Mabie Todd Swan Leverless Identification

[LizB]

Hi there, helpful people of the internet,

 

I have a plain black Mabie Todd Swan with no sign of any identification number. I am hoping to identify it, and mainly what material it is made of so I can give it a bit of a polish (it has a few big scratches alongside usual wear). Any help would be much appreciated.

 

Mabie Todd Swan by Liz, on Flickr

 

 

Mabie Todd Swan by Liz, on Flickr

[Cob]

That looks like a L470/60; No 4 nib and black; does it have a hallmark on the cap band? I cannot remember the number for this model with a plated band. Probaly made around the mid-1930s. Have you looked carefully at the end of the twist knob? early models, like the one I sold recently (hallmarked 1934) have the number stamped on the end and not on the end of the barrel as was done later.

 

The material is Celluloid, A decent metal polish such as Simichrome or Autosol should give you a good finish. If the marks are deep then special attention may be required.

 

All the best

 

Cob

[LizB]

Thanks Cob. There is no hallmark (the cap band is plated) and no numbers at end of barrel. Thanks for the celluloid info, that could easily save me from a pen cleaning disaster.

[Cob]

Here's a couple of pictures of the pen I sold:

 

 

 

Yours might be a L410/60 but I cannot be certain about that - I take it it has a No 4 nib?

C.

Edited February 25, 2016 by Cob

[Greenie]

I have the version that is slightly more tapered (I think) and has a gold inset swan medallion in the top of the cap. It has no number. But it is a perfect match in size and pattern to my L410/89 magenta lizard. I vote for L410/60, celluloid. Feel free to mask the imprint and polish away!

 

More info on similar models from a previous thread

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/291556-mabie-todd-swan-repair/?hl=l410&do=findComment&comment=3374550

[LizB]

Thank you both. Yes, it has a swan medallion in the top of the cap (which is sadly losing its plating). And yes, it has a number 4 nib.

[Cob]

Ah! that design is much later than the one I sold; I believe that the medallion pattern which used a different method of mounting the clip from that used on my pen came in in the late 1930s.

 

As far as I know it was used only on Leverless pens - L205/60, L206/60, 0160, 1060, 2060 and of course the coloured variants - 1041, 1042, 1045 and many others!

 

The problem is that with English Swans at least, is that there were also so many that didn't conform exactly to the conventional ranges - and which didn't carry numbers either. For example I recall a really nice late 1930s Leverless Ihad that was in all respects a 0160 but had only a single cap band (should normally have 2). Of course this one was unnumbered but was in all other respects a 0160.

 

On the other hand all this sort of thing makes the whole Swan business an endless source of fascination!

 

Cob

Edited February 25, 2016 by Cob