Swan Mabie Todd Pens.

[FredRydr]

...For instance, a relatively recent company using the Conway Stewart name tried to assume the credit for the production of the original company, leading to much misunderstanding for people new to the hobby.

And for the third time around! Conway Stewart met its demise in the mid-'70s, and when a different company took on the brand in the '90s, it misrepresented itself as the original going back to 1905. Now, the current seller under "Conway Stewart" is doing the same.

Nothing new, really. That's what selling and buying brand names and their "good will" are all about.

[eachan]

I don't have much good will towards companies which muddy the water that way, in their financial interest.

[Yazeh]

It's funny that Ackerman pens has a version of over/underfeed with their dip pen nabbed fountain pens:

This is their explanation:
"It's a device that enhances the performance of flexible nibs. It rests on top of the nib, and stores ink in the space over the nib. This continues to feed ink to the nib when the nib flexes backwards and rises off the underfeed. The tip of the overfeed slides into the gap between the two tynes as they separate and acts like a bridge to continue the steady flow of ink to the tip. "

[mizgeorge]

And funnily enough, look what's coming to my house:

swan1500 4.jpg

It was my consolation prize for the two Number 8s I was interested in going for a ridiculous amount of money - way beyond my price range - despite both having significant issues that needed looking at.

I'm delighted with this though - I had one before and managed to break it (sadly not through doing something inept by but dropping it into my bench skin where it landed badly on a file) and I've been hoping to get another. If it's not perfect, I will have no qualms about putting one together from the components of the two pens.

[Yazeh]

What's the nib?

[eachan]

Very nice indeed!

[Cyril]

Very nice indeed!

I totally agree with you eachan !!!

[Cyril]

When I bought this ink I was not aware of this real fact on this Ink Black bird Ink from Swan co. Thank you eachan, for correcting this.
https://www.blackbirdink.co.uk/about/
I have seen in several places they sold it. One place is THE Dragon Pen Vintage pen supplier in London. So I was happy to try it as I love this pen. It is actually an amazing ink whatever the story or the label around.
The details says it is the original recipe and I have to edit my statement. ( I am not in bench ) I should not have mentioned " The house of the Swan Mabie Todd Co!!! Very sorry Folks !!
I did not meant to mislead anyone but I just talked about something I just found and tested.
So I really regret the SWAN MABIE co. went redundant and every good thing about pens and inks got disappeared when it happened.

[mizgeorge]

What's the nib?

No idea, and not intending to try too hard to look The overfeeds on these are notoriously fragile, many of the nibs aren't marked (these are pretty old pens), so it will be cleaned up (within reason) and put to use!


On the subject of the Blackbird Inks, I have to say I have a few of these and like them very much. I didn't buy them for any spurious affiliation with the brand - these people seem to be mainly pen blank and kit sellers as far as I can see, but because it's good to have some inks that haven't had to travel quite so far, they seem very benign, and the colours I have are lovely.

[Yazeh]

What's the nib?

No idea, and not intending to try too hard to look The overfeeds on these are notoriously fragile, many of the nibs aren't marked (these are pretty old pens), so it will be cleaned up (within reason) and put to use!

Truly beautiful....

[mizgeorge]

So she arrived yesterday, and is she ever one cantankerous old lady. We're either going straight into counselling, or I'm going to have to adjust her feed - because right now, she's thoroughly incontinent. And I'm not going to be cleaning up after her forever. I seem to recall there's a historic thread about feed depth for a 1500 somewhere here.

However, she's also incredibly beautiful, and at her age has earned the right to be a bit difficult.

swan-1500-sample.jpg

[Detman101]

Hehe...sounds par for the course.
Even with the driest ink available, mine just dumps on the page as soon as it's flexed.
Seems to be the way these work...but mine is far too old to tinker with.
It's relegated to the "Collector piece" container...
:shrug:

[Yazeh]

Are the paper plume inks dry?

[mizgeorge]

Hehe...sounds par for the course.
Even with the driest ink available, mine just dumps on the page as soon as it's flexed.
Seems to be the way these work...but mine is far too old to tinker with.
It's relegated to the "Collector piece" container...
:shrug:

I don't push any of my flex nibs (apart from modern steel dip ones) - but I love the feel of them to write with. I have a very light hand (I can barely make a ballpoint work), so wetter nibs work well for me. Trouble with this old lady is more that she's pouring, rather than blobbing, so she'll need some tlc. The current fashion for flexing the life out of grand old pens is like nails on a blackboard to me - I cringe when I see it. However, I'm quite happy to tinker to get them back into good working order. I've been using, and fixing, pens like this for a long time, but I prefer to keep them as straightforward working tools, rather than collectors pieces, so I don't reblacken, overpolish or mess with them any more than is necessary, but I will cannibalise one that's beyond saving for the sake of other, better versions.

For a while I was keen on Mabie Todd pens - I was for a while a moderator for the Mabie Todd section of FPN - and tried to cultivate a relationship with a brand enthusiast in London. Didn't turn out well, rather I should say turned out to be a one-way street and the guy took advantage of my good nature and gave nothing back. Since then no MTs for me.

Having said that, it seems quite difficult to find a good example with a semi-flex fine nib for a sensible price. The larger torpedos and the SF200 models particularly appeal. Cannot remember the last time I saw one that fitted my criteria though.

I've had good luck recently - This one joins two other fairly recent 1500s, and I have a bunch of others, of various ages, and love all of them. I only have one SF200, a red marble, but it has a gorgeous nib. They're getting harder to find though, especially in lockdown, and prices have definitely gone up a lot recently.

Are the paper plume inks dry?

So far, I'd say they were moderate - the reds/pinks are definitely dryer than the blue/green/greys, but that's fine because they'll be going into pens with fat, wet nibs. I put off getting them for a long time because the shipping cost came in as so outrageous I couldn't bring myself to pay it, but I ended up contacting them and they worked out a much better rate as long as I kept to 8 inks, and they arrived in a week, which was pretty good. This one is nice - I think it's a new colour, and reminds me very much of the Montblanc Encre du Desert, which I've always liked a lot but is getting hard to find.

[Cyril]

New pen to my collection


Mabie todds.jpg

[penwash]

Nice pen, but I really, really like the flourishes you put in your handwriting.

[Cyril]

My Home made Golden Brown- "THAMES RIVER INK"

Mabie todds 02 copy.jpg

[Detman101]

New pen to my collection


Mabie todds.jpg

Oh Woooooow...that is a BEAUTY!!!

Congratulations!!
Though I have yet to master using these miniscule pens, they still dazzle my eyes when I see them.
They were all crafted so lovingly and beautifully...true artwork.

[Cyril]

Nice pen, but I really, really like the flourishes you put in your handwriting.

Cheers Will

[Cyril]

Got two pens fixed today.
Mabie Todds Eyedropper and a Waterman's Eye dropper pens with an over and under feed
They both ended up broken while trying to restore and clean when they came to me.
Now they are cleaned polished and fixed working as they are supposed to be.


mabie-repair.jpg

[Mabie-repeis-2.jpg