Pen Profiles:
Safety Pens - Moore Safeties - Waterman Safeties
13137: Aikin Lambert Mercantile: rare black chased hard rubber ringtop safety, 9.3 cm long, gold filled trim, identical to a Waterman 42˝V but for imprints, nib, and feed; nib has semistub tip. Waterman acquired Aikin Lambert around 1907.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: medium flex • $245
13010: American Fountain Pen Co. Moore's Non-Leakable: rare early model retracting-nib safety with short cap and slotted sleeve, 14.65 cm long, gold filled high relief floral filigree barrel overlay with monogram engraved in cartouche; #2 nib is extremely flexible but has a hairline from the vent hole (see detail), condition of pen is otherwise notable, hard rubber crisp and glossy, some scratches on barrel from rubbing of sleeve, safety post inside cap missing.
DATE: c. 1902 • CONDITION: fine-exc* • NIB: medium fine superflex • $1200
15788: American Fountain Pen Co. sleeve-filler: rare and peculiar, black chased hard rubber, 12.6 cm long, to all external appearances a standard Moore safety, but instead the barrel sleeve must be unscrewed to reveal the opening in the barrel and the pressure bar. Bar is imprinted "LICENSED UNDER/PATENT 781.649" -- Robert A. Hamilton's US patent of 1905. Overall condition would be excellent plus, but for now-repaired cracks in both the sleeve and barrel, surely due to rough handling as they are not in locations normally subject to much stress..
DATE: c. 1914 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: extra-fine flex • $365
15992: American Fountain Pen Co. Moore's Non-Leakable: black chased hard rubber retracting-nib safety, 11.9 cm long, posting end marked "1" and (weakly) "2.50", 1903 patent cap imprint. Some subtle fading, #2 American Fountain Pen nib is flexible and responsive.
DATE: c. 1917 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: fine flex • $225
11986: Astoria miniature safety: black hard rubber ringtop with Italian 18K gold filled filigree overlay, 7.8 cm long, Astoria-marked 14K nib; true filigree work in this case, with beaded wire, excellent quality, must be examined closely for full appreciation. Seals have not been replaced, not ink-tight.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: fine-exc* • NIB: fine semiflex • $1250
16111: Conway Stewart 520: large black chased hard rubber clipless screw-cap eyedropper-filler, 13.5 cm long; this model number has not been seen before, the pen itself clearly made by Mabie Todd for Conway Stewart, identical to a #5-size Swan Safety Screw-Cap but carrying a smaller nib (originally a warranted or early Conway Stewart nib, rather than the present #2 Swan). Chips to the front edge of the section, cap crack has been repaired internally with a carbon fiber patch (see details).
DATE: c. 1919 • CONDITION: VG* • NIB: fine flex • $265
15100: Kaweco safety in box: black hard rubber with gold filled overlay, German made, retracting nib, 11 cm long, dents to cap, seal replaced, warranted nib opens with slightest pressure, to be used with a light touch, incipient stress line from vent hole (see detail). In retailer box from the Netherlands.
DATE: c. 1928 • CONDITION: VG* • NIB: medium fine superflex • $565
16251: Montblanc Monte Rosa: miniature black hard rubber safety, 8.4 cm long, engine turned silver overlay with partial 900 mark, red casein cap crown, warranted 14K semistub nib has a crack from the vent hole but is completely usable; unmarked, but clearly of Montblanc manufacture.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: medium flex • $1200
13632: Montegrappa The Elmo Pen: early production black hard rubber safety, 12.75 cm long, smooth gold filled overlay, #2 Elmo nib, Moore-style one-piece shaft and feed; cap has engraved monogram, dings to crown, cap lip has been replaced. Nib has a crack from the vent hole, usable with a light hand. The Elmo Pen was one of Montegrappa's very first models, and an overlay example is unheard of.
DATE: c. 1922 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • NIB: fine stub flex • $650
13425: Moore Non-Leakable: black hard rubber retracting-nib safety with smooth gold filled overlay, 12.1 cm long, Moore #2 nib; one shallow ding and some pinprick marks to the cap, small patch of corrosion at front of barrel overlay (see details), safety post inside cap is absent.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: VG-fine • NIB: fine stub flex • $650
16252: Osmia safety: miniature in smooth black hard rubber, 8.5 cm long, warranted semistub nib, cap imprinted "CUTINO CO./GERMANY"; excellent condition but for chip and crack to cap crown emblem (see detail).
DATE: c. 1923 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: medium flex • $600
16077: Parker 49: black hard rubber slip-cap eyedropper-filler with gold filled overlay, 12.5 cm long, intact long Lucky Curve spearhead feed, #3 Lucky Curve nib with teardrop vent; elegantly engraved name in barrel cartouche, metal is clean but for erosion of cap vent holes from ink exposure (see details). An rare model, as this overlay is usually found as a Jack-Knife Safety; this also appears to be the smaller and less common lady's version.
DATE: c. 1914 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • NIB: fine semiflex • $950
16000: Viala Valair: miniature French-made hard rubber safety, 8.2 cm long, hallmarked sterling silver line and dot pattern overlay, tiny 14K Viala nib opens easily and should be used with a light touch. Tight hairline to the hard rubber cap lip, dent and tool marks to cap overlay.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: G* • NIB: fine flex • $395
13648: Waterman 412S Filigree: early black hard rubber safety with sterling silver overlay, 12.8 cm long, threaded turning knob, early mechanism with helically-grooved barrel interior, nib turns as it is extended and retracted, #2 New York nib has some spring but not true flex, feed with patent imprint. Some flattening to the cap crown, no trace of a number imprint on the turning knob, seals have been replaced.
DATE: c. 1910 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: fine • $750
15772: Waterman 0542½ Etched in box: black hard rubber retracting-nib safety with full 18K gold filled hand-engraved overlay, 13 cm long; long-tined New York #2 nib is smooth and flexible, overall appearance is excellent noting dents in packing housing overlay and rim bumps to cap crown. The "Etched" pattern is one of Waterman's most attractive, but normally only found on smaller ringtop models.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: fine flex • $785
15118: Waterman 442½V: black hard rubber ringtop safety with sterling silver "Filigree" overlay, 9.4 cm long, slight fading, even wear, turning knob model imprint without the 4 in the hundreds position, Waterman #2 nib is an old replacement, likely c. 1940.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: fine flex • $295
10895: unmarked miniature safety set in box: beautiful ensemble, German manufacture, purple transparent enamel over silver. Black hard rubber safety pen is 7.2 cm long, fully functional, and appears never to have been used (we have replaced its cork seal and repaired a small crack in the internal spiral). The magic pencil is 5.25 cm long and bears an 835 silver content stamp on its ring; shaft and nozzle are gold-plated, and it uses standard 1.1 mm lead. The enamel is intact on pen and pencil, but is damaged on one side of the matching wax seal (see detail). Box is marked "Joyeria Zerbino", a retailer in Montevideo.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: exc* • NIB: fine • $795
9970: unmarked safety: miniature black hard rubber retracting-nib German safety, 8.35 cm long, engine-turned silver overlay marked only "900" at the center of the cap crown; despite size, a fully functional pen, cork has been replaced, 14K gold warranted nib has considerably flex, but due to dimensions line width variation is limited.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: medium fine flex • $365
10568: unmarked safety: black hard rubber, small and slender with silver overlay; 9.45 cm long, French made, 18K warranted nib is serviceable but toothy, tipping scant.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: extra-fine semiflex • $225
