Eyedropper - Mabie Todd & Bard, Ink Flow

[lamming]

Sharing some photographs of a 1902 Mabie Todd & Bard silver eyedropper with the ink flow control valve.
 
Engraving on the barrel:
 

The Swan Pen

PAT. FEB 8 81. FEB 21.82. MAR 6.88

Mabie Todd & Bard New York

Sterling

Albert S Waller

February 1902

In recognition of

Faithful Service

Mabie Todd & Bard

 

As per the book, of Steve Hull, the ink control valve is illustrated below.

I'm not sure that it is more of a marketing claim than a precision ink flow control!

Anyone had good experience of using this ink control stopper?

NB. The BCHR slip cap is not original, i'm sure looking at advertising of the time it would have been silver overlay.

Regards. Kevin

[Cob]

That's a lovely example.

 

I had one with that system with the two long wires inside the barrel.

 

I understood that the plug was to fill the pen without unscrewing the section and I believe that MT produced special bottles for the purpose.

 

Cob

[lamming]

Thanks Cob,

 

Yes it was patented, by Stewart, as an alternative filling point but also a claimed precise flow control valve. (Hull and Moak)

 

Whilst there is a constant ink flow path along the top of the feed, pulling the plug out a little way opened another flow

path to the channel on top of the feed.

 

This claimed to enable setting of the ink flow rate to suit the pressure and speed of the writer.

 

I've tried a few different positions of the plug but doesn't seem to make a difference.

 

I'll try some alternative inks.

 

Cheers Kevin

[Greenie]

Based on the pictures, you might never have the plug in far enough to increase flow. I would also make sure that the nib is in good contact with the feed all the way to the end of the feed. Although, I actually have not found the plug to matter as much as the overall cleanliness and relative position of the nib and feed.

 

[eachan]

I've had one of these plug fillers too. It's a good filling system but a means of adjusting the flow? Just a piece of advertising hogwash.