Getting Started - Swan Pens From The Dc Show

[MarcShiman]

This is something of a warmup - for lack of a better post, here are some reason acquisitions from the DC Pen Show... I was really hunting Swans, and there were plenty:

 

 

I really like those wide-band BCHR pens from the early 20's, although I haven't found any of the largest size (6 and 8).

 

Then the slightly later pens:

 

 

The Red Hard Rubber is curious. According to Moak's book, RHR was discontinued for the second generation. However, this RHR has a newer clip and it doesn't have the cap band on the top of the cap (compare with the MHR next to it).

 

It was clearly a "leftover"

Edited August 24, 2015 by MarcShiman

[Cob]

Yes I find those wide-banded noes very attractive - especially in view of the beautiful detail on the bands.

 

And I suppose they all have glorious nibs too. Well I say that, but recently, being in general an enthusiast for MT NY nibs, I bought two tatty old BHR Swans for their nibs: one a 3 and the other a 4. Naively I was hoping for some of that lovely NY flex in the larger sizes.

 

I was very disappointed!

 

Cob

[Greenie]

Dang! I have to go to more shows.

 

The black and gold ones strike a cord with me as well, but have been hard to find. I always try to buy them when I can.

 

Maybe to keep from having a long rambling topic -

Topic list:

Black and Gold

Eternals

What do we call the other list? - 142s and 242s? Early colored celluloid?

[Goudy]

The Red Hard Rubber is curious. According to Moak's book, RHR was discontinued for the second generation. However, this RHR has a newer clip and it doesn't have the cap band on the top of the cap (compare with the MHR next to it).

 

It was clearly a "leftover"

 

Any idea why Red Hard Rubber was discontinued? I've read that RHR can become brittle over time. Would Mabie Todd have been noticing that problem already, and stopped making RHR pens for that reason?

[MarcShiman]

I would imagine so. It was right around this time that Parker, Wahl, and Conklin (1928) discontinued their RHR pens as well. I don't know if new RHR is brittle or if its brittle as it ages, or there's a cost thing, or there was a poor customer response.

[pen2paper]

I would imagine so. It was right around this time that Parker, Wahl, and Conklin (1928) discontinued their RHR pens as well. I don't know if new RHR is brittle or if its brittle as it ages, or there's a cost thing, or there was a poor customer response.

quick share on the run. have read past discussions of material changes.. possible reasons: rubber not/or less available due to quality issues, tariffs/financial world issues (see early trade journals "Rubber World" ?), one company (Waterman) cornering a material out of the market for awhile requiring alternate materials, colorful eye-appeal celluloid available, and it's manufacture with cure times was an expense. If you had old stock or it was requested, a company would surely use its remainders.

[sidthecat]

That second one from the right in the first photo...I have the ringtop version of it. The nib says simply: "Swan".

In the shop, of course.

[FredRydr]

The addition of the red material weakens the hard rubber, but my bet is that the look was just too old fashion as the brightly colored plastics were coming on strong.

 

But I like my mottled Eternal!

 

Fred

[mkeeley]

Nice pens, especially like the black rubber with the coloured bands, think I saw Cob had a red banded one (or blue, or something!). The top left ones look to be a decent size too although it could just be that the ones on the right are tiny.

[Cob]

Nice pens, especially like the black rubber with the coloured bands, think I saw Cob had a red banded one (or blue, or something!). The top left ones look to be a decent size too although it could just be that the ones on the right are tiny.

Mine is a 142/54 - 6th from the left in Marc's first picture. It is 138mm long capped.

 

Cob

[Ana_]

WOW, 3, 4, & 6 from the first photo are amazing. *gulp* I think i'm going to have to save harder than I thought for the next pen show.. in SF? or... uhm.. maybe DC! hmmm, but if I go to DC, maybe I should just go to London. Cob, what's the heartiest Swan presence FP show in the UK? I saw that there are several there representing different areas. I'm planning a UK trip for 2016, may as well coincide it with a heavily Swan laden pen show!

 

In the 2nd photo I love that first blue one, a very lapis lazuli tinge to it. Gorgeous... just... oh.. yep!

[Cob]

WOW, 3, 4, & 6 from the first photo are amazing. *gulp* I think i'm going to have to save harder than I thought for the next pen show.. in SF? or... uhm.. maybe DC! hmmm, but if I go to DC, maybe I should just go to London. Cob, what's the heartiest Swan presence FP show in the UK? I saw that there are several there representing different areas. I'm planning a UK trip for 2016, may as well coincide it with a heavily Swan laden pen show!

 

In the 2nd photo I love that first blue one, a very lapis lazuli tinge to it. Gorgeous... just... oh.. yep!

Ana:

 

Your best bet would be the largest English show which is held in London at the beginning of October; organised by the Writing Equipment Society, it is appropriately called The Writing Equipment Show. I went last year and there were certainly plenty of Swans. I shall miss it this year because I shall be on holiday, which will probably be helpful to my pocket - mind you ebay is bad enough - plenty of MTs on English ebay!

 

Edit: yes the Lapis is lovely - I once had one, a 242/52 but sold it because I didn't like the nib!

 

Rgds

 

Cob

Edited September 5, 2015 by Cob