Mabie Todd Essex and Swallow

[trent]

Has anyone tried the Mabie Todd Essex or Swallow pens? The prices for them, between $39 and $99, seem quite low. In the photos, the pens look very attractive. Too good to be true? I suspect that these modern Mabie Todds do not compare to the vintage ones.

[sirksael]

Your suspicion is correct. There have been several messages to that extent on this forum, as well as in the reviews section. Steering clear seems to be the message...

On the other hand, this is just hearsay and I have not tried them myself.

[jleeper]

I've got a Mabie Todd Essex or Eternal, which is the name I bought it under, but the pictures look the same. Actually it's always been good starter, wrote well from the start and after I got it back in shape after I accidently knocked the nib out of alignment, it been a nice wet writer.

 

I think of it like I do several similar pens, they are pretty much just devices made to hold a cartridge or converter attached to a Bock or JoWo nib. The Exxex/Eternal was a bit smaller than I thought it would be, but has about the right girth around the section for my hand. I'd say $39 would probably be a fair price. I think of it as equivalent mechanically (materials/fit/finish) to my Waterman Philias and aesthetically a couple of steps ahead. Not as quite as nice material as my Levenger True Writer Kyoto, but made as well and writes as well.

 

Is it a great/exquisite pen? No; But it writes well and is better made and a bit classier than a Pilot 78G. It's not as flashy/gaudy as some of my multicolored resin pens. I like to use it as an everyday pen in the office.

[TMac]

Even after seeing some unfavorable reviews here at FPN, I purchased a Mabie Todd Swallow on ebay. I really like the pen. It is heavy with a c/c filler system. Medium nib that lays down between a fine and medium line. At first, it did skip, but after a soak, it now writes well.

 

While I was hesitant to buy this pen based on the reviews, for the price, I thought it was worth the gamble. I'm really happy with the decision and have been using the pen for a few weeks now.

[Garageboy]

Another competitor in the low price, high fashion world...

(I'm sick of seeing the same "Irdium Point Germany" on everything

[jleeper]

Actually, I think these were made by/for the former owners of the Modern, pre-Yafa, Conklin. I'm pretty sure that those that are available in retail are closeouts, and that is why the price is where it is at.