Is My Esterbrook A J Series?

[Mesu]

Hello everyone,

 

I am a newbie Esterbrook fan and recently acquired 2 Esterbrrok pens through an ebay auction.

 

I was thinking that they were J Series pens. But the cap is different from the J Series pens shown in esterbrook.net site. The length of the pens is ~ 5.5 in. Please look at the pics and help me identify my pens.

 

 

 

 

Edited June 29, 2013 by Mesu

[soum]

Though I'm not too experienced with Esterbrook range, but your pen looks like a J series to me, except for the clip. Could it be possible that the clip came from a Safari?

 

I'm hoping those more knowledgeable would help.

[OcalaFlGuy]

Look at the two jewels from one pen next together, if the cap one is larger in diameter, it's a J otherwise it's a LJ.

 

The clip is different because that's a last/final generation of J family pens.

 

The plastic is also different and it appears to already be shrinking (spinning cap band?) on at least one

of yours. (Common with that material)

 

They are from the days when Ester Brook was taking her last living breaths...

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

Edited June 29, 2013 by OcalaFlGuy

[Mesu]

Look at the two jewels from one pen next together, if the cap one is larger in diameter, it's a J otherwise it's a LJ.

 

Compared the jewels on the cap with the one on the barrel. Both are of same size. So i am assuming it is an LJ.

 

The clip is different because that's a last/final generation of J family pens.

 

The plastic is also different and it appears to already be shrinking (spinning cap band?) on at least one

of yours. (Common with that material)

 

The problem is with the cap band. it appears corroded. What you see on the cap is the residue from the band. I just soaked the pens and wiped them with a soft cloth. I need to clean it more thoroughly.

 

They are from the days when Ester Brook was taking her last living breaths...

 

They made such cute and comfortable pens

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

 

 

Thank you Bruce

Edited June 29, 2013 by Mesu

[Mesu]

Though I'm not too experienced with Esterbrook range, but your pen looks like a J series to me, except for the clip. Could it be possible that the clip came from a Safari?

 

I'm hoping those more knowledgeable would help.

 

The clip is similar but slightly different from the Safari. The clip has Esterbrook USA on it and has a slight bend.

[pal38]

This topic seems to come up regularly. Your pen is a late LJ Icicle with:

1. a longer section
2. a longer cap
3. a longer shirt clip with a kink where the upper short part is marked with "USA" and the longer lower part with "Esterbrook"
4. a very short filler lever with a kink for additional stability
5. The cap band is plain, flat and not ribbed
6. The Esterbrook logo is not printed along the barrel, but about 1/2" below the mounted cap lip around the barrel.

These long LJ Iciles are quite rare and very sought after by those who know them. They are not mentioned in Brian Andersens Esterbrook website nor on any other Estie Standard publication I know of (e.g. Paul Hoban's book), but they were discussed more than once here on FPN https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/235868-a-longer-lj/?hl=%2Blong+%2Bicicle&do=findComment&comment=2543789.

 

Here is a picture of my collection:

 

[OcalaFlGuy]

Here is one of them next to a regular LJ.

 

 

And one of it solo.

 

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl