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Esterbrook Cartridges


bonnie-scott

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Hi,

I have just acquired an Esterbrook in a job lot of old pens and would like to bring it into use. It currently has an empty old Esterbrook cartridge fitted. Can anyone advise what cartridges will fit? It is much longer than the 'common' cartridges you see around. Also from an environmental perspective is there a filler e.g. pistion filler I can use?

 

Not sure what model, but if I can work out how I will post a picture in this part of the forum. Just been looking at Esterbrook.net and think it is a CX-100 model with a red barrel :-)

 

 

Many thanks,

Julian

Edited by bonnie-scott
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Just refill the cartridge you have. No one makes a cartridge for these. Esterbrook did make a squeeze type converter but they are harder to find than an empty cartridge.

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Hi Farm Boy,

 

many thanks for the reply. Once it's finished soaking I will give that a go.

 

Cheers,

Julian

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I have not tried this myself, so take it with a grain of salt, but I am told that you can use a Sheaffer cartridge in these Esterbrooks, although you may have to carefully pierce the cartridge before inserting it in the pen.

 

I have one of these pens, so I suppose I should try this trick before I report it again!!

 

As FarmBoy says, though, you can refill the cartridge with a syringe and reuse it.

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Hi BamaPen,

 

I might just get a [ack of Sheaffer cartridges and compare them with the one I have, Worth a shot but won't try fitting unless they are a really close match.

 

Cheers

Julian

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I have not tried this myself, so take it with a grain of salt, but I am told that you can use a Sheaffer cartridge in these Esterbrooks, although you may have to carefully pierce the cartridge before inserting it in the pen.

 

I have one of these pens, so I suppose I should try this trick before I report it again!!

 

As FarmBoy says, though, you can refill the cartridge with a syringe and reuse it.

 

So, I have a few CA101 pens lying around, and a bag full of old Sheaffer cartridges. I decided to give it a try.

 

Remember that the original Esterbrook cartridges were either the paired, tapered set that fit back-to-back in the barrel, or the longer one, with the extension on the back end. One of the keys to getting things to work is making sure that the cartridge stays somewhat snug in the barrel.

 

That said, the Sheaffer cartridge will work, but there are a couple things to note:

1. I used a 1/8" drill bit to open the cartridge, and then an X-Acto knife to trim the hole. You want to be careful about the plastic you trim away.

2. I made a 7/8" spacer to put at the end of the barrel to keep the cartridge snug.

 

fpn_1586105670__esterbrook_ca101_blue_15

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So, I have a few CA101 pens lying around, and a bag full of old Sheaffer cartridges. I decided to give it a try.

 

Remember that the original Esterbrook cartridges were either the paired, tapered set that fit back-to-back in the barrel, or the longer one, with the extension on the back end. One of the keys to getting things to work is making sure that the cartridge stays somewhat snug in the barrel.

 

That said, the Sheaffer cartridge will work, but there are a couple things to note:

1. I used a 1/8" drill bit to open the cartridge, and then an X-Acto knife to trim the hole. You want to be careful about the plastic you trim away.

2. I made a 7/8" spacer to put at the end of the barrel to keep the cartridge snug.

 

fpn_1586105670__esterbrook_ca101_blue_15

Modern production Sheaffer cartridges might not work -- they have hard plastic ends, one of which has a plastic ball sealing it, rather than relying upon the nipple to cut a hole in the end (the other end even has an indentation that allows one to carry an unpunctured cartridge in the pen).

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Good info. It's good that I have a bag full of old ones. The key, then, is to find any cartridge that can be adapted to the Esterbrook nipple, and compensate for barrel length.

 

There are variations of the CA101 that have a recessed feed, and I have been able to use a Pilot 50(?) converter in those.

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Good info. It's good that I have a bag full of old ones. The key, then, is to find any cartridge that can be adapted to the Esterbrook nipple, and compensate for barrel length.

 

There are variations of the CA101 that have a recessed feed, and I have been able to use a Pilot 50(?) converter in those.

I can imagine you would have 6 shoeboxes full of empty cartridges by now...

San Francisco International Pen Show - The next “Funnest Pen Show” is on schedule for August 23-24-25, 2024.  Watch the show website for registration details. 
 

My PM box is usually full. Just email me: my last name at the google mail address.

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I have a small handful of actual Esterbrook cartridges, but I got some of the leftovers from the Jack Price auction. I have a tote full of Sheaffer cartridges, and assorted ballpoint and rollerball refills.

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Hi gweimer1,

thanks for posting the pictures and providing the description. Have I understood right, that the cartridge needs to have a 1/8" hole for the feed?.. Length wise I can simply measure from the existing esterbrook cartridge when it is properly seated but I didn't know what size/shape the hole for the feed needed to be and with only 1 old cartridge I didn't want to risk damage trying to work it out.

 

many thanks again,

Julian

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Yes, I used a 1/8" drill bit to open the old Sheaffer cartridge. If you have a used one that is already open, you might try seeing if you can get it on the Esterbrook nipple first.

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So, I have a few CA101 pens lying around, and a bag full of old Sheaffer cartridges. I decided to give it a try.

 

Remember that the original Esterbrook cartridges were either the paired, tapered set that fit back-to-back in the barrel, or the longer one, with the extension on the back end. One of the keys to getting things to work is making sure that the cartridge stays somewhat snug in the barrel.

 

That said, the Sheaffer cartridge will work, but there are a couple things to note:

1. I used a 1/8" drill bit to open the cartridge, and then an X-Acto knife to trim the hole. You want to be careful about the plastic you trim away.

2. I made a 7/8" spacer to put at the end of the barrel to keep the cartridge snug.

 

fpn_1586105670__esterbrook_ca101_blue_15

Cool. How did you make the spacer?

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My other pen is a Montblanc.

 

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The spacer is cut from a length of Berol eraser stock that I found at a local office supply store.

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The spacer is cut from a length of Berol eraser stock that I found at a local office supply store.

Thanks!

 

Cool-looking pen, too.

My latest ebook.   And not just for Halloween!
 

My other pen is a Montblanc.

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Good info. It's good that I have a bag full of old ones. The key, then, is to find any cartridge that can be adapted to the Esterbrook nipple, and compensate for barrel length.

 

There are variations of the CA101 that have a recessed feed, and I have been able to use a Pilot 50(?) converter in those.

I've been refilling the old Esterbrook cartridge, but for some reason, it starts to leak as they approach emptiness. I've been on the hunt for a converter that will work. I think I have a CON-50 here somewhere (though they may all be in pens). If I am successful with a CON-50 I will let everyone know.

Festina lente

Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence

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  • 1 month later...

Just refill the cartridge you have. No one makes a cartridge for these. Esterbrook did make a squeeze type converter but they are harder to find than an empty cartridge.

I have been doing just that, and it has been working well, but now I fear I must have done something that damaged the cartridge as the ink first was leaking, and then after a good cleaning and a bit of silicon grease no longer seems to be flowing well. I enjoyed writing with this pen very much and am a bit flummoxed as to what to try next.

Festina lente

Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence

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  • 1 month later...

I read somewhere that Platinum converters fit the CA101 perfectly, and indeed that proved to be the case when I tried it.

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Well, this thread definitely proves that "old saying" - "All of us are smarter than any of us!"

 

Thanks to all for the information. I don't have one of these (yet?) and who knows?

 

Best to all and stay safe & well.

“Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today, because if you do it today and like it, you can do again tomorrow!”

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  • 2 weeks later...

I imagine this same technique will work on a Phaeton. I will prepare the spacer. When the squeeze converter goes south on my Phaeton, the scores of Sheaffer cartridges mined from estate sales will have more use.

"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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