Waterman 18 Slip-Cap Oversize

Why it exists

At the turn of the century the fountain pen was still a young instrument, and Waterman's No. 18 belonged to its first generation of large-format designs: a slip-cap eyedropper in chased black hard rubber, filled by pipette, sealed by friction — engineering from the dawn of the writing instrument as we know it.

Why it matters

The dating is anchored in the barrel itself. The imprint reads 'PAT'D. 1884 – MAY 23. 1899' — the early-generation marking used before Waterman added the August 4, 1903 patent date to its imprint block — placing manufacture circa 1903–1906. The end imprint '18' remains fully filled with its original red paint, a hallmark detail that powerfully confirms the pen's untouched state.

Why it is rare

The chased pattern stands ultra deep and sharply defined — a level of preservation seldom encountered in pens over 120 years old, where the chasing is usually the first thing time erases. A minor, period-consistent sign of handling on the grip section reads as exactly what it is: the honest trace of a genuine New Old Stock survivor.

One disclosure, in the open: the pen is fitted with a No. 8 gold nib of later manufacture (circa 1920s) — the model-correct, original size specification for the No. 18 Oversize. Such nib replacements were a common and entirely natural occurrence across a pen's working lifetime, and it is documented here rather than discovered later.

How it survived

New Old Stock, with the minor mark of use on the grip section noted above. Barrel and end imprints are ultra deep and crisp; the end imprint retains its original red paint. The semi-flexible broad nib gives very good line variation; the eyedropper filling system works fully and holds ink perfectly. Professionally serviced and in full writing order.