Mabie Todd Blackbird

[PAKMAN]

Very good review! Your written review looks like you've got pretty good control of that nib already!

[Pepin]

Very Nice Pens

[jccjr]

Thanks for posting this. Helpful review plus some useful comments.

[Ursus]

I don't have a heavy hand, but the angle I hold my pen at is a problem, and most often I will end up having the nib catching on the paper entirely of it's own freewill.

I can warmly recommed changing the way you hold your pen. When I write with flex nibs I keep the pen in a 90 degree angle away from the body to avoid feeding the paper to my fountain pen. It is only possible to make a broad line when the pen is dragged in a line parralel to the pen and in the opposite direction of the nib. Otherwise the nib will try digging its way down to China.

[Ursus]

My experience with early Mabie Todds has been that the flex is moderate and certainly not Waterman 'noodly'.

 

I agree. The quality of old nibs is however not very constant so it may be possible to find some with a really great flex. I have a Swan that writes rather well and with quite a lot of flex (although I would not agree with the seller who called it a wet noodle).

[Ursus]

 

I am looking at a Mabie Todd Swallow XF flex from the early 20s. It's in near mint condition. Does the fact that it's a Swallow mean I shouldn't get it and instead get a GF Swan extra-fine flex instead?

 

Flex lowers usually talk about the Swans so I would suggest sticking to them. If you cannot try the pen before buying it (if it's sold on the web) it is a good idea to find a very reliable seller with good feedback and good descriptions of his pens (with correct terminology and no obvious errors). You should be happy about being in the US as there are so many great flex people over there (in Europe it is impossible to find knowledgeable sellers when it comes to flex and you cannot import pens from the US without getting a huge bill from the tax office).

[paultummers]

I am fairly new into Mabie&Todd's pens, had Parkers and Pelikans for most of my life, but I recently stumbled over an old green marbled Blackbird with a flat top cap and a small clip. apart from the Mabie Todd imprints there is on the end of the barrel " BB 205B/45" . I got this pen without a nib or feed and would love to restore it in writing condition, preferably with a semi-flex Medium nib. It resembles exactly the pen my late father had when I was still a child , now over 55 years agoo and which accompanied him throughout the war. When somebody is able to help me out in this, please do contact me, my emailadress; paultummers1951@hotmail.com

 

Thank you very much!

 

Paul Tummers,

 

The Netherlands.