Kiwi

[Cob]

I ahve bought a Mabie Todd Kiwi in MHR.

 

More when it arrives.

 

Rgds

 

Cob

[Cob]

Thanks EoC. I had intended to acknowledge that you had pointed me towards this rarity when I had received it and posted a snap or two.

 

I should think it quite likely that the nib fitted is original. After all my MT "Whitehall" pen has a Warranted nib which I would think is correct. M. le Vendeur says that the pen is in full working order. Looking at his snap of the nib suggests to me that a tweak or two may be necessary!

 

His photos are much better than mine could ever be, so here's a link to the ebay listing for those interested in this curiosity.

 

Rgds

 

Cob

Edited September 23, 2016 by Cob

[northlodge]

I thought the Kiwi was made for the French market. If so would they not have been fitted with a 18ct nib?

[chunya]

I thought the Kiwi was made for the French market. If so would they not have been fitted with a 18ct nib?

It seems that they may have had 'Kiwi' on the nib, but they were also 14 ct - 585, I found this one (halfway down the page) when doing a search a little while back.

 

http://www.penboard.de/shop/hlist/MBTD/VIPW/0

Edited September 24, 2016 by chunya

[Cob]

Thank you chaps. Looks like I have bought a pup! Obviously I saw the Warranted nib, but drew confidence from the fact that my Whitehall pen was similarly equipped.

 

I have to collect my Onoto book from Stephen Hull at the London show, perhaps I'll grab the opportunity to ask him...

 

Best wishes,

 

Cob

Edited September 24, 2016 by Cob

[Cob]

Ha ha!

 

Well the feed is definitely correct - it is identical to a the Jackdaw pattern - I have only seen those on Jackdaws.

 

This is the first Kiwi I have come across.

 

Rgds

 

C.

Edited September 24, 2016 by Cob

[MarcShiman]

I think the Kiwi (and Merle Blanc) were Benelux pens, not French. Thus the 14k nibs.

 

The Whitehall pen seems to have been made by Mabie Todd for another company (quite common). The Kiwi brand appears to have been their own.

Edited September 27, 2016 by MarcShiman

[MarcShiman]

Last three pens on the right:

 

 

 

From right to left, its a Cygnet, a Jackdaw, and a Kiwi. Absolutely identical in all ways (except the Cygnet is a stilo)

 

 

[Cob]

What lovely patterns! Fascinating.

 

And the one in the middle that looks like a Waterman's mahogany; what is that?

 

Rgds

 

C.

[Cob]

Thanks EoC. That's the only instance I can recall of Mabie Todd using another maker's pattern of material (except for black of course!)

 

C.

[MarcShiman]

Cob,

 

Not sure what you mean by "another maker's pattern" - that pattern didn't belong to Waterman, it was either a DuPont or Celluloid Corporation product, and it was used widely by all of the NYC pen manufacturers including Waterman. But I can think of at least 10 other companies that have made pens in that celluloid, including Parker, Conklin, and a number of Italian pens.

 

I would be willing to wager that the biggest of the pen producers - Parker and Sheaffer - made deals with the celluloid producers for rights of exclusivity for a fixed period of time. But virtually every plastic that went into a first tier pen was eventually found in a later, lower tier pen.