Comparative length and diameters J, LJ, SJ

[Jack7770]

When I came across a curious J that was only 4 57/64 long but with matching large jewels, I checked Richard Binder's site. He lists the J as about 5", the LJ as about the same 5", and the SJ as about 4 3/4". So my curious J was a little short of the 5" and 9/64 longer than the SJ. I decided to do some accurate measurements just to see how much variety existed within the various models.

 

Here's what I found using a digital caliper with both inches and mm scales; inches for the length with the cap screwed on fully but not overtightened and including both top and bottom jewels. I used the millimeter scale for the diameter, measured immediately below and touching the cap lip. I measured 10 examples of each model.

 

The J had lengths ranging from 4 57/64" to 5 3/64" a surprising difference of 9/64.

J diameters differed significantly, ranging from 10.0mm to 11.54mm, about 1/16"

 

The LJ lengths ranged from 5 3/64 to 5 7/64, i.e. a difference of 1/16"

LJ diameters ranged from 10.3mm to 10.6mm, a minor difference of about 1/64"

 

The SJ lengths ran from 4 23/32 to 4 53/64, i.e. a difference of as much as 7/64"

SJ diameters were almost identical to the LJ: 10.4mm to 10.62mm, about 1/64"

 

The conclusions: Based on the 30 pens I measured, the SJ is always shorter than the J or LJ by at least 1/16"; the LJ is at least as long as the longest J and may be as much as a 1/16" longer.

 

So, when you put those Esties in your slotter trays, don't expect perfect alignment. Jack

[Rabbit]

Excellent work, Jack! I really enjoy having data like this on hand, and I think we need more of it for other aspects too. If you read the hundreds of pages in this forum, I'm sure there is a lot of useful information, but it would be great to eventually have it all in one place in a logical or organized order. (similar to Brian's website, but with more details and more categories.)

 

A simple example off the top of my head would be the different types of levers. We know there are different lever shapes that changed throughout the history of Esterbrook. You can find examples on Brian's website if you look around, but it would be nice to have a page or a thread dedicated to just the levers with photos of all the variations and some information about the time period from each lever (if known).

 

Brian and Lisa have said that they are working on some projects, but I don't know if it will be anything like this or not. I can't wait to find out though.

 

--Stephen

[riff raff]

I wonder if differences in thread length might account for at least some of the different measurements? For instance, are there similar variances in tolerance of the uncapped pens alone?

[FarmBoy]

Try looking at your pens with the caps off. I'd be interested to know if you see differences in the length of the barrels among like sized pens.

 

You mention a J with two large jewels, are they both the same size? On the few Js I have the barrel jewel is smaller than the cap jewel.

 

Todd

[Jack7770]

Thanks for the responses; I'll check the uncapped lengths to see if they differ and perhaps the cap length,too. Interesting possibilities.

[Brian Anderson]

This is precisely the reason I never sell someone just a section. They all have to be hand fit. Just over the weekend I took a section from one transitional J to put in another. I had to sand it down to make it fit properly.

 

Best-

Brian

[FarmBoy]

This is precisely the reason I never sell someone just a section. They all have to be hand fit. Just over the weekend I took a section from one transitional J to put in another. I had to sand it down to make it fit properly.

 

Best-

Brian

You mean in the shoe box full of sections you have you couldn't find one that fit?

 

Brian is right, it is a rare occasion that the first section you grab fits. My luck they are all usually to small.

 

Todd

[Brian Anderson]

You mean in the shoe box full of sections you have you couldn't find one that fit?

 

Brian is right, it is a rare occasion that the first section you grab fits. My luck they are all usually to small.

 

Todd

 

I sort of felt bad about doing it, figuring the same thing, some day I'll need a bigger section and there was that one I had I shaved down. Oh well.