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From this 1913 photograph of President Wilson in office, we can see that he
is using a Waterman 42, one of Waterman's Safety pens.
The image is not perfectly clear, and since I am a Waterman collector
I was afraid I might be biased. However, I showed this Image to
Rob Astyk, History Editor for Stylophiles magazine and he concured
that this is a Waterman Safety. Astyk thought that it might be a
half overlay, but after enhancing the image a little more I think
it is the pen pictured below.
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The Image above is from the LOC collection. The image to the left
is from a Waterman catalog from my own collection.
The article below about Woodrow Wilson's fountain pen was published
in the Reno Evening Gazette July 27, 1916
HIS FOUNTAIN PEN
IN ANNOUNCING that he would not leave
Washington until the adjournment of congress,
some persons may think that President Wilson is
making a martyr of himself. To remain in Washington
during the hot weather would indeed be
martyrdom for -most people. But for Woodrow
V\ ilson baths of perspiration in a Turkish bath
temperature have no inconveniences that are not
compensated for by the opportunity to write notes.
Does the country complain about the British
black list? Why, he cures it by writing a note.
Perhaps Mexico becomes a trifle chesty. The
doctor grasps a pen in his good right hand and, lo !
the thing is done for. He has written a note. It is
settled.
Has Germany misbehaved again? Ha! Fetch
him his fountain pen.
What! Has Great Britain towed a few more
American ships into her ports and opened a few
more letters addressed to American citizens? Outrageous.
He draws his trusty fountain pen again.
Mr. Wilson's faith in that fountain pen is sublime.
It is his cure-all for all diplomatic troubles
and is the balm that gives him peace of mind.
To be sure. Germany has never given any kind
of satisfaction for the Lusitania, Great Britain continues
to seize mail sent to this country and to
carry American ships into her prize courts, Austria
has never even apologized for the Petrolite affair,
Mexico is still killing Americans whenever she gets
a chance, the flag has never been saluted at Vera
Cruz, Villa has never been captured "alive or dead,"
the militia still fails to respond to the call to arms
and such members of it ah do respond are waiting
now for equipment.
But — so long as Mr. Wilson has that fountain
pen of his and a good, old typewriter easy of access,
whatever may happen to the country and however
the people may feel, Mr. Wilson will still be happy.
And does anything else matter — to him? |