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The Fountain Pen Network > Brand Focus > The Esterbrook Forum
marmat
May 23 2008, 06:14 AM
QUOTE(vermiculus @ May 22 2008, 07:29 AM) [snapback]618675[/snapback]
Very good first vintage pen! That's an Esterbrook J series. These are very reliable lever fillers, which are hardly ever found needing repair (at least in my experience).

You can find out a lot about them on the site: http://esterbrook.net/. You might be interested to know that the nibs on these unscrew and are easily replaceable - click on "nibs" on that site for a list. From the photos, yours is a 9556, which is "firm fine" - a nice nib which is very like modern fine nibs, being nice and rigid and having a consistent line width and wetness.

You might want to be careful. One week after getting my first esterbrook J, I had two more on the way. They're really great little pens.


I just acquired my first Esterbrook, too: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...:EOIBSA:US:1123 Thank you for that Esterbrook site reference. Am I correct in thinking this is a "double jewel" J? And does it look like someone may have hooked the nib a wee bit, or is that normal for a 2550? I went a bit over what I wanted to bid, but I was a sucker for the red pearl and I keep reading about what great pens Esterbrooks are. (I'm not just an Esterbrook newbie, I'm an all-around fountain pen [and FPN!] rookie.)

Marilyn
ANM
May 23 2008, 12:19 PM
The nib is bent. You will have to have it straightened or replace it. You did good on the price. That is a very reasonable price.
marmat
May 23 2008, 02:09 PM
QUOTE(ANM @ May 23 2008, 05:19 AM) [snapback]619696[/snapback]
The nib is bent. You will have to have it straightened or replace it. You did good on the price. That is a very reasonable price.


Thank you for both - the price confirmation and the nib info! I'm looking forward to the pen.
JDlugosz
May 23 2008, 04:03 PM
QUOTE(ANM @ May 23 2008, 07:19 AM) [snapback]619696[/snapback]
The nib is bent. You will have to have it straightened or replace it.


That wouldn't be done on purpose, to give a steeper angle or for something like this CONDOR?
EventHorizon
May 23 2008, 05:07 PM
Welcome to the FPN and congrats on the Esterbrook. Yes, the red is one of the best colors from Esterbrook IMO. I have seen other nibs like this and they are bent on purpose due to (I think) someone finds it easier to write with or make it like what JDlugosz stated above.
marmat
May 23 2008, 05:23 PM
QUOTE(EventHorizon @ May 23 2008, 10:07 AM) [snapback]619940[/snapback]
Welcome to the FPN and congrats on the Esterbrook. Yes, the red is one of the best colors from Esterbrook IMO. I have seen other nibs like this and they are bent on purpose due to (I think) someone finds it easier to write with or make it like what JDlugosz stated above.


That's an interesting point (no pun intended). Now I can't wait to try it -- although I might have to adapt my leftie-overwriterness even more to make it write for me. Thanks, JDlugosz, for that link (I'm a bit new to discussion board formats, so I haven't figured out how to "quote" two of you in one post).

Marilyn
vermiculus
May 25 2008, 11:57 PM
Hey, that's a quote from me! I only just spotted this. Hello! biggrin.gif

How is the pen?
J English Smith
May 28 2008, 04:50 AM
Red Esties are my faves. Then, copper. Then, green.

I just bought a transitional J in grey, a color I did not have yet. For cheap. Woot!
The Doodler
May 28 2008, 04:54 AM
The red Esty is real nice. Check Richard Binder's page for replacement nibs at a fair price.
marmat
May 29 2008, 09:23 PM
QUOTE(vermiculus @ May 25 2008, 04:57 PM) [snapback]621974[/snapback]
Hey, that's a quote from me! I only just spotted this. Hello! biggrin.gif

How is the pen?


Sorry for the long silence. I was in lock-down trying to finish a paper!

The pen arrived the day before yesterday! I'll post a picture: I'm a little concerned that the (excuse my ignorance of pen anatomy terminology) nib post(?) is bent a bit. But the pen is beautiful to behold!

(If I've just posted this response twice, apologies. The first one vanished from my screen.)

Marilyn
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