Hi again everyone here on FPN!

Here are a number of images taken of some Estie Desk-pens found at a local antique store. I've cleaned them up and resacced the one that needed it, and they're headed back to the store today. However, there is a weird one in the bunch. The second base shown here, I feel is likely a replacement and not an Estie base. Can anyone confirm this for me? I know that Esterbrook did make a number of different styles of bases, and some were marbled flat bases. The horn of the set doesn't seem to hold the pen very well, and this was one of the clues to me that it likely was a generic base.

Any and all comments greatly appreciated!
-Allen

(images below are small to reduce bandwidth)













Hope you guys like these!

ps- all photos link to my flickr stream- which I think is required by flickr? I can't remember- if this is funky/against forum rules, please let me know and I'll fix it immediately.

Nice sets! I love those 8 ball sets.

I'm pretty sure that the odd base is a replacement. The fact that it doesn't fit well probably confirms it.

Hey Elaine!

Thanks for your thoughts on this- I'm thinking it's a replacement... but I have seen a few sets with this style of base for Esties, but there isn't an Esterbrook name on the base at all.

Hey, I have another question for everyone- When repairing/cleaning up these desk-sets, if the felt is a bit out of wack, would you go ahead and refelt the bottom? I can likley re glue the bottom felt, but wasn't sure if I should just leave it as is? Right now it would protect a desk, but it's not on very securely.

Thanks for any thoughts!
-Allen

I found a similar marble base with an Esterbrook desk pen in it not long ago. No Esterbrook markings in sight. I thought this might be just another base, but your sighting makes me think that maybe there was a non-8 ball shaped base for their pens.

Maybe Brian, repository of all things Estie, knows?

almost all esterbrook desk bases have the name somewhere on them (or used to on the felt beneath them). I'm not really aware of any desk base like the one you show, or any in that style. They did use marble in the 444/484 styles for dip-less sets (Deluxe series) but never for a standard model desk pen.

Most of the non-8 ball style of desk bases had black round or oval bases with chrome trumpets with esterbrook marked onthe trumpet. These were later, however.

Best-
Brian

Hey Randy and Brian!

Thanks for jumping in here and discussing this base for me! I greatly appreciate it. I'll look around and see if I can find some info on the deluxe set you mention, Brian.

So, for now, since there's absolutely no indication it's an Estie base, I'm siding with a replacement. Since Estie sold desk-pens separately, it's quite possible it's a replacement for another pen, or something similar to this.

Those desk-pens sure do polish up beautifully, though! I'm really beginning to love Esterbrooks.

Thanks a ton, guys!!
-Allen