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
13802: Artbrown safety: unusual and interesting mix of styles, Vac-like end jewels, cap like an early 1940s Waterman Emblem Pen; 11.7 cm long, gold plated trim, nib is gold plated stainless steel, cap and barrel appear to be lacquered hard rubber. Internal spiral has been repaired, seals replaced. Japanese-made safety pens are uncommon.
DATE: c. 1950 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: extra-fine stub semiflex • $165
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
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
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
15517: Moore Improved Non-Leakable: rare black chased hard rubber safety with double-function cap, screws on when nib is retracted, but acts as a slip-cap if put on when the nib is extended. 13.8 cm long, nib retracting sleeve covers barrel almost completely, thus has side cutouts to allow the barrel to be grasped firmly while turning the cap. Excellent imprints and chasing, even moderate fading, gold filled cap band, #2 nib is a sharp-edged factory italic.
DATE: c. 1912 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: fine italic semiflex • $495
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
12713: Uhlmann Eterno: black hard rubber Italian safety, 18K gold filled overlay, 10.85 cm long, fully marked on cap and barrel, nib has nice flex but tipping is scant and rather draggy.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: fine flex • $275
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
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
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
15843: Waterman 42: black hard rubber clipless safety with 18K gold filled Italian overlay in a striking Art Deco pattern; 12.1 cm long, engine turning crisp with only a few minor bumps and marks, #2 nib produces an elegantly shaded line with excellent control.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: extra-fine flex • $785
15739: Waterman 42 set in box: black hard rubber safety with beautiful 3-color 18K gold filled octagonal Italian overlay, 12.5 cm long, official Waterman agent's stamp on overlay, matching propelling pencil uses 1.1 mm lead, has shallow bumps to crown; both pieces otherwise excellent, noting light brassing to clips. Notable long-tined artist's nib, marked "585" -- this set came from the same source as our 15710 so may well also have been originally sold in Switzerland.
DATE: c. 1935 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: extra-fine superflex • $1600
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
