Maker: Waterman.
Another of Waterman’s warlike model names (although introduced post-war), the Crusader was a model aimed a little more at the popular market than the swarm of slightly-expensive pens that made up the bulk of the company’s offering in the 1940s (like the Citation). As the model number indicates, it is the full-length version of the Conquest. Most examples of the Crusader have rather attractive anodized caps (although some catalogues show a relatively plain one matching that on the Conquest), although in many current examples that statement must be in the past tense; time is not kind to the caps of Crusaders.
Taperite and standard points were available for this model.
Update: Very late examples of the model look a great deal like Leaders; screw on steel caps with a polished mock band on which the company name appears. The clips on these versions have nothing in common with either the traditional clip as seen on the leader nor the Harley Earl types seen following the C/F, but are very simple unmarked affairs; that and the possibility of both Taperite sections and flexible points appear to be the only marks of difference between it and the Leader.
Production Run: c. 1946 – c. 1953 (probably somewhat later; the late Leader-like model mentioned above was advertised in November 1953).
Cost When New: $5.00 (for modern value, try this calculator).
Size: 13.0 cm long capped in all variants;
- Rounded section- 15.2 cm posted, 12.0 cm uncapped.
- Taperite- 16.0 cm posted, 12.1 cm uncapped.
- Hourglass section- 15.1 cm posted, 11.9 cm uncapped.
Point: 14k gold
Body: Plastic.
Filler: Lever, capacity approx. 1.1 ml.
Waterman Crusader – despite what I say above, most of the caps I’ve actually been in the room with have been in rather good shape
Waterman Crusader Taperite – they did actually come in other colours than black
Comparing this to the two above, one might think it was the oldest. This shape of section, though, was showing up in ads in 1953.
The early iterations of the breed have an uncoloured cap; note the incised “band” decor.
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