The Mabie Todd Swan 4250 is one of the first 'torpedo' shaped leverless Swans, introduced around 1949. The Swan numbering system is less mysterious than most: The first digit, '4', was used for leverless fillers, the second digit. '2' means a nib size 2, and the '50' is a colour code for black.
The pen has been fully serviced and tested and is in excellent working condition. It has a good surface, clear imprints, and pristine Gold filling to the clip and triple cap bands.
The leverless filling system, a Mabie Todd patent, is very efficient and easy to use. The button is given about a half turn to compress the ink sac the tightened to release it and draw in ink. It takes up a good volume of ink with a single operation.
The 14 Ct. Gold No. 2 nib is a comfortable and easy writer, requiring only the lightest of touches. It produces a super smooth medium line and has a soft feel which allows a very small but effective line variation.
The Swan 4250, one of the less common leverless Swans, is quite collectable, particularly in such good condition. It would also make an eye-catching and reliable daily writer.