My first Estie

[Christi0469]

I just bought my first Estie from Ebay yesterday. It's a green SJ with a 2668 nib and another 2550 nib. The price was extremely reasonable because the clip was broken off. I typically don't use clips and can easily live with the cosmetic imperfection.

 

Unfortunately the seller has another Estie for sale in great shape (and of course a higher price) and I am trying to justify the cost because I would save on shipping. So much for saving money. Slippery slope indeed!

[Sasha Royale]

Congrats !

 

I remember my first Estie. Number fourteen is in the mail. They are like potato chips !

 

Run for your life !

[Federalist Pens]

Welcome to The Addiction!

 

[LWJ2]

My first Estie is a black J, purchased on a whim. My favourite uncle used a black Estie so I decided to buy one just because, now I have five of them and a multitude of nibs.

 

After a couple of decades using Parkers and Sheaffers, I find the availability and range of nibs to be both astounding and pleasant; prior to buying Esties the pens I owned with a decent range were technical ones, Koh-i-Noor's "Rapidograph" series, used in graphic arts and by some artists.

[Linck]

My first estie is a green sj which I found on ebay for around $10 to $15 USD. I bought it because my fd gave me an 9128 flex nib (he bought an extra off ebay). However, the first estie that draw my attention to esterbrook is the estie dollar pen (I got it off around $40 dollars and it came with a 9XXX series nib). The pen is just really beautiful and start to look for other special esterbrook pen other than the normal J series. My coming goal is probably a nurse pen but i still couldnt find any reliable source to acquire one. =]

[Addison DeWitt]

Hey everyone,

I just got my first Estie last Friday at a garage sale. It's an SJ in Copper/Root Beer with a 9556 nib. It's in really nice condition, no cracks, scratches or damage. I paid two dollars for it! I finally managed to get it apart. It needs a new sac. I've never restored a pen before, but I decided this one would be good for practice! After getting this one I've already decided that I want to get a red J next!

The thing is I thought all Estie J's had screw in nibs? This one is friction fit. Is that some rare variation?

I also got this Epenco fountain pen at the same sale. It was two dollars also!

[thepianolist]

My first Esterbrook was a common copper J model I got back around 1953. We had to use dip pens until the teacher gave us the OK to get a fountain pen. Made our own ink for the glass and Bakelite inkwell that fit in the hole in the desk for our penmanship classes. When I was allowed to graduate to a fountain pen, I went to the drugstore down the street and got that Esterbrook! Still have it! I sent it out for a new sac about 7 years ago and it is working as good as ever. Little did I know when I first got it that it would turn into something collectable years later. I really hate thinking that something I bought new is now considered "vintage" :-)!

[OcalaFlGuy]

I'd sure like to see a pic of an Estie one of us has owned for 60 years since new.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl-honestly not trying to rub it in pianoist

[mikeschu]

My first Estie is a J or an LJ (can't really tell) I picked up at our favorite auction site for $18. It came with a 1550 nib, a chipped jewel on the cap, and ... no sac.

 

A couple of months later, I won an auction for two NOS 2442 nibs for something like $12.

 

A couple of months after that, I finally picked up a few sacs from a local company. Someone sent me sac shellac shortly after that.

 

I installed a new sac in the pen over the weekend, installed one of the 2442 nibs, and today was the first day of trying it out fully inked. I love it.

 

I now have a black J with a 9550 nib and in need of a little love on its way, and I really want a copper J.

 

 

 

 

 

My wallet's going to hate me.

Edited October 16, 2013 by mikeschu

[Harlequin]

My first Estie is a J or an LJ (can't really tell) I picked up at our favorite auction site for $18. It came with a 1550 nib, a chipped jewel on the cap, and ... no sac.

 

<snip>

 

Look at the jewels. If they are two different sizes, you have a J; if they are the same size, you have an LJ.

[mikeschu]

 

Look at the jewels. If they are two different sizes, you have a J; if they are the same size, you have an LJ.

 

The problem is that I'm missing about 60-70% of the cap jewel. I am guessing I have a J though.

[ac12]

My first was a green LJ at an estate sale.

It was soon followed by a Black Transitional J and and a pink Pastel SJ (the pink had a crumbled sac)

Then 2 grays; LJ and SJ (both had crumbled sacs)

I have a blue SJ coming.

I still need the red and root beer.

 

I have small hands and like slimline pens.

So the slim Esterbrooks (LJ and SJ) was a nice discovery.

 

Very oddly, I have not yet used my first Esterbrook, the green one, as the sac in the pen was still soft and flexible. I opened the pen to inspect the sac.

I used the 2 grays and the pastel, testing them after resacing, but one of the grays is staying in my pool of "use pens."

 

It was VERY easy to resac the pen.

The hardest part was getting the section out of the barrel. I had to use heat on all of them. And the worry that I will damage the pen with the heat gun.

 

Next on the list is a desk pen or two or three or ....

 

> update, I just bought my first Esterbrook desk pen.

Now the LONG wait till it arrives and I can determine the model number.

 

Here I go sliding further into the black hole of pen collecting/accumulating.

Edited October 20, 2013 by ac12

[scrivelry]

I just got my first Estie today - a desk pen with a 2668 nib. It looks nice in my eight-ball pen thing... (not an inkwell - stand?)

 

T

[ac12]

I just got my first Estie today - a desk pen with a 2668 nib. It looks nice in my eight-ball pen thing... (not an inkwell - stand?)

 

T

 

Congrats

The "8-ball" is a stand/pen holder, NOT an inkwell.

Don't pour ink into the hole, it will be messy.

 

BTW, If you have not already done so, you need to check the condition of the ink sac. The pens are so old that the ink sac in most of my Esterbrooks had turned solid and crumbled. I presume that I have to replace the ink sac in any sac pen that I get.

[GazKubat]

Hello!

 

My first Esterbrook is a beautiful J-Series bought from Brian and Lisa Anderson at their wonderful website. It is a beautiful rich blue colour and I decided (for the time being) it will only write in Diamine Denim. It is truly a great pen that is great for long sessions of writing as it has yet to have any problems putting ink on the page. I have a 9556 nib on it currently.

 

A great pen. And I noticed that Brian is a moderator so if you read this - THANK YOU for selling this beautiful pen. It is one of my most cherished and well-used.

 

Best,

 

Garrett

[OcalaFlGuy]

Hello!

 

 

A great pen. And I noticed that Brian is a moderator so if you read this - THANK YOU for selling this beautiful pen. It is one of my most cherished and well-used.

 

Best,

 

Garrett

 

Words that are music to the ears of Any corner Estie Crack Pen dealer.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[GazKubat]

 

Words that are music to the ears of Any corner Estie Crack Pen dealer.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

Have to keep the dealer happy once you're hooked on their product right?

 

Best,

 

Garrett

[josephchow42]

My first Esterbrook is a nurse pen with a lovely 2442 nib. Best steel nib I've ever written with, outperforms my Pelikan M320 in every aspect. My fiancee loves it as well and I gave it to her. I just ordered another J series and a 2048 nib. Can't wait to see them!

[Tanzanite]

Here are my two Esterbrook but I do not know what they are called. I hope one day to be able to write with the grey one but it has a filling system that is new to me and I do not want to damage it. The nibs are very fine, as I prefere.

[pen lady]

Hi there, the top pen with the metal cap is an M2, production started in the late 50's. The grey one is an earier production "J" type lever fill pen. If you are having trouble filling it, the sac may need replacing. If the lever won't pull out, it's jamming against a hardened sac and shouldn't be forced. But in the meantime, google "how to fill a lever fill fountain pen" and you'll see how to do it. Good luck and if you decide to re-sac the pen yourself, it's not difficult.