Can Someone Tell Me About This Green Lizard Skin Pen?

[uilleann]

I had the opportunity to see and buy this pen in London recently. I have had Mabie Todd's before but I have never seen one like this before. I think its called a leverless Green Lizard skin Swan? Anyhow... I love it and the nib has some nice flex to it.

 

I can see no model numbers on it.

 

So can anyone tell me a bit about this pen or direct me to a resource. Like when were they made and the model number.

 

[Cob]

Hullo.

 

Is the nib a 2 or a 3?

 

If it's a 2 then the pen is L212/88, if a 3, L312/88. They were produced in the late 1930s = around 1939.

 

I have never seen discolouration like that in your cap on a Swan snakeskin or lizard before.

 

Cob

[PAKMAN]

Beautiful find! Congrats!

[PaulS]

here's another green lizard - this one is a 212/88 - and there's what appears to be discolouration on this one too, but if the pen is positioned to pick up light at certain angles then most of the dark area becomes green, as can be seen in the attached pix. Can't recall what this property is called, but it reminded me of a similar effect with moonstone and tiger's eye, where the colour is reflected better when the fibres, within the minerals, are positioned to catch light at certain angles. There's no doubt these lizards will reflect their colours better when the same thing is applied.

I've a garnet lizard 445/89, and the cap appears quite dark in some positions but suddenly glows when the position is changed.

 

It's just possible that the o.ps. pen might produce the same effect in better light, but can't be certain. Presumably something to do with the make up and orientation of the colour during production.

 

Lambrou shows pearl/grey - green - blue and garnet, and these appear near normal, though his blue does show some dark areas on the cap.

[Greenie]

Here is a summary of Swan Lizard pattern pens I posted some time ago

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/322326-the-swan-lizard-pattern-thread/

 

I have been lucky enough to add a silver and a blue since then. Both have #4 nibs, and triple cap bands (narrow, wide, narrow). They are the same size and the #3 pens.

The imprint is L445/90 for the silver, and L445/87 on the blue.

 

Not all Swans got model number stamps on them. Again, my theory is that the number stamping guy had a crush on the girl from accounting and often left his station to chat her up.

 

I second Cob's model info # for the pen in the OP.

[mitto]

Here is a summary of Swan Lizard pattern pens I posted some time ago

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/322326-the-swan-lizard-pattern-thread/

 

Again, my theory is that the number stamping guy had a crush on the girl from accounting and often left his station to chat her up.

 

I second Cob's model info # for the pen in the OP.

Good theory.

[gregamckinney]

here's another green lizard - this one is a 212/88 - and there's what appears to be discolouration on this one too, but if the pen is positioned to pick up light at certain angles then most of the dark area becomes green, as can be seen in the attached pix. Can't recall what this property is called, but it reminded me of a similar effect with moonstone and tiger's eye, where the colour is reflected better when the fibres, within the minerals, are positioned to catch light at certain angles. There's no doubt these lizards will reflect their colours better when the same thing is applied.

I've a garnet lizard 445/89, and the cap appears quite dark in some positions but suddenly glows when the position is changed.

 

It's just possible that the o.ps. pen might produce the same effect in better light, but can't be certain. Presumably something to do with the make up and orientation of the colour during production.

 

Lambrou shows pearl/grey - green - blue and garnet, and these appear near normal, though his blue does show some dark areas on the cap.

 

Are you referring to chatoyance?

greg

[PaulS]

thanks Greg - yes, that's the right word. Perhaps not appropriate for pens which are composed of man made materials, and should probably be reserved for minerals, but the effect is similar.