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Thread: Gold Mabie Todd Swan with very stylized indicia

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    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
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    Default Gold Mabie Todd Swan with very stylized indicia

    In 1929 London, my 15k Mabie Todd Swan was engraved with very stylized initials, especially that first letter. JMK? Those schooled in Spencerian writing might have a better idea. It's a lovely thing, and full length, too. Someone had a nice birthday or anniversary gift that year. Which was the customary order of writing the date in 1929: July 5th or May 7th?

    IMG_2996.jpegOVSI9190.jpegOVSI9190 (1).jpeg

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    Default Re: Gold Mabie Todd Swan with very stylized indicia

    A remarkable pen.

    I might be reading too much into a single word but have you thought about why the word London could have been engraved, the initials yes, understandable, the date less common unless to signify an important date but I don't think I have seen the location engraved on a pen. A

    In terms of the date I would opt for 5th of July.
    Last edited by RobJohnson; June 29th, 2022 at 06:57 AM.

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    Default Re: Gold Mabie Todd Swan with very stylized indicia

    Quote Originally Posted by RobJohnson View Post
    ...why the word London could have been engraved....
    Perhaps a romantic celebration in a West End hotel or a job promotion in the City, warranting the extravagance of a solid gold pen (a few months before the stock market crash).

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    Default Re: Gold Mabie Todd Swan with very stylized indicia

    Quote Originally Posted by FredRydr View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by RobJohnson View Post
    ...why the word London could have been engraved....
    Perhaps a romantic celebration in a West End hotel or a job promotion in the City, warranting the extravagance of a solid gold pen (a few months before the stock market crash).
    Could be, were all English gold Mabie Todds 15 carat at this time?

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    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gold Mabie Todd Swan with very stylized indicia

    Quote Originally Posted by RobJohnson View Post
    ...were all English gold Mabie Todds 15 carat at this time?
    I don't have the answer.

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    Default Re: Gold Mabie Todd Swan with very stylized indicia

    try looking down the barrel from the bottom, the letters may be easier to read if they're foreshortened

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    Default Re: Gold Mabie Todd Swan with very stylized indicia

    Current British convention has the day first, so 5.7.29 is July 5th, 1929, assuming the same format applied in 1929. No clue on the monogram other than the first letter could be L. Gorgeous pen, though.

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    Default Re: Gold Mabie Todd Swan with very stylized indicia

    Quote Originally Posted by Empty_of_Clouds View Post
    Place and date of presentation to monogrammed recipient. I don't see any other significance than that. Nice pen though.

    Note that there are three cities called London in the US. Given that MT started in New York it's not inconceivable that the pen could have been presented in the US. However, as London (UK) is a celebrated and famous city, and the US namesakes are decidedly not, I'd be inclined to think that it was a British presentation.
    bought a really nice set of drums in London OH. I did not pause nearby for sightseeing.

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    Default Re: Gold Mabie Todd Swan with very stylized indicia

    Quote Originally Posted by Blue Note View Post
    …the first letter could be L….
    Good observation.

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    Default Re: Gold Mabie Todd Swan with very stylized indicia

    Can you see a hallmark? If the pen was sold in the United Kingdom, it should bear a hallmark from the assay office. This can be decoded to give interesting information.

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    Default Re: Gold Mabie Todd Swan with very stylized indicia

    I see JMK.
    Lovely pen Fred. How does it write?

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    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
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    Default Re: Gold Mabie Todd Swan with very stylized indicia

    It’s a lovely fine flexible writer, but I’ve only used it as a dip pen pending a long-delayed resac and pressure bar issue.

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    Default Re: Gold Mabie Todd Swan with very stylized indicia

    What a lovely pen Fred!!!!
    Whatever story is behind the engraving, It gives more to put the pen in different attraction. Love those lettering...

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    Default Re: Gold Mabie Todd Swan with very stylized indicia

    Alas, when I pulled the gooey sac, it snagged the pressure bar and twisted the connection of the bar and the lever such that they blocked even the narrowest sac from entering the barrel. The bar and lever are held in place by a wire circular clip that snaps into a groove around the inside diameter of the barrel. A simple task to remove in concept, but I gave up trying to extract it with the tools (and eyesight) I have at hand. I didn't like admitting defeat, but I really want to use this pen after years of ownership, so off the pen went to the man of more experience, skill and tools. Stand by....

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    Default Re: Gold Mabie Todd Swan with very stylized indicia

    I felt like the first letter was an I. It seemed unlikely that a J would cross back over and surely an L would cross lower?

    There are some similar forms on this image and the J does cross though so...

    Last edited by moggy; July 26th, 2022 at 08:28 PM.

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