My first Estie

[Tanzanite]

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.

M2 and J. Great The lever won't pull out. That's why I can't use it. I will try to figure out where to find a sac in Sweden.

[Scrawler]

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.

The grey one is earlier production than the J models. This is called a "transitional" pen. You can recognize it by the flat jewel-less back end and the 3 ribbed "toaster" jewel in the cap.

[pen lady]

I learn something new every day. I knew the pen was a transitional model, but I couldn't see the un-jeweled end. What I didn't know was that you could enlarge photos by clicking on them.

 

Talk about a little learning being a dangerous thing!!!!!!

[cplschnapps]

I got my first Estie about 60 years ago! In grade school. I don't remember much about it, but it was blue marbled, probably an SJ (kid size? lol). I do remember filling it from one of those Sheaffer Skrip bottles with the little pool at the top. I seem to remember that it only cost 98 cents, but that can't be right, can it? Must have been more like 2 or 3 dollars? Anyway, it was cheaper than a PaperMate ballpoint which I coveted. Of course, I lost it before I even got to high school. We don't appreciate things until it's too late.

 

But over the last 5 or 6 years, I've acquired 10 (at last count) Esties, on the Bay and local antique shops. Have been trying to get one of each color - just paid $40 for a nice red LJ on E-bay - the most I've ever paid for an Estie. Red seems to be the rarest color. I've even managed to resac one successfully. But it's amazing that so many Esties still have good original sacs after 50 or 60 years.

Edited March 2, 2014 by cplschnapps

[Charles Rice]

It's not exactly my first Esterbrook, but going through a "junk" drawer last night I found what I think is an M2 with a 2668 nib. It seemed to flush out just fine. And I was surprised that the nib un-screwed with no problem. Never having paid much attention to Esterbrooks, are all the nibs interchangeable?

[discopig]

My first one is a SJ in green with a 9248 nib (Stub/Signature nib). It ended up being $20 shipped.

[OcalaFlGuy]

Wow. An out of the park home run on your first at bat!

 

<Missing clapping hands emoticon>

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[pajaro]

The nib worth more than the price of the pen!

[Scrawler]

My first one is a SJ in green with a 9248 nib (Stub/Signature nib). It ended up being $20 shipped.

I am feeling a little unwell right now. I think I may have to lie down for a minute. Please post a writing sample when you can.

[welch]

It's not exactly my first Esterbrook, but going through a "junk" drawer last night I found what I think is an M2 with a 2668 nib. It seemed to flush out just fine. And I was surprised that the nib un-screwed with no problem. Never having paid much attention to Esterbrooks, are all the nibs interchangeable?

 

Yes. Esterbrook was "the world's most personal pen", where personalization meant getting just the right "point". (Always a "point".)

 

There might be a few Esties that do not exchange points, but only a few. From what I've seen in Esterbrook advertisements -- check EBay -- Esterbrook sold the points first and foremost. A customer was expected to select a Renew Point (or two or three) and then to pick out a pen to hold the nib. Almost the reverse of the way we think of these, or most other, pens. Most of the advertisements don't say much about the pens, except to call them luxury or standard pens.

[randomthinks]

My first Esterbrooks, both eBay finds, both in lovely shape. (Edit: strangely, the last two photos got flipped 180?)

Edited March 21, 2014 by randomthinks

[Scrawler]

My first Esterbrooks, both eBay finds, both in lovely shape. (Edit: strangely, the last two photos got flipped 180?)

Well you got lucky on your first purchase. For some reason Brown #2 ("Rootbeer") is considered very desirable.

[randomthinks]

Well you got lucky on your first purchase. For some reason Brown #2 ("Rootbeer") is considered very desirable.

Thanks! I would like to get the other brown as well eventually.

 

Keith

[Scrawler]

Thanks! I would like to get the other brown as well eventually.

 

Keith

They are more common and known as "Copper". It took me a long time of having esties pass through my hands (to be seized by avariciously covetous members of my family) before I eventually got lucky and found a "root beer" which I have sequestered in such a way that they will not see I have it.

 

Oh, and it appears you got lucky with the nibs too. Both seem to be 9xxx series.

Edited March 21, 2014 by Scrawler

[Ron_L]

I just pulled the trigger on a J with a 9555 nib. The pen has been restored with new sac and tested. Price was reasonable and I love red. Can't wait!

 

http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/7/0/1/4/3/4/webimg/746382013_tp.jpg

[OcalaFlGuy]

Well you got lucky on your first purchase. For some reason Brown #2 ("Rootbeer") is considered very desirable.

 

I generally don't like Brown pens. When I started with Esties, I felt the same about Root Beer and only less so about Copper.

 

Later on I began to appreciate how the Root Beer's can resemble wood grain and I liked it more. The are harder to find IMO.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[OcalaFlGuy]

Very nice. They don't get much cleaner than that!

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[Shyner]

I first learned about Estie's when a friend of mine cleaned out his Grandfathers "stuff" and brought me a few finds, knowing I am a pen addict. I looked up the brand and discovered the large community of Estie lovers out there. I have no experience with a lever/sac fountain pen, so I just stared at it for a couple of months trying to decide what to do with this animal. So the choices were - repair it or have a useless pretty thang. I Finally decided to send it away for repair - maybe all these folks love 'em for a good reason - and now I have an 8-12 week wait to find out the diagnosis and if I can afford to get it back. It is a Dubonnet?? red and has no jewels. Is it the AMC Gremlin of Esterbrooks?

[Jbloodwo]

Just got one. Here is the listing page.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221409532641

[cleosmama]

Well....it's isn't actually my first Estie. I tried an Esterbrook Dollar Pen about a year ago, and it didn't agree with me. Now that I'm a somewhat more seasoned user I decided to give another one a try. Last week I bought a J-Double-Jewel from lahlahlaw. It came with a 2284 Stub nib.

 

It came today and I've already written 3 pages with it. I love this stub nib. It's super-smooth, and the pen is beautiful.

classifieds-99778-0-15569500-1395306320.jpgclassifieds-99778-0-46091900-1395306257.jpgclassifieds-99778-0-72962200-1395306288.jpg

Oh, that's lovely. I want a blue one. I have a brown one.