My first Estie

[brewerjeff]

I purchased my first two Estie's yesterday. Ebay purchases - a red Safari and a Esterbrook #444 Dipless Fountain Well & Pen Bakelite Desk Set. Seeking to bring some focus to my collection. Now looking at a J-Series Estie, and have the feeling that there will definitely be more Estie's added to my collection. Have Noodler's Blue/Black; Pelikan Royal Blue and Monteverde Brown Marron Cafe. I am wondering which of these will work best with my Estie pens??

 

I had a 444 desk set from my father's law office when I went off to high school in 1964 and used it for 4 years. I can't remember what happened to it. Careless kids.

 

This copper was in an "antique" store, marked $15. Asked if she could come down, was told no, took my money out, then the lady told me, "Oh it's marked half price." I it cost $7.50. The nib was bent so I put an Osmiroid italic in it, it sucked up ink and nearly 2 weeks later still no leaks! The cap jewel is damaged but heck, I don't care.

 

The original 2668 nib was bad. It scratched through the paper but delivered no ink. I know 1% more than nothing about nib adjustment, but after 15 minutes bending, spreading, squeezing back together and who knows what it now writes, not great but I think I could use it. It just looks ugly. I see these Js every place for $15-$20. I'll keep an eye out for better nibs.

Edited August 23, 2012 by brewerjeff

[JosephJames]

I bought two J pens the other day. Re-sacced them and they are working. The blue J pen has such a fine, clerical nib (2550, I think) that I cannot use it. Too fine. My wife got the green, smaller pen that is about 4.75 inches. Hers has the 1550 nib and it writes just great. She is using it in college. Now for the funny part.

 

Tonight she noticed ink splatters on the window shade by her study chair. I asked her if she had been playing with the pen and she had. It seems that she was flipping the pen between her fingers and the ink went flying . I reminded her that it isn't a ballpoint and she should resort to cap chewing the way people did years ago if she has restless fingers.

[kathleen]

I bought two J pens the other day. Re-sacced them and they are working. The blue J pen has such a fine, clerical nib (2550, I think) that I cannot use it. Too fine. My wife got the green, smaller pen that is about 4.75 inches. Hers has the 1550 nib and it writes just great. She is using it in college. Now for the funny part.

 

Tonight she noticed ink splatters on the window shade by her study chair. I asked her if she had been playing with the pen and she had. It seems that she was flipping the pen between her fingers and the ink went flying . I reminded her that it isn't a ballpoint and she should resort to cap chewing the way people did years ago if she has restless fingers.

 

Oh, NO! PLEASE NO CAP CHEWING!

[melissa59]

I reminded her that it isn't a ballpoint and she should resort to cap chewing the way people did years ago if she has restless fingers.

 

Oh no, don't have her chew the cap on a fountain pen, especially not a vintage pen!

[Helen350]

I purchased my first two Estie's yesterday. Ebay purchases - a red Safari and a Esterbrook #444 Dipless Fountain Well & Pen Bakelite Desk Set. Seeking to bring some focus to my collection. Now looking at a J-Series Estie, and have the feeling that there will definitely be more Estie's added to my collection. Have Noodler's Blue/Black; Pelikan Royal Blue and Monteverde Brown Marron Cafe. I am wondering which of these will work best with my Estie pens??

 

I had a 444 desk set from my father's law office when I went off to high school in 1964 and used it for 4 years. I can't remember what happened to it. Careless kids.

 

This copper was in an "antique" store, marked $15. Asked if she could come down, was told no, took my money out, then the lady told me, "Oh it's marked half price." I it cost $7.50. The nib was bent so I put an Osmiroid italic in it, it sucked up ink and nearly 2 weeks later still no leaks! The cap jewel is damaged but heck, I don't care.

 

The original 2668 nib was bad. It scratched through the paper but delivered no ink. I know 1% more than nothing about nib adjustment, but after 15 minutes bending, spreading, squeezing back together and who knows what it now writes, not great but I think I could use it. It just looks ugly. I see these Js every place for $15-$20. I'll keep an eye out for better nibs.

 

 

 

Where in the world do you see J's for $15-$20???? I live near NYC, and nothing is inexpensive in & around NYC (at least I have not found it to be so). Esterbrook.net sells some nibs & the #2668 is listed for $10.00. Also, I see some Esterbrook nibs on Ebay. I love the color of your pen. $7.50 - what a steal. Then you add a $10.00 #2668 nib, and the pen cost you $17.50. I think I better drive north into Upstate, NY and find me an "antique" store.

 

Just won a black Esterbrook J series Double Jewel with 6 nibs. #2314B, #2556, #1554, #1551, #9460 & #9048. Won the bid for $69. Filled it with Noodler's Blue/Black, and I have been writing with since it hit the door. The desk set required some cleaning, and I have filled it with the Monteverde Ink.

 

Took the following pens out earlier this evening to check which one would write with a smoother flow on notebook paper: Esterbrook Safari #2668, Bexley, Wearever 1960 vintage, Nemosine Singularity with German Nib, Winron 880, Hero 616, Esterbrook J #9048, Huashilai Pen with an 18 KGP nib. I am new to Esterbrook, but love the flexibility that the various nibs provide, however, the best writing pen was the Huashilai (cost $5.00). It flowed across the paper like butter. 2nd place was the Nemosine Singularity (cost $15.00). 3rd place toss up between the Esterbrook Safari #2668 & the Bexley. Granted these are not high dollar pens with gold nibs, however, I thought it might be interesting to see the quality of a lower level of pens (since that is what my collection represents - $5.00-$105.00. I will probably try several other pens in the future to test them as well.

[brewerjeff]

I purchased my first two Estie's yesterday. Ebay purchases - a red Safari and a Esterbrook #444 Dipless Fountain Well & Pen Bakelite Desk Set. Seeking to bring some focus to my collection. Now looking at a J-Series Estie, and have the feeling that there will definitely be more Estie's added to my collection. Have Noodler's Blue/Black; Pelikan Royal Blue and Monteverde Brown Marron Cafe. I am wondering which of these will work best with my Estie pens??

 

I had a 444 desk set from my father's law office when I went off to high school in 1964 and used it for 4 years. I can't remember what happened to it. Careless kids.

 

This copper was in an "antique" store, marked $15. Asked if she could come down, was told no, took my money out, then the lady told me, "Oh it's marked half price." I it cost $7.50. The nib was bent so I put an Osmiroid italic in it, it sucked up ink and nearly 2 weeks later still no leaks! The cap jewel is damaged but heck, I don't care.

 

The original 2668 nib was bad. It scratched through the paper but delivered no ink. I know 1% more than nothing about nib adjustment, but after 15 minutes bending, spreading, squeezing back together and who knows what it now writes, not great but I think I could use it. It just looks ugly. I see these Js every place for $15-$20. I'll keep an eye out for better nibs.

 

 

 

Where in the world do you see J's for $15-$20???? I live near NYC, and nothing is inexpensive in & around NYC (at least I have not found it to be so). Esterbrook.net sells some nibs & the #2668 is listed for $10.00. Also, I see some Esterbrook nibs on Ebay. I love the color of your pen. $7.50 - what a steal. Then you add a $10.00 #2668 nib, and the pen cost you $17.50. I think I better drive north into Upstate, NY and find me an "antique" store.

 

Just won a black Esterbrook J series Double Jewel with 6 nibs. #2314B, #2556, #1554, #1551, #9460 & #9048. Won the bid for $69. Filled it with Noodler's Blue/Black, and I have been writing with since it hit the door. The desk set required some cleaning, and I have filled it with the Monteverde Ink.

 

Took the following pens out earlier this evening to check which one would write with a smoother flow on notebook paper: Esterbrook Safari #2668, Bexley, Wearever 1960 vintage, Nemosine Singularity with German Nib, Winron 880, Hero 616, Esterbrook J #9048, Huashilai Pen with an 18 KGP nib. I am new to Esterbrook, but love the flexibility that the various nibs provide, however, the best writing pen was the Huashilai (cost $5.00). It flowed across the paper like butter. 2nd place was the Nemosine Singularity (cost $15.00). 3rd place toss up between the Esterbrook Safari #2668 & the Bexley. Granted these are not high dollar pens with gold nibs, however, I thought it might be interesting to see the quality of a lower level of pens (since that is what my collection represents - $5.00-$105.00. I will probably try several other pens in the future to test them as well.

I'm not exactly at the end of civilization, but (as they say) you can see it from here! Actually its SW Wisconsin. I'm not a collector but I've started to "accumulate" a few. slippery slope..

[Helen350]

I purchased my first two Estie's yesterday. Ebay purchases - a red Safari and a Esterbrook #444 Dipless Fountain Well & Pen Bakelite Desk Set. Seeking to bring some focus to my collection. Now looking at a J-Series Estie, and have the feeling that there will definitely be more Estie's added to my collection. Have Noodler's Blue/Black; Pelikan Royal Blue and Monteverde Brown Marron Cafe. I am wondering which of these will work best with my Estie pens??

 

I had a 444 desk set from my father's law office when I went off to high school in 1964 and used it for 4 years. I can't remember what happened to it. Careless kids.

 

This copper was in an "antique" store, marked $15. Asked if she could come down, was told no, took my money out, then the lady told me, "Oh it's marked half price." I it cost $7.50. The nib was bent so I put an Osmiroid italic in it, it sucked up ink and nearly 2 weeks later still no leaks! The cap jewel is damaged but heck, I don't care.

 

The original 2668 nib was bad. It scratched through the paper but delivered no ink. I know 1% more than nothing about nib adjustment, but after 15 minutes bending, spreading, squeezing back together and who knows what it now writes, not great but I think I could use it. It just looks ugly. I see these Js every place for $15-$20. I'll keep an eye out for better nibs.

 

 

 

Where in the world do you see J's for $15-$20???? I live near NYC, and nothing is inexpensive in & around NYC (at least I have not found it to be so). Esterbrook.net sells some nibs & the #2668 is listed for $10.00. Also, I see some Esterbrook nibs on Ebay. I love the color of your pen. $7.50 - what a steal. Then you add a $10.00 #2668 nib, and the pen cost you $17.50. I think I better drive north into Upstate, NY and find me an "antique" store.

 

Just won a black Esterbrook J series Double Jewel with 6 nibs. #2314B, #2556, #1554, #1551, #9460 & #9048. Won the bid for $69. Filled it with Noodler's Blue/Black, and I have been writing with since it hit the door. The desk set required some cleaning, and I have filled it with the Monteverde Ink.

 

Took the following pens out earlier this evening to check which one would write with a smoother flow on notebook paper: Esterbrook Safari #2668, Bexley, Wearever 1960 vintage, Nemosine Singularity with German Nib, Winron 880, Hero 616, Esterbrook J #9048, Huashilai Pen with an 18 KGP nib. I am new to Esterbrook, but love the flexibility that the various nibs provide, however, the best writing pen was the Huashilai (cost $5.00). It flowed across the paper like butter. 2nd place was the Nemosine Singularity (cost $15.00). 3rd place toss up between the Esterbrook Safari #2668 & the Bexley. Granted these are not high dollar pens with gold nibs, however, I thought it might be interesting to see the quality of a lower level of pens (since that is what my collection represents - $5.00-$105.00. I will probably try several other pens in the future to test them as well.

I'm not exactly at the end of civilization, but (as they say) you can see it from here! Actually its SW Wisconsin. I'm not a collector but I've started to "accumulate" a few. slippery slope..

[Sebrazer]

I just sent a PayPal payment for my first Esterbrook!

 

......All I know is that some of the nicest people I have spoken to here on FPN raved about Esterbrooks, that my new

Beauty is red, it cost $28 incl shipping, and has a new sac & is coming with a 9550 nib. When I searched around on that nib I saw it was very popular - and one poster looking for a new one had an offer made at $22, so the whole pen for $28 seemed a smart deal - at least to a total greenhorn such as myself.

 

Once it arrives, how do I even go about figuring out which model/type it is?

 

-Susan

[Scrawler]

I just sent a PayPal payment for my first Esterbrook!

 

......All I know is that some of the nicest people I have spoken to here on FPN raved about Esterbrooks, that my new

Beauty is red, it cost $28 incl shipping, and has a new sac & is coming with a 9550 nib. When I searched around on that nib I saw it was very popular - and one poster looking for a new one had an offer made at $22, so the whole pen for $28 seemed a smart deal - at least to a total greenhorn such as myself.

 

Once it arrives, how do I even go about figuring out which model/type it is?

 

-Susan

Hi Susan, you seem to have done well, whichever model you have, congrats. To check the model you have look at this page:

 

http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/profiles/j.htm

 

Scroll partway down and you will see size information. Assuming that you do not have a transitional, the principle differences in the models are length and diameter, and the distance the filling lever is from the end of the pen. The 9550 is an extra fine, stiff nib suitable for someone with small handwriting. If you find it too fine, it is easy to replace.

[2075RAMI]

I just picked up my first Esterbrook yesterday at an antique store. I'm pretty sure it's a gray swirl LJ, and it has a 9555 nib. I flushed it out and inked it this morning with (what else?) Noodler's #41 Brown, and now I understand why everyone gives Estie nibs such high praise. I gotta say that this may be my first Esterbrook, but I very seriously doubt it will be my last. And I think I did great on the price, as well. Just $17.50 for such a great writer is a steal in my book!

[penultress]

I just got my red SJ - my first Estie! It's ready to use, so I inked mine with Lake Placid Blue. It's a 9555 nib and it writes beautifully! I was afraid that it would be too fine but it's not scratchy at all. Very smooth.

 

I also ordered a copper LJ from Rick Krantz. I can't wait!

[gonzalot]

Hello all ...i bought my first esterbrook (red SJ) 30 year ago en Caracas, Venezuela, where i live

at that time i was in high school and find in Caracas downtown an old shop with NOS pens from 50s to 70s...for the next years (my last years at high school, the first ones at the university)i bought at that shop many old pens, esterbrooks, pilots, eversharps, and others from "red" germany, hungary, chekoslovakia, and other places for few pennys (i remember, NOS esterbrooks price was about 1 US$ at that time...wow!)

 

i write with fountain pens all my life. When i was a child i took pens from my father boxes without permission and use to write in the school with sterling silver parkers 75 or sheaffers imperial...i lost many good pens at that time...now, at my 45s, i have a lot of pens, but have an special place for my esterbrooks (i have +/- 20 of them)

 

the old shop in Caracas downtown close many years ago, but you can find little golden pound here yet...one month ago, i find a box of 12 esterbrook NOS nibs in a old bookshop at de Venezuelan Central university, 1 US$ each one...they have almost 40 years at this shop...

 

thanks for create this group (and apologize my bad english...)

[mwduffy]

I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the proper place, but I finally took the plunge and bought my first Estie, a dubonnet red Esterbrook J. After reading various reviews of smooth writing vintage pens, I spotted the J for sale by Tom Heath on the FPN. He answered my many questions and was kind enough not to say they were silly. What I saw and what he told me sealed the deal. The pen arrived today and is a beauty - excellent condition, everything Tom said and more. It was sold with a 2556 nib, but I paid a little extra and had him install a Master Point Series 9556 nib. I just filled the pen with Diamine macassar and took it for a test run. Smooth, very smooth. Just what I was looking for! Being a relative newbie to the fountain pen collecting world, I have to say this has been a very pleasant experience - both getting the Estie and learning from Tom and everyone else who has taken the time to pen their comments on various models.

[OcalaFlGuy]

Pics or it never happened.

 

Welcome to FPN.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

[Mags]

Great luck mwduffy......the only M Duffy I remember was quite a tv personality until getting the nod for my dream job.....you are not a PEI resident normally are you?

 

Even if not the same fellow I am thinking of you made a good collecting purchase.

[Harlequin]

I've been looking around at pens, since I don't actuallty have a real FP yet (I'm not counting a Sheaffer NoNonsense I had from the mid 90s, since I just found it and haven't really written with it). I came across a Red Esterbrook J lever fill pen but the place is asking close to $30 for it. Supposedly it's from the late 40s or early 50s and has a nib that has the number "9668" printed on it, which the guy thinks means it is a medium. I must confess that I like the look and idea of a lever fill pen but was concerned that there may be issues with using it to write, but I was told that it had been completely restored with a new bladder. I have absolutely NO IDEA about Esterbrook pens, but I'm also just over a week orso into deciding that I'd like to delve deeper into FPs in general. Would this be a good pen for someone like me, at that price?

[shakin_jake]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8075/8275640024_fd340c5328_b.jpg

If you like the pen and it has been re-worked, buy it...$30 wouldn't be 'over paying'...I'd have to dig through some old emails to see what I paid for my one and only Esterbrook but I bought it from one of the regulars here that rebuilds pens and I have an idea I have around $20 + for the one I have, which has the 1550 nib I find a little too fine for most of my writing tasks...but if I'm signing checks, it comes out for that

 

More often than not I'm carrying a Pilot 78G in my pocket everyday. for a $10 pen, it does a fine job and if I happen to lose it, I wont cry, although I would be disappointed for it is a nice writing instrument IMNSHO

 

Post a pic here if you buy it

 

 

Best,

 

 

Jake

Reddick Fla.

Edited December 15, 2012 by shakin_jake

[Scrawler]

Great luck mwduffy......the only M Duffy I remember was quite a tv personality until getting the nod for my dream job.....you are not a PEI resident normally are you?

 

Even if not the same fellow I am thinking of you made a good collecting purchase.

That is a job I fancy. They need clear thinking analytical people for the "sober second thought".

[OcalaFlGuy]

Harlequin, you don't mention what kind of "place" has this pen for sale. Are they some place that Looks like they restore pens or who even know what Restore means?

 

Be sure both jewels aren't damaged and the clip is firmly attached to the cap (doesn't spin). Look careful along the open end of the barrel and cap for any cracks. Look Closely, cracks like to hide in Estie plastic patterning. Also be sure there's no cracks on each end of the section. Be sure the cap screws on securely without crossthreading.

 

The pen should be in decent undamaged shape and not massively scratched up. (There's too many others for that price that aren't messed up or have recently been polished.) The 9668 is a M nib and is one of the nicer ones. You might see if you can see if the tine tips look aligned and undamaged.

 

Let us know how it works out,

 

PS The above being good, $30 is a decent enough price. You could always offer them $25.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

Edited December 15, 2012 by OcalaFlGuy

[Harlequin]

It's not a pen shop per se, more of a "low end" antique store with a sizable helping of junk. But it would surprise me if they didn't know *something* about it, even if it was just to do research on the item for a price. Also, the guy I talked to seemed knowledgeable to me, he seemed at least as familiar with the terms and questions I was asking as I am, and I just learned them last week. I don't know if they get a lot of pens at all, but from when I looked at it I don't remember seeing any cracks, although I didn't check the little caps. I didn't really look for cracks though.