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Waterman's | 0552½ | 9k Gold Plate Côté Droit (Ribbed) Overlay | #2 Flex
Waterman's | 0552½ | 9k Gold Plate Côté Droit (Ribbed) Overlay | #2 Flex
Côté Droit is French for the straight-sided ribbing that runs the length of this overlay, parallel ridges you feel every time you pick the pen up. The ribs still stand with limited wear, which matters because plate wears through on the crests of the overlay first.
The overlay work is French over an American pen. The gold plate carries ORIX marks, and hallmark stamps run across the barrel, the cap, and the accommodation clip, put there so the buyer knew plainly this is 9k gold plate, not solid gold; the clip itself is the French add-on style fitted locally to US pens. Underneath sits a 0552½, the full-length slender: standard length, about half the barrel width of a regular pen, with a US-stamped Ideal 2.
It writes smooth and wet with a great smooth snapback and full wide flex, 4.5x from the unflexed line to a 5B swell.
Graded D over one dent on the back of the cap, named here because a D means every flaw gets listed. Everything else about the overlay is in incredible condition. Service fit with a silicone sac.
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: FM
Nib Flexibility: g
Line Variation: - (4.5x)
Pen Length: 132.93
Pen Grip Section:
Restorer: Heron's Mooncake
Restoration Grade: C
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Waterman's | 0552½ | 9k Gold Plate Côté Droit (Ribbed) Overlay | #2 Flex
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.
