Another Mabie Todd Curiosity

June 21, 2016

I believe I can date this find exactly - not generally easy of course. I am practically certain that this pen was sold in 1952, the year that Mabie Todd & Co Ltd became (so sadly) Biro Swan Ltd.

Who here has heard of a Swan Jackdaw? No, neither had I! But here it is:

The pen is pale green and correctly stamped 3172 at the end of the barrel. Note the sticker added to the box - the missing part of the Biro Swan sticker shows a number - 41; this box is therefore old stock carrying the former W1 address of Mabie Todd - 41 Park St, Mayfair.

Jackdaw? Have a look:

I believe I can imagine that at what remained of Mabie Todd at that time, there was chaos. There would have been half-finished pens everywhere, people sticking Biro Swan stickers on old boxes &c. I suppose they thought that they might resurrect the Jackdaw name for cheap line pens - like this one with its No 1 size and chrome-plated fittings.

However the pen is a credit to its makers and apart from the nib is in excellent condition. The pen came with a rather nasty bi-coloured stainless steel nib. Fortunately I have Swan 1 nibs and feel inclined to restore the pen to its former Mabie Todd glory - when it was manufactured, just before nemesis struck and the over stamping and stickering began!

I am certain that Mabie Todd and even Biro Swan, never sank to fitting steel nibs, preferring to close their doors in 1958 or thereabouts.

All the best

Cob

Edited June 21, 2016 by Cob

June 23, 2016

Curiosity indeed! Great find, and thank you for sharing it!

June 23, 2016

I have a Swan BCHR pen (cannot show picture because I do l do not know how to upload). I cannot find any information about a model 5c (on cap) or C5 on the barrel end. The imprint on the barrel and the nib say that it was manufactured in Toronto. It has a split filler lever. Anyone know anything about this one?

June 23, 2016

I have a Swan BCHR pen (cannot show picture because I do l do not know how to upload). I cannot find any information about a model 5c (on cap) or C5 on the barrel end. The imprint on the barrel and the nib say that it was manufactured in Toronto. It has a split filler lever. Anyone know anything about this one?

Best to start a new thread for this question, so it isn't buried inside another topic.