Jump to content

Need Help Mt Swan Sf 200C Lever Bar Falling In


Recommended Posts

Hello everyone.

 

Am the proud owner of 2 new-to-me Swans - both BHR SF 200C Fine models. One has a round top cap, the other a flat top cap. The shape of the sections is different, as are the nibs.

 

One is in perfect working condition, but the other's lever is not attached to the barrel in any way. It is attached to the pressure bar. How does the lever stay in place usually? Am I missing a part? A ring perhaps, or a pin?

 

Many thanks,

 

Nick

 

Also, this nib is very different than my other one. Marked 2 K, it looks like it should be flexible, with long thin tines. But it is not. Surprisingly firm, in fact. The other one is a full flex thing of beauty.

post-76466-0-79943400-1560396243_thumb.jpg

post-76466-0-63690300-1560396253_thumb.jpg

post-76466-0-10934900-1560396263_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 8
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Dr.X

    4

  • Greenie

    3

  • Cob

    1

  • PaulS

    1

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted Images

The C ring is broken, bent, or missing.

 

Let me find my post on making C rings from springs....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here is one post making them from scratch

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/337077-making-a-c-ring-for-cs-lever/

But you won't be able to insert the lever of a Swan in the manner shown in this post - just see how he made it from a piece of "music wire". Hobby Lobby always seems to have a variety of sizes of music wire (spring steel)

 

Can't find my post - the gist of it was to go to ACE harware, etc, and look at their selection of springs. You will find one that seems just bigger than the pen barrel, and with a fairly thin gauge wire. At home, cut a piece that is about 75% of a circle.

 

The way you engage it is similar to how you put the lever back in an Eversharp Skyline - I mention that because it has a lever with integraded bar like the Swan, and you will probably find posts about re installing the lever and mechanism for this pen.

 

Here is one

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/30442-skyline-repair-tutorial/

Edited by Greenie
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Greenie has expertly dealt with the lever issue.

 

Regarding the nib, that nib is late production from the 1950s, probably under the ægis of Biro Swan. The Swan around the half-moon breather only appears on these late nibs - a smaller version even appeared on some very late Blackbirds.

 

As far as the letter K is concerned, I have seen D, G and H also. I have never found out the significance of these letters.

 

Cob

fpn_1428963683__6s.jpg “The pen of the British Empire” fpn_1423349537__swan_sign_is.jpg


Link to comment
Share on other sites

I did it!! Followed your directions and it worked like a charm.

 

Regrettably, I destroyed the nib (don't ask how - I'm sick about it).

 

Does anyone know where I can get a replacement nib that will fit? I've been searching the www and it looks like #2 MT Swan loose nibs are as rare as hen's teeth!

 

Gratitude for your help,

 

Nick

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Later 1950s pens with these nibs shouldn't be too difficult to find, though perhaps more so on your side of the pond than here, and it may come to it that you end up buying a donor pen just to get what you want - hopefully something in need of tlc might offer the chance of a cheaper purchase.

 

Like most things, not around when you want one, then after you've found one, they seem to be everywhere.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Congratulations and that is also so sad! Sometimes restoration seems to go that way.

 

If it is any consolation, the nib was already a replacement, and not of the same era as the pen. So look on the bright side.... Now you can hunt for a replacement Swan 2 or Mabie Todd 2 nib without the imprinted bird, and make the pen even better!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you again.

 

It is proving impossible to find a replacement nib or donor pen on eBay. Perhaps I will post a WTB on FPN.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33501
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26627
    5. jar
      jar
      26101
  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o
  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More
  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...