Pretty nifty.

I received the pen early last week, a late model J in blue with a 1550 nib. It was flushed with water a couple days ago and then I started to tinker with it. I pulled out the nib, studied the nib support and it's little channel, inspected the nib, carefully aligned it and stuck it back in the pen. Then discovered that the nib assembly simply screws out. How about that. It sucked water well enough and sort of wrote with it, too. A bottle of Aurora black came today. I blew a few bubbles in the little bottle and wiped off the nib.

Wouldn't you know it but the darn thing writes. As I was warned it's scratchy, and hard to find a position in the hand that produces a good line on the 20# engineering paper I use, but it writes. I like the extra fine line. Hopefully the 9xxx fine & medium nibs I ordered from Brian A. will make it as smooth as my favorite rollerball even if it will never match the heft.

This is going to be an interesting hobby. Hands-on technology and practicality and beauty much like my 1980's 6-series car weakness (the car is blue, too). A Parker 51 vac should be delivered next week. Now I need to order da repair manual, tools and supplies to keep these little gems in proper tune and on the road, so to speak.

Hi Greg, welcome!

Nice to hear from another Estie fan - aren't they such neat pens? The 1550 nibs are usually always very difficult to write with, and your 9xxx nibs will definitely be much better.

The 1550 nibs are a joy to me (because I'm a Needlepoint-nib person), but the 2550 is a nicer quality alternative!

Greg, I'll bet if you ask around, you might find someone you can barter with for some work. You help them source a new cylinder head for their early E24 that didn't fare too well in the hot summers, and they might be able to re-sac an Estie (or 12) for you.

Welcome! What part of Michigan? Ever get out to Grattan for their track days?

You will enjoy the 9xxx nibs - I am a fan of the 9550 and 9555!

And yes, Parker 51s...ahhh, the Precious......so, what variety did you get?

From my few experiences they usually do. Both of my Esties came with good sacs. The screw out nib is brilliant, it makes cleaning real easy.

Oh, boy, we're going to get off topic if we start talking cars! I'll keep it quick. I sold my '86 635 turbo automatic in March and over the summer picked up a '85 M635 with a 3.9L Dinan motor. I finally have a 5-speed to take to the track. I'll sing up for the local BMWCCA chapter's driving school next summer. I'm not sure if the first one is at Grattan or not.
I've removed three heads from M30 motors for a headgasket R&R and all were unwarped and good. Around 1982 the head was modified to have cooling passages without sharp corners and better flow. Ever since the warpage/cracking has been rare. But once they had that reputation it stuck.

I think a 9550 will be on my Christmas list. I really do like the fine line of the 1550.

I found a dark blue vacumatic 51 on d'Bay. Not sure of the exact year, but statistically it's probably 1946-48. It is not a first year pen. Cosmetically it's nothing special but I don't want to practice diaphragm replacement on an expensive, perfect pen. I suspect it will be respectable with a little polishing, but never a show stopper. It's the super-deluxe writing experience I'm looking for with this particular 51. The excellent cedar blue will have to wait until my refurbishment skills have improved.

Not uncommon for Esterbrooks. Welcome aboard the world of Esterbrook and enjoy. There are plenty of them out there.

You must practice a VERY light hand with the 1550 nib, there's not much tip there at all, and any significant pressure causes it to dig in.

I'm quite taken with mine (in a copper J filled with PR Copperburst).

I have a dozen Esties, more or less, and they were the first vintage fountain pen I got (the leftover Sheaffer cartridge pens don't count, as I bought them new).

Peter