Lewis Edson Waterman from New York is credited as the inventor of the fountain pen design we know and use today. Here is the story of how the brand came to be -- and how it has survived to the present day.
The Origin Story
The story goes that while working as an insurance salesman, Waterman was in the middle of an important deal when his pen leaked over the contract. By the time he had new documents drawn up, the client had gone elsewhere. The lost deal set Waterman on a path to invention, and in 1883 he created and patented the multi-feed fountain pen we are familiar with today -- a mechanism that prevented too much ink being expelled during use. This pen became known as "The Regular", equipped with a gold nib and wooden accents. In 1900, the company received a Gold Medal of Excellence at the Exposition Universelle in Paris.
Global Growth
It was after Lewis Waterman's death in 1901 that the company truly became a global success, thanks to his nephew Frank D. Waterman, who took over the running of the business. Waterman became the world's largest producer of fountain pens and the market leader in the early twentieth century, selling 350,000 pens a year.
This period also brought significant innovations: the pocket clip was introduced to pen caps, a retractable safety pen was released in 1908, and in 1927 the company produced a new ebonite model to compete with the Parker Duofold. Waterman's first celluloid pen, the Patrician, followed in 1929 -- though high retail prices and low production rates limited its commercial success.
Decline and Revival
In 1939, Waterman released the "Hundred Year Pen" with a 100-year guarantee, but sales were overshadowed by the launch of the hugely popular Parker 51 in 1941. By 1954 the American arm of Waterman was in serious decline and went into liquidation. The company and its factories were sold to Bic in 1958 -- the same ballpoint pen manufacturer whose products had contributed to the decline in fountain pen sales.
The brand survived through the French branch, JiF Waterman, established in 1926 by Jules Fagard. It was Fagard who kept the Waterman name and production alive. The company was subsequently sold to Gillette in 1987 and then to Newell Rubbermaid in 2000, who also own Parker.
The Waterman Range Today
Over its long history Waterman have produced some iconic models, including the Hemisphere, Allure, Expert, Carene, and Embleme.
For a full overview of the current Waterman range and buying guidance, see our Waterman Brand Guide or browse the Waterman range at Pure Pens.