Dear fellow Esterbrook fans:
I am working on a double 444 style "dip-less" inkwell set. I have managed to loose the cap that attaches to the underdside of the 444 inkwell cover that the pen nib fits into. It is about the size of a nickle, looks like a black plastic soda bottle cap, and has a half=round bottom. It snaps to the underside of the inkwell cover where the pen nib sits in the holder. It appears that the cap performs two functions: (1) to keep ink from spilling out the pen seat when you turn over the inkwell; and (2) provides a capillary bridge between the ink and the dipless pen nib. Please drop me a line if you have any old beat up or broken 444 inkwell covers you would like to put to good use.

Thanks in advance,
Leroy

Tipping an inkwell upside down sounds dangerous (didn't do it over the carpet I hope
One of the forum members is an expert on the inkwells.
I have a 444 well only, a plastic version with a chained pen (forgot the number), and the glass base for a 444--but no loose parts. Wish I could come up with a cover for the glass base but haven't ever seen parts for dipless inkwells in my searching.
An inkwell has been useful in the office when I want to grab a pen without having to unscrew a cap. Hope you find your part.

Also, I think that upside-down cap also contains something to help with the wicking. I have one with a kind of sponge and another with a plastic insert.

Thanks for the kind words. I have dissassembled the little cap we are discussing. It had a zillion small (abour 3/8" long) nylon bristles stacked in like small logs. When you first look at these little guys; they look like a neatly folded piece of thin blotting paper. On top of these little "logs" is a stainless steel retaining washer. Be careful when you dissassemble these caps; because the washer can come out (as i learned the hard way). These little peices were evidently made to stack together to make a wicking path from the ink to the pen nib. These little "logs" appear to be about 0.025" dia. I will keep my eye pealed for parts for both of us.
Regards,
Leroy

Thanks for the explanation. My 444 with the nylon bristles doesn't (hasn't) come apart when I've tugged on it. I've wondered just how it was put together. I think I recall that the patents information included some Estie inkwells.
The inkwell system is very efficient. Because I only have one dipless pen, regular pens have been used with my 444 and they work great (amazing how many words can be written without re-dipping the pen).
Also, thanks for the offer to keep an eye out for 444 parts. Sets or complete bases used to show up on Ebay rather regularly. If I had a little more desk space or perhaps several display units, I'm sure more of them would join my collection.
I haven't been around the FPN long enough to have memorized who people are but I think a couple collectors regularly pick up Estie stuff, refurbish them, and sell them (because they enjoy it). Check through the Esterbrook Forum archives and the Marketplace and you'll probably identify them. Even if they don't have the parts you need they are generous to share their knowledge of Esties.

Just saw a posting by System of Adam. He specializes in desk sets.