My last three guesses....
Aiken lambert
Swan (debatable as a us manufacturer?)
Heath
What am I
Started by marcshiman, Jan 14 2012 05:32 PM
27 replies to this topic
#22
marcshiman
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Posted 15 January 2012 - 07:58 AM
August last year at the DC Show, I was looking over a table of somewhat less interesting pens when this one came up:
This was decidedly a curious pen. Obviously the plastic is the first weirdness. The two cap bands are another one. And the imprint - what the heck is that? That imprint is not chalked or photoshopped, it really looks like a cheap jewelers job. On the end of the barrel is the more common ETN 46. The clip is right.
OK, so inside - a Swan Eternal nib; size 4. Hmm "ETN 46" suggests a 6 sized nib... I have 6 nibs, I can make that right. The seller knew he had something interesting and priced it to match, but after complaining about the "incorrect" nib, etc etc, I got a decent discount on it. Still not a steal, but this is worth it to me.
The hunt for the "correct" nib - I immediately grabbed a 6 nib out of a working Swan; it overwhelmed the feed of this pen. So I grabbed the feed too; No way it will ever fit in that section, nib/feed way too big. The next suggestion was to get a section from an Eternal 46.
Ebay to the rescue - an Eternal 46 in woodgrain hard rubber with issues came up and ended at some $75. It had a clean section, nib and feed. Pen comes in, section comes off, into the weirdness - section is way too small for this barrel. Hmm...
(BTW - For Sale, Eternal 46 in woodgrain HR with issues. On Hamilton's bench now)
So, I have no idea what is "correct" for this pen, or even if this pen is the real deal. The nib, feed, clip are all definitely Swan. The maker's mark is decidedly not a production Mabie Todd pen. Its fatter and shorter than a typical 46, and I haven't tried a section for an 8 size nib (although I wonder if the cap can handle that nib).
Anyway, so I got a big honkin' pen in unusual celluloid and I think it might be a Mabie Todd but I'll never know for sure.
This is my second US made Swan plastic pen. Here's the first:
This pen was also interesting. Nib is a very very flexible 6, stacked coin cap band, imprint sharp enough to scratch yourself on, doesn't look like it was ever sacced or used. The nib didn't fit in the cap without serious surgery to the inner cap.
Most of my swans are of the British variety - twist fillers with a 4 or 6 nib, or skinny pens with gorgeous plastics with a 2 nib.
Marc
This was decidedly a curious pen. Obviously the plastic is the first weirdness. The two cap bands are another one. And the imprint - what the heck is that? That imprint is not chalked or photoshopped, it really looks like a cheap jewelers job. On the end of the barrel is the more common ETN 46. The clip is right.
OK, so inside - a Swan Eternal nib; size 4. Hmm "ETN 46" suggests a 6 sized nib... I have 6 nibs, I can make that right. The seller knew he had something interesting and priced it to match, but after complaining about the "incorrect" nib, etc etc, I got a decent discount on it. Still not a steal, but this is worth it to me.
The hunt for the "correct" nib - I immediately grabbed a 6 nib out of a working Swan; it overwhelmed the feed of this pen. So I grabbed the feed too; No way it will ever fit in that section, nib/feed way too big. The next suggestion was to get a section from an Eternal 46.
Ebay to the rescue - an Eternal 46 in woodgrain hard rubber with issues came up and ended at some $75. It had a clean section, nib and feed. Pen comes in, section comes off, into the weirdness - section is way too small for this barrel. Hmm...
(BTW - For Sale, Eternal 46 in woodgrain HR with issues. On Hamilton's bench now)
So, I have no idea what is "correct" for this pen, or even if this pen is the real deal. The nib, feed, clip are all definitely Swan. The maker's mark is decidedly not a production Mabie Todd pen. Its fatter and shorter than a typical 46, and I haven't tried a section for an 8 size nib (although I wonder if the cap can handle that nib).
Anyway, so I got a big honkin' pen in unusual celluloid and I think it might be a Mabie Todd but I'll never know for sure.
This is my second US made Swan plastic pen. Here's the first:
This pen was also interesting. Nib is a very very flexible 6, stacked coin cap band, imprint sharp enough to scratch yourself on, doesn't look like it was ever sacced or used. The nib didn't fit in the cap without serious surgery to the inner cap.
Most of my swans are of the British variety - twist fillers with a 4 or 6 nib, or skinny pens with gorgeous plastics with a 2 nib.
Marc
Edited by marcshiman, 15 January 2012 - 08:59 AM.
Please join the Mabie Todd Swan project where I am trying to sort out the undocumented mess that is American Mabie Todd's from the 1930's. The last pens that MT seemed to advertise were the "Eternal" pens, and then the company put out a wide range of different styles, shapes, sizes and filling systems before eventually closing up shop. I invite you to post your pictures of your American pens
#23
marcshiman
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Posted 15 January 2012 - 08:04 AM
My last three guesses....
Swan (debatable as a us manufacturer?)
Nothing debatable about it. The were a huge manufacturer based in NY in the 1860's, and while they eventually spun off a British subsidiary in the late 19th century, the American manufacturing operation continued late into the 1930's. Their history isn't too much unlike Waterman.
When I was formulating hints, I was going to add "This company's American reputation was for hard rubber pens....." but I thought that was a dead giveaway (had to be either Waterman or Mabie Todd at that point)
More from David N's site
Marc
Edited by marcshiman, 15 January 2012 - 09:37 AM.
Please join the Mabie Todd Swan project where I am trying to sort out the undocumented mess that is American Mabie Todd's from the 1930's. The last pens that MT seemed to advertise were the "Eternal" pens, and then the company put out a wide range of different styles, shapes, sizes and filling systems before eventually closing up shop. I invite you to post your pictures of your American pens
#25
Maja
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Posted 15 January 2012 - 09:28 PM
OK - final hint. disregard the furniture, and imagine the pen in hard rubber - red, black, mottled, woodgrain, whatever.
I'm out for a few hours, I'll post the "uncensored" pen when I get back.
EDIT:
Oh wow........I didn't notice there was a page 2 to this thread so I just posted my reply below (what I thought was) the last post. Oh well----my guess was right after all....
Congrats to Rick on guessing it and thanks to Marc for posting the photo--lovely fountain pen!
Edited by Maja, 15 January 2012 - 10:44 PM.
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#26
Indy-Pen-Dance
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Posted 20 January 2012 - 11:42 PM
No one mentioned Aiken Lambert?? Mabie Todd? Swan ?? Ok, I know I'm really stretching the first tier thing a bit - but the big names have been tossed all over the place here .... I'll give it some more thought right now I need some chow.
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#27
Indy-Pen-Dance
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Posted 20 January 2012 - 11:43 PM
Are we ignoring Conklin because it's unlike other styles they make? If I could see the top of the clip.........................Paul
I thought about Conklin in there too - but I also thought it had been ruled out.
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#28
Indy-Pen-Dance
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Posted 21 January 2012 - 12:16 AM
Sorry guys I didn't notice there was a second page. Darn. Next time I'll have to look a little closer - that happens when I haven't eaten and my stuff is all outta whack.
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