The Esterbrook Forum Estie Loaner Program

[Mags]

I mailed you the green Estie loaner back today. Many thanks.

 

Noel249 you will like the flex in the nib and it is soooooo smooth....

[OcalaFlGuy]

Noel, check back with us here when you hit 30 posts (not counting Chatter posts) and we'll hook you up. That is the same minimum post requirement as for posting a classified ad in the Marketplace. This is noted in the post at the beginning of this thread that details how the Loaner program works.

 

I will touch bases with GClef so he knows you are "on deck".

 

PS A good portion of that sweet song the green 9788 J is singing is due to GClef's very talented penmanship... He More Than knows his way around a flex nib.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

[Noel249]

Thank you Bruce and Mags. I just won an LJ on eBay (http://bit.ly/VJ9PTo) with a 2556 nib, which I'm certain will be too firm and fine for me. I like a wet, flexible pen.

 

Glad I discovered this group.

 

Thinking of passing on my Levenger Sheaffer Seas pen (http://bit.ly/VJaB2z) and would consider a trade for an Estie 9788 (J or LJ).

 

best,

Noel

[Noel249]

Thank you Bruce and Mags.

 

I just won an LJ on eBay (http://bit.ly/VJ9PTo) with a 2556 nib, which I'm certain will be too firm and fine for me.

 

I like a wet, flexible pen.

 

Glad I discovered this group.

 

Thinking of passing on my Levenger Sheaffer Seas pen (http://bit.ly/VJaB2z) and would consider a trade for an Estie 9788 (J or LJ).

 

best,

Noel

[Mags]

You have to love it when Ebay goes your way. I hope the pen arrives for you soon and proves to be a good writer. They seem to have a few nibs for sale on ebay but that flex nib has not been a common advertised item...My Levenger is an awesome pen....I could not imagine not having mine in my pen arsenal.

[Noel249]

I have been changing up some of my pens and I simply find that I don't use the Levenger enough. I love it, but seem to more often go with the Lamy 2000 or (my personal favorite) the Parker Vacumatic. (Got it on eBay in terrible shape and Richard Binder completely restored it.)

 

Hey, Mags, I'm a BB guy, too. Hope they're still going next year ...

[Mags]

Lamy is nice but the barrel is shaped a bit wide and that tiny little piece of cap metal digs and annoys my hand when I write with it...I find the darn Truewriter from Levenger almost as buttery smooth a writer as my MB 149, my Aurora Optima, or my Pelikan with the OBB nib.

 

As for BB I think the buzzz and hype on the new os is so promising they may regain some market share! I could live without my BB Torch but my Playbook is awesome. If the Ipad mini had been out sooner I may well have been an apple not berry man!

[Noel249]

Hmmm ... I hold the Lamy quite a bit farther up.

 

My wife and I went with new BB phones last year. The 9678 that Sprint had in the U.S. was our absolute favorite -- old style flip phone with a real keyboard ... just a tad tiny for me. (My 2005 BB had a giant keyboard by comparison.)

 

The price of 64 GB Playbooks has been as low as $150 (U.S.) recently. Though closer to $200 is more common. And when they first came out, I think they were $600.

 

Something I thought I'd mention -- if folks are traveling and don't want to risk losing a pen, the Pilot Varsity is a disposable that costs less than a bottle of ink and writes very nicely.

[Mags]

The playbook at 16 or 64 gb size and the current pricing is huge value for the money for a tablet. My 16 gb personal was likely closer to $400 when the kids bought me one for father's day. Now I think they are all about $150. That is 3 plqybooks or 2 anyway versus one Ipad and this gizmo plays the tv stuff and flash interactive files so well...again love to hear others are liking the BB PlayBook.

[WordStains.]

Oh my gosh!

I've been wanting to try a flex pen for ages!!

Okay, so a few months, but still. I really would like to try one before investing!

 

Any recommendations?

 

Oh, the excitement! =)

[Mags]

Once you get to 30 posts try the green J of Gclef's it works so well.

[flugella]

Well I loved my loan Estie so much I've now got my own black SJ!

[alc3261]

Well I loved my loan Estie so much I've now got my own black SJ!

 

My Copper SJ is now back home!!

[WordStains.]

Once you get to 30 posts try the green J of Gclef's it works so well.

 

That's the one I was thinking about!

I'm getting closer! It would be faster, but I'm weird and feel it's cheating if my posts aren't relevant

 

Oh well. I hear patience is a virtue...

[Mags]

Yes I think we all appreciate the need for relevancy of posts, Information sharing and the building of community where social exchanges are fostered.....so a little social banter to get yourself over the initial 30 post hump is allowed.

 

You will get there.

[GClef]

 

http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/gclef1114/photobucket-11239-1355860880408.jpg

[Noel249]

I'm not sure how posts are counted ... am I possibly up for trying this Estie?

 

(I've got an eBay J on the way, but not with this fine nib.)

N.

Edited December 18, 2012 by Noel249

[OcalaFlGuy]

Looks good here, why not go ahead and PM GClef your contact info.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

[Noel249]

Done.

 

Thanks.

N.

[dcpritch]

My Estie is back home and ready to be sent out again. It is a Blue SJ and I can offer the borrower a choice of the following nibs: 1550 EF, 2556 F, or 2284 stub. If you have any questions about nib sizes please refer to this handy Esterbrook Nib Chart. Sorry about the crummy photo, but these are the three nibs I have for the loaner pen:

 

 

 

I also have a blue LJ that is available for loan, in case someone is wanting to try that size. In the photo below, the LJ is on the left and the SJ is on the right.

 

 

Be sure to refer to the rules at entry #1 on Page 1 of this thread.

 

I would like to remind folks that the Borrower is supposed to keep the pen for only two weeks and also "pay forward" a token amount ($3) for postage, to help the loaners with mailing costs. I'm happy to keep going with the loan program; I think it has been great in introducing folks to these fantastic pens, but so far in loaning out Esties under this program none of the people to whom I have loaned pens has returned a pen on time or helped with postage. Now, the $3 isn't going to break me or cause me to sweat, but it would be nice for folks to acknowledge the privilege of borrowing a vintage pen for use by at least following the minimal rules of this loaner program. It sort of goes hand in hand with the idea that FPN is a community of fellow pen enthusiasts, sharing our interests. 'nuff said about that.

 

Hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year.