The Swan Safety Screw Cap eyedropper pen was in production from 1911 to 1918. An eyedropper filler, it featured a screw cap with an inner sleeve that tightened against the flared end of the section to give an ink tight seal, hence the name. The style of the imprint on this pen was used in 1915.
The pen is constructed in hard rubber, the chasing is still clearly visible and the barrel and cap imprints quite clear. The surface is very good, the cap has the slight brown patina associated with hard rubber pens of this age. Conservative restoration principles are not consistent with abrading or reblacking this kind of patina, it is to be expected, and welcomed, after over a hundred years. The chasing, with a blank cartouche, is clear and the barrel imprint is very strong.
The nib assembly was disassembled, on an old pen it is often wise to leave the nib in situ but as this is an eyedropper I thought it would be better to be certain that the channels in the feed were clear. The nib is a 14Ct Gold size 2, the correct nib for a size 2 pen. It has a stub point, giving a wider vertical than horizontal line and also has flex so good line variation is available. The writing sample was produced with a full pen.
At 13.7 cm. capped and an impressive 16.8 cm. posted this is a long and elegant pen. The very light weight was an important consideration at a time when the fountain pen was an essential tool which could be used for long periods without fatigue.
At well over 100 years old the Swan Safety Screw Cap No. 2 is a rare pen and is not recommended as an 'every day' writer to be carried around in a pocket or bag. It is, however extremely 'usable' in that it still does what it was designed to do very, very, well. It is very tactile and comfortable in the hand and it is definitely a pen with a great deal of character, a great 'signature' pen.