Jump to content

I Want An Esterbrook

grrtt

By grrtt
in Esterbrook

 Share

Recommended Posts

grrtt New

grrtt

Posted
Posted

Hey all you Estie experts,

 

I'm a fountain pen noob, but after reading around the forum about Esterbrooks, and subsequently shopping around on ebay, I've decided that in the near future I might like an Esterbrook in my collection.

 

I'm probably opening a huge can of worms here, but what should I get and why? What's a good model for a first Esterbrook experience? Also, what should I pay for it? Any other recommendations?

-grrtt-

 

nibwise.wordpress.com: One man's journey toward fountain pen enlightenment.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Replies 15
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • OcalaFlGuy

    2

  • Chouffleur

    2

  • pajaro

    1

  • Charles Rice

    1

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

bbycrts Rare

bbycrts

Posted
Posted

A standard J in your favorite color is a great way to start. I'd look for a nicely restored one (polished, new sac, good nib). Look for a 9xxx series nib as they are "osmiridium" tipped - harder material that has probably withstood the years better (though there are still plenty of brand new ones available).

 

The J is the largest size (though I would call it average in comparison to the whole world of fountain pens).

 

I believe there is a good seller of restored Esterbrooks on Etsy.com, though I can't vouch for them. I have read good things about their work, however.

 

My favorite Esterbrook is a blue SJ - the tiny size goes well with a tiny journal and is easy to carry around. My second choice is a demi-size dollar pen, but I have small hands and appreciate just what a nice pen these little guys are.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Charles Rice Collectors Item

Charles Rice

Posted
Posted

If you can't find one for really cheap or free at a garage sale or from some older friend, you are not trying.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
pajaro Museum Piece

pajaro

Posted
Posted

Better to get hooked on these than something much more costly. They are American too.

"Don't hurry, don't worry. It's better to be late at the Golden Gate than to arrive in Hell on time."
--Sign in a bar and grill, Ormond Beach, Florida, 1960.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 1 month later...
cynthiaavalos New

cynthiaavalos

Posted
Posted

I have a red Esterbrook fountain pen to sell. I believe the nib says 1554 on it. I don't know much about pens but would be happy to sell this to someone who appreciates them. Email me at picketfences3@gmail.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Chouffleur Extremely Rare

Chouffleur

Posted
Posted

Great link. Thanks.

 

Here's an example of a "J" that probably won't be too costly: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ESTERBROOK-BLACK-DOUBLE-JEWEL-FOUNTAIN-PEN-2668-NIB-/191607247748?

 

This one will require repair so it will probably go fairly cheap. I have now done this repair (re-sac) on an Estie with no problem and I started on this hobby a month after you posted your question so it's not particularly difficult. Already fixed will cost a bit more. I steered you toward a 'J' because that seemed to be the general consensus. depending on what feels comfortable in *your* hand, an "LJ" (Yay!) or "SJ" might be more appropiate. I'd start by looking at the Pay It Forward, Loaner Programs & Group Buys to try out an Estie. I already had an LJ on hand so I skipped this step.

 

Have fun.

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/profile/123018-chouffleur/?tab=field_core_pfield_37

Link to comment
Share on other sites
esterbrookj Near Mint

esterbrookj

Posted
Posted

I really like my Esterbrook J. Some of them came in really pretty colors, but even the plain black ones are handsome. Pick one at a good low price and buy it. You may want to consider one of the iridium-tipped nibs, though; they will last much longer.

 

-Evan

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ac12 Donor Pen

ac12

Posted
Posted

First FIT. And that depends on your hand.

The larger J would be appropriate for most guys.

The thinner LJ for people with smaller hands, or like me who prefer slimline pens.

The SJ is simply a shorter LJ, if you like shorter pens.

 

Unless you have resaced pens before, I recommend you buy a pen that has had its sac replaced. Even if still flexible, a 40+ year old sac could fail next week. So you either buy it resaced, or you will have to pay someone to resac the pen for you + shipping to/from them. Generally, it is cheaper to buy a pen that has been resaced, as the added cost to ship to, resac, ship back will add up. The most dangerous part of resacing is removing the section. If it is loose, you are lucky. If it is TIGHT, you are unlucky and that section will take work to remove without damaging or destroying the body (been there done that, and they are in my AW SH*T box :( ).

 

If you don't intend to use the pen a lot, you can save $ by getting one with a 1xxx or 2xxx series nib, rather than the more expensive 9xxx series nib.

 

The J series come in 6 colors, so choose your favorite color; red, copper, green, blue, grey and black.

Except for black, there are variations of the 5 colors (light or dark), depending on how the plastics were loaded into the machinery at the factory.

 

gud luk on your quest

San Francisco Pen Show - August 28-30, 2020 - Redwood City, California

www.SFPenShow.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites
AAAndrew Antique

AAAndrew

Posted
Posted

 

 

One line in this great doc intrigued me. "There are methods using common household materials to polish an Esterbrook you've re-sacced for $2 to a mirror like, better than new finish."

 

Details?

 

“When the historians of education do equal and exact justice to all who have contributed toward educational progress, they will devote several pages to those revolutionists who invented steel pens and blackboards.” V.T. Thayer, 1928

Check out my Steel Pen Blog. 

"No one is exempt from talking nonsense; the mistake is to do it solemnly."

-Montaigne

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ink-syringe Collectors Item

ink-syringe

Posted
Posted

A standard J is also what I am looking for. (Also on the hunt to find a 2312 or 9312 nib.)

Looking for a cap for a Sheaffer Touchdown Sentinel Deluxe Fat version

Link to comment
Share on other sites
gweimer1 Antique

gweimer1

Posted
Posted

The nice thing is that you don't have to wait to get both together. You can find the J you want, and continue looking for the nib, if you don't find them together in the combination you like.

 

When you buy an Esterbrook, you're not getting one pen, you're getting many. They just don't like to be lonely. B)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
OcalaFlGuy Museum Piece

OcalaFlGuy

Posted
Posted

 

 

One line in this great doc intrigued me. "There are methods using common household materials to polish an Esterbrook you've re-sacced for $2 to a mirror like, better than new finish."

 

Details?

 

Handled backchannel.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

Link to comment
Share on other sites
welch Antique

welch

Posted
Posted

"The world's most personal pen": that was an Esterbrook advertising slogan in the early '50s. Esterbrook suggested that a buyer select the Renew Point that best fit their hand/style/personality/taste; then pick a pen-body. Buy one pen-body and three points...like buying three different pens.

 

The page Bruce links, https://docs.google...._ubRcLprO4/edit, says it all.

 

Changes I would make, now:

 

- An Esterbrook makes a good first fountain pen...not just good first vintage pen.

 

- My favorite point, the 9668 medium, has gotten hard to find. Prices have increased on most of the 9xxx points. Esties are popular

Washington Nationals 2019: the fight for .500; "stay in the fight"; WON the fight

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33559
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26744
    5. jar
      jar
      26101

  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      Links to web pages or articles about Chinese typesetting, signwriting, etc.

      By Shanghai Knife Dude · Posted

      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By A Smug Dill · Posted

      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By adamselene · Posted

      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By A Smug Dill · Posted

      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By adamselene · Posted

      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o

  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More

  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...