The Final Step Off The Deep End

[trdsf]

I was happily noodling around with a couple pens last night when my collecting goals finally crystallized: I want one of each nib, each in its own pen. Extra points if I can put each in matching black Js, though I probably won't not be quite so dogmatic about it. I expect the 3xxx, 5xxx and 8xxx series will probably hurt the most...

 

And, I want one of each pen color in J, LJ or SJ (as long as they're all the same size), without regard to nib.

 

Either that, or I'm absolutely barking mad...

[pajaro]

I thought that once too. Ran out of steam somewhere. Some of the nibs are very interesting just to look at. I think I got the colors of the M2.

 

I think I could rekindle my interest in Esterbrook by seeking the colors of the Safari pump filler, each with an interesting 9xxx nib, like 9284, 9312, 9314-B, 9314-F, 9128, 9048 . . .have most of those nibs waiting for pump fillers . . . or maybe I'll just go off the rails trying to make Parker Sonnets work . . .

[Rach31]

I would lose at that game. (Although I do have about 12 nibs which is a good start...) somehow I have managed to buy 6 Esterbrooks, and four of them are copper.

[FarmBoy]

I expect the 3xxx, 5xxx and 8xxx series will probably hurt the most...

The 6668 will hurt the most.

[Brian Anderson]

The 5xxx series nine are dip-less only, so you'd need the feed, not even sure how it would fit, and if you include 5xxx, then you might as well include 7xxx too.

[trdsf]

The 6668 will hurt the most.

 

That was never an official release though, was it? Although I have to say the idea of an Esterbrook with a Triumph nib... ...ack, where's my towel?

 

Basically, if some once-in-a-lifetime chance turns up where I can get one, I will, but I'm not going to actively look for a prototype. I kind of regard them in the same way that I regard pattern coins for my coin collection -- it'd be nice to have, but it's not a realistic goal, at least on my budget..

[trdsf]

The 5xxx series nine are dip-less only, so you'd need the feed, not even sure how it would fit, and if you include 5xxx, then you might as well include 7xxx too.

 

You're right, I hadn't thought about that. Well, it's a long-term project, so I have time to decide what to do about those.

[Brian Anderson]

 

That was never an official release though, was it? Although I have to say the idea of an Esterbrook with a Triumph nib... ...ack, where's my towel?

 

Basically, if some once-in-a-lifetime chance turns up where I can get one, I will, but I'm not going to actively look for a prototype. I kind of regard them in the same way that I regard pattern coins for my coin collection -- it'd be nice to have, but it's not a realistic goal, at least on my budget..

 

No, not an official release, but there are enough of them out there that it is possible sometime in the next 20 years to get one. I found one in a bag of pens last year.

[pajaro]

If you acquire enough of a volume of Estie stuff, you will find a lot of unexpected things. You need to go through a lot of volume, though, to increase your chances.

[trdsf]

Ooo, I like the idea of going through a lot of Esterbrooks...

 

I have tentatively toyed with the idea of one each J, LJ and SJ of each color, all with the same nib (obviously one of the staggeringly common ones -- I may be crazy, but I'm not insane!)

 

The 9128 turned up today and I kind of hate putting it into its soak, since it's got the same sort of gorgeous purple that proof Jefferson nickels sometimes turn. But this isn't toning, this is ink, so away it goes.

 

Brian, dare I ask what price range those 6668s typically go for when they do turn up?

[Brian Anderson]

$150 might get in the door. Depends on if it has a clean blue collar or not.

[gweimer1]

And, of course, there are the frosted nibs.

[FarmBoy]

$150 might get in the door. Depends on if it has a clean blue collar or not.

Well advertized sale and 150 wouldn't cut it. I know a few people looking. Fortunately mine was a sleeper years ago but the pen it is in cost me a bit...

[trdsf]

(has a stern word with his wallet)

 

(wallet has a stern word with him)

 

That's actually not as bad as I thought, which does not bode well for my finances.

[pajaro]

I think it would be quite interesting to have a 6668 in an LJ or a pump filler as my only Esterbrook. Worth selling all the rest of the Esterbrooks and other pens as necessary. Or even keeping one of my NOS M2s for the 6668. Dreamy.