Fountain+Pen

   ** Waterman's Ideal Fountain Pen ** //   Makes Its Mark All Around the World    // The first manufactured fountain pen was created in 1884 by Lewis E. Waterman, American inventor and insurance salesman. Before the fountain pen, quill pens were used. Compared to the fountain pen, quill pens are inconvenient because of the need to dip the tip of the pen in ink every few words. Fountain pens hold an ink reservoir that releases ink out of the tip of the pen; the first pens were manually refilled and later interchangeable reservoirs allowed more convenient automatic refilling. **__How does the fountain pen work?__** The pen mainly consists of five parts: the cap, the barrel, the nib and the reservoir. Because the ink flows straight from the reservoir to the tip of the pen and then out onto the paper, the flow needs to be controlled, otherwise you will end up with a big black spot on you paper where the words should be. The pen uses a capillary action: air flows up the tube and the air bubbles pushes ink out of the tube.

            
 * __[[image:http://www.eszi.hu/pages/innovativ/think/eng/inventors/19.jpg width="142" height="155" align="left"]]   Lewis Waterman    __**    was an insurance broker in 1883. As he was about to sign an important contract, his new and stylish fountain pen wouldn't write and leaked onto the document. Horrified, Waterman went for another contract but another broker closed the deal. In order to never be put into that situation again, Waterman began working on pens in his brother's basement. He used the capillary principle, which produced a steady and even flow of ink. His first pen, "the Regular" was advertised in The Review of Review magazine and his business took off from there. He began manufacturing the first practical fountain pen and was granted patents for his new designs. Now, Waterman offers a variety of designs and styles to accomodate every budget and taste, each with a five year guarantee from the best pen maker around.

__ Why choose a Waterman Fountain Pen? __  This original fountain pen is the first of its kind - no longer will you have to worry about ink running or blotting! While others may offer cheap substitutions, none can live up to the high standard of a Waterman's. Not only do we guarantee satisfaction, but we will gladly repair or exchange any purchase that you are not completely satisfied with. No matter who you are, these pens bring a new level of comfort and convenience to daily life. Whether it's for writing letters, keeping the household books, or finalizing business, everyone will want one of these pens; there is no one who would not enjoy this ever-ready necessity. We make pens of every style, from simple silver ones to the fancier gold and jewelled ones. They also make great gifts for those people closest to your heart, starting at only $2.50.

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   [|Parts of a Fountain Pen Picture]   [|Lewis E. Waterman Picture]  [|Quill Pen Picture]  [|Waterman Pen Advertisement]

Waterman's Fountain Pen Bibliography