The first experience I had with a FP was when I discovered my father's Esterbrook in his desk drawer. He did not use it much so he let me have it (well I sort of borrowed it without permission to begin with, but after I discovered I liked to write with it I actually asked if I could borrow it and dad let me keep it). This was when I was in the 8th grade which was mmmmm just a few years ago . I used the pen exclusively for my diary. Then I entered high school and strayed to the "dark side" of ball points, felt tips and later roller balls. I did not return to FPs until I was out of law school and decided to try one again so I bought a Cross and my collecting began. I got to thinking about dad's pen after he passed away and wondered if I still had it. I went looking in the garage and after searching through many boxes there it was, in the box with my old diary! Rereading the diary was interesting, but finding the pen was special.

Sorry for the long story, but I wanted to explain a little bit about the pen's history. My questions are about how to have it restored. It still looks to be a fairly good shape, I will post a picture as soon as I have it and my camera in the same place, hopefully tomorrow. I am afraid to ink it however because it has been in a garage in San Antonio, Texas for a long time and thus has been subjected to the temperature extremes of South Texas. I would really like to be able to use the pen again, but not at the expense of harming it because of it's sentimental value. Oh I guess I had better tell you more specifics about the pen. From the research I have done, it appears to be a J series pastel in the sort of salmon or "orangey-pink" color. It has some small cracks around the cap where it screws on (probably caused by the previously mentioned 8th grader ) and no other problems visible to me. What do you all suggest? Lashelle

About any Esterbrook needs is a sac replacement unless it has been terribly abused. Some of the Esterbrooks I acquired in the 'wild' still had usable sacs.

Finding a new cap or repairing/replacing a cap on such a rare colored pen may be difficult. And, a well-used pen with character one is personally responsible for one more nice addition. As long as it is not further damaging the pen, I'd leave it be.

Personally, I'd replace the sac or have it done and ask the repair person about the cap.

Good luck,
Ron

Lashelle:

Esties are some of the easiest pens to repair, and the parts are readily available. You can send it to one of many able repair-people here on the site and have it restored for $20-$30 plus shipping.

Alternatively, you could try to fix it yourself. The first step will be removing the nib and section to see what going on inside.

Here is how to do this: heat some water to 140 degrees. Put the pen in a plastic bag or wrap it in some plastic wrap and stick it in the water to warm it up (you do not want it to get wet, only because the section might be Hard Rubber and will discolor). Once it gets nice and warm, try to wiggle the section (the black part with the nib in it) out of the barrel (the colored part) very gently. Try to slowly twist and wiggle to see if it will come loose. If not, try the heat again.

You have to be careful, excessively aggressive wiggling can crack the barrel.

Once the section is out, you can check the condition of the sac and j-bar.

When I was taking the fossilized pen sac out of my old estie double J I found this site really helpful!

p.s. Replacing the sac isn't very hard at all and you can probably do it yourself! I'm just a lowly newbie, so I'm sure you wouldn't have any trouble at all!

http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref_info...replacement.htm

Thanks so much for the info! I am not looking to have the cracks in the cap repaired as they don't appear to be causing any problems and you have to be looking to see them. I just am wondering if I can have it write again. Lashelle

If your dad took reasonable care of the pen, maybe all you need to do is flush out the system with a little warm H2Ountil it runs clear. Let it dry overnite with the cap off, and fill 'er up with your favorite ink. If all's well, you might just be able to leave it alone and enjoy the experience, as your dad did.

I'm one who subscribes to the 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' with most things, but especially with older, dearer things. If there's some trouble, then you can make the necessary repairs.

What I've found about Esties in my very short time with them is that they're pretty much indestructible with little care and they write with a precision and control unlike other FP's. Use yours and enjoy it, your dad made a wise choice.

Noah makes a good point. Try to lift the lever slowly, if it moves with no problem, you can likely just fill it up! If you feel resistance, the sac might be hardened and to much force could break the lever.

A nice soak will also loosen up any dried ink on the nib.

Good idea! I will admit I have been too afraid to try anything without asking someone "in the know", because I was operating on the "first do no harm" principal. I will try the lever (gently) and if it seems OK I will proceed to the water test. I can't believe it does not need a new sac replaced though after 15+ years in a South Texas garage. That would mean it has survived 100+ degree summers and a few freezing days in the winter, not to mention extremes in humidity mostly on the high side. Did I mention that I actually like it here? (After West Texas this weather is a snap!) Lashelle

You never know what you will find. You might have an original sac:




Be aware that even if the sac is still good, it might have a bunch of dried in it. The nib might also be clogged up with dry ink. Water will treat all of this.

My recommendation/opinion is to go this route for this pen. It has sentimental value, it's a pastel in a hard to find color and my guess is it's still in pretty good shape. If going forward you want to learn how to repair pens, Esterbrook is the best to start with and for a small investment. Buy yourself a "parts" pen from E-bay or here and if something goes wrong (short of total inhalation), well you start over and try again.

As promised here are some pictures of my Este. I am not a good photographer, but hopefully these will give you a general idea of the condition of the pen. The first photo also includes my dad's pipe stands that hold my pens and my other addiction, orchids.

I wonder, is that one of the Esties called "the icycles"?

btw, San Antone is my place of birth. I just received three pens handed down from my grandfather who many years ago owned and operated Brandt Iron Works there. My mom also went to Incarnate Word. Beautiful place.

No I know it is not an icycle, wrong color. Best as I can tell it is one of the pastel J pens, but I am open to suggestions. I am not really up on my pen history, but I am learning. Lashelle

You'll find pictures and descriptions of most all Esterbrook pens on this site, maintained by our own Brian Anderson...

http://www.esterbrook.net/index.shtml

Regards,

Gerry