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Antique Shop Find - Esterbrook 407


FPSymphony

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Well...It's happening. The Esterbrooks are taking over my pen collection.

 

Already my sixth Esterbrook, this is my first desk pen/dip-less, and certainly won't be the last. It was ten bucks, I couldn't resist. It's also in pretty good shape, if not a little dirty, but the sac still feels pliable! It has a 2556 nib.

 

As an aside, is anyone else slightly concerned about old Bakelite (which the base is made out of)?

 

post-133281-0-97528700-1504596222_thumb.jpeg

 

post-133281-0-30170800-1504596238_thumb.jpeg

Edited by FPSymphony
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Nice find! Did it include the metal strap that holds the glass well onto the Bakelite base? I find many need new gasket to be truly leak proof. I just cut them from sheet gasket material using the old gasket as a guide.

 

Concerned about Bakelite, how so? As long as not ground to create dust one shouldn't have to deal with the formaldehyde, or asbestos fibers. Don't grind or drill it!

 

I have many Esterbrook dip-less units in Bakelite and find it easy to clean, polish and maintain. Once I get them completely clean and polished is heavily scratched, I give them a protective coat of Renaissance micro-crystalline wax

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Plexipens,

 

No metal strap, unfortunately, but the gasket appears to be stopping any leakage. Nevertheless, I'm still really glad to have it.

 

I've heard some disconcerting things about Bakelite (most of them probably no more concerning than eating gluten). Overblown as they may be, there is still a part of me that's worried to even touch it. Polishing it outside and a nice coat of wax would at least help me feel better.

 

I plan on restoring it later today, so expect some pictures probably tomorrow. :)

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  • 1 month later...

Nice find. I love the 407's. I use mine everyday for phone messages and writing at my desk. Writing multiple legal size pages daily will still only need to be refilled about twice a year if that.

 

Unfortunately your set seems to be missing the retaining strap that fastens over the glass. Also, your pen is not a dip-less pen that came with the 407.

 

It' still give you great service. Enjoy!

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Keep your eye open for an Esterbrook dipless pen. The pen you have is a fountain pen. A dipless pen doesn't have a sac.

 

Looking for a black SJ Transitional Esterbrook Pen. (It's smaller than an sj)

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