Bantam Weight Pen

[peterg]

Just received this The Bantam pen which is about 4 5/8" long. My impression is that it was manufactured in the early 1930's by Mabie Todd but who for.

 

Does anyone know about the history of The Bantam pens?

 

The pen below is a Conway Stewart 475 for comparison.

[Cob]

As a great Mabie Todd enthusiast, I was interested to see your pen - which in fact i doubt was made by MT - I don't exactly know why, but I don't think so.

 

Your pen looked very familiar to me - and then I remembered: I have this Pitman's Fono pen (I suspect that the clip is a later addition) Mine is not a Bantam though - it measures 5½" (140mm) capped.

 

 

Best wishes

 

Cob

Edited February 17, 2015 by Cob

[peterg]

I plumped for Mabie Todd on the basis of the scribe on the section and the little tab on the end of the lever (which is out of sight on the uploaded picture) that are typically early Mabie Todd but, as I said it is all conjecture and I am looking for an answer from the more knowledgeable. I appreciate that most of the metal work was bought in from one or two manufacturers, which is what makes this 'game' so facinating.

 

According to Hull the Bantam stylo was marketed by William Ritchie & Son, wholesale stationers in Glasgow, yet the pen says made in England rather than Britain.

 

The nib is a total oddball. Not very well made (slit goes right through the heart shaped breather) and says

'GUARANTEED

.14 CARAT.'

around an oval.

I have never seen another nib like it.

 

Underneath the feed is slotted. I don't have many MT's, but a much later 4240 has the same size pattern, except after three slots there is a gap.

 

My guess is that MT made the pen for an intermediary who added a cheap nib to keep costs down. Overall the pen has the 'feel of quality' about it.

Edited February 18, 2015 by peterg