Reminder - meeting tomorrow (Thursday) !

➡️ All info in this post: https://www.vancouverpenclub.com/2025/04/april-meeting-info-back-to-our-usual.html 😁

Newest Acquisitions (Virtual "Show & Tell") ~ part 544

Hot on the heels of his two previous reviews, here's another write up sent in by Christopher! (thanks again for all the pen reviews, Christopher :)

(photo courtesy of Christopher ~ please click on image to enlarge)

Christopher writes:

"I have always been a great admirer of the vintage Waterman pens, whether a product before the Great War or one produced by the company near the end of the 1930s, regardless of Circa, they all are well worth having to enjoy. This particular number is a late 1930s Waterman's 94, a model that was well designed to sit perfectly in the hand for long periods of writing. Shorter but with a wider girth, the 94 was introduced in 1927/28 but stood the test of time to be discontinued by the Waterman Company at the end of the second World War. 

So, let's start off with the finish on this fine writing instrument. I would have to say it is a black and pearl with a thin red veined accent to accentuate the finish. The fittings that perfectly complement are a high gloss steel. This pen has a matching typical boxed Waterman lever filler that responsibly fills the interior ink sack impressively with only several strokes. The grip that sits atop the barrel is quite substantial and secures both a fine working Waterman feed and a spectacular Waterman Idea No.5, 14K Gold nib. This is not the sized nib that one would in fact expect in a Waterman 94, since that last numeral usually denotes the nib size in this case which should be a number 4. But I have seen a few other late 94s sporting number 5 nibs, so I note this as a blessing. This is a Canadian Waterman product in difference to the US version which seems to be more faithful to the number 4 size nib. The cap has sort of a thin stacked coins topping, which is very attractive as is the tapered flat ball ended clip. This clip is also chased just to add a finishing touch. At the other end of the pen, the barrel at its end is inscribed with the Waterman number coding for the model of 94. As for further dimensions, this pen posts at a full 6 inches. but caps back to 5 inches. Admittedly, I could not be more pleased to welcome this superb writing instrument into my vintage pen collection and I know it will see use regularly."

Newest Acquisitions (Virtual "Show & Tell") ~ part 543

Today we're featuring another one of Christopher's vintage finds, but this one has a surprising Canadian twist! Intrigued? Read on .... 

Christopher writes:

"In the last decade and a half, I have not had the good luck to find and secure a Mabie Todd fountain pen much earlier than the 1920s, but just the other day a lovely relic from the company's past came my way..."

 

(photo courtesy of Christopher ~ please click on image to enlarge)

 

 

"Well noted and inscribed on the barrel are the words 'MABIE TODD & CO.' and above 'THE SWAN PEN' with the early Swan logo just before it. But let me say that the finish on both the barrel and cap is a well-defined black chased vulcanized rubber. The cap is a long flat top, featuring the original early patent 1915 14K Gold filled tapered to a ball end clip. And to add further character to this covering and just above the clip, are the words inscribed, 'SCREW CAP TIGHTLY' with an instructional arrow indicating which way to screw the cap back onto the barrel --a wise directive in anyone's books. The barrel also is well marked on its flat bottom with the Mabie Todd pen model identification as C3 LSF. I am not too sure what the 'C' refers to but the 3 definitely relates to the size of nib and for that matter probably the overall size of the pen, which to my mind is quite substantial. The letters to follow could well identify this writing instrument as a lever self-filler which indeed it is.

The nib, which is supported in a good-sized grip, is most impressive both in size and writing ability. Plus, it is inscribed 14K Gold No.3 Mabie Todd Toronto. Yes, this was a pen sold out of the Mabie Todd. Toronto Canada office. Probably produced in the UK and shipped to Canada just after the Great War to be retailed. I have made comments about the size of this pen but, to be more exact, it posts at a full 6 ½ inches to sit well balanced in the hand, but caps back responsibly to a pocketable 5 ½ inches, just perfect for a breast pocket. All and all a perfect candidate for my vintage pen collection and one I am definitely looking forward to using."

Newest Acquisitions (Virtual "Show & Tell") ~ part 542

Christopher sent in a couple of reviews of recent acquisitions (both vintage---no surprise there!), so here's the first of the two...

He writes:

"I would like to say that this pen that I am currently reviewing was duly produced by the Eagle Pencil Company, but I would have to add that the jury is still out on that notion. But, and saying that, this particular writing instrument does definitely tick off all of the boxes for me.

The makeup sings strongly of a German heritage, but the filler is not really as commonplace for pens from the 'Fatherland', where the piston fillers seem to be the most common equation."

(photo courtesy of Christopher ~ please click on image to enlarge)

"Moving on to the design, I would have to say that this pen encapsulates the Art Deco movement. But let's take a look first at the pen's cap. Once again, somewhat German in its appearance with sort of a conical, onion dome shaped jet-black clip screw which, in turn, secures a (once again) German design lengthy ring clip. Just below this pocket pen holder is a double banding. Both the clip and these cap bands are 14K Gold filled and take us down, in turn, to the pen's barrel. 

But before I impart another word, I just have to say that the finish on both the cap and barrel is a most beautiful lapis blue pearl and black swirl, the result of which is simply stunning. The barrel is clear of any branding and being a button filler pen at the end of this barrel, there is a jet-black conical onion dome design blind cap . The button filler that it hides works extremely well, filling the pen with ink with only several firm presses. Back up to the business end, a well-designed grip secures both a responsible feed and a superb Eagle branded 14K Gold nib, with the country of origin being the good old US of A. As for size, this pen posts at a full 6 inches but caps back to a most pocketable 5 inches. And what is to become of this mystery pen? Well, whatever it is, an Eagle or otherwise, it is definitely destined to become part of my vintage pen collection."

Our thanks to Christopher for sharing his finds with us!

April meeting info! (Back to our usual time :)

Yes, we're back to our usual time (the third Thursday of the month)...and back to a familiar location, as well! Here are the deets.....

April meeting info:

When:  Thursday April 17, 2025

Where: Branch Meeting Room (in the basement) of the Vancouver Public Library's KITSILANO branch at 2425 Macdonald Street (between Broadway and West 8th) in Vancouver.

Time: 5:00pm - 7:30pm

Meeting themes/topics:

Primary topic: POCKET FOUNTAIN PENS!

Secondary topic: NEW ACQUISITIONS (pens/inks/stationery/accessories/etc).

Please try to limit your "show & tell" to 2-3 items per person, so everyone has a chance to speak; thanks in advance!

Hope to see you there! 😀 (and no need to RSVP, either)
Any questions? Please email us at vancouverpenclub@gmail.com