World-Wide Pen Club Blog

Rare Waterman Ink bottles

Blog by Max Davis , March 2010

Hunting for rare ink bottles is fun, today I will show you some Waterman Ink

bottles that are superb. One of the best bottles I found is this bottle made

  c.1910 with full original label.

Waterman also made wooden travel cases around  this period (1896-1906)

each being unique as they differ slightly from each other.

This is the ink bottle to match.

This metal case was made in 1892, you can read the

date of the imprint on top of the metal case.

The ink bottle inside has its glass eyedropper , this is as rare as it comes!

You can read more about this ink bottle in the new Waterman book  " Waterman Past and Present.The First Six Decades"

Around 1890 ink bottles were now made with pen rests, it seems that Waterman were the first to make these type of glass bottles. This ink bottle with pen rest was made in 1890 (page 174 in the book)

This is a example of  a copper cap Waterman was making, these copper caps came in all different shapes and  the labels would differ too.

Glass ink bottles also started to have different paper labels and  imprints on the base of the glass, you

find more examples on the website Ref w0023 or read more about it on page 175 in my new book.

"Waterman Past and Present. First Six Decades"

Here are 3 examples of  different marked ink bottles

You can see and read the imprint around the diameter of the bottle .

This bottle is named the Desk Top Bottle and was made in the USA

If we compare the ink bottles, the first image , has no imprint around the diameter of the bottle and the label differs.

And if you look at the last ink bottle ,you can see the

change in shape and the base of the glass is also different.

The book mentioned in the blog is available for purchase here http//www.watermanbook.com

This 240 page book consists of 1783 images and host the most valuable information out there. 

For only £50 + shipping ( we ship world-wide)

To see the full collection on waterman bottles  go to http.//www.vintagewatermanpens.co.uk

All ink bottles are for sale on this website.

or for more info please email watermanbook@gmail.com

hope you enjoyed the blog

Kind regards, Max.

Ink Bottles from Hong Kong

Happy New Year for 2010 to Everyone!

Here are some rare ink bottles from Hong Kong, ideal for collectors.

 

Kwong Yuen with the original Box ( Click the pic to Enlarge )

In some cases, the bottle in mint condition and is full of ink, this is hard to find and adds to the value.

Below are a collection of very rare Jub Tai Choon bottles, the first bottle
on the left still has the original cork.

 

 

2 examples above from the Kwang Yune Kee Ki Ink Co.

 

Finally (left) this large bottle is  a master ink size, and is likely to be 32 oz in size.
Freedom Ink Tin Very Rare made by
Sing Foo Printing & Dyeing Work Ltd. Hong Kong

If you have a rare ink bottle I would really like to have a picture of it, so I can add it as a reference, to my collection. You can contact me by mail at maxpen@wanadoo.fr 

Kind Regards,

Max Davis

Find 1000´s more of collectable ink bottles at www.1001inkbottles.com

Ink Bottles from around the World ( By Brand )

By Max Davis

After 10 years of collecting, my Ink Bottle Web Site www.1001inkbottles.com

has more than 2000 different items.

With so many items it´s actually very hard to search out different Brands

so we decided to compile a consise brands list from A to Z. Click on the links

below to visit each of the pages and I hope you enjoy this list, it was a big job to put it together!

ABCDE      FGHIJ      KLMNO     PQRST     UVWXYZ

Collecting Ink bottles is fun and in the website you will find items dating all the

way back to 1883. You will find items made of many differenct materials like

glass,bakelite, tin, silver and even paper and rubber.

When browsing the list you may notice that some items seem to appear twice,

one such example is Stepens Ink, this is because this item was made in both

England and Austrailia making it a rare item.

If  you have any questions and would like to find our more you can chat to Max

live from the home page of the web site, simply click your mouse on the picture

at the top of the home page.

Also you can talk via Skype, just search for " WatermanBook"

If you want to be added to Max´s  skype list you must ad the subject "Ink Bottles"

so he can let you join his group.

My email is maxpen@wanadoo.fr

The Wonderful World of Old Ink Bottles

By Max Davis

The fun of collecting ink bottles is that there are lots of different types.

Old Pottery and Ceramic Ink Bottles

F. Mordan's Ink.  It´s nice to have a dip pen with the Mordan Nib the matching Bottle with
the imprint on the Label. Mordan was made in London England.

Next the Victorian Ink Bottle, it´s known as the 1d Bottle made in England.
In the U.S.A. at about the same time 1865 to 1890 Carter started in 1865.

Glass bottles with Labels
Waterman Globe Ink Bottle each with different Labels, these ink appear in our new Waterman Book

"Waterman Past and Present The first Six Decades".

The Desk Top bottles  1920s on page 175.

Paper Ink Bottles

Thomas Black Ink A superb Collectable Ink Bottle made of Paper Patented Oct 16th 1883 & Dec 8th 1885 This is a rare as they get made in New York, Chicago,

Black Hard Rubber Bottles

Rare  Black Hard Rubber Bottle made in Germany.

Traveling Case with matching Ink Bottles

These also have three groups A.B.C

Group A -  Wooden Case

David's Case with matching Ink Bottles

Group B - Stylex Antoin Aluminum

Group C - Bakelite Case

11 Different Label French Ink Bottles with matching Bakelite case.

For a lot more Information on ink bottles www.1001inkbottles.com

Or email maxpen@wanadoo.fr

Waterman Accommodating Clip

By Max Davis

Years ago before the stand pen clip was made, the Accommodating were the only clips that you could find.

Waterman Made different Accommodating Clips, one such pen was a Silver Clip, with the Ideal imprint in the center of the globe.

Waterman made a plain clip with waterman imprint on the band.

Rare 18K Sold Gold made in France

These were made in different Sizes and here is a GFT Plated Clip

This is a Rare English Waterman Clip with English Hall Mark and Globe imprint where the ideal is in the center of the globe.

Both the pens & the clip are English Hallmarked w5239, w5240

Yes there were lots of Generic clips made for pens that work just as well, but it is nice to have the waterman clip on the old waterman eyedropper pen.