Hi All,

This is probably old news to all of you, so I'll keep this post short.

I recently acquired, in a lot of pens, my first Re-New-Point Venus FP. It's a standard black plastic third-tier 1960s design: a lever filler, with the slightly elongated, slightly pointed barrel end I associate, vaguely, with Venus pens. The cap is a screw-on, and to my eye it has just the faintest suggestion of Esterbrook "J-ness" about the clip attachment and top jewel.

The nib in the pen is a Venus Broad, untipped, set in white plastic. Regrettably, nothing (other than internal components, perhaps) is really usable here: the barrel has a large crack, the section has two cracks, and one of the nib tines is missing the folded-under portion.

But this sad specimen aroused my curiosity. I had known, of course, that there were late Re-New-Points engraved with the Venus name. What I hadn't focused on, I guess, was the fact that there were also Venus pens designed to accept those points. I've had dozens of Venus pens over the years, but none set up for interchangeable nib units. Does anyone have a sense of how common such models might be?

Maybe, if I get bored, I'll try to grind this nib into an Italic...in the hope of salvaging something from the wreckage.

Cheers,

Jon

Jon,

Seeing Esterbrook traits in a Venus product is being very observant and I think correct. Esterbrook and Venus had a merger of sorts about 1967 and become Venus-Esterbrook. I have heard reports that there was a "cooperation of sorts" between the two for while before the merger. The doors closed in 1971.

Faber-Castell took over some of the Venus Esterbrook Pen and Pencil Co. and marketed items under the Venus brand name. I think this happened around 1973 with the Esterbrook part of the name being dropped relatively quickly.

Some where I have a store display of the pens you describe and one or two of the pens. Clearly there is an Esterbrook influence but the traditional Esterbrook quality isn't there. As for the Venus nibs, I know of XF, F, M, and B. I have only seen the folded tine tips on Venus nibs. They came in a little box almost identical in style and printing to the Esterbrook box. They are labeled VENUS replaceable Complete Standard Thread Replaceable Unit. They are identified as a product of the American Pencil Company and "Guaranteed by the Makers of Venus and Velvet Pencils" appears on the box back. All the ones I have sport a flat back feed differing them from the Esterbrook feed of the same era.

Hope that wasn't more than you wanted to know.

Todd

Oh boy, the Venus - Esterbrook merger is something that someone needs to thoroughly research and discuss.
It was quite an event as it led to the resignation of several of the Esterbrook board members.
Someone with understanding of the business aspects should do us the favor and work on this topic...

Direct hit. I've summarized all I know about it in a single post! I hadn't heard about board members leaving. It fits with the general impression that the Esterbrook name was removed rather quickly.

Anyone in Estie land have information to share?

Todd

You might also indicate your interest over in the History forum where you will find a few of those type individuals posting (Az being one...)

Regards,

Gerry