I have joined the ranks. While searching for ink wells at the local antique store I found this in the bottom of a basket. I almost passed it up but for $15 I just couldn't. After getting it inked up I'm very glad I didn't pass on it. It is smooth as butter. The fill lever felt strange so I opened it up to check it and the ink sac. The sac is intact, the lever is broken but still works. I will try to find a new one in the future. The main problem is I think my wife may try to steal it from me.

Esties are great pens. They look good and they are the tanks of the pen world (very durable). $15 is a great deal especially intact and writing.

It looks like you have a 2668 nib on there, that's the general writing nib from the durachrome series, Another great thing about Esties is the nibs can be changed easily, so each Estie can be several different writers in a matter of seconds.

Im not sure what you meant be opening up and seeing the lever was broken. I was just thinking that if you were referring to the J Bar (inside mechanism that presses on the sac when the outside lever is pulled). You may want to be very careful, if the broken piece pierces the sac you could have an accident waiting to happen in your pocket.

AJP, Yes, I did mean the J-bar. It broke all the way at the bend in the back. You make a good point. I never gave that a though. Looks like I'll be trying to find a J-bar much sooner than later. Thanks for a good heads up.

No problem. J-Bars are simple replacements. The old one will pull out with a pair tweezers., You can get a new one from an online seller (Tryphon and WoodBin are two sellers that I use) but there are others. The new bar will just slide right in. They are relatively inexpensive and given the consequences of cutting the sac, I would go for it, if I were you

Good luck.

A new replacement J-bar is around $3. Get the 54 mm or "short" size. If you want an original Esterbrook J-bar figure about the same but it will be used. The Esterbrook J-bar has a small notch in the top that acts as a lever stop that will not be there on a replacement. Either will work fine.

Todd

Great find! I have to Esties and they are great writers! You will enjoy this pen.
PMS

That's a pretty pen. Congrats!

I struck out today.

It's beautiful! Congrats!

As a huge fan and collector of Esterbrook, I welcome you to our little corner and you did well for $15.00.
I need to visit said antique store. Around here I'm not so lucky.

Well done! Nice price for a very nice pen.That is my favourite 'J' family colour too.

Very nice pen, I have the same colour but mine does not have the jewel on the bottom end or Esterbrook written on the pocket clip.