11926: A. A. Waterman twist-filler: gold filled filigree slip-cap, 14.6 cm long, hard rubber glossy and unfaded with strong imprints, only slight posting scratches, metal crisp and unbrassed, monogram skilfully engraved in indicia; #2 nib with distinctive three-lobed vent hole.
DATE: c. 1912 • CONDITION: exc-near mint • NIB: fine flex • $850
15836: A. A. Waterman (?) eyedropper-filler: black hard rubber slip-cap with full Art Nouveau fine silver filigree overlay, 13.1 cm long, marked only "30" at the end of the barrel and "STERLING" on the overlay, narrow feed of distinctive inner construction, all suggesting A. A. Waterman manufacture. Initials scratched onto barrel cartouche, pitting at top of cap surely from original manufacturing method of electrodeposition. Nib has a hairline below imprint, but a good writer, boldly calligraphic.
DATE: c. 1903 • CONDITION: VG* • NIB: broad italic flex • $375
15305: Aikin Lambert dip pen, pencil, and manicure set in box: a most unusual presentation set, all in sterling silver, the three pieces engraved "M.M.", "to", and "Maiza". The reversible dip pen carries a ventless gold #4 Aikin Lambert nib, while the pencil uses .075 inch lead and extends and retracts. Some small dings here and there (see details), faceted colored glass end stones. Pencil is 12 cm long, other two pieces are 9.3 cm long, closed.
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: medium fine flex • $650
15096: Aikin Lambert sleeve-filler: black hard rubber self-filler, gold filled overlay, 13.6 cm long, barrel sleeve rotates to provide access to pressure bar (Waterman's first sleeve-filler patent of 1905, but used only on subbrand pens and Aikin Lamberts, after Waterman's takeover of Aikin Lambert c. 1907); #3 nib is very flexible, noting the beginnings of a stress crack from the vent hole (see detail). Elegantly engraved monogram on sleeve, very clean with only trace brassing at the edge of the cap top, a high quality pen with an unusual filling mechanism and excellent overall appearance, especially uncommon with a plain smooth overlay.
DATE: c. 1910 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: fine flex • $865
13137: Aikin Lambert Mercantile: rare black chased hard rubber ringtop safety, 9.3 cm long, gold filled trim, identical to a Waterman 42½V 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
15078: Aikin Lambert lever-filler: black hard rubber ringtop, full gold filled overlay, 9.5 cm long; unusual and interesting, as this is identical to a Waterman 0552 1/2V Sheraton but for the nib, feed, lever, and complete absence of overlay imprints. In this era Waterman used Aikin Lambert as a sub-brand, often finishing Waterman pens as Aikin Lamberts in order to use up surplus or slightly defective parts. This pen, however, is the first of its kind that we have seen, and appears to be first-quality throughout. The overlay is crisp and unbrassed, but the nib isn't the smoothest, and has a near-invisible hairline at its base.
DATE: c. 1928 • CONDITION: exc* • NIB: fine flex • $275
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
16657: American Fountain Pen Co. Moore's Non-Leakable: black hard rubber retracting-nib safety with gold filled overlay, 9.25 cm long, high quality hand-engraved floral scroll decoration, fully marked, only trace plating wear at very edges of ends; #2 American Fountain Pen nib is long-tined and very flexible, safety post inside cap is intact.
DATE: c. 1917 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: extra-fine flex • $600
16370: Aurora Etiopia: legendary Italian rarity, ivory celluloid ink-pellet eyedropper-filler, 11.7 cm long, gold filled trim, introduced in 1936 to commemorate the Italian conquest of Ethiopia. Even wear, some superficial scratches but no cracks, usual plating wear to clip. Section seal has been replaced, nib is extraordinarily flexible.
DATE: c. 1937 • CONDITION: VG-fine • NIB: fine superflex • $2500
16525: Camel button-filler: red pearl marble, 13.35 cm long, gold filled trim, distinctive proportions and cool drinking camels logo imprint on barrel and nib. Later production without ink pellet feature, overall appearance excellent, noting tiny stress line on side of clip (stable, see detail) and marks to top of nib. Outstanding writer, effortlessly calligraphic.
DATE: c. 1939 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: extra-fine stub flex • $365
12754: Carey eyedropper-filler in box: black hard rubber straight-cap, gold filled chased pattern overlay, 13.5 cm long, nearly identical to a contemporary Aikin Lambert, narrow feed, #2 Carey nib has been retipped, is extremely soft and should be used with a light touch; "Cecilia" engraved on barrel cartouche, cap crown disk bumped askew from dings to cap top bead (see detail); fancy box is clean with full Carey markings on the interior.
DATE: c. 1910 • CONDITION: VG-fine • NIB: fine stub flex • $895
14992: Carey eyedropper-filler: slender black hard rubber straight-cap, hand-engraved heavy green gold filled overlay with scrolling floral vines, 13.3 cm long, fully marked on the barrel, closely similar to contemporary Aikin Lambert and Fairchild products; Carey nib opens easily, a wet writer with plenty of line width variation, name engraved in barrel cartouche.
DATE: c. 1910 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: medium fine flex • $965
12957: Century eyedropper-filler: black chased hard rubber taper-cap, 15 cm long, over and under feed, imprint with 1893 patent date. Moderate even fading, imprints and chasing are sharp except where heat-softened towards front of barrel, nib is usable as is but has lost its tipping. An early pen of excellent quality, from a company closely tied to Parker.
DATE: c. 1898 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • NIB: fine stub flex • $250
11527: Century eyedropper-filler: slender black hard rubber slip-cap with full gold filled overlay, 13.5 cm long, over and under feed; despite Century's close ties to Parker, this pen most closely resembles a Waterman of the era -- the overlay likely coming from a common source, Heath. Sound overall condition, noting trace plating wear to high edges and more severe wear to the barrel's posting end (see details).
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: G-VG • NIB: fine flex • $650
16232: Century No. 40 sleeve-filler: black hard rubber screw-cap, 13.6 cm long, nickel plated clip, section is turned to rotate internal sleeve, exposing or concealing the pressure bar; hard rubber is black and glossy with strong imprints, #3 Century nib offers notable line width variation.
DATE: c. 1915 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: extra-fine flex • $265
15295: Chilton Seth Sears Crocker: black pneumatic-filler, 13.1 cm long, gold filled trim, cap imprint for LaSalle and Koch (a Toledo, Ohio department store), hole-less end knob with inner valve, 1933 patent number on barrel, warranted nib is correct, has semistub tip one fin missing from feed; a scarce model from a breakaway Chilton family member.
DATE: c. 1938 • CONDITION: VG • NIB: fine flex • $385
16036: Chilton Wing-flow: burgundy pneumatic-filler, 12.85 cm long, gold filled trim, initials "CEB" inlaid in barrel; filler knob imprints bold, some scratches to very end, Wing-flow nib has been retipped to a wonderfully calligraphic rounded italic, sharp-edged yet smooth.
DATE: c. 1938 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: medium italc flex • $685
16284: Conklin lever-filler: gold filled ringtop, 10.55 cm long, "all-metal" style with checkerboard engine turning, long-tined #3 nib is an elegant writer with pleasant paper feel, semistub tip.
DATE: c. 1922 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: fine flex • $265
13490: Conklin 2: black hard rubber ringtop crescent-filler, gold filled trefoil filigree overlay, 11.3 cm long, initials engraved in cap cartouche, #2 nib has easy flex.
DATE: c. 1923 • CONDITION: VG-fine • NIB: medium fine flex • $420
15659: Conklin Ensemble in box: pen-pencil combination, green veined pearl lever-filler, 14.7 cm long, gold filled trim, excellent color preservation in this material that is so prone to discoloration; bold imprints, plating excellent, some light toothmarks visible on cap on close inspection, 1.1 mm lead pencil nozzle has a hairline crack that does not affect function, looks like a scratch, otherwise excellent condition. Noteworthy nib.
DATE: c. 1932 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: extra-fine flex • $595
16551: Conway Stewart 15: black lever-filler, 12.8 cm long, gold filled trim; cap and barrel may be casein, do not soak!.
DATE: c. 1955 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: medium fine flex • $125
15543: Conway Stewart 550 Dinkie set in box: gold-veined red pearl miniature lever-filler, 10.3 cm long, gold plated trim, matching twist-action 25 pencil uses 1.1 mm lead. Nib opens with only slight pressure, not for the heavy-handed. Lovely material is casein-based, should be kept away from water.
DATE: c. 1955 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: medium flex • $225
16123: Corona desk set: large pen in handsomely striated celluloid, gold filled trim with black hard rubber taper, similar size as #5 Waterman, unusual filling system where taper turns clockwise to operate a button-filler style pressure bar to compress and release the sac (this system was later used by Matador in Germany). Green marble base is 4 inches (10 cm) square with engraved plaque, typical scattered chips to edges.
DATE: c. 1930 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: fine flex • $475
16044: Crocker Ink-Tite desk pen: black chased hard rubber end-lever-filler, 18.75 cm long, gold filled trim, #2 Crocker nib opens easily for a wet shaded line; only a few Ink-Tite desk pens have been found to date -- this is the first we have ever had.
DATE: c. 1922 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: fine flex • $450
16046: Crocker Ink-Tite 2S: black chased hard rubber end-lever-filler ringtop, 11.95 cm long, gold filled trim, Zain Crocker #2 nib is long-tined with a semistub tip, writes an elegant line. Hard rubber of cap and barrel evenly faded with chasing more worn on cap, decent barrel imprint.
DATE: c. 1924 • CONDITION: VG • NIB: fine flex • $150
