1934 Esterbrook Demonstrator

[Tom Heath]

Rare yes but highly collectible ?

this Board I read a " Pens for Sale Listing"

Any guess as to how many regularly users of Esterbrooks exist, how many would be say serious collectors

 

Your thoughts are requested here..

 

Today on this Board at : "Pens Offered for Sale " of one such pen, a 1934 Esterbrook Demonstrator

 

Apparently in near mint condition..

 

Parkers' 51's of both varieties have for years , surfaced from time to time in varied condition

sales say between $ 250 and 500.00 range

 

How would you we place a value on this very scarce " bird " indeed

[FarmBoy]

I would be inclined to inspect such a pen before putting a price I was willing to pay forward.

[crescentfiller]

I would be inclined to inspect such a pen before putting a price I was willing to pay forward.

 

 

I would be inclined to apply this maxim to all pen purchases....

[Hobiwan]

Demonstrators of all brands are valued by "serious" collectors, and command higher prices because of their rarity. It's unlikely that they'll be used, though not unheard of (I myself used a Sheaffer Snorkel demo a couple of times before turning it out for sale). I believe this applies even to the hard rubber demos with holes cut in the barrel to reveal the inner workings. I also would want to physically inspect it before buying.

[jdllizard]

The old saying is "It's worth as much as someone (a diehard collector) is willing to pay". Though there's been one on a well known auction site for what seems like forever with a BIN of $1,200. It's been available on there so long now that I doubt any serious collector hasn't seen it, leading me to believe that they apparently ain't worth $1,200.

[FarmBoy]

The old saying is "It's worth as much as someone (a diehard collector) is willing to pay". Though there's been one on a well known auction site for what seems like forever with a BIN of $1,200. It's been available on there so long now that I doubt any serious collector hasn't seen it, leading me to believe that they apparently ain't worth $1,200.

Believe it to be the same pen. I tend to agree with your assessment.

Edited November 7, 2015 by FarmBoy

[bfg]

I never before heard of an Easterbrook demonstrator. Has anybody seen one?

 

[FarmBoy]

I never before heard of an Easterbrook demonstrator. Has anybody seen one?

Yes

[Brian Anderson]

For those keeping count of the number of these still available, I believe this to once have been mine, so not a "new" example. Like anything else in economics, it is worth what someone will pay for it. It is very rare, one of maybe a handful known to exist. One would wait a long time to add this to their collection if they wanted it. And a critical piece at that.

[Brian Anderson]

I never before heard of an Easterbrook demonstrator. Has anybody seen one?

In addition to the dollar pen demonstrator there are the classic J series demonstrators:

 

http://www.esterbrook.net/j3.shtml

[Ron Z]

 

I never before heard of an Easterbrook demonstrator. Has anybody seen one?

http://mainstreetpens.com/pix/demoestie.jpg

[FarmBoy]

Ron,

Yours?

 

Todd

[Ron Z]

Ron,

Yours?

 

Todd

 

No, a clients. But I got to restore it for him. It really is in great condition, and was a true "sumguy" find.

[jdllizard]

No, a clients. But I got to restore it for him. It really is in great condition, and was a true "sumguy" find.

 

Oh how I'd love to hear the story of how he acquired it!

 

Please share if you can, if it's to private to them, I'll not be offended.

[Cryptos]

Here is one on the web: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1934-Esterbrook-Demonstrator-Fountain-Pen-RARE-/151665464041

 

Where does this fit in the family tree?

[jdllizard]

Here is one on the web: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1934-Esterbrook-Demonstrator-Fountain-Pen-RARE-/151665464041

 

Where does this fit in the family tree?

 

That's the same Esterbrook Dollar Demonstrator mentioned above that's been on there forever at that same BIN price.

[mmg122]

Speaking of demonstrators, serious collectors, et al...would love to see our Esterbrook experts/long time collectors get together and write a definitive book on "our favorite pen"...an update to Paul's wonderful book.

 

Any chance that will happen? I sure suspect there are many more Esterbrook collectors today than in 1992 when "The Fountain Pens of Esterbrook" first hit the book stores.

[Ron Z]

Oh how I'd love to hear the story of how he acquired it!

 

As I recall, he was on his way home from vacation and stopped in an antique shop. They first drove by, and decided to go back. Though the shop was closing the owner let them go in, and they went through the shop so fast that they almost missed it. All that he said about the price was "If I told you how much I paid, you'd be sick." Which is to say it was really cheap.