1930s Mabie Todd Swan Fountain Pen - FLEX

Vintage: 1930s

Make: Mabie Todd

Model: Swan (American)

Color: Grey pearl marble pinstripe

Materials: Celluloid, nickel-plated trim

Filling System: Lever filler (resacced and guaranteed to fill and write as designed)

Length: This full-sized model measures 4 15/16” capped. 

Nib: Flexible 14k MT Swan nib lays down a smooth and consistent XF line that widens to a 4B+ (approx 2.0mm) under moderate pressure. Capable of variation verging on Superflex, then, but softness situates it squarely in the Flex range. Thin hairlines, strong snap-back, and reliable flow over its full range of flex make it another great choice for expressive and calligraphic writing styles. 

Condition: Nickel-plated trim is clean aside from slivers of high-point wear on the clip visible under a loupe and some fine scratches on the clip. Celluloid surface is smooth and lustrous with no deep scratches or other notable blemishes – scarcely even any microscratches. There is some swelling to the lever opening, which is merely cosmetic with no impact on filling. Manufacturer imprint on barrel is weakened yet still fully legible. 

Details: Originally based in New York City, Mabie Todd was founded in 1859 by John Mabie, Edward Todd, and J. Sprague Bar. Their first fountain pen was made c.1878 and their Swan pens date back to c.1890.  In the late 1930s, Mabie Todd’s US factory started to produce some unusual models that bore less of a resemblance to their English counterparts. Like this example, they were modestly streamlined pens with plain arrow clips and unusual color patterns entirely unique to them.