New Esterbrook J Pen

[bfg]

Finally, the new Esterbrook J pen appears at Fahrney's http://www.fahrneyspens.com/Item--i-30672S. Has anyone seen one in real life? From the Fahrney's add I am disappointed but not surprised. This seems like just another acrylic cc pen with a German nib. Then they have a special one with a sterling cap and grip http://www.fahrneyspens.com/Item--i-30671S?src=WFED0115SENTTOEL&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=Inhouse&utm_campaign=150122 Looks nice but $350 with a German steel nib?

 

An Esterbrook without interchangeable nibs is, in my opinion, no Esterbrook at all. It's sad to see great pen names like Esterbrook, Chilton and Mabie Todd return as likely Chinese-made mediocrities. Maybe the new maker will improve but it seems they don't really understand what Esterbrook was and, so far, I see no reason to buy one.

[TeaHive]

Ow, my guts. Something just kicked them.

[chad.trent]

Check out this thread: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/277581-esterbrook-brand-being-revived-this-december/

[spaceink]

Yeah, terrible idea to launch with these vomit-inducing pens. I'm not unrealistic enough to expect interchangeable nibs from a recently launched pen company, but they could at least have at least started off on the right cosmetic foot and heritage nod with at least a design actually related in some way to the Esterbrook classics.

 

Hope they'll correct this mistake and come out with better pens (and send these current offerings to the incinerator.)

Edited January 22, 2015 by spaceink

[Sasha Royale]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jinhao-250-Dark-Red-Fountain-Pen-Mdium-Nib-/321461644021?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ad89b6af5

 

I have several of these. They write very well. What do I get for the additional $343 ?

[Hobiwan]

ARRRRgh! Can one hear the anguished cries of 4 Richards, Ed Wood and Syd Longmaid (perhaps even D.J.)?

[SockAddict]

 

An Esterbrook without interchangeable nibs is, in my opinion, no Esterbrook at all. It's sad to see great pen names like Esterbrook, Chilton and Mabie Todd return as likely Chinese-made mediocrities. Maybe the new maker will improve but it seems they don't really understand what Esterbrook was and, so far, I see no reason to buy one.

 

Not only no interchangeable nibs, but only one nib, period! Seriously??

[terim]

This didn't bother me until I saw they actually call one model the Esterbrook J series! Why bother when it looks nothing like the J pens?

[gweimer1]

This didn't bother me until I saw they actually call one model the Esterbrook J series! Why bother when it looks nothing like the J pens?

 

The new Deluxe is also nothing like the original Deluxe.

[Bemo]

Well looking at the price and based on the pictures, this should be a self-limiting problem. I would expect (and hope) they will not be in business long. It's too bad Levenger didn't buy the rights to the name, they certainly would have treated it with more respect.

[Tom Heath]

Looks like no need for a test drive, Uggh

[benbot517]

The step-down from barrel to section looks brutal.

[inkstainedruth]

This didn't bother me until I saw they actually call one model the Esterbrook J series! Why bother when it looks nothing like the J pens?

+1 on that. Nah, make that +1000.

The thread discussing the new Esties (most of the posts along the line of "What were they thinking?") is up to 14 pages at last count.

This. This is why I've mostly gone the vintage route the last couple of years. I'm guessing that the new owners were looking at what Parker did with the reissued Duofolds (which at least have the grace to LOOK like Duofolds) and -- more recently -- the IM Vacumatics. Which of course don't look *anything* like Vacs, and certainly won't have the Vac fill system, but at least are (somewhat) attractive -- I've considered getting one, except for the bad taste modern Parkers have left in my mouth over the issues I've had with Urbans.

But these. No way in hell am I spending money on one of the "new" Esterbrooks. Not when I can find vintage J pens easily enough. With interchangeable nibs, no less -- I've built up a nice set of 9xxx nibs at this point, in particular -- and for a lot less cash than even the low end new Esties are listed for. Yes, a few of the really exotic nibs have eluded me so far (not paying more for a 9284 nib than I paid for a Plum Parker 51, thanks lots...) but I've done pretty well overall. And the vintage Js -- the mackerels -- just are, well, pretty. You can't say that about the "new" ones. Some of those blanks look just like the acrylic Konrad colors. And I'll take an acrylic Konrad over a new Estie any day of the week -- and for less money.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Ernst Bitterman]

Reading this and the other thread on the topic, and what I keep getting is the sense that one is spending a lot of money to get a "New N Improved!" item that looks only vaguely like that which it has the name of. Given modern society's failings, this shouldn't surprise. For example, after spending a lot of money for "New N Improved"....

 

Edited January 27, 2015 by Ernst Bitterman