A. A. Waterman #3 Twist-fill in Gold-filled Filigree Overlay on BHR Safety Fountain Pen
This vintage pen is close to 100 years old, it has seen regular use and shows signs of having been lovingly owned through the years. There is a significant dent on the cap, as well as some oxidization occurring on the overlay (see last image). It is equipped with a 14k Fine Medium Arthur Waterman & Co #3 nib, and fills via a twist filler. (Writing Sample at the bottom)
This pen is from the A.A. Waterman & Co. pen company, whose owner, Arthur Allen Waterman, was a former Waterman Pen Company employee, owned by Lewis Edson Waterman. The history between the Waterman Pen Company and the A.A. Waterman & Co. pen company is truly interesting and complex but in short, it involves a dispute between the inventor and owner of the Waterman Pen Company (L.E. Waterman) and a former employee (A.A. Waterman) over the use of company name “Waterman”, highlighting the historical importance of trademark protection.
A note from Bry—
I’m often asked, “Can this be a daily pen?” And the honest answer is: yes… and no.
Yes, these vintage pens can absolutely write and function the way they were intended to. They’ve already been used and enjoyed for generations.
But no, I don’t recommend one as a daily carry in the modern sense—tossed in a bag, taken to the office every day, or traveled with. This is a nearly 100-year-old pen, built with 100-year-old technology and tolerances. They stopped making safety fillers for a reason. 🙂
If you want the experience of a true vintage safety pen, it’s incredibly rewarding—just treat it like you’d treat a vintage watch: best enjoyed at a desk, maybe with a little extra care, and not necessarily as a travel companion.
Here is a writing sample:
