New Esterbrook J With A Surprise

[Dont_Flexme]

I finally found my first Esterbrook, a beautiful red J with a fine 9134 nib. It took me a bit before I inked it up (wanted to finish up a pen or two).

 

When I finally did, I was saddened by the worse nib I'd experienced- scratchy, and it wouldn't lay down a line without a lot of work.

 

Still I played around with it and finally found and odd sweet spot. I pulled out a loop and, at first thought it was damaged. I looked up the nib and discovered it was an oblique, more listed as an oblique stub. Going back to my paperwork I realized that indeed it said it was a fine oblique and I must have blocked it out.

 

I'd never used an oblique but decided it was worth figuring it out. After playing and practicing for the past two weeks Ive tamed the beast and love writing with it. The nib has just a touch of line variation to spice up my writing and a wonderful flow (as long as I hold it the right way). It's also interesting seeing the full nib while writing.

 

In the end I've come to appreciate the new add to my collection and love that I've learned how to use an oblique nib.

[corgicoupe]

I think you meant a 9314, and there are three of them: 9314-F, 9314-M, and 9314-B. I have the first two and find them to be two of the most pleasant writing of my Esterbrook nibs. Get the angles correct and I think you will find it adds character to our writing.

[Gloucesterman]

I finally found my first Esterbrook, a beautiful red J with a fine 9134 nib. It took me a bit before I inked it up (wanted to finish up a pen or two).

 

When I finally did, I was saddened by the worse nib I'd experienced- scratchy, and it wouldn't lay down a line without a lot of work.

 

Still I played around with it and finally found and odd sweet spot. I pulled out a loop and, at first thought it was damaged. I looked up the nib and discovered it was an oblique, more listed as an oblique stub. Going back to my paperwork I realized that indeed it said it was a fine oblique and I must have blocked it out.

 

I'd never used an oblique but decided it was worth figuring it out. After playing and practicing for the past two weeks Ive tamed the beast and love writing with it. The nib has just a touch of line variation to spice up my writing and a wonderful flow (as long as I hold it the right way). It's also interesting seeing the full nib while writing.

 

In the end I've come to appreciate the new add to my collection and love that I've learned how to use an oblique nib.

Congratulations on your find. Using a variety of different nib styles can be a lot of fun and quite rewarding. Enjoy the pen and definitely consider testing out other Esterbrook nibs. IMO one of the truly great things about Esterbrooks is the ease of changing nibs.

[gweimer1]

Congrats on the new pen! Are you a lefty by any chance? I have a few of the oblique nibs, and they are a lot of fun, but I found it took a little practice as a lefty.

[wvbeetlebug]

Congratulations on your new Estie! They are fun pens to have indeed!

[Dont_Flexme]

I think you meant a 9314, and there are three of them: 9314-F, 9314-M, and 9314-B. I have the first two and find them to be two of the most pleasant writing of my Esterbrook nibs. Get the angles correct and I think you will find it adds character to our writing.

You are correct,it is a 9314-F, mixed my numbers around. And now I know there are two other sizes, I might need to check them out.

[Dont_Flexme]

Congrats on the new pen! Are you a lefty by any chance? I have a few of the oblique nibs, and they are a lot of fun, but I found it took a little practice as a lefty.

Thank you. I'm not a lefty, but I've had to do a bit of practice to get this nib down- it's like learning a new language.

[PAKMAN]

Obliques are fun once you get the angle figured out!

[corgicoupe]

Yep. For my writing it's 45 deg from the horizontal and about 15 deg from the north/south of the paper.

[pajaro]

Congrats on the new pen! Are you a lefty by any chance? I have a few of the oblique nibs, and they are a lot of fun, but I found it took a little practice as a lefty.

 

I don't understand why you need to practice writing left handed. The 9314 -F, 9314-M and 9314 -B are left obliques, said to be good for right handers. The right oblique nibs are supposed to be good for left handed writers. I am left handed and I have both left oblique and right oblique pens. I believe what the obliques are good for is use as a stub, for line variation and for people who like to write rotating the pen. Rotating the pen with an oblique seems to put the stub where a regular stub would be. Congrats, you thus found the sweet spot.

Edited June 2, 2019 by pajaro

[pitonyak]

My best friend's mother purchased my friend and I matching MontBlanc FPs. I always had trouble using it, but I knew nothing about fountain pens. Someone I did not know well looked at the pen and said to me "this is meant for a lefty", and I did not have the presence of mind to ask him how he knew. I found out years later that apparently the pens have an Oblique nib. When my friend died unexpectedly, I was given his pen so that the two could stay together. I keep thinking that I should ink the pen to see if I am more able to accommodate the oblique nib. Unfortunately, with the MB, it is not a simple matter to simply replace the nib, which makes me sad for obvious reasons.

[Tom Heath]

you are a lucky man

 

yes by all means fill your pen set aside a half hour or so and just try to

find a comfortable angle take your time ans see if you don't get the hang of it.

 

at first do not press too hard.. until you get more comfortable.

 

Happy writing

Tom

[Runnin_Ute]

I have a OB (Oblique Broad) in one of my Pelikan M200's. As I recall, it did take some getting used to when I first got it. I have had it for about four years now, so it is less of an adjustment when I pick it up. Just a few strokes usually.