10 replies to this topic

[Innes Cate]

 

Hi - can anyone help with the identification of this Mabie Todd Swan fountain pen/pencil set.   The pen is 13.5cm and the pencil is 13cm and what would be a fair value.   

 

Thanks

Innes

[david i]

Hi,

 

Any numbers on bottom of pen?

 

regards

 

-d

[Innes Cate]

The set is on a local auction with strong bidding.  Only indication is patent mark is 1915.   The photo of the nib is faint but I think I can see N.Y. suggesting a USA model. 

Edited by Innes Cate, 27 November 2014 - 08:48 PM.

[Deb]

It's not easy to tell what it is.  All those stepped clips had 1915 on them.  The British pens had New York nibs until 1931 and this is a 1920s pen.  I don't recognise that pattern of cap rings, nor the rings on the pencil, so possibly it is an American pen.  You would need to see the barrel imprint to tell.  The greater fading on the cap than the barrel indicates it might be a mismatch and that will detract from the value.  A set like that in average condition might make £90 or £100 on a good day here.

[AndyR]

Innes asked me about this via PM. I didn't have a clue, so I forwarded the picture to Steve Hull and asked his opinion. The salient points of his reply are below, in italics.

 

Andy

 

Re Swan set - I have identical pen - English made c1926. [Patented Jan 19 1915 is on clip]
 
There is no model number on mine. I've checked my MT code system and they didn't have model code for this multi-band job!
 
Quite unusual (viz banding arrangements; commoner on US-made Swans), but not particularly valuable - maybe worth £50 for set (noting discoloured cap).

[Innes Cate]

Seller has confirmed nib imprint is MABIE TODD & CO NY and only imprint on the barrel is SWAN PEN which lines up with what Steve says.   With bidding already at NZ$196.00 it has already surpassed its value, probably because it is the first one of its type to come up locally.   The multi-bands do look appealing!

 

Thanks for your help guys - appreciated.

Innes 

[Parcival]

I made photos with information from the book МТ&Co, but I can not show them here because they are large. If you want, I can send them an e-mail. This is 142/31 model, from USA, late 20's. The pen is not in good condition, but is subject to restoration.

[marcshiman]

These pens are particularly hard to define without the barrel imprints. Mabie Todd was particular about its imprints, and without them, its really tough to tell what the pen is. As can be seen above, its been claimed to be both American and British, and it seems that at that time pre-Eternal pens were identical and produced in both countries. 

 

The 1915 on the stepped clip suggests its a bit earlier (they switched to a swan on the clip in the late 20's) but that was already apparent from the 7 cap rings. 

 

Its also tough to tell if that is indeed a 142 - the barrel seems a bit too big for a "2" nib - might be a 144. Again, almost impossible to draw conclusions by just looking at it.

 

All of those BHCR pens with multiple odd cap band arrangements are interesting and collectible pens, and I suspect the price (if its still NZ$200) is quite reasonable for this. Assuming no cracks, no threading problems or anything, this pen could easily fetch US$350 or so cleaned up. 

[Parcival]

I reduce the size pictures from the book. The pen can also be 144.

 DSC00001.JPG   282.89KB   1 downloads

 DSC00002.JPG   99.35KB   1 downloads

Edited by Parcival, 29 November 2014 - 12:04 PM.

[marcshiman]

One of the things he mentions regarding those pens is that there's almost no logic to the numbering.MT uses the same (second) number for different patterns.

Edited by marcshiman, 30 November 2014 - 10:29 AM.

[Innes Cate]

FYI - Final sell price was NZ$196.  Once again thanks for everyone's input and I am now more the wiser for it.

Innes