I am interested in reading what you have to say about what is the one Esterbrook pen a person should own. For you what is the one pen that is quintessentially "Esterbrook"? I'm a novice and I am quite fascinated by all pens so I think I need to develop some sort of strategy/focus to my collection and maybe this will help. Let me know your view - and why... Thanks.

I would have to say the quintessential Esterbrook would be a a colored J with a 2668 nib. I would bet that anyone who used an Esterbrook growing up would immediately recognize a J (or any variant of LJ or SJ). The 2668 nib is a good all-purpose nib, not too exotic or specialized.

Yep, the J model for sure, and I would have to guess a green one based on how many in the wild you see.

I agree that it would be the J, double jewel.

Model J, for sure.... but be careful, they are habit forming.

Mike

"the" Esterbrook Pen"

I need to put in a vote for a Black J with the inscription "BELL SYSTEM PROPERTY" (Don't we all have one or two or ???)

Todd

johnboz,

Reading your post made me have to ink-up my Grey J w/2668 and put it back in circulation!! Smooth writer!

Thanks,

Mike

If not we should!!

I will also say start with the J model, double jeweled with the 2668 nib. Plan on somewhere between 20$ - $40 depending on what needs to be refurbished (if anything).

what does it mean if it is a transition model J? i'm looking at a couple right now that are cheap and seem to be in very good condition. i still don't have an esterbrook fountain pen : (

A Transition J has a flat botton, but still has a jewel on top of the pen. Instead of a circular "bulls-eye" jewel, it's got three "ribs" on it that run across the jewel. Transitional J Esties are a little tougher to find than regular Js, so they typically have a slightly higher value. Otherwise, they're still great pens, no different in their performance or choice of nibs that you can use in them than any other Esterbrook. It really depends on what you like. If you like it, go for it!

Just to clarify, there were a few changes on the Transitionals.. The first ones had the tri-ribbed jewel and no "Esterbrook" on the clip, then they changed to have the standard round jewel and no name on the clip, and lastly they changed to show the "Esterbrook" name on the clip.

** There was also a change on the way the "Esterbrook" name was printed on the body early on. The early ones had "R. Esterbrook & Co." on the body until they changed to the standard logo.


Personaly, I like the transitionals more than the J's because I feel that the closed end body looks more expensive and refined than the double jewel.

Oh, and I agree with Todd.... The old Ma-Bell pens really define the era! I have one on its way to me from a fellow IAP friend that once finished will be inked with Noodlers "Heart of Darkness".

Hello there!

Just came across this (wonderful) forum. I've recently taken out two Esterbrooks from retirement that at one time I sought to use (but then things got busy...and...). One, I believe is a "transitional J": it has three ribs on the crown of the cap, three ribs on the metal pocket holder, and "R. Esterbrook" in script on the side w/ a flat bottom. It's also black and came with a 2668 nib.

I was going to transplant a 2556 nib from a regular J, but found that the black Estie requires a different kind of coupling than the regular J. The newer Estie has a screw-in nib, whereas the black one (assuming by your descriptions that it's a "transitional J") requires a non-screw nib which is both longer and thinner. Is there a difference in terminology between these nibs (to make searching for one easier)?

Thanks very much in advance,

Matt

Matt,

All Esterbrooks should be able to use a Renew point. It is very possible that an Esterbrook with fitted with a different non-Renew point or the threaded collar broke and is still in the section after the nib and feed fell out.

Start here for a lot of info to better identify what you have. I suspect a broken collar since 6228 sounds Estie to me.

Todd

Nope, still looking for one!

Me, too!

I've got a couple -- I gave one to the father of a colleague who recently retired from teh Bell System, it put a HUGE smile on his face -- I really enjoy decently done Logos on my esties -- fingers crossed for another one (bidding as we speak) . . . .

I also seem to be in the minority when it comes to initials or names engraved into vitage pens -- they tell a story, even though I may not be able to decode it correctly, and I can score a nice pen at a great price!

Yep, I have the black pen shown in the second image on that page. Here's where I expose my lack of knowledge about all things nibby: it definitely has a different style of nib than the Renew. Not a screw-in. It's long, slender, and the metal nib itself separates from the feed. I've uploaded a (rather blurry cellphone) picture here. When I try inserting a Renew nib, the width of the opening is too small, so I'm not sure whether this is a case of a broken collar.

On closer inspection you may be right - it's very possible that the nib itself became separated from the screw-in enclosure and that the enclosure itself is stuck within the base of the pen. If this is the case, any ideas on how to remove it - some sort of alcohol/solvent, perhaps?