Enough Interest In Mabie Todd, Swan Or Otherwise? P7

[birchtine]

Marc, I absolutely agree that the FPN is probably the best place to start looking for information and help or help with identification. The problem is that, unless the forum and the content is well managed, the same questions will pop up all over again.

 

I didn't realise that the FP Geeks has this feature. It is interesting, but over the last months there have been serious problems with the ownership and the site management, the future of the forum seems to be in question.

 

I suggested the blog form, because I can see how helpful and powerful tool it can be to keep things organised and focused. I dream of something similar to the Pelikan's Perch but for Mabie Todd pens. I know that the American branch pens are relatively well researched, but British and European history still suffers from gaps.

 

I am working on a small project concerning English MB pens from the 20s and 30s which apart from their history touches upon anthropology. When I'm ready, hopefully sometime next year, I'd like to start publish the findings, but the FPN seems too hard to navigate and lacks flexibility to adjust or update older posts.

 

 

Thread related PM to read please. Dashing to appointment, sorry to get your attention this way.

[Cepasaccus]

A blog would be perfect for Cob to distribute his wizdom, but for multiple people to ask and write it isn't. Also for your MB project I am sure a blog would be the best, although editing blogs is normally not done. Perhaps a wiki would be better for you. At penexchange we have a wiki: http://www.penexchange.de/pen-wiki/index.php/Hauptseite . It is good for multiple people writing. It is editable. But still for asking the forum is better.

[birchtine]

A blog would be perfect for Cob to distribute his wizdom...

Let's call it "Cob'z wizdom" then.

 

I'm sorry, I meant MT not MB.

 

Thanks for the penexchange link!

[missuslovett]

I second 'Cobz Wizdom'! His ears must be burning. Where is he?

[Cob]

Hullo all, 'ere I be...

 

Very flattering all these mentions, but you know, Marc, Greenie, Cepasaccus and Goudy should probably be consulted first; I am perfectly sure that they are far more knowledgeable than I.

 

And look at the collections of pens they have!

 

Nevertheless I am always happy to stick my oar in if only to keep up Mabie Todd's profile around here.

 

Cob

[missuslovett]

Well, I certainly think the OPs 'Interest In Mabie Todd..?' question's been answered.

[Greenie]

And a big "Wink" back from the OP!!!

[Greenie]

Well - any way we can convince the FPN people to start a Mabie Todd forum? Or am I deluded that this deserves its own forum?

[Matlock]

It certainly seems to have highjacked this forum

[Cob]

Well of course I am a great enthusiast for Mabie Todd's wonderful fountain pens, and indeed was aggrieved not to see the company mentioned in the heading to this forum, as M, T & Co was undeniably one of the very best English manufacturers.

 

Should Mabie, Todd get its own forum, then of course one need no longer fret about this regrettable lacuna!

 

Cob

[Cob]

And I was very happy to have purchased last week this small publicity poster:

 

 

Cob

[Cob]

There is a very interesting Mabie Todd thread on FPN here.

 

Cob

[northlodge]

They say that if something is repeated oft enough it becomes accepted as fact.

 

Cob is obviously succeeding with the message

 

“The pen of the British Empire"

 

 

Even though he would not object too much to me commenting that, like McDonalds and WWE, it is simply a American import.... with Curzon being the true claimant to the title ;-)

[leftyFPlover]

I would very much appreciate a forum dedicated to Mabie Todd fountain pens. There seems to be a large amount of untapped knowledge about MT's on FPN.

[Cob]

They say that if something is repeated oft enough it becomes accepted as fact.

 

Cob is obviously succeeding with the message

 

“The pen of the British Empire"

 

 

Even though he would not object too much to me commenting that, like McDonalds and WWE, it is simply a American import.... with Curzon being the true claimant to the title ;-)

Not at all: it was an American import at first but a British acquisition - in 1916. And the slogan funnily enough comes from American advertising between the wars!

 

And in times of conflict the makers were proud to claim that the pens were manufactured in Britain, by British workers and with British capital.

 

Incidentally, I was once outbid on a Swan the nib of which was clearly stamped "Mabie Todd Toronto" Do you know anything about this? I have found no reference to any Canadian operation.

 

And anyway Northlodge you know I have a big soft spot for National Security pens! (Still hoping for a Rosemary pen to match the pencil I have).

 

Cob

[Goudy]

I, too, would be delighted to see a subforum devoted to this important Anglo-American-Canadian company - especially if it was moderated by FPN's resident MT guru Cob.

[Cob]

I, too, would be delighted to see a subforum devoted to this important Anglo-American-Canadian company - especially if it was moderated by FPN's resident MT guru Cob.

It's not true - honestly!

 

C.

[Greenie]

I'm certainly no Cob, but almost 60 Mabie Todd pens spanning eyedroppers through snakeskin and lizards, and ever increasing, it is my favorite part of my collection (or "favourite", to translate for Cob).

 

Who do we annoy to get a dedicated Mabie Todd forum?

 

Just to try to spur a little interest, here is a quick a dirty set of pics of my Swans (and a Blackbird). A sterling hand engraved pen is still in the mail ("post" for Cob) as well as a gold filled with an interesting split lever.

 

[Cob]

Good Lord! What a collection!

 

Whatever can you mean by "I'm no Cob"? Truth is I like to own them for a while, restore them and move them on - I enjoy the restoration as much as the pens them selves. At present I suppose I have about 20 Swans or so and a few Blackbirds and a few awaiting parts (mostly clips).

 

I haven't a small fraction of this - most of those I have never even seen. Nice to see that you have a 242/52 (lapis blue) I had one but sold it because the nib was a disappointment.

 

Next to that are two green "swirly" patterned pens; I have a 230/50 (jade) with two golden bands, but its cap is the same as yours - so it is one of my numerous frankenpens I'm afraid. Could you tell me the number stamped on the green pen please?

 

I see three very smart Eternals there from the mid 1920s, a very smart Blackbird next to a SM200/63 in russet jade. And what a selection of lizard skin pens! You also have my "grail" pen - a L205/47 - mosaic - all I have in that pattern is the pencil! The 47s are always too expensive for my poor budget. And there's a nice SM205/59 Italian Marble; I rebuilt one of those from a sort of wreck, but sold it on; I see also a 142/54 (black/jade) I have one of those.

 

The only "competition" i can offer is this snap of my 2 leverless pens in brown amber (64):

 

 

Thank you for showing us this magnificent collection - now everyone can see the beauty and craftsmanship that typified Mabie Todd.

 

Best wishes and thanks again.

 

Cob

 

P.S. The split lever pen you are awaiting must be incredibly rare!

[Greenie]

Short reply - off to work

 

The Jade with black and gold cap bands are 242/50. The 242's are caps with interesting band variations. A 230/whatever is usually with two barrel bands, and then at the very top of the cap a narrow MHR band and then gold band at the top. In the first picture, the 8th and 9th pens - blue marbled and black. The black has an incorrect band at the cap lip from a repair - but I like the look anyway. It is next to a MHR missing a clip (that I keep waiting to find) and a shortened cap lip.

 

1. Love the amber - want one, need one

2. Please post a pic of the jade 230/50. 230/60 - black are the usual pattern. My blue is the only one I have ever seen. Never seen a jade at all!