What pen(s) are you using today?

[Misfit]

@Ceramicist they are bigger and longer. 
 

on top is the Esterbrook Estie, and on bottom is a vintage LJ, which was the longest of vintage Esterbrook. There was a time I thought I’d never buy a modern Esterbrook. I finally caved with the Back-to-the-Land series. And then the Jurassic was getting harder to find. I decided if I found one with the 1.1mm stub nib, I’d buy it. 
 

To me, I thought the modern Esterbrook was priced too high in comparison to the vintage. But I did not research to see what the price of the vintage would be in today’s money. My thinking was the vintage Esterbrook was affordable, and good at entry level. The modern Esterbrook is priced out of entry level. That was what made me doubtful of buying. Now I have two. 
 

Modern Esterbrook does have an adapter to use vintage nibs. Modern Esterbrook has a good variety of nibs, but not the amount that vintage Esterbrook had. 

[Misfit]

2 hours ago, InkyProf said:

 

Good thought (and I do hope @Bo Bo Olson's doing well: it's been several weeks since he's been around).

Maybe his current book is at the point where it takes all his time. That’s what I’d like to think. 

[lamarax]

36 minutes ago, Misfit said:

Maybe his current book is at the point where it takes all his time. That’s what I’d like to think. 

 

I've messaged him in late November, but had no response.

[InkyProf]

That's concerning...

 

Meanwhile, with an open slot in my inked pen tray, I filled what I think is probably my oldest pen with Montblanc Midnight Blue (not the one I've had the longest but the one that's existed the longest) -- a Parker Jack Knife 20 1/2 in black chased hard rubber -- found that the elderly nib needed a little physical therapy; got it writing smoothly; and used it to write a letter to my oldest friend (not the one who's existed the longest but the one I've known the longest). The pen probably isn't quite as old as her age plus my age put together, but it's close.

[JasonR]

Say hello to my little friend!   Conway Stewart Dinkie - BCHR - 1920s I think. I'm having a little trouble with the feed, but I'll get that sorted - the nib is amazing.

 

[inkstainedruth]

3 hours ago, Misfit said:

Maybe his current book is at the point where it takes all his time. That’s what I’d like to think. 

I was just thinking the same thing.  

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Misfit]

55 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

I was just thinking the same thing.  

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

I hope we are right. I’d expect writing/editing a book gets to be all consuming at some point. 

[ParramattaPaul]

7Eleven is alive and well in Oz.

[Ceramicist]

12 hours ago, Misfit said:

@Ceramicist they are bigger and longer. 
 

on top is the Esterbrook Estie, and on bottom is a vintage LJ, which was the longest of vintage Esterbrook. There was a time I thought I’d never buy a modern Esterbrook. I finally caved with the Back-to-the-Land series. And then the Jurassic was getting harder to find. I decided if I found one with the 1.1mm stub nib, I’d buy it. 
 

To me, I thought the modern Esterbrook was priced too high in comparison to the vintage. But I did not research to see what the price of the vintage would be in today’s money. My thinking was the vintage Esterbrook was affordable, and good at entry level. The modern Esterbrook is priced out of entry level. That was what made me doubtful of buying. Now I have two. 
 

Modern Esterbrook does have an adapter to use vintage nibs. Modern Esterbrook has a good variety of nibs, but not the amount that vintage Esterbrook had. 

Thank you so much for the great comparison! Interestingly enough, I have that LJ Slim Double Jewel with Bell System Property on it! I got it from a friend whose uncle worked for them in New Jersey. Mine has a 9556 Firm F nib. It's good to know the nibs are interchangeable. Yes, I've been surprised at the cost of the modern Esterbrooks. I wonder if they appeal the most to those who have vintage Esterbrooks or to pen enthusiasts who've never tried the vintage models.

[inkstainedruth]

14 hours ago, Misfit said:

I hope we are right. I’d expect writing/editing a book gets to be all consuming at some point. 

My mother was an author, and she still managed to do laundry and make meals and clean the house (although with her bad foot she mostly handed my dad a shopping list for stuff to get at the grocery store) and would walk to the library and the post office (both of which were fairly close to the house I lived in growing up) and also make sure she had time to read for pleasure as well as doing research for the storylines and details.

She tended to type everything (even personal letters) and for the books would generally be using three sheets of paper with two sheets of carbon paper sandwiched in between.  I think that once she got an electric typewriter it was a little faster than her old Royal manual one.  And after I got married my dad got her an early version of a tablet computer and she called one time all excited because she'd figured out how to do corrections all at once instead of having to re-read through a manuscript and correct each page in triplicate (in boxes on the dining room table).  And I was like, "Um, yeah -- I think in Apple that would be command-F/command-V...."

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Penguincollector]

9 hours ago, Ceramicist said:

I wonder if they appeal the most to those who have vintage Esterbrooks or to pen enthusiasts who've never tried the vintage models.

   In my observation, it has been mostly the latter. There are a few folks like @Misfit and @PAKMAN who have both. 

[Ceramicist]

36 minutes ago, Penguincollector said:

   In my observation, it has been mostly the latter. There are a few folks like @Misfit and @PAKMAN who have both. 

Thank you for your take on this. I have six (circa 1950s) Esterbrooks, and I don't even remember how I acquired all of them. I believe several, at least, were in bags of fountain pens I purchased at the consignment shop or antique mall. I think one was intentionally purchased. I haven't used them in a while and need to ink them up.

[Penguincollector]

10 minutes ago, Ceramicist said:

Thank you for your take on this. I have six (circa 1950s) Esterbrooks, and I don't even remember how I acquired all of them. I believe several, at least, were in bags of fountain pens I purchased at the consignment shop or antique mall. I think one was intentionally purchased. I haven't used them in a while and need to ink them up.

 You’re so welcome! I have one blue SJ with a  2048 Falcon nib, I should ink it for copperplate practice. I also have an early cartridge pen that I’ve never used, but recently bought the hard to find cartridges for. I think certain older pens just migrate into the fold when you’re not looking. 😀 

[Misfit]

I have 7 or 8 vintage Esterbrook pens. I really tried to resist the new iteration of Esterbrook. But the 1970s vibe of Back to the Land Estie pens got to me. Resist! Resist! Get an offer on eBay. Buy.

 

My pen of the day is the Conklin Duragraph Red Nights with 1.1mm stub nib filled with J Herbin Rouge Opera red ink. 

[Penguincollector]

 

7 hours ago, Misfit said:

I have 7 or 8 vintage Esterbrook pens. I really tried to resist the new iteration of Esterbrook. But the 1970s vibe of Back to the Land Estie pens got to me. Resist! Resist! Get an offer on eBay. Buy.

 

My pen of the day is the Conklin Duragraph Red Nights with 1.1mm stub nib filled with J Herbin Rouge Opera red ink. 

  I really like that series of new style Esties. If I see the lake one either second hand or at a good price, I might try it.

 

   I’m practicing my italic calligraphy styles with an Osmiroid Italic Broad Straight nib, with Diamine Inkvent Tinsel. 

[Misfit]

2 hours ago, Penguincollector said:

If I see the lake one either second hand or at a good price, I might try it.

I watched the Original Rock on PenHero’s shop on eBay. Got an offer, and paid $150 with tax. I think Esterbrook and Retro 51 are often excluded from coupon offers at online stores. 
 

I think Esterbrook charges too much for the nib adapter, but that’s me. I mean, I think $30 would be the price, but I don’t know what goes into making it. I still suspect the MSRP has a hefty up charge. 

[Ceramicist]

15 hours ago, Penguincollector said:

 You’re so welcome! I have one blue SJ with a  2048 Falcon nib, I should ink it for copperplate practice. I also have an early cartridge pen that I’ve never used, but recently bought the hard to find cartridges for. I think certain older pens just migrate into the fold when you’re not looking. 😀 

My Esterbrook nibs are 2668 (2), 2556, 2442 (fine stub), 9668, and the aforementioned 9556. 

14 hours ago, Misfit said:

I have 7 or 8 vintage Esterbrook pens. I really tried to resist the new iteration of Esterbrook. But the 1970s vibe of Back to the Land Estie pens got to me. Resist! Resist! Get an offer on eBay. Buy.

 

My pen of the day is the Conklin Duragraph Red Nights with 1.1mm stub nib filled with J Herbin Rouge Opera red ink. 

I like the earthy colors of the Back to the Land Esties and also like the yellow of their pastel line.

[Gloucesterman]

5 hours ago, Misfit said:

I think Esterbrook charges too much for the nib adapter, but that’s me. I mean, I think $30 would be the price, but I don’t know what goes into making it. I still suspect the MSRP has a hefty up charge. 

Of course it charges too much.

 

The adapter is simply a piece of cheap (somewhat "precious resin") molded plastic which you can ONLY BUY FROM "Esterbrook". Therefore they can charge you whatever they want! 

If you had a 3-D printer and a "sample" adapter, you could probably turn them out for $1.00-$2.00 each. If you wanted to mass produce them, it would be pennies per piece. The adapter "probably" has a patent on the design, so one could not do it legally though.

 

Although the above comment is simply my perspective based on my experiences and limited manufacturing knowledge, a detailed investigation would, probably, prove it to be accurate. BTW, I am NOT saying that the money made is not used for other related costs, just that the manufacturing cost and subsequent mark ups are what make "our" cost so much.

 

Finally! Some of their pens are quite beautiful (IMO) so we make a choice of where we want to spend our $$.

 

 

[Penguincollector]

4 hours ago, Ceramicist said:

My Esterbrook nibs are 2668 (2), 2556, 2442 (fine stub), 9668, and the aforementioned 9556. 

  That’s so cool! I really should go looking around in vintage and thrift shops again. It has been quite a while since I’ve found a pen in the wild. 

[Ceramicist]

7 hours ago, Penguincollector said:

  That’s so cool! I really should go looking around in vintage and thrift shops again. It has been quite a while since I’ve found a pen in the wild. 

It's pretty exciting, isn't it?