Rare Vintage Waterman No. 0502 GFT "Golpheresque" Eyedropper Fountain Pen – fully boxed set with flexible #2 New York Nib (c. 1900).
A 120-year-old gold-filled eyedropper in fantastic condition. Comes complete with original glass pipette, green leather box and Waterman filling instructions.
The classic Waterman "Golpheresque" pattern is a gold-filled overlay. These were crafted with intricate, hand-engraved gold-filled metal wrapped over a core of black hard rubber. Gold-filled is not solid gold. It was a luxury finish meant to give the aesthetic and weight of a gold pen at a slightly more reasonable price point.
Pen Condition: Extra Fine
Date Manufactured: 1884-1900
Manufacturer: L.E. Waterman Co., New York, USA
Model Number: 0502 (0 = Overlay, 5 = Gold-Filled, 02 = #2 Standard Size Eyedropper)
Estimated Production: Early 1900s (Bearing the historical 1884 patent date imprint)
Filling System: Original Eyedropper (Manual barrel reservoir fill)
Pattern / Finish: Full "Golpheresque" / Repoussé Chased Motif
Cap Configuration: Original Clipless "Vest Pocket" Factory Style (Smooth cap)
Section Variant: Features the original factory-milled, bullet-shaped anti-rotation alignment notch
Nib: Authentic 14k Gold "Waterman's Ideal New York" No. 2 (Highly Flexible)
Accessories: Original Turn-of-the-Century Green Leather Case with Royal Velvet Interior
Condition:
The Pen: Excellent, highly preserved condition. The gold-filled overlay is bright and crisp with no visible brassing (wear through the gold plating) and no visible dents or structural cracks. The exposed black hard rubber retains its deep colour with minimal UV oxidation.
The Nib & Feed: The 14k Gold "New York" #2 nib is perfectly aligned with straight, undamaged tines. The feed is entirely intact. The nib offers highly responsive flexibility under light finger pressure.
The Box: Outstanding vintage condition for its age. The green leather exterior structural integrity remains intact, and the deep velvet interior lining is in excellent condition with some ink stains.
Engraving information (from Google AI): The barrel cartouche features an engraving reading "Chas. F. Staiger". Historical census and genealogical records from the turn of the century point to this pen originally belonging to the prominent Staiger family line of the American Midwest (principally Ohio/Indiana). A luxury writing instrument of this calibre – complete with its premium flexible nib and original velvet-lined presentation box – was an immense status symbol in the early 1900s, traditionally commissioned for prominent professionals or gifted as an elite milestone heirloom.
Pen Dimensions:
Length closed: 137mm
Length open: 128mm
Length posted: 162mm
Free delivery to the UK for all items. Overseas shipping quotes on request.
Please study the photographs here, which are of the actual item for sale and form a large part of the description.
’Rare Overlay Pens’ image from ‘Waterman Past and Present’ by Max Davis and Gary Lehrer.
L2047
Rare Vintage Waterman No. 0502 GFT "Golpheresque" Eyedropper Fountain Pen – fully boxed set with flexible #2 New York Nib (c. 1900).
A 120-year-old gold-filled eyedropper in fantastic condition. Comes complete with original glass pipette, green leather box and Waterman filling instructions.
The classic Waterman "Golpheresque" pattern is a gold-filled overlay. These were crafted with intricate, hand-engraved gold-filled metal wrapped over a core of black hard rubber. Gold-filled is not solid gold. It was a luxury finish meant to give the aesthetic and weight of a gold pen at a slightly more reasonable price point.
Pen Condition: Extra Fine
Date Manufactured: 1884-1900
Manufacturer: L.E. Waterman Co., New York, USA
Model Number: 0502 (0 = Overlay, 5 = Gold-Filled, 02 = #2 Standard Size Eyedropper)
Estimated Production: Early 1900s (Bearing the historical 1884 patent date imprint)
Filling System: Original Eyedropper (Manual barrel reservoir fill)
Pattern / Finish: Full "Golpheresque" / Repoussé Chased Motif
Cap Configuration: Original Clipless "Vest Pocket" Factory Style (Smooth cap)
Section Variant: Features the original factory-milled, bullet-shaped anti-rotation alignment notch
Nib: Authentic 14k Gold "Waterman's Ideal New York" No. 2 (Highly Flexible)
Accessories: Original Turn-of-the-Century Green Leather Case with Royal Velvet Interior
Condition:
The Pen: Excellent, highly preserved condition. The gold-filled overlay is bright and crisp with no visible brassing (wear through the gold plating) and no visible dents or structural cracks. The exposed black hard rubber retains its deep colour with minimal UV oxidation.
The Nib & Feed: The 14k Gold "New York" #2 nib is perfectly aligned with straight, undamaged tines. The feed is entirely intact. The nib offers highly responsive flexibility under light finger pressure.
The Box: Outstanding vintage condition for its age. The green leather exterior structural integrity remains intact, and the deep velvet interior lining is in excellent condition with some ink stains.
Engraving information (from Google AI): The barrel cartouche features an engraving reading "Chas. F. Staiger". Historical census and genealogical records from the turn of the century point to this pen originally belonging to the prominent Staiger family line of the American Midwest (principally Ohio/Indiana). A luxury writing instrument of this calibre – complete with its premium flexible nib and original velvet-lined presentation box – was an immense status symbol in the early 1900s, traditionally commissioned for prominent professionals or gifted as an elite milestone heirloom.
Pen Dimensions:
Length closed: 137mm
Length open: 128mm
Length posted: 162mm
Free delivery to the UK for all items. Overseas shipping quotes on request.
Please study the photographs here, which are of the actual item for sale and form a large part of the description.
’Rare Overlay Pens’ image from ‘Waterman Past and Present’ by Max Davis and Gary Lehrer.
L2047
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