For your consideration, we are pleased to offer for sale this beautifully restored circa 1936 Waterman De Luxe Ink-Vue Fountain Pen, finished in rich Jet Black celluloid and fitted with a #7 Keyhole 14K semi-flex nib. This is a standout example of one of Waterman’s most innovative and visually striking designs of the Art Deco era—now fully restored and writing exactly as intended.
Introduced in the mid-1930s, the Ink-Vue represented Waterman’s answer to the growing demand for visible ink supply systems. The standard model (No. 84) featured a smaller #5 nib, but the De Luxe Ink-Vue, as offered here, elevated the design with a larger #7 nib, upgraded trim, and distinctive styling. This model is easily recognized by its triple cap band with milled accents, matching milled clip, and elegant stepped ends, all reflecting the bold, geometric influence of the Art Deco period.
This particular example has been completely disassembled, cleaned, and professionally restored. The nib, feed, and section have been ultrasonically cleaned, while the barrel and cap have been carefully hand-cleaned. A new diaphragm and rubber gasket have been installed, ensuring proper function of the filling system. The lever mechanism has been cleaned, lubricated, and operates smoothly and flawlessly.
Cosmetically, the pen presents beautifully. The jet black celluloid retains excellent color and depth, with no cracks, chips, or repairs. The barrel transparency remains very good, showing only light, even ambering consistent with age. The gold-filled trim is bright and clean, and the cap threads are crisp, allowing for a secure fit. The barrel imprint on the end is sharp and fully legible, reading: “WATERMAN’S REG. U.S. IDEAL GLOBE PAT. OFF. MADE IN U.S.A. FOUNTAIN PEN.” There are no monograms or personal engravings, preserving the pen’s collector appeal.
The pen measures approximately 5 3/8 inches capped, 7 inches posted, and weighs 0.57 ounces, offering a comfortable and balanced feel in hand.
The Ink-Vue filling system is both ingenious and visually engaging. Rather than storing ink in a sac, the system uses a latex sac not to hold the ink, but to create a vacuum suction to suck it directly into the barrel, the transparency of which makes the ink level fully visible. Just unlock the innovative "Double Action" lever, and depress it upward against the barrel 7-10 times until the pen is full. I have restored the filling system and works as it was designed to.
The Waterman Nib is a Keyhole 14K semi-flexible type. When measuring the actual tip of the 14K Ideal NIB, it measures at a fine point of .47mm when measured with digital calipers. When writing the sample in the listing images, the NIB writes with a fine line measuring roughly .55mm with very light pressure and flexes up to a double broad line of 1.31mm with medium to firm pressure when measuring with digital calipers. The writing sample provided was done with the actual pen in the images that are listed for sale. The writing sample was used by dipping the nib in Faber-Castell Cobalt Blue Ink. The nib writes very smoothly and is a great writing experience.
The De Luxe Ink-Vue is one of Waterman’s most collectible models, and examples in this level of preservation—featuring strong color, clean trim, crisp imprints, and a fully restored filling system—are increasingly difficult to find.
This is a collector-grade Waterman, equally suited for display or daily enjoyment. A refined and historically significant writing instrument, it represents the perfect balance of innovation, craftsmanship, and timeless design.
