Mabie Todd Calligraphic, Possibly Oldest Production Fountain Pen C1880-1890

[Greenie]

I was lucky enough to come across this pen. The coiled wire had been unwound, and has now been rewound/restored. The rest of the pen looks pristine.

 

My information about the pen itself comes exclusively from "Mabie in America" 3rd ed by David Moak

 

Prior to acquiring this pen and researching further, I thought my first year Wirt pen was the oldest "production" fountain pen.

 

The Calli-graphic dates to 1880, with additional later patents and modifications. My pen includes a patent date of 1882 as well. This patent appears to be added to the original thee line imprint which includes a patent from 1881. According the the Moak book, there is an earlier version of the pen with an imprint that only lists patents from 1828 and 1879.

 

The Calli-graphic is an eyedropper with an interesting wire feed, as well as a long air channel at the back with a separate cover. The back cap makes it similar in design to early AT Cross and MacKinnon stylographic pens. The patent shows an "agitator" for the ink, but the Moak book states that this feature has not been seen in any example of the pen. The pen pictured is similar to the patent picture, minus the agitator.

 

 

[sidthecat]

Interesting nib, too. Any info about that odd little rim around the breather hole?

[Greenie]

It is a coiled wire metal over feed, and the wire then continues through the breather hole, all the way up through the feed, section, etc, and ends just inside the barrel. In the picture of the pen in pieces, you can get a tiny hint of wire protruding from the inside end of the feed/section apparatus.

[AAAndrew]

A very cool, rare, and early pen, but not the earliest production fountain pen. I know at least Prince's Protean fountain pen goes back to the 1850's and was produced for quite a long while.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/328146-princes-protean-fountain-pen/

 

From 1856, a review of the new Protean Fountain Pen. https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/uploads/imgs/fpn_1435335269__1856_new_englander_and_yale_review_princes_protean_fountain_pen_review.jpg

 

But this does not take away from the special nature of your find. Very cool!

[Greenie]

Fantastic! I wonder if any of these have survived and if anyone could link to pictures of the actual pen. 1850s. Amazing.