION: G-VG*
• NIB: fine semiflex • $950
9023: Waterman 42½V: black chased hard rubber vest-pocket safety, 8.8 cm long, crisp imprints and good chasing, some toothmarks to cap; seals replaced, responsive nib.
DATE: c. 1923 • CONDITION: fine •
NIB: extra-fine flex • $165
9135: Waterman 44 set: black hard rubber safety, 12.9 cm long, gold filled French-hallmarked overlay, with matching JiF pencil. The pen has had its seals replaced, and is in near perfect condition; the pencil uses 1.1 mm lead, and is in similar condition but for a very light clip mark (a weakness of the design) and one very slight area of flattening at the shoulder of the front taper. Pen comes with a characteristically French slip-on Waterman clip, fully marked.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: fine flex
• $785
9164: Waterman 42½: black chased hard rubber slender safety, 12.9 cm long, nickel plated trim, barrel imprints worn but legible, chasing worn away, cap chasing much stronger; has been recorked, a great user with a notably juicy, thick-tipped nib.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: VG • NIB: medium stub flex
• $175
4284: Waterman 41: rare slender black hard rubber safety, 11.2 cm long, crisp and glossy, new old stock, never inked, cork feels sound but has not been replaced; no number on turning knob, as is usual; very smooth but slightly later (1940s) nib.
DATE: c. 1929 • CONDITION: mint* • NIB: fine semiflex • $400
4089: Waterman 42½V Ripple: clipless vest pocket red and black hard rubber safety, 9 cm long, has been recorked, barrel imprints strong, model number imprint on turning knob weak.
DATE: c. 1930 • CONDITION:
fine-exc • NIB: extra-fine semiflex • $225
9326: Waterman 44: Ripple hard rubber clipless safety, 13.1 cm long, with French-hallmarked solid 18K gold "Night and Day" overlay, 18K #4 nib is very soft, opens up with lightest pressure; surface of barrel end is also rippled, one chip to edge of turning knob, a couple of very shallow bumps to the cap crown, black hard rubber feed.
DATE: c. 1930 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: fine flex • $2250
9331: Zodiac safety: large black chased hard rubber French-made pen, 13.3 cm long, 14K warranted replacement nib (or possibly for English or German market); crisp, glossy, and unfaded.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: near
mint • NIB: medium broad flex • $175
9045: unmarked safety: mottled hard rubber, 12.2 cm long, French-made; a project pen, its seals are good, but the 18K Astra nib is very scratchy, and the cap lip has been trimmed so that it will no longer post on the end of the barrel; barrel imprint is partially legible, but not enough to identify the maker.
DATE: c. 1925
• CONDITION: fair • NIB: fine flex • $65
2700: unmarked safety: clipless miniature, 8.1 cm long, transparent pale blue enamel over sterling silver with guilloche work; cap crown marked "STERLING", "GERMANY"; excellent quality, some chipping to enamel at edges (see pictures), not inktight (cork seal needs to be replaced); 14K warranted nib.
DATE: c. 1925 •
CONDITION: fine-exc* • NIB: fine flex • $500
7528: unmarked safety: large black hard rubber German-made pen, 12.5 cm long, worn but sound, with new seals; turning knob hard rubber speckled (but certainly original), one crosspin hole widened; well-proportioned nib gives considerable line variation; faint barrel imprint "HORCH ACHTZYLINDER" (Horch 8-cylinder), tie-in to one of Germany's premier carmakers, an Audi ancestor (more here and h ere.
DATE: c. 1928 • CONDITION: G • NIB: medium fine flex • $200
7563: unmarked safety: mottled hard rubber, made in France, 12.7 cm long, gold filled trim, fine quality, Soma gold-plated stainless nib appears to be a later replacement; seals have been replaced.
DATE: c. 1935 •
CONDITION: fine • NIB: extra-fine semiflex • $125