Is There Any Way To Date An Esterbrook?

[fsquared]

My very first fountain pen was an Esterbrook "dollar pen." I know within a couple of years how old it was, because it belonged to my grandfather and he told me roughly when he bought it (some time between 1939 and 1941). Since then I've acquired 3 more -- a J and two SJs -- and I'd love to have some idea of how old they are, but all I seem to be able to find online is that J series pens were made starting in 1948. Is there any way to date them more accurately than "some time between 1948 and whenever Esterbrook stopped making pens"?

[heymatthew]

Is There Any Way To Date An Esterbrook?

 

Ask nicely and maybe she'll say yes. :ltcapd:

[sumgaikid]

Flowers and chocolate always worked for me.

 

Seriously,I'm not an estie fan,but I'm sure that one of

us that are big estie fans would be able to give you

some info on that. I know that they never carried any

date codes on their pens.

 

John

Edited March 2, 2013 by sumgaikid

[JPromo]

Well between '48 and ~'60 I think was the run of the J-series. Within that span, there were two different lever styles to narrow it down slightly. Earlier pens used a flat-ended lever while later pens had a round, spoon-shaped lever. The change was made sometime in the earlier 50s but I don't know exactly which year the change occurred. So basically, you can get it within a 5 year range (to my knowledge).

[JPromo]

Oh darn, I missed the memo to make a snarky remark(!).

 

A good compliment goes a long way.. tell her her nib is the smoothest you've ever felt.

[Cyber6]

Is There Any Way To Date An Esterbrook?

 

Ask nicely and maybe she'll say yes. :ltcapd:

 

ROFLOL.. that was my first thought... :ltcapd:

[fsquared]

*groan* I'm in favor of pun control.

 

Thanks!

[Sandy Fry]

Have you tried looking here....

 

http://www.esterbrook.net/

 

David

[Sasha Royale]

Thanks for your question.

 

I have just learned of a useful website for Esterbrooks. I have also learned that

the round-ended fill lever is a feature of later pens.

 

I applaud your keeping of your grandmother's heirloom pen. I hope you will be adding

an LJ and one of the Transitional Esterbrooks.

 

Write with joy.

[Bo Bo Olson]

There is a difference between the lever shape of a 1948-52* DJ. Flat 'fishtail' like the older Single J.

 

The round lever end is later.

 

*The date I read on Esterbrook section; it helped date an old pen, with what was in the end a 60-63 year old rubber sac.

[ehemem]

I applaud your keeping of your grandmother's heirloom pen.

 

How do you know that the OP's grandparent had a sex change? :hmm1:

[pajaro]

I applaud your keeping of your grandmother's heirloom pen.

 

How do you know that the OP's grandparent had a sex change? :hmm1:

 

Geez, poor reading comprehension! Did you check for the date code, you know, the one on the middle of the inside of the barrel in Roman numerals and up to three dots for the quarter?

 

Worthy of this thread, anyway.