How Londoners Shopped For Mabie Todd Pens

[MarcShiman]

From the Stationery Trades Journal, April 1905

NEW SWAN HEAD-QUARTERS

"...After putting up for some time with the inconvenience of having to place departments in separate buildings, Messrs. Mabie, Todd, and Bard, manufacturers of the "Swan" Fountain Pen, at last found premises suited to their needs at 78-80 High Holborn..."

"...The front portion of the ground floor is reserved for the convenience of customers: luxurious couch and easy chairs, the illustrated papers, writing materials, and a telephone receiver, affording a welcome improvement on the ordinary shop. At the counter are assistants experienced in the matching and suiting of pens. At the rear is the staff of repairers and engravers..."

 

THAT is how to shop for a fountain pen.

 

[Goudy]

If you replace "telephone receiver" with wifi, that sounds a lot like an Apple Store.

 

Here's the Google Street View link.

 

It's a dental practice now, but still looks like a beautiful building from the first floor up.

[Cepasaccus]

When I read reports like this I just want my own time machine to visit the location. It would be so amazing! But I want this time machine just for me. Otherwise the Mabie Todd shop would be crowded with FPN.

 

*sigh*

[MarcShiman]

Warning: exceedingly stupid idea ahead.

 

You know what would be fun? To set up a room at a pen show as we imagined this Mabie Todd retail front might look and require all employees and patrons of this shop to dress appropriately for the era.

[Cob]

Warning: exceedingly stupid idea ahead.

 

You know what would be fun? To set up a room at a pen show as we imagined this Mabie Todd retail front might look and require all employees and patrons of this shop to dress appropriately for the era.

I think that would be a lovely idea.

 

We could probably get the pens all right; Edwardian clothes might be a little more of a challenge!

 

C.

[MarcShiman]

I think that would be a lovely idea.

 

We could probably get the pens all right; Edwardian clothes might be a little more of a challenge!

 

C.

 

I bet our own Pen2Paper could help us out in that regard - particularly with the buttons.

[Cepasaccus]

I would have said, that the furniture might be a little more of a challenge.

[MarcShiman]

I bet this sort of thing would be easy to pull of at the LA Pen Show - all those places that rent the props and costumes out to the movie studios!

[sidthecat]

It sounds like a reasonable alternative to eBay, what?

[pen2paper]

ooohh, this sounds like great fun.. but 1905??? you haven't slightest idea what a 1905 s-curve corset would mean for the ladies involved!

Still can't get into my 1890's model after the last, never-ending, stuck in the house winter.

Or, the discomforts of a gentleman's celluloid collar ; )

 

but! if I get to wear a pinned MT ladies (locked ; ) eyedropper! I might say I'm in.

 

Very imaginative post Mr Shiman.

[Greenie]

I'm in.

 

Marc Shiman will have to bring those amazing Swan pen display cases from his Facebook Swan Project page.

 

And for clothing - Who knew? I guess Downton Abbey has increased interest in Edwardian attire, and there is even an Edwardian Ball in San Francisco and LA.

 

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=edwardian%20clothing%20store

 

http://edwardianball.com/ (Edit: just looked at pics - the Ball is not quite the inspiration we need!. Stick to Downton Abbey....)

 

So the core of the idea is not so crazy.

Edited September 8, 2015 by Greenie

[MarcShiman]

I'm semi-serious about this idea. My biggest concern is that the real Swan enthusiasts are so geographically dispersed that I couldn't possibly find a show that would get any sort of critical mass. I had a table at the DC show, and I met a half-dozen Swan collectors, but that number needs to be several times that I would think.

 

I live around the DC area, so the DC show would be the one for me - I can't fly with those cases, (I really shouldn't travel with them, but once should be OK), But I'd engage the PCA to help put this together for the 2017 show (2016 I'll still be at my overseas post).

 

We would also need a way to display everyone's pens without losing track of which pens belong to who.

 

Dress is, of course, optional - but encouraged!

 

Marc

[sidthecat]

I love the idea of a handsome lad in a high collar helping me out with my next purchase: "Yes, Madam, I shall fetch you an instrument that will allow you to curl your delicate fingers more gracefully while writing your billet-doux. Shall I fetch you a cup of tea while you wait?"

 

I could get used to that. The corsets, not so much.

[Cepasaccus]

You could wear a "Reform" gown.

[sidthecat]

I may not have the character for anything else.

[TXKat]

Warning: exceedingly stupid idea ahead.

 

You know what would be fun? To set up a room at a pen show as we imagined this Mabie Todd retail front might look and require all employees and patrons of this shop to dress appropriately for the era.

 

This would probably be the most popular and FUN place in the whole show! Proper garb can be located and should this ever evolve into anything beyond a fun idea...it would take a little planning though. (Hmmm. Dallas Pen Show likes vintage...)

 

Should you ever try pulling this off, please let everyone know. I'd travel for this!

 

Note: I only have one Mt FOUNTAIN PEN at the moment. Now dip handles...a couple.

Edited September 15, 2015 by TXKat

[TXKat]

Some of the garb here may be a bit closer.

[sidthecat]

Those are a varied lot, historically speaking...I'd say those hoop skirts are around 1840-ish, which would put them in the reign of Her Late Majesty Victoria.

 

The first season of "Downton Abbey" would be about right.

[pen2paper]

I would have said, that the furniture might be a little more of a challenge.

portable display areas are not impossible. If the hotel has an area with leather club chairs, then a portable tri-folding screen, small folding tables, period looking fabric to drape, desk set objects, and 1905 period stationer's shop accoutrement are all fairly small to give the "shop" atmosphere. Low end old dip pens/nibs, old ink bottles, a few wax seals, cream paper fill in to set the stage. (see Shorpy for period shop photos with objects and signage). Of course, Marc's cases as the center piece. If an old catalog, perhaps American Stationer/UK equivalent, or jewelers? could be secured, and MT B & S advertisements, even copies would add greatly.

 

Perhaps a low cost dip pen, advertising blotter, or lapel button < very Edwardian, could be a souvenir of the experience?

If you wanted to super-immerse, then recorded sounds and '05 music in the backround.

 

real photos of people in 1905 garments are easily found.

dressing a gentleman to approximate 1905 standard should fairly easy, collars*, studs and links could be worn with modified modern suiting.

*Lavender's Green I see has repro gentleman's garments and collars, as do other companies ( to fit modern neck size). I've not done business with them, but their photos appear period correct.

 

Living history display's are great fun.

[Ursus]

Just imagine how it would be like to come home from that shop and be greeted by friends treating you as if you had just bought something really cool instead of something really old. Boy-O-boy!