For your consideration, we are offering for sale this beautifully restored circa 1933 Waterman #32 Blue & Cream Celluloid Fountain Pen with chrome trim, fitted with a smooth-writing 14K Waterman Ideal #2 semi-flex nib. This pen has been fully disassembled, thoroughly cleaned, polished, fitted with a new sac, carefully reassembled, and is now in excellent working order—ready to write and enjoy.
The standout feature of this Waterman #32 is without question the remarkable condition of the celluloid. The blue and cream marbled pattern, highlighted by fiery orange iridescence, remains exceptionally vibrant and well-preserved. The cap, in particular, displays some of the finest color and chatoyance I have seen in this material—far above what is normally encountered on these Depression-era Watermans. Most examples have darkened considerably over time, but this one retains outstanding brightness and depth, giving it true collector appeal.
The cap and barrel are in Mint condition with no cracks, chips,, repairs, or personal engravings. The celluloid surfaces remain smooth, glossy, and beautifully preserved, showing very little evidence of age. The barrel carries a deep, crisp imprint at center reading: “WATERMAN'S REG. U.S. IDEAL GLOBE LOGO PAT. OFF MADE IN USA FOUNTAIN PEN,” while the butt end retains a sharp and fully legible “32” model stamp.
The cap threads and barrel threads are excellent, allowing the cap to secure tightly and properly every time. This is a full-size model measuring 4 7/8" capped and an impressive 6 1/4" posted.
The nib, feed, and section have been ultrasonically cleaned, while the interior of the cap and barrel were carefully hand-cleaned. The exterior celluloid has been buffed and polished to restore its natural brilliance and help protect the material for years to come. A new silicone sac has been installed for reliable filling and long-term durability.
The chrome trim has also been hand polished, including the Waterman clip, cap band, and lever box assembly. While the celluloid is truly Mint, the chrome trim shows honest age-related wear, including some minor scratching and light plating wear consistent with careful use over the past 90+ years. The lever remains crisp and clean with very minimal wear, the clip displays minor surface wear, and the cap band shows light age wear but remains well above average for a pen of this era. Overall, the trim presents very nicely and does not distract from the exceptional condition of the body.
The lever filling system has been cleaned, lubricated, and water tested. It fills smoothly and works exactly as it should.
The 14K Waterman Ideal #2 nib is an excellent writer with smooth performance and very nice semi-flex characteristics. The nib tip measures approximately .67mm using digital calipers, placing it in the Medium range. In actual writing, it produces a wet, smooth medium line of approximately .66mm under light pressure and flexes comfortably to a broad double broad stroke of 1.67mm under normal to medium writing pressure.
This is not a dry or scratchy nib—it is exceptionally smooth, wet, and expressive, with excellent line variation and that classic vintage Waterman writing feel collectors look for. The writing sample shown in the listing was created using this exact pen dipped in Faber-Castell Cobalt Blue ink.
This Waterman #32 is a superb example of a highly collectible Depression-era celluloid fountain pen—featuring truly outstanding color, crisp factory imprints, excellent restoration work, and a wonderfully smooth flexible nib.
While the chrome trim shows minor honest wear from age, the celluloid itself is preserved at a level that is rarely seen. Most examples simply do not survive this well.
I would comfortably grade this pen at Very Fine+ to Excellent condition overall, with Mint-quality cap and barrel preservation that makes it stand out from the vast majority of Waterman #32s on the market today.
A beautiful vintage Waterman ready to write with, display, or add to any serious fountain pen collection.
