Mabie Todd Nib With A Turned Up Point

[Goudy]

It's the first time I've run across one of these, so I thought I'd post a few pictures.

 

http://i.imgur.com/P110RXy.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/LnBiLqd.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/7Er4iMS.jpg

 

Here's a page from a Mabie Todd catalogue, with the T.U. (turned up point) nib on the far right.

 

http://i.imgur.com/U8IFOly.jpg

 

 

As the catalogue says, the shape emulates the steel dip nibs which have an upward curve at the end (so that you're writing on the smooth curve rather than the untipped point). With a tipped gold nib like this Mabie Todd, the reason for the turned up shape is less clear.

[Cob]

Interesting I haven't seen an over-under model with such a tip beofre. Otherwise I have had Swans with these - and indeed have an Onoto for sale right now with such a tip.

 

The one I remember best is the lovely 242/52 New York Swan I had - sadly I really didn't like the way the nib wrote - it was, quite frankly, a nail!

 

Here's a snap of the nib;

 

 

I cannot find a picture of the pen at the moment - I am so disorganised!

 

Cob

Edited August 22, 2016 by Cob

[Goudy]

Thanks, Cob. This one's a semi-flex, I'd say. I'm wondering if the shape might have to do with a shorthand system.

[Cob]

Thanks, Cob. This one's a semi-flex, I'd say. I'm wondering if the shape might have to do with a shorthand system.

Well I know practically zero about shorthand, but the famous Pitman's College pens usually have very flexible nibs - I had assumed that the flexibility was necessary for the various special strokes and characters used.

 

I suspect that the turned-up tip may have been another way (i.e. other than the Manifold type) to get rigidity, perhaps for longevity or perhaps for use with carbon papers.

 

Cob