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MT Swan - is this the original clip?


kyelani

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Hello everyone,

 

Apart from my recent introduction in the new members forum this is my first post and I'm very new to FPs in terms of conversing about them and learning to restore them, so if I don't have the vocabulary quite right yet I hope you'll excuse me.

 

I recently bought this pen in a bit of a sad state and now that it's easier to see(!) I was hoping someone here might be able to answer a question about its clip and shed some light on its age.

 

I've looked at many photos and descriptions but I haven't come across another Swan with a clip like this one has. I was actually wondering if it had been added afterwards as a modification because the lever is gold (coloured) plated, so it doesn't match and it also seems to be of a shape that I can't find on another Swan anywhere.

 

I'm happy to say the lever mechanism is all intact and I'll be replacing the sac in a few days (waiting for it to arrive from Cathedral Pens), I'm looking forward to seeing how she writes.

 

The nib says "Swan 1" and "1 S.F. Fine", which I understand means soft fine, is stamped around the taper end of the barrel. Judging by what I've found out so far about Swans this one looks like a 1920/1921 hard rubber pen.

 

This was my first venture into vintage FPs so if I'm talking rubbish I'd love to know... but I'd love it even more if anyone agrees. :)

 

Now for the photos... I hope I've reduced them enough to retain the clarity.

 

http://sarahcox.me.uk/images/MTSwan_barrel.jpg

 

http://sarahcox.me.uk/images/MTSwan_lever.jpg

 

http://sarahcox.me.uk/images/MTSwan_section_nib.jpg

 

http://sarahcox.me.uk/images/MTSwan_cap.jpg

 

I'm very interested to hear what you all think, thank you.

 

~ Sarah ~

 

edit : for spelling

Edited by kyelani
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Hi Sarah,

It is hard to say with out a full length photo, but I would think that is a clip-less pen, not uncommon for early 20th century production, and that a slip-on clip was added to the pen. The clip appears to be the same vintage as the pen.

Greg

Hello everyone,

 

Apart from my recent introduction in the new members forum this is my first post and I'm very new to FPs in terms of conversing about them and learning to restore them, so if I don't have the vocabulary quite right yet I hope you'll excuse me.

 

I recently bought this pen in a bit of a sad state and now that it's easier to see(!) I was hoping someone here might be able to answer a question about its clip and shed some light on its age.

 

I've looked at many photos and descriptions but I haven't come across another Swan with a clip like this one has. I was actually wondering if it had been added afterwards as a modification because the lever is gold (coloured) plated, so it doesn't match and it also seems to be of a shape that I can't find on another Swan anywhere.

 

I'm happy to say the lever mechanism is all intact and I'll be replacing the sac in a few days (waiting for it to arrive from Cathedral Pens), I'm looking forward to seeing how she writes.

 

The nib says "Swan 1" and "1 S.F. Fine", which I understand means soft fine, is stamped around the taper end of the barrel. Judging by what I've found out so far about Swans this one looks like a 1920/1921 hard rubber pen.

 

This was my first venture into vintage FPs so if I'm talking rubbish I'd love to know... but I'd love it even more if anyone agrees. :)

 

Now for the photos... I hope I've reduced them enough to retain the clarity.

 

http://sarahcox.me.uk/images/MTSwan_barrel.jpg

 

http://sarahcox.me.uk/images/MTSwan_lever.jpg

 

http://sarahcox.me.uk/images/MTSwan_section_nib.jpg

 

http://sarahcox.me.uk/images/MTSwan_cap.jpg

 

I'm very interested to hear what you all think, thank you.

 

~ Sarah ~

 

edit : for spelling

 

Greg Koos

Bloomington Illinois

USA

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On this shrunken globe, men can no longer live as strangers.

Adlai E. Stevenson

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It is hard to say with out a full length photo...

 

Hello Greg,

 

Sorry, I should have posted one of those too... here we go

 

http://sarahcox.me.uk/images/MTSwan_capped.jpg

 

http://sarahcox.me.uk/images/MTSwan_uncapped.jpg

 

I hope they're clear enough. One thing you can't see very clearly is that the pattern on the cap is in fact present on the barrel too; it's just weathered some with use. Overall I think the condition is very nice. I paid £14 for the pen and I have the box too, which is also in quite good condition, so I think I did quite well.

 

What are your thoughts on the clip, is it best to leave it? Or should I consider removing it? I feel it's such a pity it doesn't match the rest of the furniture(?).

 

~ Sarah ~

 

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The clip is an add-on clip. However, it may have been provided by Mabie Todd, though they often are marked as such. The English branch was much later standardizing clips on Mabie todds than the American company. They were offered as an option even into the 1930s on some pens. Regardless, it was probably acquired with the pen.

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I'm in agreement with the others--the clip(though the pen is originally clipless)is probably as old as the hard rubber

pen itself. The chased pattern is not uncommon on HR pens,either. Nice pen!

 

John

Irony is not lost on INFJ's--in fact,they revel in it.

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