Question On Esterbrook Nib

[ffeingol]

I decided to buy an Esterbrook on eBay. From the pictures and the description it looked good. They supplied pictures of the front/back of the nib, but not from the side. The tip of the nib is somewhat bent down in the direction of the writing surface. Is this normal or is this nib damaged?

 

It's a dollar pen if that makes any difference

 

Best picture I could take:

 

 

[ac12]

How does it write?

If it writes well, don't worry about it. The bend is not that much anyway.

If it does not write...different story. Then it is diagnosis and nib adjustment.

Edited June 4, 2016 by ac12

[ffeingol]

I'd have to say that it does not write well at all. If I touch a cloth to the back of the nib (breather hole or near the tip) ink flows onto the cloth. Actually writing, not so much.

 

The pen was sold as "This is a nice, working pen" and has a 14 day return. Just trying to figure out if it's worth trying to repair or just return.

 

TIA

[Hobiwan]

+1 The nib is correct for a Dollar pen, and it may be that's the way it came out.

[ffeingol]

Thank you for the feedback. I assume I can swap this with any other Esterbrook nib, as this one and I are simply not getting along.

[ffeingol]

Just as a follow up, I changed inks and it's a bit better. The nib is still a bit too broad for my handwriting, so I'll be on the hunt for a finer one (have to figure out which is the best extra fine for me).

[Runnin_Ute]

9450 and 9550 are good EF's

[corgicoupe]

If your nib is a 2668, you might also find the 2550 or 2556 to your liking. They will probably be less expensive than the 9450 or 9550 suggested above.

[ffeingol]

The nib on the pen is a 2556.

[corgicoupe]

According to the Esterbrook point selection chart, that nib is for "fine writing".

[PenFisher]

to OP - Even though the nib is a 2556 (Fine) it looks to be a flat feed and probably from the same era as the pen ... meaning 70 years ago. Since the 2XXX nibs had no tipping material there will be obvious wear as the nib is used. Normally, they tend to wear flat and the writing surface that touches the paper gets wider from prolonged use and produces a broder line. A fresh 2556 might give you what you are looking for without spending a lot of $. There are plenty of NOS 2XXX nibs to be found and they are not that expensive. Good luck and have fun!

Edited June 7, 2016 by PenFisher

[ffeingol]

@PenFisher Yes, I had considered the wear and tear on a possibly very old nib. I have also though that there is a strong possibility that paper has changed (gotten cheaper/thinner) and handwriting styles have changed.

 

I think I'm going to try a 1550. I've seen the old ledger books (had to deal with some) and if the nib was designed for that, it's prob. going to work fine for me. It's also not that much of an investment.

[estie1948]

9450 and 9550 are good EF's

Brad has given you excellent advice in my opinion. Both these nibs are smooth and extra fine by American nib standards. The 1550 nib does not have any tipping on it, and while I have one or two that are nice nibs, I have some that were not so nice. The 1xxx series nibs will wear much quicker than the other series nibs and if the 1550 is used before you get it, it might be worse than what you have now. I love Esterbrook fountain pens, but the 1xxx series nibs and the 2xxx series nibs can be less than wonderful. Still a bit of nib smoothing and adjusting might produce a nib you will love.

Good luck with your choice. It certainly isn't going to hurt to try the 1550 nib.

 

I hope you really enjoy your Esterbrook fountain pen.

 

-David.