Fountain Pen Profiles: L. E. & A. A. Waterman

Lewis Edson Waterman was a life insurance salesman. When his new fountain pen threw a blot and ruined a contract, he was moved to invent a fountain pen that would not throw blots, and that was the beginning of the L. E. Waterman Company. True? Or not? (It's not.) Arthur Allan Waterman worked as a traveling salesman for the L. E. Waterman Company for 12 years and then left to start his own pen company. After that, Lewis Waterman and his son Frank both hated Arthur. (That's true.) In this generously illustrated book are profiles of nine pivotal L. E. Waterman fountain pen models from 1917 to 1957, together with a long look at A. A. Waterman's history and pens. Blend in a dash of litigation and some shady (really?) dealings by partners, and you end up with lots of great information and a lively view of business back in the olden days.