The immediate post war Mabie Todd Swan pens were either 'torpedo' or 'cigar' shaped, replacing the earlier 'flat top' design. This Swan pen is a distinctly cigar shaped lever filler in mid blue so, although it is not numbered, it is a 3170.
The 3170, characterised by the screw in section and sprung filler lever, appeared around 1948 and production ceased in 1952. This is an earlier variant, later pens had metal threads on the section.
The Swan numbering system at the time was refreshingly clear: '3' is a lever filler, '1' is the nib size, and '70' is the colour code for pastel blue, the darker blue has the code '20'.
The pen has been restored and tested with a new ink sac fitted as the original had hardened with age. The ink sac I removed was the original Mabie Todd sac, showing that this was the first restoration and the pen had not been used for a few decades. It is now in excellent working condition with a good surface and crisp barrel imprints. The rolled gold clip has also held up very well.
The nib is a 14Ct Gold Phillips Oxford, in the 1950s all production and repairs to Swan pens was handed over to R.C. Phillips Ltd., a renowned manufacturer of Gold nibs. One of the Swan pens produced by Phillips was called the 'Swan Oxford'. The nib on this pen is probably a factory replacement by Phillips, although they had a ong term rellationship with Mabie Todd and it is ossible that some of the unnumbered pens were fitted with Swan Oxford nibs when new.
The nib produces a fine line but flexes to medium with a little pressure. The line width variation adds character to the writing and would be very effective in the right hands.
The Swan pens were amongst the world leaders with respect to quality and writing ability. This 3170 is a fine example, quite collectable but also ready to serve as an attractive and unusual daily writer.