Made In England

[pal38]

I came across this red model J Estie with inscription on Barrel and nib: 'MADE IN ENGLAND'. I know Esterbook Relief pens were made for whatever reasons by Conway-Stewart, but this seems to be a real Esterbrook. Did Esterbrook have a manufacturing plant in England? Or was this a marketing gag to better sell Esties in the UK?

 

What strikes me is that the nib also is marked as MADE IN ENGLAND. Judging from the quantity vintage Esties still on sale in England there were hardly enough units sold to conclude that there were manufacturing facilities there. If there was a plant in England, whereabout was it? Anybody has a few answers?

 

Did perhaps, a farfetched idea I admit, Richard Esterbooks V., who was serving in Britain in WW I, and of whom they say he had no business in pen business, had something to do with this strange England connection?

:hmm1:

 

[FarmBoy]

Esterbrooks were indeed made in England as well as nibs.

 

Brian or Hobiwan can give the details much better than I.

 

Farmboy

[kathleen]

I transferred this information from an internet site when I first became interested in Esterbrook history. I failed to record the source with the info. If there are any inaccuracies, I will welcome correction. Regarding Esterbrook manufacturing in England I recorded:

 

U.K. Government regulations in 1928 led to restrictions on the import of products from the United States and a licensing arrangement was made with John Mitchell's in Birmingham to make Esterbrook pens in the United Kingdom.

War-time hostilities curtailed production to some extent and the night of Nov. 19-20 of 1940 saw the Moland St. factory, Birmingham struck by incendiary bombs.

It was quite unusual that the building was rebuilt while the War was still on, labor and materials were afforded, but on the condition that 50% of the premises were given over to Government Departments.

In 1947 The company bought out John Mitchell and the American Esterbrook Company acquired Hazell pens, the total organization becoming the Esterbrook Pen Co.

1967 saw the Esterbrook Pen Company worldwide taken over by the Venus Pencil Company and the formation of Venus Esterbrook. Production continued in Birmingham, with a gradual move of administration and manufacturing to the much newer factory of Venus in King's Lynn. The Birmingham building was finally vacated in March 1972 but is still standing.

The company, in one fraction or another can now be trace to Berol Ltd. Beroll is a major ballpoint pen manufacturer.

Again, I am very sorry I cannot site the source.

Edited January 19, 2011 by kathleen

[pal38]

Wow, Kathleen,

 

What a detailed and most interesting story. I never heard it! Thanks a lot for sharing! Unfortunately I couldn't get Google to show me Moland Street in Google Street View, or I could have posted an image ...

 

:clap1:

 

I wonder whether English Esterbrook Pens had some distinctive quality besides the imprint, setting them apart from the US-product? To me the pen I showed above seems to have something 'icicly'. But perhaps I'm just imagining.

[Lizzard]

Great information , Kathleen. I didn't know about John Mitchell's. Many have associated the alignment with Conway Stewart. Very interesting indeed.

Many thanks for the great information.

 

Best wishes,

Liz

 

 

I transferred this information from an internet site when I first became interested in Esterbrook history. I failed to record the source with the info. If there are any inaccuracies, I will welcome correction. Regarding Esterbrook manufacturing in England I recorded:

 

U.K. Government regulations in 1928 led to restrictions on the import of products from the United States and a licensing arrangement was made with John Mitchell's in Birmingham to make Esterbrook pens in the United Kingdom.

War-time hostilities curtailed production to some extent and the night of Nov. 19-20 of 1940 saw the Moland St. factory, Birmingham struck by incendiary bombs.

It was quite unusual that the building was rebuilt while the War was still on, labor and materials were afforded, but on the condition that 50% of the premises were given over to Government Departments.

In 1947 The company bought out John Mitchell and the American Esterbrook Company acquired Hazell pens, the total organization becoming the Esterbrook Pen Co.

1967 saw the Esterbrook Pen Company worldwide taken over by the Venus Pencil Company and the formation of Venus Esterbrook. Production continued in Birmingham, with a gradual move of administration and manufacturing to the much newer factory of Venus in King's Lynn. The Birmingham building was finally vacated in March 1972 but is still standing.

The company, in one fraction or another can now be trace to Berol Ltd. Beroll is a major ballpoint pen manufacturer.

Again, I am very sorry I cannot site the source.

[pal38]

Great information , Kathleen. I didn't know about John Mitchell's. Many have associated the alignment with Conway Stewart. Very interesting indeed.

Many thanks for the great information.

 

Best wishes,

Liz

 

Yeah, I heard that one too, But just by looking at a CS I never believed it. There is nothing in a J that ressembles in the least a product of CS, quite opposite to the Relief which is sold in the UK often as a Conway-Stewart without mentioning Esterbrooks at all! Now we know ....

Edited January 20, 2011 by pal38