Ahh!..The Esterbrooks!

[paolimd]

Whenever I see, touch, use, think of Esties, I'm transported back to Grade and High school, back in the 50s and early 60s. Practically all of us students used Esterbrooks. It was the pen in style: sturdy, reliable, affordable, never skipped, and had an array of interchangeable nibs. They were the perfect gift for students at Christmas, on birthdays, graduation... Even our teachers used them, and I remember seeing some in hands of physicians, lawyers and CPAs.

 

Bear with me an anecdote:

 

A classroom buddy and me would occasionally do "ink transfussions": when either one of us would run out of ink - and remember, cartridges were not developed yet - and no bottled ink was available, the one with ink would slowly pull on the lever of his pen, letting a few drops out; the "inkless" one would pull the pen's lever fully out, then start pushing it in, slowly absorbing the drops of the other's pen. Many times would our teachers stop the class, staring in awe, expecting a mess of ink at any time. Fortunately, this never happened.

Well, I've been a Family Physician for almost 29 years. My buddy became an Architect, then went on to Med school, and is now a succesful OB-GYN.

How's that for encouragement!?

[Elaine]

I find that Esties often elicit that kind of reaction: "Oh, I had one of those!"

 

Great story!

[KCat]

cool story.

 

I use a similar method for mixing inks sometimes when I'm bored.

 

i wish I had the connection with FPs like many folks here do. I started with an Osmiroid in my early teens or pre-teens but didn't have a daily experience with them. Darn shame that the US schools are so dead set on pencils and ballpoints.

[paolimd]

cool story.

 

 

i wish I had the connection with FPs like many folks here do.  I started with an Osmiroid in my early teens or pre-teens but didn't have a daily experience with them.  Darn shame that the US schools are so dead set on pencils and ballpoints.

I have to agree with KCat: schools are not bent on properly teaching handwriting and, least of all, using FP's. Why, many people do not know of their existence except, perhaps, as Italic writing instruments! I am surprised, even anoyed :bonk: whenever I pull out one of my founts (I always carry between 4 and 7) and pople comment: "What a beautiful 'ballpoint'!" Aaghhh!!!

BTW: KCat: always use your FP for all your writing needs. And I do mean ALWAYS. That will give you the daily experience you want. Also, carry a cheap ballpoint: whenever someone asks you to lend them a BP, you do just that: give them the cheap BP. You wont be sorry if they ruin it or even carry off with it.

[Slush99]

I agree with Kcat. I wish I had started using FPs earlier. I'm already in 8th grade and I don't have an FP yet. :bonk: Wish schools here weren't so set on using pencils and ballpoints!!!

Good advice paolimd.

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

Yes you do!!! Slush! I sent you a pen which you call Norman and you liked it.

 

Dillon

[Dillo]

Whenever I see, touch, use, think of Esties, I'm transported back to Grade and High school, back in the 50s and early 60s. Practically all of us students used Esterbrooks. It was the pen in style: sturdy, reliable, affordable, never skipped, and had an array of interchangeable nibs. They were the perfect gift for students at Christmas, on birthdays, graduation... Even our teachers used them, and I remember seeing some in hands of physicians, lawyers and CPAs.

 

Bear with me an anecdote:

 

A classroom buddy and me would occasionally do "ink transfussions": when either one of us would run out of ink - and remember, cartridges were not developed yet - and no bottled ink was available, the one with ink would slowly pull on the lever of his pen, letting a few drops out; the "inkless" one would pull the pen's lever fully out, then start pushing it in, slowly absorbing the drops of the other's pen. Many times would our teachers stop the class, staring in awe, expecting a mess of ink at any time. Fortunately, this never happened.

Well, I've been a Family Physician for almost 29 years. My buddy became an Architect, then went on to Med school, and is now a succesful OB-GYN.

How's that for encouragement!?

Hi,

 

Ink transfusions...what sort of ink did you use? That is interesting. Not many people use a fountain pen, but I put up a fountain pen display in the public library encouraging its use.

 

Dillon