For your consideration, we are offering for sale this Restored Circa 1920s Waterman #54 Red Ripple Hard Rubber Fountain Pen with 18K Gold Filled Trim. This fountain pen has been thoroughly taken apart, cleaned, and put back together and now is in wonderful writing condition.

This fountain pen is made from hard rubber in what is referred to as the Red Ripple pattern. The coloring is an amazing red and black where the coloring displays vibrantly. The barrel has the imprint (very light but can be read in the right lighting) at the center of the barrel that reads, "WATERMAN'S REG. U.S. IDEAL GLOBE LOGO PAT. OFF FOUNTAIN PEN". The end of the barrel has a clear imprint that reads, "WATERMAN'S REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. MADE IN U.S.A.". The butt end of the fountain pen has a crisp 54 imprint.

The threads of the cap and barrel are excellent with the cap always securing tightly. There are no cracks, nicks or repairs to the hard rubber. I have ultrasonically cleaned the NIB and feed. Hand cleaned the inside of the section, barrel, and cap with mineral oil. Cleaned, Buffed, and Polished the outside of the cap and barrel to bring back the vibrancy and to protect the hard rubber. Replaced the old rubber sac with a new, Silicone sac. Hand polished the 18K Gold Filled Clip, Cap Banding, and Lever Box assembly along with the Flexible Waterman Ideal 14K #4 NIB. The Clip displays a little wear to the Waterman imprint area but has been polished to shine bright. The Cap Banding has been polished and displays some very minor edge wear at the very top of the cap band in two spots - again it has been polished to shine brightly. The lever box and arm has been polished to shine brightly and displays only the slightest wear on the arm There are no personalizations or monograms either the cap or the barrel. This Waterman 54 measures 5 3/8" in length capped and 6 1/2" posted.

The lever and box assembly have been cleaned and oiled. In my tests with water, the filling system works flawlessly.

This is the fun part - this Waterman 14K New York Ideal Nib has great flexibility all while writing smoothly. When measuring the actual tip of the 14K Ideal #4 NIB, it measures with a medium point of .82mm with digital calipers. When writing the sample in the listing images, the NIB writes with an extra fine line measuring roughly .38mm with very light pressure and flexes up to a triple broad of 1.86mm with medium to firm pressure when measured with digital calipers. This nib is very responsive and fun to write with. The writing sample provided was done with the actual pen in the images that are listed for sale. The writing sample was used by dipping the NIB in Parker Quink Blue-Black Ink.

Any specks of white in the images are from the cotton that I used to clean the barrel and cap.

I would have to express this Waterman Red Ripple is have somewhat of an uncommon extra-fine to triple broad nib - I do not find nibs like this one very often. This antique Waterman's 54 Fountain Pen is in ready to write condition. I would consider the condition of this fountain in Very Fine condition. Certainly, a spectacular writing instrument to add to one's writing arsenal collection that is a pleasure to write with.