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Esterbrook (Finally!) History On Thesteelpen.com

AAAndrew

By AAAndrew
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AAAndrew

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I’ve finally arrived at the 800 pound gorilla of US steel pen companies, R. Esterbrook & Co. in the latest installment: “Esterbrook, Part 1: In The Beginning…”


Esterbrook was a significant force in the steel pen industry world-wide, and it dominated all other American steel pen companies from not long after its founding until the death of the American steel pen trade in the 1950’s.


The beginnings of the company have been shrouded in mystery and myth for quite a long time. With the help of some wonderfully generous people, especially Frances, the Family History Research volunteer at the Liskeard and District Museums, I’ve been able to understand, and hopefully convey, some sense of the ground from which sprung this influential company led by an influential family. (who had a rather unusual taste in names) I have also found a bit more information on Esterbrook's first partners, including a couple of the Birmingham men he brought over to get the company off the ground.


The article covers the time period from the first Richard Esterbrook in Liskeard, Cornwall to Richard Esterbrook Senior’s birth, up until the company re-formed in 1866.


Enjoy!

Edited by AAAndrew

 

“When the historians of education do equal and exact justice to all who have contributed toward educational progress, they will devote several pages to those revolutionists who invented steel pens and blackboards.” V.T. Thayer, 1928

Check out my Steel Pen Blog. 

"No one is exempt from talking nonsense; the mistake is to do it solemnly."

-Montaigne

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