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A Color I've Never Seen

MarcShiman

By MarcShiman
in Mabie Todd Research/Special Interest Forum/Group

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MarcShiman Vintage

MarcShiman

Posted
Posted

Need help with the British Swan fans. At the Raleigh show, I came across a Swan in a color I've never seen. Its marked 242C | 55:

 

 

 

The color is really magnificent, it has a mother-of-pearl look to it.

 

 

 

Alas, this pen is not without problems - very significant problems. Its heat damaged and is ...just...barely repairable with a lot of money and a high risk of failure

 

 

 

 

 

So, the question for the professional Swan collectors on the other side of the Pond - is this a rare color or is it my own ignorance of what exists out there? Would it be worth the money and the risk of trying to straighten this out?

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Cob Collectors Item

Cob

Posted
Posted

That is quite a find Marc.

 

Such a pen would be unlikely to be found here in England; my information describes the material as being used for lever fill pens made around 1930 in the USA. I can only assume that it would be rare indeed.

 

So sad that it is damaged; I have no idea how it could be straightened out - even replacing the missing cap band would be a pain I suppose.

 

Best of luck

 

Cob

fpn_1428963683__6s.jpg “The pen of the British Empire” fpn_1423349537__swan_sign_is.jpg


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MarcShiman Vintage

MarcShiman

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Cob,

 

Its a British pen - marked made in the UK.

 

Straightening it requires heating it and inserting a mandrel into the cap and barrel to shape it. The problem comes with the cap threads - they would probably have to be re-cut when done. Its a very significant repair, partly because the mandrel might have to be custom made for the job.

 

But this seems like the type of rare object that is worth it. I think.

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missuslovett Rare

missuslovett

Posted
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Cob is much more experienced than I, but I've never seen this pattern in the UK either. It's a sort of cross between cracked ice and Conway's Blue Slate. Beautiful and obviously scarce.

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Cob Collectors Item

Cob

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Cob,

 

Its a British pen - marked made in the UK.

 

Straightening it requires heating it and inserting a mandrel into the cap and barrel to shape it. The problem comes with the cap threads - they would probably have to be re-cut when done. Its a very significant repair, partly because the mandrel might have to be custom made for the job.

 

But this seems like the type of rare object that is worth it. I think.

That is most interesting - made in England. Does it have an English nib too?

 

As you say, the thread could be a problem: who has three-start 36 TPI tap and die? I suppose one might get away with 36 TPI thread chasers of course - in one were lucky.

 

Ultimately of course it depends on the likely purchase price as well as the anticipated repair costs. Restored, that pen would be a pirize indeed!

 

Rgds

 

Cob

fpn_1428963683__6s.jpg “The pen of the British Empire” fpn_1423349537__swan_sign_is.jpg


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Greenie Collectors Item

Greenie

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I have one of these in the ring top size, but not a ring top, and clipless. And I paid through the nose, plus an arm and a leg for that little pen.

 

Otherwise, I don't know anything about it. I just knew it was rare and beautiful.

 

It is stamped 242B/55

 

Barrel is stamped Made in England

 

I recall seeing a full sized one on ebay once when I was too new of a collector to understand why it went for so much, nor would I have been ready to pay for it back then....

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MarcShiman Vintage

MarcShiman

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Well, the price was right. It was free.

 

And as far as a UK nib, it may do - depends on what I put in it. Currently no nib, no feed. no section. Barrel and cap with a loose lever. The plating is good, so there's that.

 

I think I'll invest in bringing it back to life. Sometimes there's an economic thought process, sometimes its just up to us as curators of the past to rescue highly endangered species such as this one. I have a feeling I'll put more into it than I'll ever get out, but I might not otherwise see one again.

 

Now starts the negotiation with Greenie - we both would like the matching sets. He wants this pen from me, I'd like his ring top from him. Methinks we have a stalemate.

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MarcShiman Vintage

MarcShiman

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By the way, Greenie - I've become better acquainted with your Swan collection. Your avatar needs an update.

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Cob Collectors Item

Cob

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Well, the price was right. It was free.

 

And as far as a UK nib, it may do - depends on what I put in it. Currently no nib, no feed. no section. Barrel and cap with a loose lever. The plating is good, so there's that.

 

I think I'll invest in bringing it back to life. Sometimes there's an economic thought process, sometimes its just up to us as curators of the past to rescue highly endangered species such as this one. I have a feeling I'll put more into it than I'll ever get out, but I might not otherwise see one again.

 

Now starts the negotiation with Greenie - we both would like the matching sets. He wants this pen from me, I'd like his ring top from him. Methinks we have a stalemate.

Do keep us up to date with progress of the restoration; I should be most interested to read about it.

 

And one wonders how such a lovely item was allowed to get into such a state!

 

Best of luck with it.

 

Cob

fpn_1428963683__6s.jpg “The pen of the British Empire” fpn_1423349537__swan_sign_is.jpg


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Greenie Collectors Item

Greenie

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By the way, Greenie - I've become better acquainted with your Swan collection. Your avatar needs an update.

 

At the time, that was it. But 4 full trays of 20 or 21 pens each just doesn't fit in such a small picture!

 

Perhaps a new avatar with a favorite or two....

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Cob Collectors Item

Cob

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Many Burnhams came in wonderful colours and patterns, but many - if not most - of them were made from Casein. We Mabie Todd enthusiasts can be grateful that Mabie Todd never used this troublesome material!

 

Cob

fpn_1428963683__6s.jpg “The pen of the British Empire” fpn_1423349537__swan_sign_is.jpg


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birchtine Rare

birchtine

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The presence of copper based pigments/additives could easily account for possible discolouration and green-blue hue of celluloid objects. I'm not saying that it is the Black and Pearl, but I think that it is quite likely that the colours we can see now are quite different from what they were when the pen was freshly manufactured.

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FarmBoy Museum Piece

FarmBoy

Posted
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It is relatively easy to dye such a pen in pearl to have a blue cast.

San Francisco International Pen Show - The next “Funnest Pen Show” is on schedule for August 23-24-25, 2024.  Watch the show website for registration details. 
 

My PM box is usually full. Just email me: my last name at the google mail address.

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Greenie Collectors Item

Greenie

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Guys - it is a rare blue pearl with black vein Mabie Todd pen from the 142/242 series. It is Mabie Todd color code 55. The color on the example in this post looks great except the areas of browning.

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