Esterbrook Transitional J

February 5, 2009

Very nice. I have a red one that I need to get out again sometime. I haven't used it in a few months.

February 26, 2009

Esterbrooks tend to be underapreciated by collectors because they are considered to be a sort of second class, second tier pen. Often thought of in the same vein as Wearevers and such. Visiually they usually not thought og as exciting but the Esterbrook aficionados recognize the vibrancy of the metalic colors, the subtle art deco lines of the mainstay models and the knowledge that they are nearly bulletproof as a working pen. Used by schools, business and industry as well as government they were ubiquitous, simply everywhere and as such considered as commonplace. Yet as time marched on they disappeared from view, relegated to the back of the drawer, in storage some place. Lucky for us that love them that they remain relatively inexpensive to buy and have a variety to make collecting not a bore.

We can add to the fact that their easy to replace Renew Point nibs makes it posible to customize the pen to a nib that will be a comfortable old friend and welcome relief when it comes to writing. The wide variety of possible nib choices is pretty high for the 4 digit numbered series of 1000's, 2000's, 3000's, 5000's, 8000's and 9000's i believe it is over 50 different nibs but in relality about 18 truely different writing profile styles in different quality / material levels. I tend to like the mediums and broads as opposed to the more exotic ones of italic and flex.

I have a couple of dollar pens and a variety of the SJ and LJ models plus 3 desk sets and all work well giving delightful service. Esterbrooks always have my admiration and give me pleasure to find, own and use. I tend to have about 10-12 fountain pens inked at any time as part of my correspondence for the big job search and rotate thru them. Just a couple of weeks back i attended the 2009 LA Pen Show and helped a very nice young lady with a walk thru of thestuff available. SHe wound up buying an Esterbrook Dollar pen and a desk pen with that art deco wedge of cheese shape. Since that time, I have been compelled to use mine more so. Into the inked rotation are 7 Esterbrooks for use writing letters and addressing envelopes. My three desk pens with new medium or broad nibs as well as a copper colored dollar pend and 3 LJ's. Sweet!

They always give me great pleasure to use and a certain pride in their workaday abilities.