Early Esterbrook Inkwell

[betweenthelens]

My husband spotted this in Sodus Bay, New York, on one of our antiquing forays. He said, "Is this anything?"

 

I don't collect inkwells or should I saw I didn't collect inkwells.

 

Thanks to Brian Anderson at Anderson Pens for his encyclopedic knowledge of Esterbrooks. I sent him these photos and he gave me quite a bit of information. It is much appreciated.

 

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee513/betweenthelens/IMG_4479_zps581cf0cc.jpg

 

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee513/betweenthelens/IMG_4480_zps18b96730.jpg

 

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee513/betweenthelens/IMG_4483_zps9f4d4411.jpg

 

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee513/betweenthelens/IMG_4481_zps638dc745.jpg

 

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee513/betweenthelens/IMG_4482_zps09e072d8.jpg

[Art]

That's a really nice thing. Congrats on a great find.

[Uncle Red]

It's a Dipless set with a nice nib, Cool.

[pajaro]

That's an interesting one. If you like these pens, having a few of the inkwells adds some interest to a collection. A neat one like this one is cool. A nice find.

[Brian Anderson]

These are very early and in my opinion the coolest dip-less sets Esterbrook ever made. They show up in the 1938 catalog if memory serves correctly.

[betweenthelens]

That's a really nice thing. Congrats on a great find.

Thanks so much!

 

It's a Dipless set with a nice nib, Cool.

 

Thank you!

That's an interesting one. If you like these pens, having a few of the inkwells adds some interest to a collection. A neat one like this one is cool. A nice find.

Thanks! This one is a keeper. I'm still devoted to Bayards, though, as far as pens go.

 

These are very early and in my opinion the coolest dip-less sets Esterbrook ever made. They show up in the 1938 catalog if memory serves correctly.

Thanks again, Brian, for your expertise and all around niceness.

[Hobiwan]

Brian is correct, it does show up in the 1938 catalog, along with "8-ball" and "doorstop" desk pen bases. But it's appearance (similar to some early '30s Morrisons I've seen) says that it was made much earlier. And I agree with him, it's the coolest of the dip-less sets ... literally screams "art deco".

 

From it's general appearance and the later nib, looks like it was well used through the war years and into the '50s by its previous owner. If it's going to be a "museum piece" in your collection, i'd suggest being on the lookout for a decent flat-feed nib to properly dress it out for its time period. But if you're planning on using it, or just respecting its provenance, never mind

 

Great pictures, BTW! "Betweenthelens" is an appropriate handle, indeed.

[betweenthelens]

Brian is correct, it does show up in the 1938 catalog, along with "8-ball" and "doorstop" desk pen bases. But it's appearance (similar to some early '30s Morrisons I've seen) says that it was made much earlier. And I agree with him, it's the coolest of the dip-less sets ... literally screams "art deco".

 

From it's general appearance and the later nib, looks like it was well used through the war years and into the '50s by its previous owner. If it's going to be a "museum piece" in your collection, i'd suggest being on the lookout for a decent flat-feed nib to properly dress it out for its time period. But if you're planning on using it, or just respecting its provenance, never mind

 

Great pictures, BTW! "Betweenthelens" is an appropriate handle, indeed.

Thanks so much, Hobiwan, for the compliments and for your take on this piece. I love it precisely because of the Art Deco design. I am going to look for a nib that is historically accurate.

[estie1948]

I have two of the Model B Morriset units made by Bert M. Morris Company of Los Angeles, California. They are very similar in appearance, but are not as quite as nice as your Esterbrook one. Congratulations!

 

-David.

[betweenthelens]

I have two of the Model B Morriset units made by Bert M. Morris Company of Los Angeles, California. They are very similar in appearance, but are not as quite as nice as your Esterbrook one. Congratulations!

 

-David.

Thanks so much, David. Do you have photos posted? I'd love to see your sets.

[Chiro75]

I've never even seen one of these. Cool!

[Brian Anderson]

Here's one of my pride and joy sets:

http://www.esterbrook.net/funpics/red422.jpg

[VAgal]

Thanks for sharing photos of these awesome sets!

[betweenthelens]

Thanks for sharing photos of these awesome sets!

I'm happy there is a website like FPN where we can all share our enthusiasm for pens, inkwells/stands, inks, papers, etc.

Here's one of my pride and joy sets:

 

 

Brian, that is absolutely beautiful!

I've never even seen one of these. Cool!

Thanks! I'd never seen one either until my husband found it. He's had all the luck recently. We were in Maine last week and he found a shard of a plate when we were walking across the sandbar to Bar Island.

[pajaro]

I would say these sets are awesomwe historically. The design is consistent with the design of some of the more commonly found inkwells. Are these at an early point in the design, leading to some of the more streamlined ones that are flat and rounded?

[Brian Anderson]

They appear in the 1938 catalog if memory serves me correctly. Would have to double check, but that was probably near the end of production. They were the first dip-less inkwells Esterbrook produced.

[Hobiwan]

Only the single Dip-less set appears in Catalog #38, along with instructions for filling (pg. 40, 44). Yours, I'd have to call a "Doctors'" set, because of the red cap (or perhaps an Accountant set?). In that case, it may or may not have shown up in any catalog, as I don't see a listing for a white "Dollar" fountain pen either.

 

The later desk sets with fountain pens were listed as "Available in single or two-pen styles".

 

It'd be interesting to know how Doctor/Nurse pens were promoted, as a specialty item aimed at a specific market ....

[Brian Anderson]

I have a catalog with something like 16 or 17 of them listed, including three different doubles. I'll try to get a more exact listing of them later.

[tmenyc]

Holy Moly Brian, that is a beautiful double set. No wonder you have a big house in Appleton...I'd have to give up my couch to keep that!

 

Tim

[Brian Anderson]

I'll have to take a picture of the Walnut one I have, with matching Copper pens. My second favorite.