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redinkoutward · Rookie

Waterman 88 Jifmatic Fountain Pen.

DWL · ***

From Richard Binders site>

Filled in a Jiffy

Manufacturer logoToday�s French Waterman company, which grew out of JiF Waterman when Waterman closed its doors in the U.S.A., has not been slow to �keep up with the Joneses,� if the Joneses were the competition. From the C/F of the 1950s, the company developed a varied selection of pens that used the original C/F cartridge and later, with new models such as the Lady, C/F-compatible converters. The Lady converter also fit a close sibling of the pen shown here, but this pen is Waterman�s Jif Matic. Its cartridge well is filled with a sac and a sac protector. On the side of the sac protector, instead of a squeeze bar, is a flag-like �door� that you lift away from the sac protector. This action operates a pressure bar to squeeze the sac; it�s really an adaptation of William Welty�s vintage Servo filler. And it�s a nice pen, too, with a delicious N� 3 fine nib. The pen is 51/4" capped and 57/8" posted, a nice size for people with average hands.

redinkoutward · Rookie

DWL, Thank you for your reply, and what you have described is the pen I am waiting for.� Should be here on Wednesday.� I have visited Richard Binders site a few weeks back, but forgot about it.� Will visit it again and look at what you have mentioned.

Started off enlarging my Parker pens, as I had 3 of them from years ago. Then started hunting out Sheaffers; followed lately by Waterman pens. I overheard the wife a few weeks back, whilst she was on the 'phone, " Oh, he's collecting pens now.� He's not no more room for bloody cameras." biggrin

DWL · ***

Glad to help out bud. IMHO, Richard has the best pen reference site on the internet. I look at it quite often.

"Started off enlarging my Parker pens, as I had 3 of them from years ago. Then started hunting out Sheaffers; followed lately by Waterman pens. I overheard the wife a few weeks back, whilst she was on the 'phone, " Oh, he's collecting pens now. He's not no more room for bloody cameras."

My wife just eye rolls these days...lol

redinkoutward · Rookie

DWL, Waterman 88 Jifmatic arrived today and it is absolutely mint.� It has never been used.� It must be about 40 years old. However, the Jifmatic filling mechanism, ie the flap operated by a fingertip, is quite stiff.� Any idea of the best thing to free it ?

I had been thinking on the lines of a drop of very light oil, allowing that some time to rest, then eventually try to move the flap with a bit of gentle persuasion.

I will also post a similar query in the repair section here on FPC.

DWL · ***

I answered in the other thread & will do so again. Most likely the sac has hardened/ossified. Dont force the door/flag or it can break. NO OIL it's bad for the plastics, if you dont feel comfortable doing the restoration job, send it off to a pensmith for some TLC.

redinkoutward · Rookie

DWL, Thanks for the information and suggestion re the problem. Just got back here today, as yesterday was a busy day with other matters. As I said, I will not be forcing anything, and will not use oil as you suggest.
Thanks.