Esterbrook Purse Pens - CH

[Gerry]

My little accumulation of purse pens has expanded by one, with the acquisition of a 'Tan' CH to my existing few.

 

I would like to explore the colours available to try and understand better what is available.

 

From Hoban's book, I believe that the earlier pens - 1950-57 were lighter in shade than the post 1957 era. The early list is given as:

Aqua, Blue, Gray, Pink and Yellow.

 

The later list includes:

Aloha Gold, Country Green, Peacock Blue, Polar White, Tempo Red and Trianon Rose.

 

My question is, where would a pastel described as 'Tan' fall? I believe that it might be Gray, but there is truly a little of a brownish hue to it, so it actually appears to be a very light tan colour. Is that a normal variation of the Gray?

 

Are there other colours than the lists given above?

 

Cheers,

 

Gerry

[Ann Finley]

Gerry, you must have looked at the copyright page (1st page) to come up with the abbreviated list of pastels! Look on the back cover--you'll see the Orchid and Peach, both of which I have and they really are true to color.

 

I've wondered about the "mystery tan" also. I saw one--probably more than a year ago on (I think it was) Avalon Pens vintage page. Hope someone knows something about it!

 

Best, Ann

 

P.S. I've also got the light blue since age 15 and the Tempo Red, which I just love.

[ReNew-Nib-o-holic]

http://www.penbid.com/Auction/XcAPViewItem.asp?ID=247688

 

The above link is a tan purse pen that sold last month Gerry (was it you?)

 

I have 2 white ones, both with black jewels...love the ergonomics of that size.

 

These pens look awesome with my almost never inked 8440, with the gold plating, a real showpiece.

 

Good luck with these special pens!

 

Ellis

 

p.s. just bought my first black dollar pen, with a 3668 sunburst...

[Brian Anderson]

Hard to say without seeing the pen, but if it has the black jewels, I'd throw it in with the earlier set (pre 1957). I'm not much of a big fan of the pastels, but they do represent one of the few big gaps in my collection, so I'm picking them up when I see them for the right price.

 

Post a pic! Please!

 

Best-

Brian

[Gerry]

Gerry, you must have looked at the copyright page (1st page) to come up with the abbreviated list of pastels!  Look on the back cover--you'll see the Orchid and Peach, both of which I have and they really are true to color.

Yes, I did Ann, although as soon as you mentioned it, I recalled seeing an Orchid mentioned somewhere - and I found it on page 16. It stuck in my mind as I recall wondering which colour of ROYGBIV it really was (that's all I recognize by memory... my wife, OTOH I am sure recognizes the full 16,000 offered by most displays).

 

http://www.penbid.com/Auction/XcAPViewItem.asp?ID=247688

 

The above link is a tan purse pen that sold last month Gerry (was it you?)

Yes, it was Ellis.

 

Brian, you can look up the auction to see the colour. I think the photo's are pretty good, although the colours do depend on your monitor a bit. I'll post a pic of my own soon if I get a chance to upload one... In real life, the colour is close to the lighter inset picture showing the pen's imprint, and not as dark as the other images.

 

It does have the black jewels so I believe that it is a pre 1957 model.

 

Lemme see if this works....

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/gerry1029_2/esterbrookpursetan14615.jpg

 

Gerry

[Brian Anderson]

Gerry-

 

Yes, I took a look at the site, but since i have neither a Grey CH nor a "tan" like this, I can't really say if it's a discolored grey or a tan. I lean towards a tan though, but could be wrong. I'll check my literature stash when I get home this evening. Perhaps there's some better evidence there.

 

Best-

Brian

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

Gerry, could you put up a picture of this pen next to an SJ? I might end up searching for a green one.

 

Dillon