Stunning Custom Art Deco 1930s WATERMAN'S Ideal Solid 18KR or Thick Gold Filled Barleycorn Overlay w/ 14K Super Flex Nib Lever Filler Fountain Pen Made in USA Item ID: WAT-079

Manufacturer/Model: Waterman's Ideal/ USA
Year of production: Estimated 1930's
Filling system: Lever filler (sac/bladder system - new rubber sac installed)
Nib: Solid 14K 585 gold EF/F, Super flexible nib - writes all sizes up to triple broad 3B 
Material: Both cap and body are solid 18K gold or gold filled overlay over a celluloid blue striped body (More in the description)
Length (pen closed): 128mm, posted 161mm

Condition and information:
We are very proud to offer this one of the kind Waterman from our personal collection. This is what we call a Custom Waterman's, which lacks a model number, which were either custom bilt per a customer order, or the gold overlay was done at a later stage which seems unlikely due to the inscriptions on the pen.

In either case, the pen was made somewhere in the 1930s, we cannot pinpoint the exact year, but based on many features and design, we can date the pen to that decade. The most stunning aspect of this pen is that we believe that the overlay is solid 18K gold as opposed to 18K gold filled overlay. The material passes all our tests for solid gold, and there are several ways to test this, both mechanically, chemically but also visually. However we cannot be 100%, as such pens had been known to be made in gold filled overlay as well. However, an overlay always has some marks where the gold is worn off, even if slightly, or shows some gold blemishing patina, or is not present on the inside of the cap or the underside of the clip. That is not the case on this pen. Here we see gold everywhere and no paritna, no brass clues or any other hints. Nonetheless as mentioned earlier we cannot be absolutely sure, unless this is a very thick gold filled overlay that one can only determine by cutting the pen in half. Needless to say, we are not about to do that.

"18K.R." as a mark was strictly used to point out the object is made out of gold, and more often than not "18K" was used to stamp an gold filled overlay. There are several other clues, but regardless if the pen is solid gold, or a thick gold overlay, it is still a masterpiece, shines like the sun, and it's difficult to capture in photos, the pen simply reflects all the light that falls on it.

The pen is finished in an Art Deco style, with 3 faceted mirror-like clear surface sections on the body and cap which align once the cap is closed. The rest of the decoration is a very very fine and intricate Barleycorn pattern, which is simply stunning. This is done over a celluloid base with blue marble stripes, and finished with a hard rubber or celluloid section.

The nib is ultra flexible where the tines split apart as soon as it touches the paper. The tines split apart when writing, with little to no pressure. This nib produces some extraordinary writing, from F, M, B, BB and even 3B. The feed is the known at the time Waterman clear face ski-slope, extremely long, made from ebonite but polished, with a wide ink canal to feed this wet nib. This produces extremely wet and flexible wide writing, both in fast or slow writing mode.

The pen features a very nice and convenient to use lever filler, operates flawlessly and is fitted with a new sac.

The pen is in good condition, with some signs of use, but no cracks or scratches perfectly preserved and functional. No loose parts, lever functions perfectly, all original parts, the pen had never been tampered with, never had a part change except the rubber sac. 

Rare masterpiece by Waterman's Ideal Pen Company, One of the kind special custom order.