1st Issue (Prototype) Lever Pen. 14K F/M Full Flex Nib. Just serviced with new Ink Sac. Works and writes as when New. Made in New York 1914 to 1915 (Nib and BHR pen). Once in London it was given this wonderful EXTRA Thick solid Gold Jacket Overlay. Timeless elegance personified, As English and of its time as it gets. UNIQUE to London Market ONLY. Fully Hallmarked at the London Assay office in 1915. This pen is a TRUE piece of Waterman History. First EVER issued Lever Pen by Waterman. The pen is a fantastic senior size at 13.8cm or 5.4inch capped. Similar in size to the models that replaced the PSF, the famous 1917 to 1920’s model 52 or 54. Although the same size pens, Width and Length as each other. The PSF and 52 or 54 share no parts other than lever design. The caps and barrels do not interchange. The threading is COMPLETELY different between the two era designs so their parts do not fit each other. This pen is a ClipLess model in that it NEVER had a fixed Clip fitted. As was the fashion in London and Paris at the time. This pens ULTRA Rare 1st issue LEVER is actually the standard length but the front 1/3 is hidden by its prototype Gold Jacket. Giving it the unique look of having a short lever (see photo 8). This rare Lever has the early LARGE Ideal Lollypop FONT. Remarkably this lever is still Pristine. Zero plate loss etc. 1st ever lever and its perfect. The pen has no cracks or splits etc. Beyond rare to find at all let alone so clean. Overall once in the hand to the naked eye looks amazing. Considering this pen is 106 years old I would say it is the cleanest example in the world. That is if there is another example to compare it to. This is NOT a NEW pen. Of course, as with any 106 year old original it has a few micro signs of being handled and light desk wear etc. Although I have seen 1 month old pens in far worse condition. Regardless of the fact this pen is in sensational condition it is actually its place in HISTORY that stands it aside from all others. You will not find an earlier example. They simply DO NOT exist. This pen IS the first of its kind. The original Waterman Lever pen.. As beautiful to look at and historically significant as this pen undoubtedly is. It writes even better. Its amazing New York 2 (large) nib is a simple JOY to write with. The nib is also perfect with zero damage. Superb Iridium tips are good to last several more lifetimes. It writes with a Bold Fine or Medium line that has Fine line side stroke at normal pressure. Very elegant writing perfect for everyday use. However, this nib also has fantastic flexibility that allows for even more line width variation on the down stroke when varying levels of pressure is applied. It can flex to all the way past Double Broad and beyond. A nib so creative its only limitation is the imagination and writing ability of its user. It original feed offers PERFECT ink flow. Never skipped a beat during its writing test and I really push them. This chap is worth breaking the bank for. You will not see another example. This chap is as RARE as Waterman pens come. Handsome, Refined, 1915 certified, modern size senior, Historically significant, Perfect weight, Perfect Length, Width, Weight balance in the hand when writing, A sensational Flex nib, A simple JOY to write with…… The superlatives are endless with this pen. HISTORY in more detail…. For those interested or if you have the inclination or time. Who exactly was he? For those unaware of who FDW (Frank Dan Waterman) is you must first start at the beginning. With his Uncle Lewis Edson Waterman. In 1883 Lewis formed the Waterman Pen Company. Lewis died in 1901 leaving the company to his Nephew, Frank Waterman. Lewis’s production innovations and Feed invention created the platform that allowed FDW to expand and evolve the Waterman pen company into the largest pen sales in the world by 1910. Although Lewis gets credit. It is actually FDW that is responsible for almost EVERY collectible vintage waterman pen ever made. Sleeve fillers, pump filler, coin fillers etc etc etc. ALL under FDW stewardship. Models, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, PSF, 42, 44, 46, 48, 52, 54, 56, 58, 92, 94, 5, 7, Ripple, Celluloid transition, Patrician, Lizard etc etc etc etc. FDW made them all. Not his uncle Lewis! Lets give credit where credit is due. The heyday of the Waterman Pen company came under FDW’s ownership. Lewis simply laid the foundations. And London have a strong connection. To my knowledge it is the ONLY place you find his name directly attached to a pen. Of course the English have a proud tradition of Hallmarking ALL Gold and Silver goods with Makers mark and date codes etc. Was proud to add his initials to such an esteemed historic tradition. FDW made London the distribution centre for ALL its European exports. Or Canada came from New York to London. From London to rest of Europe and World from early 1900’s to 1929. However I can not remember ever seeing an earlier Gold Stamped Waterman pen with FDW initial than this 1915 PSF example. It could well be 1915? 1915 is the FIRST year Waterman made a Lever pen. Those models are PSF. In 1917 Waterman renumbered its pens and the 12PSF became the 52 for example etc etc.. This FDW Gold pen is pre PSF and exceptionally rare. VERY few of these were ever made. The GOLD Lever housing is bespoke to this pen. I have not seen another even similar. The IDEAL logo under the Lever lollypop is Silver and also ULTRA Rare (see photo 5). This pen is a Prototype. It has no model number. It is similar to a 12 or 14 PSF. However, when you directly compare this pen to a first issue 12PSF it has a few unique quirks. The width of the pen is 1mm wider. The nib and feed are larger than a 12PSF. The threads are a touch different also. All in time to make the 1915 manufacture date. It is a prototype PSF design (The BHR parts). The Gold parts are also UNIQUE and Prototype for London. The size 2 nib is very unusual in size. It is wide like a size 4 nib. Same with the feed. Indeed my 12PSF nib and feed simply slide in and out of this pens front section and this pens large size 2 nib and feed will not go into the 12PSF front section. This pen has to be amongst the FIRST PSF Lever models EVER made. So why did it take Waterman so long to make a Lever pen? 1915 seemed a bit late to me. I always imagined they made them early 1900’s. However the fact is they did not make a Lever pen for sale until 1915. So lets deep dive into the history of the Lever design itself to find answers to this 1915 date. 1908 is when the first Lever pens were patented. By Sheaffer no less. Before he even had a pen company to speak of. His delay in forming a company and getting manufacture up and running and marketing etc took him years before releasing to a wide audience. Perhaps as late as 1912. I believe Sheaffer tried to sell his design to other pen companies. So, Waterman would have been long aware of his design. So in 1915 to 1917 Waterman and several other pen companies like Swan Mabie Todd, Conklin and Conway Stewart to name a few launched their own Lever pens. Which is why 1915 is the 1st year Waterman made a Lever pen. ALL lever pens use Sheaffer’s original design more or less. It was the best. Finally, one has to also look at the history of when this pen was made. 1914 to 1915 is also a VERY important time in the history of the World and in the relationship between the U. Millions of men were passing through England onto WAR in Europe. Certainly a good time to be in the pen business. War brought millions of letters daily to homes around the world. No internet, no texts, no telephones. A letter was the ONLY form of communication. Waterman was uniquely placed in both New York and London to offer its wares to travelling soldiers, sailors, pilots and officers alike who’s only lifeline to family, friends, girlfriends and lovers alike was the humble letter. Diaries, Poems and War letters. Pens were in an ALL time high demand. Americans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealand, India, Commonwealth etc etc etc, Soldiers all leaving from ports in England. Waterman also had a huge base in Paris, France. So if they did not sell a soldier a pen in New York or London then they got you in Paris en-route to the trenches…. Full of innovation and death. C ome s ready to write just add your favourite colour bottled ink… Perfect as a gift or treat yourself to a wonderful collectible fountain pen that can be used and enjoyed daily.. Please view all the Photographs they form large part of the description. All photographs are of actual pen. What you see is everything you receive. Any boxes or papers will ALWAYS be photographed if included. Fed Ex is also available. PLEASE VIEW MY OTHER ITEMS MORE PENS, Montblanc, Onoto, Conway Stewart, Parker, Waterman, Mabie Todd Swan, Sheaffer, Dunhill etc. The item “Waterman PSF Solid Gold F. D. W. Fountain Pen 1915. 14K F/M Flex Nib. Ultra Rare” is in sale since Thursday, March 25, 2021. This item is in the category “Collectables\Pens & Writing Equipment\Pens\Fountain Pens\Waterman”. The seller is “myhs10cd” and is located in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
- Nib Size: Medium (M)
- Material: Solid Gold 9Ct & Hard Rubber
- Features: Gold Trim
- Nib Material: Gold, 14K
- Sub-Type: Fountain Pens
- Vintage: Yes
- Brand: Waterman
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