Mabie Todd & Co "Swan" eyedropper.

[Shangas]

With the special "primitive" feed, does the nib give line variation?

 

Hey there

 

They're called "over-under" or "double" feeds. They were designed to deliver more ink to the nib in the days before reliable underfeeds (the regular feed we have today) were perfected. And yes, the nib is flexible.

 

Very nice.

 

I want a cool turn-of-the-century pen like that, too!

 

Start hunting! I only found this one through years of dilligent searching.

Edited June 27, 2010 by Shangas

[chunya]

Hi,

Thanks to this post I managed to get my eyedropper up and running, and been able to identify its manufacturing date to between 1910 - 1914. I only bought it this week on Ebay and paid what I thought was an incredibly low price of £15 + £2 p&p, but when it arrived it was gunged up and I was really too afraid to try to force it. But, I gave it a quick soak in warm water, the top screwed off, I've filled it with ink and it's working beautifully!

Many thanks!

Edited June 25, 2011 by chunya

[Shangas]

You're welcome Chunya. These old eyedropper pens last forever and a day. You really can't kill them. A bit of soap and water gets them moving again all the time.

 

...So...when do we get to see photos?

[chunya]

Hi

 

I took some today, but they didn't turn out to well :embarrassed_smile: ... I'll try again tomorrow.

 

Thanks again

 

Mario

[andybiotic]

ohh... you are lucky, the last time I soak my HB pen in water... it faded and become all rough and scaly... I would recommend the next time you do it, use a hair drier at a distance and use some gripping mat to unscrew it when it is warmed... but hey you had it done! Nice pen by the way!

Edited June 26, 2011 by andybiotic

[Shangas]

Thanks Andy.

 

There's two camps about HR pens. Some say soak, some say heat. I've always soaked my pens and I've never had them discolour on me. So I shall continue to do it.

 

The pen in this post continues to be one of my favourites. It's in my current rotation.

[chunya]

Hi,

 

Still not brilliant photos, but here they are ..

 

 

It is in far from perfect condition, there are a few scratches, and a few 'pock marks', but for its age its looking pretty good.

 

I hope that I was right in guessing its age, but if I was out at all, I'm sure someone will put me straight.

The nib has 'Mabie Todd Toronto' on it, and no 2.

 

I don't have very many pens, but I'll be posting more as soon as I can master the art of photographing them!

 

 

 

Many thanks!

 

Mario

[Shangas]

A very nice pen, Mario. It looks like it was much loved.

[Tinjapan]

I know this is an old thread, but I too just received a Mabie Todd Swan eye dropper and am trying to open it. I understand that it screws off...are the threads right or left handed?

[richardandtracy]

On my No. 2 (like Mario/Chunya's above) they are the usual right handed thread.

 

Regards,

 

Richard

[Tinjapan]

Thanks Richard!

 

Todd

[Cepasaccus]

Thanks. I have also a Mabie Todd & Co eyedropper, Made in England. Beautiful nib. It has just an underfeed and a plain but wide cap band. So I assume that it is nearer to 1914 than 1907.

 

Neither Mabie nor Todd but Cepasaccus

[Tinjapan]

Richard,

 

I got my pen apart finally, thanks for the information. Unfortunately, the twisted wire was lose inside the barrel and I don't know how to reattach it. Can you offer some advice?

 

Todd

[richardandtracy]

Twisted wire?

 

In my Swan there is no wire at all. I cannot imagine what it is for. I wonder if someone dropped it in a capillary break to enable the last drops to come out. I cannot imagine any other reason for it. My Swan is as simple as it's possible to get. There are 6 parts in the whole pen. A cap finial, the cap body, the nib, section, feed and barrel. No wire anywhere.

 

I'm baffled. Maybe someone else has seen this?

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[Tinjapan]

Richard,

 

If you look at the photo in post #10 you can see what I think is the twisted wire on the nib unit.

 

Todd

[richardandtracy]

?

Ahh.

It may be a capillary mechanism similar to the Parker 'Lucky Curve' feed to draw the ink back into the pen after you've stopped using it and have put it nib upright in your pocket.

 

Still have no idea whatsoever how to put it back, sorry.

 

Regards,

 

Richard

[Tinjapan]

Richard,

 

Thanks anyway.

 

Do you see what I'm talking about, though, in the photo? Yours does have one but works without problems?

 

Todd

[richardandtracy]

Mine doesn't have one and works OK.

 

Regards,

 

Richard

[Shangas]

That wire was in the pen when I purchased it. Exactly what its purpose is, I've no idea. I suspect that replacing it would be pretty easily done, by knocking the nib and feed out, and then stuffing them back in, along with one of those wire-and-plastic bag-tie thingies as a replacement.

 

But like I said, I don't know why it's there to begin with. I don't see if it gives the pen any sort of writing advantage. And if the pen works fine without it, I don't see a reason to bother replacing it.

 

Maybe someone with more knowledge about Swan eyedroppers can shed some light. I'm lost.

[Tinjapan]

Shangas,

 

I have the wire. It was lose inside the body so I don't need to replace it, i just wanted to put back into its rightful place. If it's not needed, I may try the pen with out it and set it aside until I figure out where it goes and how to put it back.

 

Thanks.

 

Todd