Where to find jewels for an Esterbrook J

[johnmont007]

My newly acquired black Esterbrook J dropped to the pavement while capped, but the top (cap) jewel is broken. I am looking for guidance how how/who to contact for jewel repair or replacement. Apologies if this is the incorrect forum, and if so, please guide me to the correct one.

 

Many thanks

 

John

[FarmBoy]

My newly acquired black Esterbrook J dropped to the pavement while capped, but the top (cap) jewel is broken. I am looking for guidance how how/who to contact for jewel repair or replacement. Apologies if this is the incorrect forum, and if so, please guide me to the correct one.

 

Many thanks

 

John

John,

 

Jewels seem to be the limiting item in restoring Esterbrook J series pens. The J cap jewel is unique in that it only goes on the J cap.

 

There are a few sellers on E-Bay that occasionally sell NOS jewels. Several people have made small batches of reproduction jewels in the proper black plastic. One member here makes them from Stainless Steel and powder coats them black. Some restorers will replace the jewel as part of a restoration but will not sell the jewel. Unfortunately I don't know if any of these sources is an option at this time.

 

The other source is junker pens or purchase a cap. Best option for this route is an ad in the wanted section of FPN.

 

The bad news, is if you would have asked about two weeks ago I had an extra black cap.

 

If most of the jewel is there you can try molding in the part that is missing using epoxy to sty-cast or another similar material and then paint it black.

 

If you find a donor cap and want the jewel out the best approach is removal of the inner cap and removal via a punch from the bottom. You can remove the old one in a similar manner or drill it out. Put the new one in by pushing it in place against a rubber pad.

 

Keep us posted on what happens.

 

Todd

 

 

 

[nolagraph]

I'm quite interested in this as well - all of a sudden about two weeks back I noticed that the cap jewel on my red J was chipped pretty badly. Don't remember doing anything to it, but that doesn't mean anything.

[Paddler]

My J pens are writers and I don't particularly care if they are restored to original condition or not. When I buy J with a damaged jewel, I grind the old jewel down to just below the top edge of the tassie and then take the pen to a rock shop. There I buy a properly sized cabochon or (to really dress up the pen's cap) a faceted chip of black stone. A little epoxy puts you back in "bidness" . They typically sell the right kind of epoxy at the same store.

 

Paddler

 

[Firefyter-Emt]

John, if you like, you can drop me a PM thru the site. I am the one Todd was thinking of that makes the metal ones. I can help you out if you like, when done it is very hard to tell the diffrence in weight because there is so little metal that makes up the jewel.

 

Here is one of my pens with a jewel that I made this way.

 

http://www.yankeetoys.org/lee/319081.jpg