My First Esterbrook

[howdydave]

I just purchased a fully restored Esterbrook SJ from the 1950s with a #1461 Rigid Fine nib.

 

This is my first lever fountain pen.

I notice that it does not have a filler hole (all I see is a little dimple just above the section,) does it fill through the breather hole?

 

I purchased it online, so all I have to go by are the photos posted by Peyton Pens.

Edited February 4, 2019 by howdydave

[Hobiwan]

Well, Howdy, Dave

 

First of all, congratulations on getting your first, and if you're new to this forum, Welcome!

 

Filling is easy, if you have a bottle of ink. You ...

 

Dip the point into the ink past its breather hole,

With the point immersed in the liquid, raise the lever from the end with your finger nail until it's about perpendicular with the barrel (don't force it too far), then

Lower the lever back until it's flush with the barrel and keep the point immersed for about 10 seconds. You should maybe hear some kind of sucking sound as the rubber sac inside the barrel draws in the ink.

Repeat the above one or two times if desired (I just do it once).

 

Remove the point from the ink, wipe off any excess ink that may have gotten onto the section, and you're ready to write.

 

That's about it. As you get used to the activity, you'll develop your own way of doing it easiest for yourself. If you dip it too far, no problem, it'll still fill up OK. Just wipe off the excess ink.

 

Hope I got your question right, and that this helps. If not, let me know.

 

Edit: As I look back, I forgot to mention ... Yes, it does fill through the breather hole in the point.

Edited February 3, 2019 by Hobiwan

[howdydave]

Howdy Hobiwan!

 

Many thanks!

You answered my question and then some.

 

I was just curious about the route the ink takes from the ink bottle to the sac.

I wasn't 100% sure whether that was a dimple or an out of focus filler hole in my first image.

Now I know that ink enters through the breather hole!

 

Dave

Edited February 3, 2019 by howdydave

[howdydave]

The SJ above is a fine nib, but I'm more of a broad nib guy.

 

I just purchased this on eBay for $20.

Did I just make a mistake?

It says it fits Esterbrooks.

 

EDIT: I just got an Esterbrook Renew-point 2968 broad nib (NOS) to cover myself.

If they both fit, there's nothing wrong with having a backup!

 

 

Edited February 3, 2019 by howdydave

[bsenn]

The Venus nib unit will fit.

 

Brian

[BaronWulfraed]

To expand -- per Wikipedia, Venus bought Esterbrook around 1967...

[corgicoupe]

And if that one is too broad, go for a 2668.

[AAAndrew]

I don't see too many of the x460's and x461's. They were modeled on the 460 and 461 Manifold dip pens from Esterbrook. The 460 is a medium point, the 461 is a fine point.

 

Manifold was the name of one of the first makers of carbon paper, so that is what they called nibs stiff enough to write multiple copies at once. So, this will be very firm.

 

Congrats on entering the wonderful world of Esterbrooks!

[inkstainedruth]

Congratulations on your first Estie -- but be warned: it will probably not be your last (they're like potato chips -- you can't have just one ).

The nice thing is that they have a huge variety of nib widths and grades -- and, like someone said, the Venus nib units will fit on them (as will, IIRC, Osmirioid nibs). And, except for the extremely rare and exotic nibs, the J series pens are still available at reasonable prices.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[howdydave]

Howdy InkstainedRuth!

 

I'm already hunting around for a restored Dollar Pen at a reasonable price!

[corgicoupe]

Check this one.

[howdydave]

Granted, I'm new to Esterbrooks but, since I purchased this pen, I've been looking around online for anything that resembles this color combination and have been unsuccessful.

 

Is this a rare cap/body combination,

just something I have not found yet,

or a mismatched set?

 

Whichever it is, this is my first Esterbrook and I will cherish it as such.

Edited February 7, 2019 by howdydave

[Hobiwan]

Is this a rare cap/body combination,

just something I have not found yet,

or a mismatched set?

 

I don't think so

Not sure

Maybe

 

Or, it could have come from the factory like that; put together by a worker who hadn't had his/her coffee that day, grabbed a cap and barrel from the green bins without looking closely at the color shades. I've run into that myself with pens I've gotten (as in "mackrel sky" cap on a "streaker" barrel).

[howdydave]

Just got my SJ and Venus nib in the mail today.

 

Paired them together and inked it up (Diamine Ancient Copper.)

 

This pen is wonderous!

It has absolutely no resistance whatsoever.

 

AND... it looks much nicer than the photos indicate!

 

I'm ashamed of myself!

I was a physics major so I should know better than to think that a static photo can do justice to an object specifically designed to interact with light!

Edited February 7, 2019 by howdydave

[howdydave]

I took corgie's suggestion to heart about the Dollar pen at MidnightPens that she suggested and purchased it!

 

I am very confused!

 

Our very own seller is in Ohio,

My PayPal account will show a transaction with somebody in Ireland,

Price listed was in New Zealand $.

 

Would somebody enlighten me please, maybe even gweimer1?

(It sorta' reminds me of moonshiners trying to escape the revenuers.)

 

ref: this one.

Edited February 7, 2019 by howdydave

[gweimer1]

Hey....I just saw this, and the order. I list my pens in US dollars, but there is a user option on Etsy on how to display items. Can you check to see if you accidentally set your default to NZ dollars? The sale on my site shows in USD, just as I list them.

[PAKMAN]

Congrats and don't forget to look at the transitional Estes!

[gweimer1]

I also have a tran J coming with the palladium trim, so it has a cool patina on it.

[corgicoupe]

What color and which nib?

[gweimer1]

What color and which nib?

 

Gray with a 2442 stub.