Vintage pens?

[Rosendust]

Hey all! I'm wondering if it's worth the experience to at least have one vintage pen in the collection? I'm looking at the following Estie: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Blue-Esterbrook-J-Series-Fountain-Pen-2968-BROAD-Nib-Guaranteed-to-write-/274936225318?hash=item400379de26:g:jqcAAOSwKbRhNjP2&pageci=2d05c869-d1a5-4374-8309-31111019c0f9&redirect=mobile

 

What do you think?

[OCArt]

Esterbrook pens are a good vintage choice as they are very durable and the ink sacks are almost always in good working order. I think that price is a little high but broad nibs are a bit rare.  Photos in eBay ads are often clear enough that you can read the nib number and determine the size from this chart.

[bunnspecial]

If you like the pen I don't think you can go wrong at that price, even though Esterbrooks aren't my personal cup of tea.

 

With that said, I think with a bit of patience, if you're set on an Esterbrook, you could find one for the same or less that's not as badly chewed up/doesn't have as many bite marks as this one. Normally for pens in my collection I have some tolerance for bit marks, but these look bad.

 

If you wanted to swing a bit more, $100 would probably get you a working Parker 51 Aeromatic. That is unquestionably an iconic pen, and also the aeromatic filling pens have very few things that can go wrong with them.

[Paul-in-SF]

Other reasons Esterbrook is a good choice for your first vintage pen:

 

There are a lot of them generally available, and if you are a little patient and careful you can get a good one at a good price. As has been noted, your posted selection has good points (the J size, the broad nib) and bad points (the teeth marks). The 2968 nib unit is a little more commonly available than I thought, at generally close to $30. 

 

The nibs are easily replaceable screw-in nib units, and other nib units are readily available. You can have several different sizes for relatively few additional dollars (here is a list of nib sizes that is a little easier to read). Buy another nib unit, and it's like having another pen. 

 

[welch]

18 minutes ago, bunnspecial said:

If you like the pen I don't think you can go wrong at that price, even though Esterbrooks aren't my personal cup of tea.

 

With that said, I think with a bit of patience, if you're set on an Esterbrook, you could find one for the same or less that's not as badly chewed up/doesn't have as many bite marks as this one. Normally for pens in my collection I have some tolerance for bit marks, but these look bad.

 

If you wanted to swing a bit more, $100 would probably get you a working Parker 51 Aeromatic. That is unquestionably an iconic pen, and also the aeromatic filling pens have very few things that can go wrong with them.

 

Just repeating bunnspecial for emphasis. Esterbrooks ought to sell for around $30. For years, an EBay seller named "Applejim" sold re-conditioned Esties for about $25. I bought my first Esterbrook, a "small J" for about $20 maybe 15 years ago. With three sizes and two or three series (J, Transitional, and another) and so many colors, you can't miss.

 

Big thing with Esterbrook was that you can swap any nib into any pen body, and there were three sorts of quality (9xxx being the best) and about 15 types of nibs. Take a look at OCart's chart. The Anderson's sell Estie nibs, although some have gotten rare. Yes, Esterbrook is the center of a cult that worships their glorious colors, their sturdy build, the "points" and the interchangeability, and even the fact that Esterbrook used some kind of magic that kept their sacs alive for many, many years. (Take a look through the Esterbrook sub-site)

 

The Parker 51 is the finest fountain pen ever made, and the aerometric 51 has a sac that never wears out. For details, look at Tony Fishier's Parker Penography at https://parkerpens.net/parker51.html . You should find a refurbished 51 for about $100, give or take $25. Maybe as high as $150. Of course, some colors in some models are collector targets, so they will be $500 or more. 

[welch]

16 minutes ago, Paul-in-SF said:

Other reasons Esterbrook is a good choice for your first vintage pen:

 

There are a lot of them generally available, and if you are a little patient and careful you can get a good one at a good price. As has been noted, your posted selection has good points (the J size, the broad nib) and bad points (the teeth marks). The 2968 nib unit is a little more commonly available than I thought, at generally close to $30. 

 

The nibs are easily replaceable screw-in nib units, and other nib units are readily available. You can have several different sizes for relatively few additional dollars (here is a list of nib sizes that is a little easier to read). Buy another nib unit, and it's like having another pen. 

 

 

Esterbrook advertisement I saw on EBay: "Buy one pen body and three points...it's like buying three different pens!"

[essayfaire]

1 hour ago, Rosendust said:

Hey all! I'm wondering if it's worth the experience to at least have one vintage pen in the collection? I'm looking at the following Estie: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Blue-Esterbrook-J-Series-Fountain-Pen-2968-BROAD-Nib-Guaranteed-to-write-/274936225318?hash=item400379de26:g:jqcAAOSwKbRhNjP2&pageci=2d05c869-d1a5-4374-8309-31111019c0f9&redirect=mobile

 

What do you think?

Vintage Esties are nice pens! I've been lucky enough to get a couple the last few years.  Much cheaper than the new ones as well, but there's some converter you can buy that would let you still interchange modern pens to the vintage nibs, I believe.  The nibs on the vintage ones were made to be easily interchangeable.

[Karmachanic]

Haven't had an Estie since 1963. Hmm

[Paul-in-SF]

2 hours ago, essayfaire said:

there's some converter you can buy that would let you still interchange modern pens to the vintage nibs

 

The modern Estie and oversized Estie models have available at an extra charge a separate section that allows you to screw in vintage nib units to the modern pen. It's called the MV Nib Adaptor. You usually have to look under Esterbrook Accessories to find them. 

[Buzz_130]

An Esterbrook is a great addition to any pen collection. They are reliable, durable, and easy to maintain (it's a great platform to learn how to start fixing pens). Throw in the interchangeable nibs, and you have a pen body that can expand your appetite for more vintage pens. The price does seem high for a 2XXX series nib, but I did a quick search of my usual restorers on eBay: the price isn't that bad.

 

Good luck with the hunt!

[hairlame]

If you're looking for reasonably priced vintage pens that have been restored, I'd recommend Midnight Pens (Gary Weimer) on Etsy.

[Audrey T]

Thank you for the recommendation -- I just ordered something!

[Audrey T]

On 1/2/2022 at 12:56 PM, Audrey T said:

Thank you for the recommendation -- I just ordered something!

I've only had it about an hour, but so far I'm really liking it (Sheaffer Prelude stub).

[KBeezie]

Just one? 

 

 

 

 

... (and many others of mine)

 

By the way there's two red Esterbrooks in that 'red' pic, one I haven't re-sac'd yet, the other is an earlier "Dollar Pen" but takes the same renew point nibs. 

 

Fun thing about the Esterbrook J/SJ/LJ and so forth , you can get Venus and Osmiroid nib units for them too, they tend to have more stub/etc calligraphy oriented types of nibs. 

[vinniekowalski]

I definitely think they're a great first or even only vintage pen for the reasons mentioned above. Just know they may lead to more vintage pens — Esterbrooks were first vintage pens and man, they haven't been my last! 

 

I have a sweet blue pastel Esterbrook with a nice flexible medium nib if you're interested (I mention this only because I just commented in the "no new pens for 2022 / maybe will try to downsize" thread) 

[Scrawler]

They are dangerous, you can't have just one. I learned resaccing on Esterbrook and made a hobby out of rebuilding nib units with interesting nibs. Once you have one you will discover the whole range of colours and end up with a bouquet.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Of course one needs an Estie or three or five.I once had 9 or so of them, and am down to only two.

 

IMO you need a regular flex nib, modern Japanese 'soft' nib will do instead. If not a used Pelikan 200 would be a good buy.

 

You do eventually on your 6-7-8th pen need a German vintage '50-70 era stubbed semi-flex nibbed pen. It is a flair nib, not a calligraphy nib.

Pelikan 140/400, or Geha 790 would be the most common and least expensive. The Geha 790 being the best buy. Great semi-flex stubbed nib, great balance.

Torpedo was very popular in the '50-60's German pens. MB 146/9, Geha 790/760 Pelikan 140-400nn is torpedo shaped, but the '50-54 400 is not.

 

Piston pens after @ 1955 are Plastic gasket 2.0 still used today. Piston pens before have the more fragile 1.0...or cork.

I do suggest the medium-long 400nn, with plastic gasket 2.0, holes @ 2.0ml of ink... a huge amount and a stubbed semi-flex nib.

 

I never checked to see how much ink my 4 Geha 790's or the 760 or this 780 hold. 780 is rare, it was only 4 years ago I found out they even existed. So will cost 40% more than a 790's E-60/70.

 

[sandy101]

If you want one vintage pen, the best way to go is to either visit a pen show, or buy one from a reputable dealer of vintage pens. 

 

Buying a random vintage pen from a random dealer will give you random results.

 

I've had some good ones, but I've also had one with cracks, poor nibs and missing parts. The time & cost of finding and fitting replacement parts can exceed the cost of the pen, and the cost of getting one in great condition from a good dealer.

 

So, if you want one with no fuss, visit a pen show so you can see what you are buying, or a good dealer. I'm sure someone will recommend someone A good dealer where you are.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Sandy101 is right. I had lots of time...back in the day***, buying real cheap pens and learning that way...there seems to be no cheap pens any more.

 

Any of the name pens like a Pelikan were for me expensive pens even if they were ""then """ only E-50-60....now 90-100 or so.

 

The only pen show I knew of in Germany was 1/2 a days drive at an average of 100mph at $5-7.00 (or more at various times) a gallon and an over night.

 

***Someday, you will take today's prices and tell some young new one, of what is now expensive but then cheap prices of pens you bought.

 

 

I missed all the cheap pens...pre-net, back when pens were sold by want ad in the newspapers. Grumble cubed.

 

 

[Michael W. DeWitt]

Before buying on Ebay, Etsy, etc., go to: Fountainpenhospital.com and check their "backroom and vintage" inventory.  They have a selection of Esterbrook, Sheaffer, Parker, and a few other manufactures.  At least when you buy a vintage pen from them, it will be in working condition, and won't break the bank...