TWINS! 1945 & 1947 Waterman's Citation $180 US (pair) $100US each

Hello there. Welcome to Inkquiring Minds. My name is Doug, and I'm back with another pen resurrection Sunday video. Today I've got two of the same vintage fountain pens on the slab, both dead as a doornail, and both ready for resurrection.

These are Waterman’s citations from the late 1940s. Although they appear identical, there are subtle differences between the two fountain pens. I intend to restore both of these fountain pens. The citation is a taperite fountain pen, created by Waterman in response to the highly successful Parker 51 of the 1940s. The Parker 51 was introduced around 1940, just before the American war began, and featured a hooded nib. Since everyone needed a hooded nib, Waterman introduced the Taperite. However, before we begin the restoration process, let’s assess the condition of these two fountain pens to determine what needs to be done to bring them back to their former glory.

THOUGHTS

I initially thought I might have to choose one out of two, depending on how they came apart. My history with Waterman Taperite pens isn’t great; I’ve broken them before. So, I fully expected to damage or destroy at least one of these. However, I’m thrilled that both came out beautifully. They’re not only gorgeous pens but also write beautifully.

As with most twins, there are subtle differences, so you can tell them apart. The 45 has a longer lever and a thicker clutch ring. This thicker clutch ring doesn’t grip perfectly. When you push it down, it grips, but it doesn’t spin. However, there’s a bit of spin if you pull it back slightly. So, there’s a bit of play in that.

In contrast, the 47 has a narrower clutch ring that works perfectly. There are also slight differences in how they write. The 45 writes juicy, wet, and thick, making it a true medium with good flex. The 47 Waterman is a thinner medium, like a 0.5 mm, and doesn’t have as much bounce.

Both pens have 14-karat gold nibs. Both write beautifully. If you don’t want to separate the twins, you can buy both for $180 US. However, if you need to separate them or want to buy one over the other, they’ll be $100 US each, plus shipping. The first person to contact me will decide whether to separate the twins. If you’re interested in buying these pens, email me at inkquiringminds@gmail.com with your name and address. I’ll get you a shipping quote and let you know which pen or both you want to purchase. I’ll also provide instructions on how to pay via PayPal. As always, members get to see these videos first. So, members will see this a couple of days before Pen Resurrection Sunday. However, the first email gets the sale.

Thank you for watching.

And that's all she wrote.