A "j" Or Not A "j" ?

[Ian the Jock]

Ok, so my red Esterbrook J arrived yesterday and I eagerly opened the packaging (I was quite excited at the thought of my first Estie, and what nibs I could get for it) therefore you can appreciate my disappointment when the pen turned out to be a very small, skinny, lightweight pen which to be honest, was not what I was expecting.

The pen itself is very nice and writes beautifully, but it's just too small and light for my own taste.

I used it for most of yesterday and it became uncomfortable to use periodically as I felt I was gripping it like grim death as a consequence of its' lack of weight and girth.

I had a look at many threads on the forum before opting to go for an Estie, and never really came across anything mentioning its' diminutive size.

I've since been told that it may indeed be one of the smaller. slimmer versions of the "J" like an LJ or an SJ.

 

It measures 117mm capped, 107mm uncapped and 147mm posted.

Here are some pics, which may help to identify what It actually is, and any help would be gratefully appreciated.

 

Ian

 

[Beechwood]

http://tylerdahlpens.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/how-to-determine-what-size-esterbrook.html

 

Useful link and a guide to sizing, hope this helps.

 

117mm =4.75 inches, the SJ length.

Edited January 19, 2016 by Beechwood

[gweimer1]

Based on the lever and barrel cap spread, I'd say SJ. At under 5", definitely not a J.

[inkstainedruth]

It may be a case where the seller was not a pen aficionado and did not know the different sizes/models. They saw the name "Esterbrook", did a modicum of research, and said "Ah, it's a J series pen and didn't go beyond that.

It does appear to write well (most of my Esties still need to be restored. If you like the nib, you may be able to get another pen (a full sized J this time) and then swap the nibs out (which is the great thing about them: my husband is getting my red J, once I get it re-sacced; then I will put his choice of EF nibs on it, and put the 2314B nib unit on one of my other ones).

Oh, and fair warning -- Esterbrooks are like potato chips: you can't have just one!

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[corgicoupe]

Oh, and fair warning -- Esterbrooks are like potato chips: you can't have just one!

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

But, if you get all six colors of Js, then you can stop.....at least for a good while.

[FarmBoy]

But, if you get all six colors of Js, then you can stop.....at least for a good while.

You need all 6 colors from all the factories with all the imprints and all the lever varieties. You could also include sizes in the matrix. Six isn't getting you there

[gweimer1]

You need all 6 colors from all the factories with all the imprints and all the lever varieties. You could also include sizes in the matrix. Six isn't getting you there

 

Then, there's also the variations found within each color.

[corgicoupe]

Ah, the secret is to chunk it into larger categories. Think coarse step functions, or you will find yourself dealing with a continuous curve right from the start. The step functions can be refined later.

[FarmBoy]

Ah, the secret is to chunk it into larger categories. Think coarse step functions, or you will find yourself dealing with a continuous curve right from the start. The step functions can be refined later.

Some of us are not allowed duplicates. I recently had to petition the authority to classify inked and uninked as different models.

[bsenn]

Some of us are not allowed duplicates. I recently had to petition the authority to classify inked and uninked as different models.

 

I believe "uninked with box" and "inked with box" are two additional models...

[Runnin_Ute]

Definitely an SJ, one of the few pens I have that I HAVE to post. But that's okay by me, Mine is also red - with a 9450 EF.

 

I just won a grey J this afternoon for very cheap- but it will need a new sac. Hopefully I won't need to replace anything else. (j bar etc) Some light corrosion on 9461 nib and clip. In worst case, I can put a different nib in.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/331753778964?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[Runnin_Ute]

Here is a photo for relative size.

 

LJ- black-~131 mm capped

J- green-~124 mm capped

SJ- red - ~117 mm capped

 

http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af283/Runnin_Ute/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/20160106_192721_zpsgnkqxujh.jpg

[gweimer1]

Definitely an SJ, one of the few pens I have that I HAVE to post. But that's okay by me, Mine is also red - with a 9450 EF.

 

I just won a grey J this afternoon for very cheap- but it will need a new sac. Hopefully I won't need to replace anything else. (j bar etc) Some light corrosion on 9461 nib and clip. In worst case, I can put a different nib in.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/331753778964?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

So that was you....congrats!

[Runnin_Ute]

 

So that was you....congrats!

Thanks! I wondered who pushed it up. I had it for under $10 for quite a while.

 

I'll wait until it arrives to order supplies. Only want to do so once. Since I have never replaced a sac, I figured this was a good one to start on. If I could get it reasonably. And I didn't have a gray. Just the black, green and red above. Chickened out/not quite quick enough a couple of days ago on a copper with a 9314 B

Edited January 21, 2016 by Runnin_Ute

[corgicoupe]

Here is a photo for relative size.

 

LJ- black-~131 mm capped

J- green-~124 mm capped

SJ- red - ~117 mm capped

 

http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af283/Runnin_Ute/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-01/20160106_192721_zpsgnkqxujh.jpg

Did you flip the J and LJ? The listing on the pad seems to have them in the correct sequence, with the J being the largest.

[pajaro]

I like these pens as nostalgia pieces, and the collection is complete with a J, SJ and LJ. As long as they are not black, so that they remind me of the plastic bowls from the 1940s and 1950s. Nice conversation pieces behind glass.

[corgicoupe]

Hey! I just completed my J collection with a black, and I think it looks rather neat. Not colorful, but snazzy!

[pajaro]

Hey! I just completed my J collection with a black, and I think it looks rather neat. Not colorful, but snazzy!

A collection will be complete when you get the pens you define as completing your collection. This makes some collections specialized. If you narrow the focus of a collection it does make it easier to get your mind around it. You always have the option to expand it later..

[ac12]

 

Hey! I just completed my J collection with a black, and I think it looks rather neat. Not colorful, but snazzy!

 

 

It is complete until you find out about a different model or variation of the pen.

- Transitional-standard, 6 colors + skunk = 7

- Transitional-short, 6 colors + skunk = 7

- J, 6 colors + skunk = 7

- LJ, 6 colors + skunk = 7

- SJ, 6 colors + skunk = 7

- icicle, 2 sizes (LJ and SJ) x maybe 6 colors each = 12

- pastels, more than 10, I have not figured out what the total color pallet is

- etc. etc. etc.

So just with the above we are at 57. This is without counting manufacturing color variation (light to dark), and jewel variations for the Transitionals, and ...

What I hate is when I discover a model that I did not know about, that usually adds another 7 pens that I have to try to collect.

 

But some are satisfied with 1 of each of the 6 basic colors (6 pens), and some with a J, LJ and SJ (just 3 pens).

So as pajaro said, it is all in how YOU define complete.

[ac12]

Ian

Many/most older pens are relatively light compared to many of today's pens, which I consider HEAVY.

This is because the older pens were made to be written with, sometimes for LOTS of writing.

For me I can write with a relatively heavy pen, 20-30 grams, for about a page. Beyond that, and my hand gets tired from holding/supporting the pen. Whereas I can write with my older/lighter pens, less than 15 grams, for a LONG time. My longest was several 3 hour writing sessions.

Edited January 23, 2016 by ac12