Interesting Information About Biro-Swan Ltd

[Cob]

This article from an auctioneer's catalogue contains some very interesting information. I was amazed to read that Biro took over Mabie Todd in 1952 - earlier than I had thought.

 

As my be seen in the article, for Swan lovers like me, it would perhaps have been better if Biro had left Mabie Todd alone and taken over another company; the results were pretty dire it seems, and I suppose that Biro Swan was subsequently responsible for such dreary things as the Swan Warwick.

 

Cob

Edited September 14, 2015 by Cob

[Effin1]

Very interesting Cob. Out of curiosity do you know how much the pen sold for?

[Greenie]

Here is a screen shot after logging in to the web site. 380 GBP plus 22.5% premium, in 2007.

 

[Cob]

I've seen pens with that clip on ebay from time to time, though clearly they would not be that particular model.

 

380 quid?!

 

My maximum bid would be about a fiver...

 

Cob

[the_gasman]

I've seen pens with that clip on ebay from time to time, though clearly they would not be that particular model.

 

380 quid?!

 

My maximum bid would be about a fiver...

 

Cob

Funny you should mention that ...

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-SWAN-FOUNTAIN-PEN-WITH-14c-585-GOLD-NIB-for-Handwriting-and-Calligraphy-/262047193258?hash=item3d033ad8aa

 

£380 might be a tad optimistic. Perhaps Cob's £5? Maybe not.

 

The seller in the current Ebay auction describes it as a cartridge pen but it looks, to my uneducated eye, as if the original filler mechanism is missing. The nib certainly doesn't fill me with lust anyway.

 

David.

[Cob]

Funny you should mention that ...

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-SWAN-FOUNTAIN-PEN-WITH-14c-585-GOLD-NIB-for-Handwriting-and-Calligraphy-/262047193258?hash=item3d033ad8aa

 

£380 might be a tad optimistic. Perhaps Cob's £5? Maybe not.

 

The seller in the current Ebay auction describes it as a cartridge pen but it looks, to my uneducated eye, as if the original filler mechanism is missing. The nib certainly doesn't fill me with lust anyway.

 

David.

Actually the nib might be the best thing. I had a 2 of that late pattern; it was a glorious flexy one.

 

C.

[Cepasaccus]

And if not flexy than it has at least a beautiful Swan on it. Anybody else here interested in this nib? If not, I would try to get it.

[the_gasman]

Actually the nib might be the best thing. I had a 2 of that late pattern; it was a glorious flexy one.

 

As you may remember, I have a fairly weird and atypical view of nibs, especially flexy ones -- if it ain't about twelve feet wide and behave like a fire-hose, it doesn't pique my interest. I still don't get the whole flexy thing, but it's probably just my way of admitting that I don't have the skill to use them.

 

Oops! My thoughts are irrelevant to the thread. Let's get back to Biro Swans.

 

David.

[the_gasman]

And if not flexy than it has at least a beautiful Swan on it. Anybody else here interested in this nib? If not, I would try to get it.

 

Good luck. The tines approximate but there seems to be a cleft at the very tip. Would this be a problem?

 

I'm not declaring interest in either the pen or the nib -- I'm just curious.

 

David.

[Cepasaccus]

The nibs in the old pens I buy are rarely without flaw. Many are flat footed or misaligned. So this is no show stopper for me.