The Mabie Todd Swan 230 was one of a new range of Swan pens introduced in 1924, it first featured in an advert in the Punch magazine for Christmas 1925.
The pen cap is imprinted as a 'Swan SF 230', there is a clear imprint on the end of the barrel describing it as a '2 S-F M-BRD', signifying a size 2 nib flexing from medium to broad..
It is constructed in smooth, red hard rubber with a pattern variously described as 'wood grained', 'ripple', or 'mottled'. The rubber has an excellent finish with clearly legible imprints. The pen is missing the clip, reflected in the price. The clip slots in the cap are undamaged so a replacement clip could be fitted as one becomes available. The accommodation clip is a loosely fitted temporary measure.
The size 2, 14Ct. Gold nib was made in Toronto, not unusual as there was a close relationship between the Canadian and English branches at the time.
The 'self-filling' lever system is easy to use, works well, and takes up a good volume of ink. The nib has a heart shaped breather hole, it is stamped:
Mabie Todd & Co. Toronto. 2
During restoration I prefer not to disturb a nib that has probably been in position for about a hundred years without reason to do so.
The nib has relatively long tines, indicating that it may be flexible, and this proved to be the case. It writes with a medium to broad line with a super responsive flex giving good line variation. In the right hand and with a little practice I'm sure it would produce very impressive work. It's a pity my scrawl does it no justice.
When capped the 230 C is a fairly normal 14 cm. in length but when the cap is posted on the barrel it is an outrageously long 17 cm., six and three quarter inches 'in old money'. It's a very tactile and attractive pen, really quite splendid!
At almost a hundred years old, this is clearly a very collectable pen, it has age, rarity, quality, and condition. Although I obviously can't recommend that is should be carried around as an every day writer, I do think that pens such as this should be used and even shown off, that's the joy of owning one.