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Boy Finds Esterbrook, A Sumgai Story


Maine Vintner

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Hi Everyone,

 

While I've been a FPN member for sometime I've tended towards Montblanc, Waterman, and Sheaffer. I've never had an Esterbrook post, until now. I hope you enjoy the handwritten tale.

 

I'm not sure how to reorient the photos but open to feedback to make reading the story easier. First attempt at this.

 

Best,

John

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Can't read it sideways, but attractive pen.

"You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club."


- Jack London



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A good find that opens the door to lots of possibilities (J's, LJ's, SJ's, transitional, dollar pens, renew points from fine to broad, and, of course, don't forget the dipless sets)

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A good find that opens the door to lots of possibilities (J's, LJ's, SJ's, transitional, dollar pens, renew points from fine to broad, and, of course, don't forget the dipless sets)

Yes, a door has certainly been opened! I understand why these pens are so well loved by their fans. Now I want blue and green and...

 

I saw two beautiful J examples the other day; the seller wanted $80 each. I couldn't bring myself to buy one as I'm now spoked on price; I won't go over $7 for one ;-)

 

I also find myself spending way too much time browsing nibs; must resist the urge!

 

Great pens; so happy I stumbled on one.

 

Beat,

John

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Well, $7 may not come too often, by I would only pay $80 for the two if they were either unusual or in great, restored shape. $80 for one? Uh, no. Unless it's a hard rubber eyedropper or early relief, or... You get the idea.

 

Welcome to a wonderfully slippery slope.

Edited by AAAndrew

 

“When the historians of education do equal and exact justice to all who have contributed toward educational progress, they will devote several pages to those revolutionists who invented steel pens and blackboards.” V.T. Thayer, 1928

Check out my Steel Pen Blog

"No one is exempt from talking nonsense; the mistake is to do it solemnly."

-Montaigne

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Agree with you completely on your price commentary AAAndrew. I've seen some very nice examples in the $30-$40 range and would jump on those. Though it would be quite some time before I'd begin to approach your collection! Quite a beautiful collection you shared recently! I'm happy for you that your presentation went so well.

 

Best,

John

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I recently picked up a black J with a 9550 nib for... drum roll..... $19.50 + $5.00 shipping. Compared to my other 9550, I think this nib might have been NOS. Oh, and while it didn't say so in the ebay listing, I didn't have to replace the sac. Sure, its black but so what? Now I have black, gray and green J's, a red SJ and a black LJ (Bell Systems)

Brad

"Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind" - Rudyard Kipling
"None of us can have as many virtues as the fountain-pen, or half its cussedness; but we can try." - Mark Twain

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I found, thanks to someone on FPN, a $10 lot of of dried-out ballpoints...with a broken, battered Estie sitting in the corner of the pile. According to the description, the Estie had a coveted 8440 nib, which sells for $100, if you can find one. I won the bid at $10--the Estie body was a loss, but the nib works perfectly! One of the ballpoints had a sliding White House gizmo (like a snow globe) that was sort of adorable, too.

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I found, thanks to someone on FPN, a $10 lot of of dried-out ballpoints...with a broken, battered Estie sitting in the corner of the pile. According to the description, the Estie had a coveted 8440 nib, which sells for $100, if you can find one. I won the bid at $10--the Estie body was a loss, but the nib works perfectly! One of the ballpoints had a sliding White House gizmo (like a snow globe) that was sort of adorable, too.

 

An 8440? And you got it for ten BUCKS?! Niiiiiiice....

Totally jealous here. Just sayin....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

"It's very nice, but frankly, when I signed that list for a P-51, what I had in mind was a fountain pen."

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I recently picked up a black J with a 9550 nib for... drum roll..... $19.50 + $5.00 shipping. Compared to my other 9550, I think this nib might have been NOS. Oh, and while it didn't say so in the ebay listing, I didn't have to replace the sac. Sure, its black but so what? Now I have black, gray and green J's, a red SJ and a black LJ (Bell Systems)

Only 3 more J colors to go! Peyton Street has 2 nice gray ones listed. Twice the price of yours, but you know they will be excellent. I got a copper one from terim couple months ago.

Baptiste knew how to make a short job long

For love of it. And yet not waste time either.

Robert Frost

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An 8440? And you got it for ten BUCKS?! Niiiiiiice....

Totally jealous here. Just sayin....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Yup. Someone on FPN knew I was hunting for one, and he spotted it on eBay. Gotta love this forum!

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Only 3 more J colors to go! Peyton Street has 2 nice gray ones listed. Twice the price of yours, but you know they will be excellent. I got a copper one from terim couple months ago.

Wow! Only three more? Which are you missing? And do you have the plain army green one? I'm assuming you're talking about the double jewel J pens, right? Not the visualated or transitional ones. Does that include the icicles and doctors and nurses pens? The Deluxe?

 

Oh, my. I can't imagine.

 

“When the historians of education do equal and exact justice to all who have contributed toward educational progress, they will devote several pages to those revolutionists who invented steel pens and blackboards.” V.T. Thayer, 1928

Check out my Steel Pen Blog

"No one is exempt from talking nonsense; the mistake is to do it solemnly."

-Montaigne

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That proves that you should investigate interesting ebay photos carefully. With the acquisition of acumen, you can be a sumgai on your own, increasing your satisfaction.

"Don't hurry, don't worry. It's better to be late at the Golden Gate than to arrive in Hell on time."
--Sign in a bar and grill, Ormond Beach, Florida, 1960.

 

 

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Wow! Only three more? Which are you missing? And do you have the plain army green one? I'm assuming you're talking about the double jewel J pens, right? Not the visualated or transitional ones. Does that include the icicles and doctors and nurses pens? The Deluxe?

Oh, my. I can't imagine.

I meant runnin-ute only had 3 more to go, and I was referring to the 6 basic Js, not all the variations.

Baptiste knew how to make a short job long

For love of it. And yet not waste time either.

Robert Frost

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Nice Estie! Which nib did you get with yours?

Sorry, I missed your post/question. Nib is 1554.

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Yup. Someone on FPN knew I was hunting for one, and he spotted it on eBay. Gotta love this forum!

Congratulations on a great find! I'm new to the Estes but those on this forum do seem to look out for one another. Very cool!

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  • 2 weeks later...

Only 3 more J colors to go! Peyton Street has 2 nice gray ones listed. Twice the price of yours, but you know they will be excellent. I got a copper one from terim couple months ago.

Green J was from a FPN member in the classifieds and 9550. LJ from EoC....

 

The others have all been ebay purchases SJ/9450, gray J/9461(9460), black J 9550. The gray has a Venus Fine in it currently. The green a 1555 Gregg. I think I am into the 5 plus 2 extra nibs about $100 including shipping. The green J w/9550 was $39 shipped if I recall. It was restored. The gray J was the only one I had to resac. Thought I would have to do both the red SJ and the black J. But didn't have to.

Brad

"Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind" - Rudyard Kipling
"None of us can have as many virtues as the fountain-pen, or half its cussedness; but we can try." - Mark Twain

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One of the ballpoints had a sliding White House gizmo (like a snow globe) that was sort of adorable, too.

Those are called floaty, or floating pens. They were, and still are a popular gift shop item. I have several from family vacations I picked as souvenirs when I was a kid, and one I picked up at the WWII Museum gift shop in NOLA, January 2015. So I know they still make them. I find them kinda fun and will grab them at garage sales and flea markets if they're just a $1 or $2. They have no value that I'm aware of, I just like them because they remind me of being a kid.

John L

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