This early Swan eyedropper a rare, and historically significant pen, I apolgise, in advance, for the lengthy description but felt in necessary to give more detail than usual. Please feel free to skip the boring bits!
The 'Mabie Todd & Bard' imprint, used from 1873, reverted to the original 'Mabie Todd & co.' in 1907, placing this pen firmly before that date. The first 'Swan' pens, which appeared around 1890, featured the 'stepped' section design, as in this pen. A study of the advertisements from around this time shows that by 1900 this had changed to a straighter section, suggesting that this model was produced before the turn of the century. The imprints on the pen also date it to before 1902, as discussed later.
The pen is constructed in hard rubber with a chased pattern with a gold filled cap band and elaborate finials to the cap and barrel ends. I make the assumption that the bands are gold filled rather than gold because there is no hallmark but there is no sign of 'brassing' as far as I can discern.
The condition of the pen is truly outsatanding, it seems odd to describe an antique pen as 'near mint' but that is the case here. The pen shows no discolouration and is free from scratches or other blemishes. The chasing is sharp and the imprint, which is crisp and clear, reads:
The Swan Pen
Pat. Feb.8.81. Feb21.82. Mar.6.88.
Trade Mark Mabie Todd & Bard New York
The nib is also imprintred: Mabie Todd & Bard New York. It is supported by an ebonite 'over and under' feed with the correct long stem and twisted silver wire. The pen was filled for testing and then flushed clean. It writes well, delivering a medium line with a good amount of flex.
The New York pens were first exported to the U.K. for the opening of the London office in 1884.
The most salient feature of the pen is the 'bayonet' style locking mechanism used to secure the cap. The fixed eyelets and chain were designed to allow the pen to be attached to a 'chatelaine', a sash worn around the waist to carry keys and other implements. Chatelaine pens also found favour with men, to be worn on a watch chain.
On the cap finial and band are two sequential numbers: RD 303253 and RD 303254. These are registration numbers intended to give some protection to a particular feature pending a patent application, if one were to be made. Numbers 303253 and 303254 were registered by Mabie Todd & Bard on 23th August 1897.
The first number referred to the bayonet cap fitting and was worded: 'Cap attachment for fountain pen holders', the second number concerned the fixed eyelet and chain arrangement with the wording :'Suspension attachment for fountain pen holders'. The registration numbers expired in 1902, when the patent was granted. The Mabie Todd & Bard patent No. 4248 was granted on 19th February 1902 with the description: 'Bayonet and twist locking collar on chatelaine pens'. The pen does not have the 1902 patent, suggesting it was made before that year.
Considering all the information available, the date range for the pen is between 1887 and 1902. It is a highly collectable item with quality, condition, and rarity.