David Nishimura, vintagepens.com [source]
Waterman · 1939-1945
Waterman Hundred Year Pen
What to Look For
Named for its hundred-year guarantee. Designed by John Vassos (US Design Patent D118872). 1943 version has smooth barrel and slip-on gold-filled cap. Look for original Waterman case.
Waterman’s last great American pen — a futuristic Lucite design that made a clean break with Art Deco, named for its hundred-year guarantee.1
History
Introduced around 1939-1940, the Hundred Year Pen was designed by industrial designer John Vassos (US Design Patent D118,872).2 It featured Lucite — an early acrylic — in a streamlined modern silhouette that departed completely from the Art Deco-influenced designs of the 1930s.1
Construction
The 1943 version was further modernized with a smooth barrel and slip-on gold-filled cap.1 Available in colors including Black, Blue, Maroon, Green, and Red.3 Both flexible and firm 14k gold nibs were offered.3
The Emblem Successor
When Waterman encountered cracking problems with the Lucite material, they dropped the hundred-year warranty and remarketed essentially the same pen under the name Emblem.3 The Emblem continued in production into the early 1950s.
Legacy
Despite being overshadowed by the Parker 51’s later success, the Hundred Year Pen remains one of the most striking American fountain pens of its era.1