I could not resist this ink bottle & bakelite case. It was made in England during the period 1930-1939 by Mabie Todd & Co Ltd. The case is ridged and has a screw top lid that is domed with "fins". The top has a flat centre embossed with a swan on a river with foliage with the words "Swan Ink" embossed around the edge of the top, a letter between each "fin". The base of the case has a swan amongst foliage with "Trade Mark" below the same and the words "Mabie Todd & Co Ltd "Swan Ink Made in England" around the outer edge. The bottle has an internal coiled metal spring to push up the ink bottle when the lid is unscrewed. The base of the clear glass bottle is embossed with "REGd Nd 728127" and has a shaped back and a black metal screw top. This is a really great object.
Approximate dimensions:
Weight: 5.4ozs - 153gms
Height: 3.9ins - 9.9cms
Diameter: 2.36cms - 6cms
Mabie Todd & Co Ltd
Mabie Todd originated in New York America in the 1860s when Mr. Todd and Mr. Mabie began making pencil cases and pen holders. In 1873 the company was joined by gold nib makers the Bard brothers becoming Mabie Todd & Bard.
The first Swan fountain pen was produced in 1884.
In 1884 an office was set up in England with a showroom in Cheapside, London. Larger showrooms were opened in High Holborn in 1905. The American company dropped the name Bard in 1906 and the English company subsequently used the name Mabie Todd & Co. New York.
Production in England only started in 1907 using nibs imported from New York. In 1915 the American company sold the rights to all European and colonial business to Mabie Todd & Company Ltd of England.
The importation of parts from America gradually decreased and by the end of the 1930s Mabie Todd were in full production in England, manufacturing pens in London, gold nibs in Birmingham and ink in Liverpool.
In 1936 Mabie Todd established its new headquarters at Sunderland House, Mayfair, London. Sunderland House and the main London factory were destroyed during the Blitz but durng WWII, the company’s main production was wartime components and proper pen production did not start again until 1946.
In 1948 Mabie Todd went public but already the demand for ballpoint pens was overtaking that for fountain pens. In 1952 they became Biro Swan following a large share buy out by Biro and despite the introduction of new ranges the company closed in 1956.
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