Esterbrook Salesman's Kit. Is This Legit?

[jdllizard]

Saw this on fleabay and immediately my spidey senses started tingling. It just doesn't look right to my UNTRAINED eyes. Why would there be Transitional J's in the same salesman sampler as regular J's? Also, why would there be multiple pen/pencil sets of the same size included?

 

Has anyone ever seen a complete, original salesman's kit? Is this one correct or just a bunch of Esterbrooks all displayed in an old saleman's box? Their wording is a bit suspect as well as they don't really make the claim it is an all original kit.

 

http://goo.gl/0Iu7N4

 

I'm thinking the latter.

[Sky Fountain Pens]

The listing has ended it say. You should check if it was sold.

[jdllizard]

The listing has ended it say. You should check if it was sold.

I was just a watcher not a bidder. I waited till the auction ended to post about it so I didn't bring undue attention to it in case someone was really interested in it.

 

It says it was sold to the highest offer. I wonder how close the offer was to the BIN price?

[gweimer1]

To me, it looks like a nice little collection in an original case. There are various, and random, selections in the case, including one pen with the logo stamped around the barrel, instead of along the side. I would think a true salesman kit would be very orderly and consistent with the selections.

[ANM]

The sign in the baggie says lettering pens and the picture on that piece of paper shows a lettering dip pen. It also says sold by Washington Art School Supply Store. That has nothing to do with a salesman's sample case. The nibs along the top of the case are steel dip pens and have nothing to do with fountain pens. I believe it is only an assemblage of random Esterbrook parts.

Edited December 11, 2014 by ANM

[CraigR]

Agree with ANM

[Dermo]

In fairness, the seller claimed only that the box was a salesman's sample display case not that the contents were part of a sample display. However, I don't know if the claim about the case is accurate.

[Hobiwan]

In 1948-1950 (when I was in 1st thru 3rd grades), we had to use the dip pens for writing lessons. Illustrators and calligraphers still used them as well.

 

Those years also saw the introduction of the classic J-pens, and around that time, the newer "Sheaffer-style" comb feeds appeared on the renew points.

 

So IMO that could very well be legit as a salesman sample kit to show both the old points and the new model fountain pens in at that time. The absence of dip pen point holders is noted, although I don't think those would be that high a priority during a period when the writing public had long since moved on from dip to fountain pens.

[pen2paper]

The case itself appears to be a salesman's sample case of this period.

Not your expert here, or trying to be contrary in any way to ANM's or CraigR's valued opinions, simply an observation.

 

As Paul noted this period saw the shift from dip pens to lever/cartridge use in schools. A decade later when I entered primary school we were required to use cartridge pens, but our wooden desks with the inkwells minus the inserts remained a fascinating reminder of the recent past. Likely somewhat similar to the next gen Bic/Biro users finding cartridge pens lurking about in old desks with no ink.

 

So, imVho, it's possibly an end of the era case.

[janicen]

We have a salesman kit. It doesn't look like that. I have been trying to research this but have not been able to find anything similar for sale. What are these worth? Ours is a 7 panel kit with approximately 132 nibs (only 2 missing) The nibs are in great condition but the case is disintegrating.

Edited June 18, 2016 by janicen

[jdllizard]

We have a salesman kit. It doesn't look like that. I have been trying to research this but have not been able to find anything similar for sale. What are these worth? Ours is a 7 panel kit with approximately 132 nibs (only 2 missing) The nibs are in great condition but the case is disintegrating.

 

Hard to tell much of anything without pics.

 

They did have salesman samples that are just nibs, but yours sounds larger than the ones I've seen. Though the ones I've seen were more a point of sale display rather than a true salesman sample.

[janicen]

Sorry, having a difficult time figuring out how to post a pic. Here is a link

http://i66.tinypic.com/3520srd.jpg

 

I hope this is ok to post here. I am not trying to sell this here as I already have an interested buyer. I just want to make sure I have proper information to give to the buyer and I want to get a good idea of it's worth before parting with it. Thank you!

Edited June 18, 2016 by janicen

[AAAndrew]

As for the original inquiry, I can only say that some of the steel nibs do not belong. All Esterbrook nibs after 1930 have "Made in USA" stamped on it somewhere, either below the imprint, in the middle of the imprint or at the heel. I see a couple with the right imprint, but a couple without it. And Esterbrook made dip pens into the early 50's. (can't remember if it was 52 or 55 when they decided to stop manufacturing dip nibs)

 

As for janicen's pic, that's definitely the large salesman sampler. I suspect from the 20's or 30's. If you tell me the exact imprint on the pens, I can probably date it to within a few years. A very nice set. I would love to see detailed photos of each card. Looks like you're only missing one. Which number is it? If I have a spare of the right imprint, I'd be happy to send one to you to make the set complete.

 

Andrew, with waaaay too many Esterbrook dip nibs.

[janicen]

I have just heard back from someone that Easterbrook resided at the address of 99 John St. from 1913 - 1916 which is the address on the kit. We are missing 2 nibs but I would not know which numbers they are since the numbers are not consecutive. The kit of about 132 nibs has a number range from 1 - 1876. I will see if I can get closer pictures. I'm no pro and using just my iPhone, lol.

[AAAndrew]

Then these will be marked "R. Esterbrook & Co's". Under each slot it should have a number. Get me that and I can help. Also look up the website The Esterbrook Project for pictures of practically every number they made.