Mabie Todd nibs

[inkypointer]

I am looking at several Mabie Todd pens to purchase and I am finding that there were so many different nibs! Can anyone tell me what the differences are in them??? For instance, I am seeing Blackbird, Swan, #1, #2, #6, etc. Does anyone know the differences in these and their distinctive qualities?? Thank you for your help!

[Oxonian]

Hi,

 

The numbers on the Mabie Todd nibs are sizes, #1 being the smallest anf going all the way up for practical purposes to #6, there are #7 & #8 nibs but these are not common.

 

Within the various sizes there all the variations and line sizes so there will be a #1 Fine, med, Broad, round tip, oblique, Italic and stub, flexible and rigids and there will #2, #3, #4 etc nibs with all these variations as well, there are also assorted custom ground nibs in all the sizes.

 

A #1 Broad may not be quite as wide as #4 broad but the #4 is not 4 times wider or anything like that.

 

There are also the Eternal range of nibs and pens in the Swan Brand these too come in al the sizes and with all the variety of the standard nibs. Blackbird and Swallow nibs occur in the same sizes and variations, earlier nibs may not carry the brand names, being marked Mabie Todd and Co.

 

The characteristics do not necessarily go with the number but with the individual nib so, as with most other maker's nibs generalisations about the character are not really sound, it is safe to say however that Mabie Todd made very good nibs.

 

Hope this is of some help.

 

Cheers, John

[Sharkle]

 

Hi! I hope someone else replies because I'm no Mabie Todd expert, but I have a Mabie Todd "Swan" with a No. 2 nib, which is a fine (not extra-fine). My pen has great flow and a smooth nib with some flex, i.e. when I press down on the nib a bit, the tines spread out a bit and the line thickness varies somewhat. From what I've read here on FPN, I'm pretty sure that even the stiffest Swan nib flexes more than a lot of modern pens. I believe as the nib numbers go up, so does the nib width. I would guess a #6 to be quite broad. Anyone, please step in here if I'm wrong! I hope you enjoy whichever pen(s) you buy--I love mine! Best of luck!

 

[Oxonian]

Hi Sharkle,

 

You can get #6 nibs that are Extra fine and they are every bit as fine as a #2 EF, there is however a small difference in the B widths between the sizes. I have#1, #2, #3 ,#4, #5 and #6 Mabie Todd nibs in various widths and styles, flexible and rigid, my comments are based on observation, hands on examination and use of many pens over many years.

 

There are very rigid Swan vintage nibs, the nibs used by accountants tend to fine/EF and stiff, they are like manifold nibs as near as makes no difference as stiff as a modern nail. Watermans made and imprinted an 'Accounts' nib in all sizes, the metal of the #2 accounts nib is just about twice as thick as the metal on the flexible nibs, MT made very similar nibs.

 

cheers, John

 

[Heirphoto]

I have a Mabie & Todd Swan, RHR with a 3@ nib. It write a fine line but is rather stiff, not so much by todays standards but compared to other pens of the same vintage. Under magnification I can see the nib uses very thick metal which is reducing the flex.

 

While I own a single new pen, a Namiki VP I am finding vintage pens and all their nib variations much more fun.

 

Tony

[gregkoos]

Hi

I have a Sawn #1 nib on a Swan Minor (c1930?) . The nib tip is long and the nib is very flexible and has a downward bend. The bend is almost in plain with the feed. Is is bent ot was it made that way?

[Johnny Appleseed]

I have a Sawn #1 nib on a Swan Minor (c1930?) . The nib tip is long and the nib is very flexible and has a downward bend. The bend is almost in plain with the feed. Is is bent ot was it made that way?

 

Flex nibs often have a downward bend to the nib. It is part of the design that allows the tines to seperate properly for that beautiful line variation that you see with flex nibs.

 

I think a quick clarification is needed here for the nib size. The numbers refer to the actual size of the nib, not the size of the tipping. A #6 nib may have an XF tip that is identical to the XF tip on a #1 nib, but the #6 nib itself will be longer and wider (though there are variations in length - flexible nibs are often longer and some types of nibs shorter than others). For the most part - and please correct me if I am mistaken John - the larger size nib will go on a larger pen. This general trend holds for many different brands as well - a #5 Waterman is larger than a Waterman #2 nib - but there is no consistant size between manufacturers.

 

John