Mabie Todd : Sos... Save The Bird!

[Wet-Noodle]

I've seen something this morning that puts me in a campaigning mood. One butcher by the name of Womble1962 is apparently stripping gold nibs from fountain pens, (and doubtless anything else he/ she can get at) and selling the remains " for parts or repair" I think that this heathen, heid banging philistine, who sells the purist dross, should be bombarded with messages. See:

http://www.ebay.fr/sch/m.html?item=351349542960&ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%253A80%252Frover%252F0%252Fe11010.m2368.l3160%252F7%253Feuid%253D71a9939dc1a243c59475241194a55afa%2526loc%253Dhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ebay.fr%25252Fitm%25252F351349542960%25253F_trksid%25253Dp11010.c100136.m2769%252526_trkparms%25253Daid%2525253D555012%25252526algo%2525253DPW.MBE%25252526ao%2525253D1%25252526asc%2525253D20140212115136%25252526meid%2525253Da76ed1d692014051a70e0f36a9aa1b2b%25252526pid%2525253D100136%25252526rk%2525253D1%25252526rkt%2525253D12%25252526sd%2525253D301561760653%25252F%25253FssPageName%25253DADME%25253AB%25253AWNA%25253AFR%25253A3160%2526srcrot%253De11010.m2368.l3160&_ssn=womble1962&rt=nc

 

What about a "save Mabie Todd" thread that would willingly accept other maker's fans? I think I'll start a thread right now and send this heathen a link.

[Wet-Noodle]

Hello Goudy,

I too wondered if this vandal might not be an innocent, so I trawled through his/ her depressing eBay offerings and all the pens of all makes that offer gold nibs have had them stripped. This is a big seller and I think the evidence is there. However, this person does have the right of reply, so I've sent an email with a link to the new FPN thread. If this wee soul isn't the culprit then maybe he/ she/ it can say so, and just maybe give us a clue as to who is butchering such things. As you say, as scrap gold nibs have a pathetic value, if whoever is doing it had an ounce of brain matter they would discover what a complete pen's worth. Dumbo!

 

Really these pens and other butchered things, such as gold and silver pocket watches, are our heritage (I dislike that over-used word, but it fits here). Such beautiful things have often survived two World Wars and everything else we've put in their way, only to fall prey to petty, mindless greed.

[Alexcat]

I've seen something this morning that puts me in a campaigning mood. One butcher by the name of Womble1962 is apparently stripping gold nibs from fountain pens, (and doubtless anything else he/ she can get at) and selling the remains " for parts or repair" I think that this heathen, heid banging philistine, who sells the purist dross, should be bombarded with messages. See:

http://www.ebay.fr/sch/m.html?item=351349542960&ul_ref=http%3A%2F%2Frover.ebay.com%3A80%2Frover%2F0%2Fe11010.m2368.l3160%2F7%3Feuid%3D71a9939dc1a243c59475241194a55afa%26loc%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.fr%252Fitm%252F351349542960%253F_trksid%253Dp11010.c100136.m2769%2526_trkparms%253Daid%25253D555012%252526algo%25253DPW.MBE%252526ao%25253D1%252526asc%25253D20140212115136%252526meid%25253Da76ed1d692014051a70e0f36a9aa1b2b%252526pid%25253D100136%252526rk%25253D1%252526rkt%25253D12%252526sd%25253D301561760653%252F%253FssPageName%253DADME%253AB%253AWNA%253AFR%253A3160%26srcrot%3De11010.m2368.l3160&_ssn=womble1962&rt=nc

What about a "save Mabie Todd" thread that would willingly accept other maker's fans? I think I'll start a thread right now and send this heathen a link.

Excellent idea( and thank you for the moment of 'solidarity'(not really the word I want, but can't think of a better one)I got on seeing this......

 

"his heathen, heid banging philistine"

 

Gaun yersel'

 

Alex

[Scrawler]

There is very little gold value in a nib. He is doing himself a disfavour. He would get far more for those pens with nibs attached.

[Cob]

I am regularly in despair with the modern world; it is not clear however to me that this individual is removing the nibs from these pens; it could easily be some other cretin could it not?

 

Either way it is most depressing - for the pens and the fact that there are so many stupid people.

 

Cob

[Wet-Noodle]

I am regularly in despair with the modern world; it is not clear however to me that this individual is removing the nibs from these pens; it could easily be some other cretin could it not?

 

Either way it is most depressing - for the pens and the fact that there are so many stupid people.

 

Cob

It's not that clear to me either Cob, yes indeed it could be some other cretin, but then this person is offering quite a selection of ruined pens and if 'Womble1962' is not the culprit, it might be wise to make a suitable comment about how desperate Womble1962 is to find a good refuge for these battered pieces. This is the fountain pen version of FGM and I can't stand it.

 

Womble1962 if you are out there, (you do have this link) do please explain, if it wasn't you can you please tell us where you purchased or found these maimed works of art?

[Goudy]

Another way of looking at it is that these nibless pens may be bought by someone who eventually teams them up with penless nibs, such as these for example. It's like a dating service for Swans

[Cob]

Another way of looking at it is that these nibless pens may be bought by someone who eventually teams them up with penless nibs, such as these for example. It's like a dating service for Swans

Excellent Goudy - and matches perfectly your avatar.

 

I have a few Swan nibs - and a lot more wrecked barrels and caps so I shall have ot watch these mutilated pens.

 

Cob

[Wet-Noodle]

Excellent! I've started the Wet-Noodle dating agency. Of course lots of things are possible, they might all have been involved in some awful multiple car smash. Or as young pens they were loaded with too much sugar laden fizzy ink, what if the Gestapo got them and pulled out their nibs?

 

Whatever, they could indeed resurrect orphan nibs, I certainly hope that they do. All we need is some better information about these victims from Womble1962, then we might know what we could buy... rather than just a fistful of 2 or three toothless wonders.

 

Come on Womble, give it to us here on this thread why don't you? You'd be very welcome and could make some dosh.

 

Don't be shy, give it a try

Wet-Noodle's Dating Agency

Won't make you cry.

[Scrawler]

I don't think that 'Wet Noodle' is the most apposite name for a dating site.

I do.

[Wet-Noodle]

Scrawler REALLY! Well actually so do I. Is this 'Off Topic" or an off topic? The first one to say "both" is a cissy.

Edited March 23, 2015 by Wet-Noodle

[Cob]

Here's an "off topic" - no Swans today; I have been working on Onotos! They are both ancient, but the really old one is the ultmate wet-noodle! EF - BBB - no problem..

 

And if Womble wants to remove my nibs, he'll get more than a thick ear!

 

Cob

 

Edited March 23, 2015 by Cob

[Cob]

Love that "1000". One day... (Hey, a man can dream, yes?)

Well I have one up on eBay at present, and I have, apart from the one shown above, three more. They all have different nibs; two are the plain version - no bands and two of the pens have normal - i.e. not over/under feeds.

 

How's the Swan?

 

All the best

 

Cob

[Wet-Noodle]

Bonjour Carboard_Tube, You have a Cob Swan loaded with Salix too! Hard to beat really. I'm in the Dog House with Cob because I diluted a little R&K Sepia and had the affront to present it to the great unwashed for inspection. Cob was hugely unimpressed.... so was everyone else for that matter. I think the verdict was weak ditchwater. Salix is hard to beat isn't it?

 

Cob - broke and penny less I'm now following an Onoto or two. By the left... Quick march! Onoto, Onoto... It's a long way to Tipperary.... Oh boy, that 1000 is to lust after init?

[Wet-Noodle]

Yes, Scabiosa is a great ink, really very nice in my Cob Swan 100/60, what a nice little pen with such a willing and expressive No1 nib, tremendous bouncy flex. I was watching a documentary about medieval books in the new and disastrous French National Library, when they started talking about Iron Gall ink. "Oh I use that" I said to Dom my French wife "No, the monks made it themselves" she said "but I use it too", "no,no, they made it themselves...." At which point the commentary pointed out "and tragically the Iron Gall ink is destroying this beautiful manuscript" he turns a page and it's full of holes burnt through by the tannic acid, "you could strain spaghetti with that page" I said "No, no, it's an ancient book! says outraged Dom".

"I use that wonderful ink too" I tried again "A German company make it with an alternative form of oak acid and old coffin nails".

"No, no, says my wife, THEY MADE IT THEMSELVES!" I poured a cup of tea, and thought "This is how WWI started."

[Cob]

[snip]

"No, no, says my wife, THEY MADE IT THEMSELVES!" I poured a cup of tea, and thought "This is how WWI started."

Ha ha ha excellent!

 

Cob

[Wet-Noodle]

Does anyone know what Mabie Todd used to alloy their 14C gold? Was it silver, nickel, both or something more exotic, platinum maybe? I doubt that somehow, I have an idea that platinum hardens gold.

 

I wonder if Mabie Todd produced the alloy themselves, or had various different mixes to produce different nib flexes? And finally, who has an ex-fabulous flexible but broken nib that could be analysed?

 

My 3261 #3 nib is a strange one, it has loads of flex from very fine to very broad but not that much in between. It's willing but stiff and a mile away from my ex-Cob 100/60 which by comparison is a trampoline.

[Goudy]

Interesting question. You could try a patent search for MT's alloy formula, but, as this thread points out...

 

Formulas? Written in chalk on a slate...don't want any paper around due to
safety. It is always a work in progress with vintage nibs - take a handful of
vintage nibs from anyone's parts drawer and you'll have a couple hundred
divergent alloys! Manufacturers changed their alloy from time to time -
especially those in Europe (due to war, inflation, economic or company
problems) whereas Parker and Sheaffer are remarkably consistent over the
decades (excluding Parker UK). Large Swan nibs tend to be consistent overseas
though. The numerous formulas are needed IF one is to change a nib to a flex
nib WITHOUT causing any change in the original nib imprint.

 

 

[Cob]

I have read that when repairing cracked nibs one must be careful to heat-sink the tines as they are heat treated. From this I deduce that flexibility may in part be ascribed to the heat treatment applied as much as to the alloy. Additionally of course one must factor in the thickness and shape of the nib too!

 

Cob

[Scrawler]

I have read that when repairing cracked nibs one must be careful to heat-sink the tines as they are heat treated. From this I deduce that flexibility may in part be ascribed to the heat treatment applied as much as to the alloy. Additionally of course one must factor in the thickness and shape of the nib too!

 

Cob

One of the factors in the production of flexible nibs, is the craftsman's skill in tempering the metal. You are correct that shape and alloy are also factors, but heating a nib incorrectly is the one thing we can all do. If you heat a nib to the point the temper goes, you will have a soft thing that will not spring back. There are very few craftsmen left who can fix that for you. There are a few who can gold solder, or weld them, but their services are expensive. I have a friend who has recently obtained the equipment for gold soldering, and I have given him some old Watermans to practice on.