President Kennedy's Esterbrook?

[dmmay]

On the NBC Nightly New this evening they mentioned a large collection of items from JFK that will be auctioned. They had a close up of a foundation pen which he used related to the Cuba Missile crisis. I think it is an Esterbrook, but it is a little difficult to see. It certainly would be a one of kind in any fountain pen collection. I have included a screenshot from the video.

 

[Earthdawn]

It's an "Esterboook dipless pen"

 

The Andersons found one similar at the end of the Philly pen show.

 

Its here in there Blog at the bottom. Pretty cool stuff!

 

http://andersonpens.net/blog/pen-shows-the-2013-philadelphia-pen-show-review/

[Koyote]

I would've thought that JFK was more of a Montblanc kind of guy.

[Brian Anderson]

Yep, exact same pen I found in Philly, although mine was used by LBJ. This one will probably go for some ridiculous amount though, association with JFK and Cuban Missle Crisis = $$$$

[MLKirk]

I saw that too when NBC news was on. Brian's pen is the first thing I thought of.

There's a lot of interesting stuff going into this auction. But this pen, associated with the crisis, is the coolest!

[muskokabrian]

Yep, exact same pen I found in Philly, although mine was used by LBJ. This one will probably go for some ridiculous amount though, association with JFK and Cuban Missle Crisis = $$$$

 

It comes bundled with a picture of Kennedy signing some documents related to the crisis... however, the picture of him signing looks like he's using a different pen from what I could see.

 

What do you think is a ridiculous price?

 

There are a few pens in that auction. I'd be willing to pay a little bit ridiculous for one

[dmmay]

Yep, exact same pen I found in Philly, although mine was used by LBJ. This one will probably go for some ridiculous amount though, association with JFK and Cuban Missle Crisis = $$$$

 

It comes bundled with a picture of Kennedy signing some documents related to the crisis... however, the picture of him signing looks like he's using a different pen from what I could see.

 

What do you think is a ridiculous price?

 

There are a few pens in that auction. I'd be willing to pay a little bit ridiculous for one

 

The estimated auction price is between $5000 and $10000.

[robmcdade]

What did it sell for guys?

[ANM]

FYI a little background on bill signers.

 

Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson all used Esterbrook dipless pens to sign bills. They would use several to sign a bill and give one to each of the persons invited to attend the ceremony. Such pens come with some provenience that they were actually used by the president, when it was used and the date it was used.

 

The General Supply office provided these pens and each a new batch was ordered- usually for a new president- the imprint The President The White House would change a little. Kennedy's imprint was 40mm while Johnsons was 43mm.

 

After a while, Johnson changed from Esterbrook to a felt pen. It had a replica of his signature, the presidential seal and The White House on them. (Esterbrook went out of business during his administration). When Johnson left, he took boxes of the unused Esterbrook pens and sold them as souvenirs from his library. These pens were probably never touched by the president and have no provenience to go with them. At some point, some unknown person bought all the remaining pens. A few years later Johnson pens began appearing as Kennedy pens with a price around 2K each. You see some of those on ebay now and then.

 

Johnson bill signers.

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii101/matthewsno/DSCN0444_zpsc3181ef5.jpg

Edited January 26, 2013 by ANM

[Brian Anderson]

The Johnson pens were sold out sometime around 2001. I remember because I heard there were only a few left and not having had any I hopped on the phone. I was next in line should someone back out, but they were all gone.

[FarmBoy]

The Johnson pens were sold out sometime around 2001. I remember because I heard there were only a few left and not having had any I hopped on the phone. I was next in line should someone back out, but they were all gone.

That was 12 years ago. Don't you have a significant find to discuss here from 1 month ago?

 

If you can't hear it, I'm tapping a pencil waiting on behalf of the Esterbrook Forum

 

Farmboy

[Brian Anderson]

The Johnson pens were sold out sometime around 2001. I remember because I heard there were only a few left and not having had any I hopped on the phone. I was next in line should someone back out, but they were all gone.

That was 12 years ago. Don't you have a significant find to discuss here from 1 month ago?

 

If you can't hear it, I'm tapping a pencil waiting on behalf of the Esterbrook Forum

 

Farmboy

 

Aaaahhhh, yes. I do need to post it. I will do so tomorrow. See you in LA soon? (not to hijack a thread or anything...)

[FarmBoy]

The Johnson pens were sold out sometime around 2001. I remember because I heard there were only a few left and not having had any I hopped on the phone. I was next in line should someone back out, but they were all gone.

That was 12 years ago. Don't you have a significant find to discuss here from 1 month ago?

 

If you can't hear it, I'm tapping a pencil waiting on behalf of the Esterbrook Forum

 

Farmboy

 

Aaaahhhh, yes. I do need to post it. I will do so tomorrow. See you in LA soon? (not to hijack a thread or anything...)

LA soon indeed

[penrivers]

I never tought in a dip pen as an item with owner no mater if it is in a private office, vaguely, I

perceived as if it belonged to...nobady,or just... the landscape furniture of that place.

However, I think the quintaessencial fountain pen of president Kennedy should had been an

Esterbrook J serie in any color hiden in the interior pocket of his well tailored jacket suit.

Sorry, just insights.

Edited January 26, 2013 by penrivers

[framebaer]

My understanding is that JFK was a Sheaffer man and had several Snorkels including a desk set that he was very fond of.

 

I need to go to the library and see if they have any of his fountain pens on display.

[DanDeM]

The Johnson pens were sold out sometime around 2001. I remember because I heard there were only a few left and not having had any I hopped on the phone. I was next in line should someone back out, but they were all gone.

That was 12 years ago. Don't you have a significant find to discuss here from 1 month ago?

 

If you can't hear it, I'm tapping a pencil waiting on behalf of the Esterbrook Forum

 

Farmboy

 

Aaaahhhh, yes. I do need to post it. I will do so tomorrow. See you in LA soon? (not to hijack a thread or anything...)

 

Just a little more nagging.

 

That AL will re-set the bar for this forum.

[ac12]

What dipless base was used for these pens?

Was it a 404 or 444 or a different base?

Edited November 11, 2013 by ac12

[ANM]

He didn't use this pen on his desk. He briefly used a LOT of them to sign one bill and then each pen, used for a second or two was given away. If you look carefully at this picture, you can see the gaggle of Esterbrooks at his right elbow and what looks like the top of a bottle of Scrip ink beside them. I bet he dipped each pen in the bottle and never had a dipless ink well on his desk. Also on his desk what appear to be Sheaffer desk pens are in front of him for his everyday use.

 

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Bill_Signing-_Manpower_Development_and_Training_Act_of_1962._President_Kennedy,_Secretary_of_Labor_Arthur_Goldberg..._-_NARA_-_194205.jpg&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bill_Signing-_Manpower_Development_and_Training_Act_of_1962._President_Kennedy,_Secretary_of_Labor_Arthur_Goldberg..._-_NARA_-_194205.jpg&h=2700&w=2700&sz=1570&tbnid=8n1WxR_G5BVeaM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=90&zoom=1&usg=__lA-H-d97i4e4lFYI5VzqQcJTf8I=&docid=Xdx3rVC3gun5LM&sa=X&ei=ZDWBUtjiMM-QyQGRs4GYCg&ved=0CDAQ9QEwAA

Edited November 11, 2013 by ANM

[ac12]

Cool, now I understand how it was done.

thanks

[rpk1204]

Very interesting stuff. I've always followed the assasination things and was just in Dallas for a conference and I went to the School Book Depository / 6th floor exhibit. If you are ever there, it's a must see. Standing on Dealy Plaza after seeing all the pictures and videos was a bit uneasy. Thanks all for sharing!