Mabie, Todd & Bard Swan Pen 4662 W question.

[Tinjapan]

I have one of these pens and have, I believe, deciphered the meaning of the model number.  However, what the “W” underneath the number means eludes me.  Anyone know what it means or where I can look?

 

Thanks.

[Schaumburg_Swan]

Hi,

 

are you sure it is a "W", not "TU" for Turned Up?

Do you have close-up photos of nib and the"W" at hands?

 

Here on page 16 a 4662 is listed:

Mabie Todd catalog, Jul 1908; British, shortly after change from MT & Bard.

Found here: https://pencollectorsofamerica.org/reference-library/mabie-todd/

There is a 4662 with medium point, turned up #3 nib.

 

Best wishes

Jens

[Tinjapan]

Thanks for the information.  Definitely a “W”.  Will try to post a pic of it.

[Schaumburg_Swan]

Hi,

 

 really a W! Well, that's a mystery to me, too.

 

Jens

[Tinjapan]

Sorry, should have posted a pic when I asked.

[Schaumburg_Swan]

6 minutes ago, Tinjapan said:

Sorry, should have posted a pic when I asked.

 

No problem.  Maybe one of our experts here has a clue...

[Greenie]

I have no idea what that W is for!  Interesting.

[Schaumburg_Swan]

Hi,

 

as your pen/nib is quite interesting:

could you post a close-up photo of the nib? Even if it is not perfectly adjusted...  How does it write?

A xxx2 Swan eyedropper usually has a medium nib, today we would call it a "fine" meaning somewhere in the 0.35 to 0.45 mm line width range on downstrokes...

 

Best wishes

Jens

[Tinjapan]

Will do tomorrow.  It has never been inked so I am reluctant to do so and thus do not know how it writes.  I have another slightly newer that writes well and takes forever to run out of in.

[Schaumburg_Swan]

7 hours ago, Tinjapan said:

Will do tomorrow.  It has never been inked so I am reluctant to do so and thus do not know how it writes.  I have another slightly newer that writes well and takes forever to run out of in.

 

Great,

 

Swan eyedroppers have very well manufactured nibs, as you know.

I'm sure there is a lot of fascinating variants practically unknown today...

 

Best wishes

Jens

[Tinjapan]

Here they followed with a pic of the entire pen.  The very tip appears bent in these photos but if you look closely at the edge, it is not.

[Schaumburg_Swan]

 

Hi Tinjapan!

 

Aha, a TU nib and a nice one. 🙂

Indeed it is not bent, it just looks unusual to our eyes... like a Cameron waverly nib. "W" = waverly?

 

Many thanks and gratulations

Jens

 

[Tinjapan]

So, what is a TU nib?

[Tinjapan]

“Turned Up”?

[Tinjapan]

The term “TU” caught me off guard as that is not how would describe this nib.  Here is a pic of it in profile.  Sorry for the quality, I did not take a dedicated profile pic.  

 

In the other pics is seems that the bottom of the nib is smooth with the very tip of the upper surface wavy.   

[Schaumburg_Swan]

33 minutes ago, Tinjapan said:

“Turned Up”?

 

Yes, exactly.

A smoother feeling to write with... for my taste not better or worse than a strait one - just different.

I have three Swan nibs of that design. Like this one: http:// https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/349644-a-stunning-double-pointed-f-flex-needlepoint-tu-swan-nib/?tab=comments#comment-4253300

 

Best

Jens

[shalitha33]

Interestingly 3rd pen in this catalogue (with wide plain bands) clearly has the "W" . 

This is from https://pencollectorsofamerica.org/reference-library/mabie-todd/ 

Mabie Todd catalog in French, c. 1908; 14 pp.

Sadly I can't read a word of it as its in french  

[Tinjapan]

It sure does!  Any French readers interested in M,T&B Swan pens out there?

[Schaumburg_Swan]

Hi,

 

well spotted, shalitha33.

From my tourist level french the describtion says:

"A Swan fountain pen, size #1 with gold plated 7mm rings, cost 20 Francs"

What ever "même mesure" means - same size?

 

Best

Jens

[shalitha33]

Small question about the english catalogue for MT from the same year same place.



What is "Size 1 Mounted W. B" ?