My "new" Mabie Todd Swan

[mchristi]

Here are some photos I took this evening of my new pen. The last pair is a couple of attempts to capture the imprint.

 

My most recent aquisition:

http://www.winternet.com/~mchristi/fullpenopen.jpg

 

A closer look at the nib and cap:

http://www.winternet.com/~mchristi/nib.jpg

 

The pen closed (two views):

http://www.winternet.com/~mchristi/closed.jpg

 

Two photos of the imprint:

http://www.winternet.com/~mchristi/imprint.jpg

 

Mark C.

[KCat]

is that a flexible nib? it looks like it would be. very nice. i like the shape - i had mostly seen flat-top MTs i think.

[Keith with a capital K]

Michael -

 

That is a very elegant pen and to think.... your first lever filler and one of those delightful MT flexible nibs too!

 

I bet this is going to be the first of many pens like this for you.

 

Cheers!

[Leslie J.]

I've always wanted a vintage Mabie Todd. The nib looks similar to my WM 52 1/2. I'd like to see a writing sample sometime. Nice pen!

[mchristi]

is that a flexible nib? it looks like it would be. very nice. i like the shape - i had mostly seen flat-top MTs i think.

Hi, KCat. Yes, it's a fine flexible nib. And thanks, I rather like it myself.

 

Mark C.

[mchristi]

That is a very elegant pen and to think.... your first lever filler and one of those delightful MT flexible nibs too!

Thanks, I'm enjoying it so far. The feel of the nib is very nice and soft. Now if I can figure out how to best use the flex in my writing...

 

I'll see if I can come up with writing sample for you Leslie. I can't promise anything special, however, since my handwriting is certainly not anywhere near the most elegant on the planet, to say the least.

 

Mark C.

[James Pickering]

is that a flexible nib?  it looks like it would be.  very nice.  i like the shape - i had mostly seen flat-top MTs i think.

I think it is a post-WW2 Mabie Todd "Swan" -- I don't remember seeing any with this profile before the war. The following (not very good) photo shows my mother's 1929 Lapis Lazuli ring-top "Lady Swan" and my Black plastic 1938 "Swan". Both have #2 nibs and are lever-fill.

 

In my opinion, the exquisite, flexible, #2 "Swan" nib is one of the very best. I have written (and sketched) extensively with these pens over the years -- you can observe some exemplars in the Penmanship topic "Italic Handwriting using regular iridium nibbed fountain pens" (and others).

 

James

 

http://www.jp29.org/cal121.JPG

[James Pickering]

.......... In my opinion, the exquisite, flexible, #2 "Swan" nib is one of the very best. I have written (and sketched) extensively with these pens over the years..........

Using my mother's pen is always a nostalgic experience, bringing back many fond memories. I first wrote with her pen in 1939 when I was ten years old and have been writing with it fairly regularly for the past fifty years.

 

Thiese exemplars were written using Waterman black and brown ink on Clairefontaine lined pad paper.

 

http://www.jp29.org/cal42.jpg

http://www.jp29.org/cal59.jpg

[Maja]

Great shots of a handsome pen, Mark!

I have heard great things about Mabie-Todd nibs. Unfortunately, the only one I have is on a pen I got in a recent Ebay pen lot----a BHR Rexall eyedropper with a cap crack....and the nib doesn't look too healthy either. I shall have to try it out anyway. You never know with some of these old nibs; even if they look a bit beat up, they may work well....Keeping my fingers crossed.....

Edited December 8, 2004 by Maja

[mchristi]

Great shot of a handsome pen, Mark!

Thanks, Maja! I was rather pleased with them as well. A couple of previous attempts to get some photos of one pen or another were lackluster, to say the least. Not to toot my own horn, but I was rather pleased with the results, given the rather quick and simple shoot.

 

Good luck on your own pen. Let us know how it turns out.

 

Mark C.