Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: Hello from Phoenix, AZ!

  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Posts
    2
    Thanks
    12
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Hello!

    Hello!

    I am an absolute newbie, but was gifted an old fountain pen. I've done a little bit of research, and it looks to be relatively rare. It's a Mabie Todd Swan Safety Inksight. If anyone knows anything about the pen, I would really love to hear about it. I was also curious about whether or not it should be cleaned, used, left alone, etc. I would love to use it, but I'm a bit nervous.

    Looking forward to starting a new hobby!

    -Keith
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by krasmussen710; January 14th, 2020 at 10:19 AM.

  2. #2
    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    11,404
    Thanks
    6,876
    Thanked 10,362 Times in 3,977 Posts
    Rep Power
    24

    Default Re: Hello from Phoenix, AZ!

    Hello and welcome to FPGeeks.
    Hopefully someone who knows about Swan Mabie Todd pens will come along to assist.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to Chrissy For This Useful Post:

    krasmussen710 (December 7th, 2019)

  4. #3
    Senior Member azkid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Colorado, USA
    Posts
    2,016
    Thanks
    3,725
    Thanked 1,703 Times in 822 Posts
    Rep Power
    9

    Default Re: Hello from Phoenix, AZ!

    Welcome! That looks like a really cool pen. I don't know a thing about Mabie Todd pens, though. I had no idea they made pens with ink windows.

    Before you do anything learn about the issues of hard rubber pens and discoloration and learn about what is safe to use for cleaning.
    Last edited by azkid; December 7th, 2019 at 05:17 PM.

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to azkid For This Useful Post:

    krasmussen710 (December 7th, 2019)

  6. #4
    Senior Member Deb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Highlands of Scotland
    Posts
    1,747
    Thanks
    2,349
    Thanked 1,927 Times in 842 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Hello from Phoenix, AZ!

    Welcome to FPG. I can't say I know a lot about this pen which is an absolute rarity. I believe it to be a development of the Swan Safety Cap and therefore an eyedropper filler, a little over a century old. The structure over the nib is sometimes called an overfeed but may actually be intended to prevent the nib from drying out. The introduction of the clear inserts to allow viewing of the ink level is a neat piece of engineering and an early example of this feature. I see no reason why you shouldn't carefully clean the pen up and use it. The pen will have value as a collector's item.

    A post to the Mabie Todd Special Interest Group in FPN may give you a more knowledgeable response.
    Regards,
    Deb
    My Blog

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to Deb For This Useful Post:

    krasmussen710 (December 7th, 2019)

  8. #5
    Senior Member Anne's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Arizona ( USA )
    Posts
    1,110
    Thanks
    227
    Thanked 236 Times in 197 Posts
    Rep Power
    10

    Default Re: Hello from Phoenix, AZ!

    Welcome

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to Anne For This Useful Post:

    krasmussen710 (December 7th, 2019)

  10. #6
    Senior Member jar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Deep South Texas
    Posts
    4,045
    Thanks
    479
    Thanked 3,711 Times in 1,610 Posts
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Re: Hello from Phoenix, AZ!

    Welcome. Keep up posted.

  11. The Following User Says Thank You to jar For This Useful Post:

    krasmussen710 (December 9th, 2019)

  12. #7
    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Carlisle, Pennsylvania USA
    Posts
    4,907
    Thanks
    1,396
    Thanked 6,390 Times in 2,505 Posts
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Re: Hello from Phoenix, AZ!

    Quote Originally Posted by krasmussen710 View Post
    ...I was also curious about whether or not it should be cleaned, used, left alone, etc. I would love to use it, but I'm a bit nervous....
    If it came into my hands, I would leave it alone until I could have a specialist carefully restore it. There are Mabie-Todd collectors who will want your pen in as original condition as possible, and it is too rare and unusual for learning restoration techniques.

  13. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to FredRydr For This Useful Post:

    azkid (December 8th, 2019), krasmussen710 (December 9th, 2019)

  14. #8
    Senior Member countrydirt's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Pueblo, Colorado
    Posts
    469
    Thanks
    671
    Thanked 404 Times in 189 Posts
    Rep Power
    14

    Default Re: Hello from Phoenix, AZ!

    Welcome!
    I use a fountain pen and a paper planner - paperinkplan.wordpress.com

  15. The Following User Says Thank You to countrydirt For This Useful Post:

    krasmussen710 (December 9th, 2019)

  16. #9
    Senior Member Deb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Highlands of Scotland
    Posts
    1,747
    Thanks
    2,349
    Thanked 1,927 Times in 842 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Hello from Phoenix, AZ!

    Quote Originally Posted by FredRydr View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by krasmussen710 View Post
    ...I was also curious about whether or not it should be cleaned, used, left alone, etc. I would love to use it, but I'm a bit nervous....
    If it came into my hands, I would leave it alone until I could have a specialist carefully restore it. There are Mabie-Todd collectors who will want your pen in as original condition as possible, and it is too rare and unusual for learning restoration techniques.
    It's a simple eyedropper. I see no reason why the OP should not clean and use it if that is his/her wish. That doesn't mean totally disassembling it.
    Regards,
    Deb
    My Blog

  17. The Following User Says Thank You to Deb For This Useful Post:

    krasmussen710 (December 9th, 2019)

  18. #10
    Senior Member Cob's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    Berkshire, England
    Posts
    1,546
    Thanks
    2,013
    Thanked 1,708 Times in 641 Posts
    Rep Power
    11

    Default Re: Hello from Phoenix, AZ!

    A really nice example of an early Swan. As Deb writes, nothing remotely complicated - it's just an eyedropper pen.

    I'll bet that the nib is delightful, Mabie Todd is the absolute top as far as I am concerned.

    Cob
    Vive les chevaliers! A bas les têtes rondes!

  19. The Following User Says Thank You to Cob For This Useful Post:

    krasmussen710 (December 9th, 2019)

  20. #11
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Posts
    2
    Thanks
    12
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Hello from Phoenix, AZ!

    Thanks for the nice welcome, everyone! I appreciate all the advice and compliments as well. I'll try to do a bit more research on it as recommended above too. Have a wonderful week! - Keith

  21. #12
    Senior Member AzJon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    Flagstaff
    Posts
    764
    Thanks
    1,204
    Thanked 826 Times in 352 Posts
    Rep Power
    9

    Default Re: Hello from Phoenix, AZ!

    Hello and greetings from your snowy neighbor in the north!

  22. The Following User Says Thank You to AzJon For This Useful Post:

    krasmussen710 (December 9th, 2019)

  23. #13
    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Carlisle, Pennsylvania USA
    Posts
    4,907
    Thanks
    1,396
    Thanked 6,390 Times in 2,505 Posts
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Re: Hello from Phoenix, AZ!

    Quote Originally Posted by Deb View Post
    It's a simple eyedropper....
    Oh!

  24. #14
    Senior Member Deb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Highlands of Scotland
    Posts
    1,747
    Thanks
    2,349
    Thanked 1,927 Times in 842 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Hello from Phoenix, AZ!

    The things that are really good about it are the nib, as Cob says, the overfeed and those windows. I've been a Swan enthusiast for longer than I care to admit and I've only seen a pen rather like that once before.
    Regards,
    Deb
    My Blog

  25. The Following User Says Thank You to Deb For This Useful Post:

    krasmussen710 (December 9th, 2019)

  26. #15
    Senior Member Wahl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Spain
    Posts
    1,442
    Thanks
    48
    Thanked 343 Times in 249 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Hello from Phoenix, AZ!

    Hi Keith, interesting pen !


  27. The Following User Says Thank You to Wahl For This Useful Post:

    krasmussen710 (December 14th, 2019)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •