Can Anyone Help Me Find A Blue Esterbrook J

[Elle_]

I saw one and csnt get it out of my head. I am super fussy about nibs (not about size or type, but smoothness) but I could take it to a nibmeister if it was great otherwise. Not too particular about price, though I do t want to overpay.

 

I searched and checked all the websites mentioned in other Esterbrook J threads but couldn't find a blue. There was also a nib discussion I couldn't quite follow, but some of the posters are still around so I was hoping . . .

 

Any guidance would be appreciated.

 

ETA: I checked ebay and was at least able to find what I was looking for, but I am still not sure what nib to choose. I also tend to be more skeptical of ebay sellers, but this one has good reviews:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Esterbrook-J-Fountain-Pen-You-Choose-Color-and-Nib-/261600829142?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ce89fded6

Edited September 27, 2014 by Elle_

[pen lady]

That seems like a good price. When I sell Esties at a pen show, when you include the cost of shipping for this pen, the price is comparable. Of course in person, my customer can try out the nib, but really that's about the only difference. I'd say go for it if you really want the blue pen and it is a pretty colour.

[Venemo]

Esterbrooks are usually great pens, and the ones on your ebay link seem okay.

 

Here's a helpful website about Esterbrook nibs: http://www.esterbrook.net/nibs.shtml

I would generally recommend to try to go for 9xxx series nibs, but 2xxx are also good. Among the choices on your ebay link, the 2556 seems to be the best choice, but after all it's just a matter of taste.

[Elle_]

Esterbrooks are usually great pens, and the ones on your ebay link seem okay.

 

Here's a helpful website about Esterbrook nibs: http://www.esterbrook.net/nibs.shtml

I would generally recommend to try to go for 9xxx series nibs, but 2xxx are also good. Among the choices on your ebay link, the 2556 seems to be the best choice, but after all it's just a matter of taste.

Thank you, that is very helpful. I like a bit of flex, but maybe I'll get the pen then upgrade the nib if that's an easy fix.

[Elle_]

Good news for me: the ebay seller has a 9788 (extra-flexible medium) in stock and will include it on the pen for an extra charge. So I tbink I have found my pen. I am a little concerned about using a steel nib but I have a few good steels that give me hope.

[purplepen]

Have purchased from this seller before with good results.

[Elle_]

Good to know.

 

She says she has a gold relief nib with a slight bend. WDYT?

 

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271602158571

[Hobiwan]

Good to know.

 

She says she has a gold relief nib with a slight bend. WDYT?

 

 

You can't just put that one in a J-pen. Even if it's the right size, you'd have to disassemble a Renew Point nib unit and try to reassemble with the gold one. It may or may not fit correctly, but would take a lot of work. Those nibs are for the older "Relief" pens, made for Esterbrook by makers like Conway Stewart....

Edited September 27, 2014 by Hobiwan

[Elle_]

You can't just put that one in a J-pen. Even if it's the right size, you'd have to disassemble a Renew Point nib unit and try to reassemble with the gold one. It may or may not fit correctly, but would take a lot of work. Those nibs are for the older "Relief" pens, made for Esterbrook by makers like Conway Stewart....

Thank you. I messaged the seller to ask about that and haven't heard back. I am going to go ahead with buying the 9788 flex nib, medium.

Edited September 27, 2014 by Elle_

[Venemo]

Good news for me: the ebay seller has a 9788 (extra-flexible medium) in stock and will include it on the pen for an extra charge. So I tbink I have found my pen. I am a little concerned about using a steel nib but I have a few good steels that give me hope.

 

There is nothing wrong with Esterbrook steel nibs. They work very well, this is why so many people on this forum love Esterbrook pens. I say go for it.

[OcalaFlGuy]

That seller has one of The Largest Estie accumulations.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[penrivers]

Maybe Esterbrook nibs are one of the few things in the world you can buy blindfolded with a total confidence, they never fail I have 14, 9xx, 6xx, etc, and I still love my 1555 Gregg.

[Elle_]

Glad to hear good things about the seller. I messaged her yesterday saying i wanted the pen with the 9788 nib but haven't heard back. Fingers crossed.

[Elle_]

The pen arrived on Thursday. Absolutely gorgeous. The nib was a bit scratchy at first but I ran it over some fine grained sanding paper and it is smooth now. Very smooth. I may ask Mike Masuyama to put a stub on it next time I see him but for now it is very nice. I wouldn't mind another but I don't know what color I would want.

[ac12]

Ah another addict

[ScienceChick]

Welcome to Estieville. I'm also a recent convert (new resident?).

[pajaro]

Rather than stubbing a 9788, you might consider a 2284 or 9284 broad signature stub.

 

You might research the cost of the 2284 or 9284 on ebay. If you find that it doesn't scare you off, I have these nibs and can lend them through the loaner program, and you can see if you like them before committing to a purchase.

 

Like the Relief gold medium, which is an oblique (left oblique) nib, "Relief" implying oblique in Esterbrook terminology, there are the 2314 fine, medium and broad oblique stubs and the 9314 fine, medium and broad oblique stubs. You might see them as 9314-F, 9314-M and 9314-B for example. These nibs are usually less expensive than the 9284 stub.

 

Then there are the 2312 italic and 9312 italic nibs. These can be a little sharp in the corners, but you get line variation with them. I think they are the best thing about Esterbrook, but not everyone would share that view. These nibs can be costly, but I jumped on some bargains I found.

[inkstainedruth]

I was like Elle_ -- I had a variety of J series pens in various colors (and a goodly selection of mostly 9xxx nibs) but for the longest time blue ones escaped me. Most of the ones I saw on Ebay had really boring nibs (especially if it was a nib I already had) -- finally broke down and got one with a 2668 nib just to get a blue one (and it's the lighter shade).

The first one I saw in the wild was a cobalt (?) blue skunk (possibly an LJ or Transistional) and I didn't get it because I didn't know enough about vintage pens -- and of course months later when I went back to the store it was long gone....

Picked up a second blue one a couple of months back in the wild, in this teeny antiques shop in New Stanton, PA, which I wouldn't have known about except for the big honking sign right at the exit ramp off I-70 (I had been driving down US 119 and trying to find a turnaround spot to go to a place on the northbound side, and got dumped directly onto I-70 and then tried get off the highway at the first place possible) -- that one was also the lighter blue, but it had a 9556 nib on it.

I still want to get one of the darker blue ones at some point, though....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[penrivers]

I was like Elle_ -- I had a variety of J series pens in various colors (and a goodly selection of mostly 9xxx nibs) but for the longest time blue ones escaped me. Most of the ones I saw on Ebay had really boring nibs (especially if it was a nib I already had) -- finally broke down and got one with a 2668 nib just to get a blue one (and it's the lighter shade).

The first one I saw in the wild was a cobalt (?) blue skunk (possibly an LJ or Transistional) and I didn't get it because I didn't know enough about vintage pens -- and of course months later when I went back to the store it was long gone....

Picked up a second blue one a couple of months back in the wild, in this teeny antiques shop in New Stanton, PA, which I wouldn't have known about except for the big honking sign right at the exit ramp off I-70 (I had been driving down US 119 and trying to find a turnaround spot to go to a place on the northbound side, and got dumped directly onto I-70 and then tried get off the highway at the first place possible) -- that one was also the lighter blue, but it had a 9556 nib on it.

I still want to get one of the darker blue ones at some point, though....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

You are right Ruth, but why ?, if I find a blue one in the wild I inmediatly get it, no matter what nib it has, I supost you have ten Esterbrook spare nibs waiting for a fountain pen body no to mention the good one you have already in your actual rotation.

[ScienceChick]

Rather than stubbing a 9788, you might consider a 2284 or 9284 broad signature stub.

 

You might research the cost of the 2284 or 9284 on ebay. If you find that it doesn't scare you off, I have these nibs and can lend them through the loaner program, and you can see if you like them before committing to a purchase.

 

 

The price I've seen most often on eBay for a 2284 is $50, $75 for a 9284. Don't do it! No matter how much you want the nib, hold out for a reasonable price. <channeling OcalaFLGuy now> Monitor Anderson's Pens. Buy a crappy Estie with the nib you want for cheap. Hold out for reasonable. It does happen; I scored a 2284 (the desired) and a 2550 as a package deal for $25, no shipping. I was happy Now about that 9788 . . .