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Waterman's | 0552½ | 18k Gold Plate Smooth Overlay | #2 Flex Stub
Waterman's | 0552½ | 18k Gold Plate Smooth Overlay | #2 Flex Stub
Pencil feedback from a gold nib: the stub tines are sharp enough that you feel the paper like you're writing with graphite, with perfect snapback and strong feed flow behind them. Tailored to calligraphy, an EEF hairline cross stroke, an 11x spread to 5B, tines that move at brush-light pressure. A treat for a trained and practiced hand.
The overlay is smooth, plain 18k gold plate over black hard rubber, no pattern at all. The 18-carat plating points continental, since 18ct is the French legal minimum for gold, while the nib is US-stamped; the hallmark check at the bench will settle where the overlay work was done. No V in this code: 0552½ is the full-length slender, long pen with a slim grip.
Condition is near mint except for microscratches on the gold surface, and I'm leaving them alone: polishing would thin the 18kt plating. Therefore I've rated this as C grade. Service adds a silicone sac, which opens ink choices completely.
Tested on Tomoe River 68gsm White with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.
Technical Specifications
Technical Specifications
Brand: Waterman's
Model: 0552.5
Production Year: 1920
Material: Gold Metal Overlay
Trim Color: Gold
Nib Size: 2
Nib Material: 14k gold
Nib Grind: F
Nib Flexibility: g
Line Variation: - (11.33x)
Pen Length: 129.02
Pen Grip Section:
Restorer: Heron's Mooncake
Restoration Grade: C
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Waterman's | 0552½ | 18k Gold Plate Smooth Overlay | #2 Flex Stub
Get it between - and -.
Appendix for Listing Details
Sweating the details is fundamental to understanding, appreciating, and knowing the peice of history you have in your hands.
All pens are filled and tested, not just dipped in ink, which does not reflect writing characteristics whatsoever.
Line Variation Standard
Different restorers have different standards for line sizing and especially for vintage pens, the printed tipping size will not always be accurate due to repairs/grinds/etc. Please use this as a frame of reference for consistency.
Flexibility Standard
Nib flexibility is such a controversial topic, but there needs to be some level of consistency so please take this table as a frame of reference for my restorations and as someone who is writing in a calligraphic/spencerian style of cursive script. Without objective measurements, flexibility terms such as wet noodle are useless as someone with stronger forearms and grip strength will make even manifold nibs into a wet noodle.
Restoration Ratings
These are guidelines incorporated from various online sources not limited to Reddit, David Nishimura, etc.
