Esterbrook Dip Pens booklet

[Rabbit]

Here's a little piece of Esterbrook history. Yes, not as cool as a fountain pen, but still really fun if you ask me.

 

Note that it says, "Specimens of Penmanship by C.P. Zaner" -- C.P. Zaner passed away in 1918. I don't know if he created the specimens for the purpose of making this book or if they were just created in general for the Esterbrook company who later used them to make this book. I don't know how to date old books, so I'm not sure when this booklet was actually published, but here it is in its entirety!

 

If you really want a high quality scan of this, send me a PM with your e-mail and I'll try to put my original scans into a PDF or something. I have reduced the size and quality quite a lot for online viewing. The originals might be too big for e-mail, but I'm sure we can figure something out.

 

For more information about C.P. Zaner, look here: http://www.zanerian.com/Zaner.html

 

--Stephen

 

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[Enai]

This is great, thank you! Where did you get the booklet?

 

Can we pin this thread?

[Rabbit]

Oddly enough I got the booklet on eBay for $10 $9.99. I was the only bidder! I really like little bits and pieces of history in addition to the actual writing instruments so I was eager to bid and very happy that I got it for what I consider a low price!

 

Edit to add: the seller had no photos of the inside of the book, so I wasn't even 100% sure of what I was getting. The seller just said, "The inside is profusely illustrated with fountain pen heads" so I was definitely pleasantly surprised to see just how profusely illustrated it really was!

 

Another Edit: If you have Paul Hoban's book "The Fountain Pens of Esterbrook" from 1992, there is a similar section in the back. It doesn't have quite as many writing samples, but it has illustrations and descriptions of many nibs.

--Stephen

Edited January 26, 2010 by Rabbit

[AD356]

Very nice thanks for sharing.

[tmenyc]

I saw it on ebay too... Thanks for getting it, and posting it!

 

Tim

[vlada]

This is great find

Finally all Esterbrook dip nibs is one place and with wonderful penmanship examples by C.P. Zaner

 

Many thanks Stephen

Edited January 26, 2010 by vlada

[fpianka]

I have a box of Esterbrook 788 Oval Point nibs. I don't see it listed in the booklet. Does anyone have info on this particular model nib?

[Rabbit]

I have a box of Esterbrook 788 Oval Point nibs. I don't see it listed in the booklet. Does anyone have info on this particular model nib?

There are definitely some Esterbrook points that are not in this book. I'm guessing that either certain lines/series of pens were chosen to be left out of the book, or that the book was made prior to the development of the models that are not listed. I have a few other Esterbrook nib related items that I'll look at and see if the Oval 788 is included, particularly Paul Hoban's book which has a lot of them in the back few pages. (I haven't read through all the ones in Paul Hoban's book to see which ones are there and how many are included in this other booklet.) I'll check it out when I get home from work!

 

--Stephen

[Rabbit]

I have a box of Esterbrook 788 Oval Point nibs. I don't see it listed in the booklet. Does anyone have info on this particular model nib?

 

OK, I looked up the 788! Paul Hoban's book does have the 788 Oval Point listed. I haven't scanned the page, but it's a short description and says, "788 Gold Plated. Slightly flexible, medium, oval point. Most popular oval point pen. Ultra-smooth." It is listed next to the 802 Oval which is a "Flexible, fine oval point, Spoon shape." It then goes on to list other categories of Oval Points.

 

This part of Hoban's book is actually a reproduction catalog, very similar to the one I posted, but it has more items in it yet very few writing samples. Hoban estimates 1938 or 1939 for the catalog in his book. I'm thinking that mine is either earlier, or just a partial selection of the total available points.

 

--Stephen

[AD356]

Since we are talking about Esterbrook Nibs that are not on this great resource(I wish I had seen it on E-bay you would have not been the only bidder ). Right now on the Bidding site you will often see 5 pens probably more than any other. The 354, 355, 356, 357 and 358. They are ascending in size the 354 and 355 being the smallest, then stepping up through to the 358. The 354 and 355 are very small "Mapping" nibs. Both are blue and the only differences is the 354 has a Cross slit instead of a straight slit like all of the rest. Next is the 356 and the larger 357 they look much like the A1 and 453 respectively(the nib itself not the writing).These two are considered some of the best for doing copperplate, and I agree (but have a limited knowable of nibs). Lastly is the largest of the 5 the 358, this has a ridge in the middle of it much like the 444. They are all quite flexible except the 355 which is pretty stiff and is not used for shading. They are (IMO) all great nibs. They will work very well for Copperplate style of writing where you need to "shade" your writing(that is make thick and thin lines)again except the 355.

 

Esterbrook released all 5 nibs in a single box Labeled "Assorted Drafting". They can also be found individually in boxes. I have seen the 354 being sold in Assorted Drafting boxes but the unopened box only contained the 354 nib, I did not buy the box so I can not comment on this further.

 

I hope this helps you find the nib you are looking for.

Edited January 28, 2010 by AD356

[ANM]

Thanks very much for posting this.

[fpianka]

Thank you very much for the efforts re: the 788 oval nib. I used it when first introduced to writing with ink in, IIRC, grade 4. That would have been about 1961 for me!

[Gran]

What a glorious thing to post! Thank you very much. I don't often visit the Esterbrook forum. I'm grateful you posted this here.

[EdwardHowland]

What a great post. I love the handwriting samples for the various nibs. I wish my own (ballpoint trained) handwriting could look as good. I have a Falcon 048 that I use for writing checks, just because it makes my signature look so nifty.

Edited April 29, 2010 by EdwardHowland

[Speterson1000]

Thanks for this, this is what I needed. I do have tons of these Jackson Stubs and many Business and others. I couldn't understand the difference. Makes perfect sense now.

 

Stephen

[dcwaites]

I have been lucky enough to acquire boxes of both the Falcon 048 and the Relief 314. I can backup the comments on both these pens.

 

I like the way (page 11) that there are different pens for barristers and judges...

 

As well, the 1876 Telegraphic pen looks very similar to the Myers Meteor pen.

[ximhot]

This the best find! Thanks so much for sharing!

 

I wonder if any Esterbrook fans can share information on the later Radio and Penesco nibs. What do these two terms mean?

[dexaco]

 I came across this thread on a Google search for 'Esterbrook dip pens'. I have a tin of old dip pen nibs, which I've had lying about for years. Mostly Mitchell or Gillott, but also Geo. W Hughes, N.E.S.F. Co. Ltd, Perry and Co, London and two or three Esterbrooks. I actually had one of the Esterbrooks fitted to a holder, and it turns out to be a 128, the middle illustration of the three on the first page of illustrations in the booklet. The other two Esterbrook nibs are labelled 'Penesco', '505', 'Esterbrook', 'Made in USA', over four lines. I know very little about dip pens and nibs, although I enjoy using them occasionally. Just thought I'd mention it!

 

Derick

[jbb]

Does anyone know of a complete list of all Esterbrook dip nibs?

[Uncle Red]

Rabbit, thanks for posting this. It's fun to look at. I just picked up an Esterbrook dip pen and holder (to go with my 2 black J's). My dip pen is the 049 and is shaped like a hand with the pointing finger formed from the tines,the holder is aluminum and marked for Mellon Bank in Pittsburgh, PA. I live in Pittsburgh so it's very nice for me. The nib is a bit flexable, I'm not up to using it well.

 

jbb

I too would like a complete list of Estie nibs.