Waterman's | 92 | Black Celluloid | #2 Flex

I absolutely love stamped import hallmarks on a nib, and you almost never find them on gold nibs, on Waterman or otherwise. Reading this set: F.D.W. is the sponsor's mark registered for Waterman's British imports, 14 and 585 state the gold standard two ways, 14 carat and .585 fineness, and B is the assay date letter, 1937/38 in London's uppercase cycle. Britain assayed imported gold on arrival, so this Canadian-built pen sold into Britain picked its marks up at the border, and the barrel bands carry hallmark imprints of their own, with a period owner's E.L.Steyn engraved just below.

As a writer it sits between F and FM unflexed and opens to a full 6B line, an 8x range under moderate pressure; plain handwriting stays compact, and the full spread is there when you push for it. The 92 decodes as Waterman's slender celluloid series, in production from about 1932, the 9 naming the series and the 2 its nib size, the 52's silhouette modernized in celluloid. Most 92s came in colored celluloid; this one runs black with gold-plated trim and three gold bands, the doubled barrel bands in a French jewelry-inspired style Waterman used far less often.

Graded B, everything original, with the personalization disclosed above and priced in. The sac is silicone, my standard fit under celluloid nitrate; run whatever ink you like and store the pen nib-up.

Tested on Tomoe River 68gsm White with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.