Mabie Todd pen...should I buy

[MarkAL]

Fountain pen hospital (no affiliation, etc) has Mabie Todd pens for what appears to be a very reasonable price. I'm thinking of buying one, but I wanted to ask if anyone here has/had any experience with these pens? What is your opinion? Should I buy it or should I go for something else (maybe a Bexley Elegencia...but it's quite a bit more $$$). Thanks for any advice you care to share!

[jleeper]

I have one of what FPH is calling Essex, but I got it off ebay. Not a bad pen; smaller than I thought it might be, it's about 5 3/8" capped, 4 5/8" uncapped and 6 3/8" posted, barrel is a bit less than 0.5" at the widest part. I almost have to use it posted, or it seems just too short. For a molded resin pen, it has barrel and cap are thick and the pen itself seems substantial considering that it is molded plastic.

 

In general, I'd say my feelings about my modern Mabie Todd of a different model mirror this reviewer's opinion about their modern Swallow:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=139076

 

I would kinda like to have one of the Exxex/Eternals in black, mine is coral, but I'm not sure I want to pay $40 for it. They don't seem to be available anymore on ebay, but when they were, I got mine for about $10 less.

[MarkAL]

Thanks for your input. It seems like a rather small pen...but I can't usually tell from photographs.

[MidnightBlue]

The Bexley nib will eat it alive. Well worth the extra cash

Thanks

[Rufus]

The Bexley nib will eat it alive. Well worth the extra cash

Thanks

 

Here hear. Moreover, the Elegancia is a lovely pen; I've one in red.

[MarkAL]

Thanks for the comments. I've been looking intently at a red Bexley Elegencia....maybe I should buy....