A Longer Lj?

[Noel249]

So I've jumped headlong into Esties and have a question: were LJs sometimes longer?

 

I have what appears to be a copper brown LJ that's longer than the Js by about a 1/4 inch.

 

Has anyone else seen that?

 

 

[OcalaFlGuy]

I've seen the "regular" LJs be 5 1/16 long and my "weird bird" last model (with the weird plastic and general cheapness) is close to 5 1/8". I haven't seen large numbers but I haven't seen one as long as 5 1/4" before.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

[FarmBoy]

I'll go out on a limb and guess your LJ is Metric and the extra is a result of a rounding error.

[Noel249]

So they are longer than regular Js. My measuring skills are infamous. I will ask my wife to help me do it again.

 

N.

[Uncle Red]

How about some side-by-side pictures?

[Noel249]

I will do that. Just re-measured and it's 5 1/4" for sure.

 

So I have a J that's exactly 5", what I think is an SJ that's 5 1/8" and what I believe is an LJ that is 5 1/4".

 

I will photograph these and get them on photobucket, then post here.

 

N.

[Harlequin]

I'm interested in seeing these pics as well, since I am contemplating jumping into the J series market myself.

[pajaro]

I will do that. Just re-measured and it's 5 1/4" for sure.

 

So I have a J that's exactly 5", what I think is an SJ that's 5 1/8" and what I believe is an LJ that is 5 1/4".

 

I will photograph these and get them on photobucket, then post here.

 

N.

 

If you have a pen that looks like an SJ, and it's 5 1/8 inches long, don't you think that it's an LJ?

[Noel249]

I don't know for certain -- need the group's help. Bought a few on eBay and the sellers weren't necessarily knowledgeable.

 

Please take a look: http://bit.ly/Te8Qrs

 

To reiterate, I believe the J is on top (5"), an SJ (?) in the middle (5 1/8") and an LJ (?) at the bottom (5 1/4").

 

(None of the pens are warped -- I was using Macro mode on the camera to get a solid close-up and got some distortion.)

Edited December 23, 2012 by Noel249

[Chiro75]

Take a picture where we can see all of the filling levers straight on, too. The proportion of the filling levers is helpful in the LJ/SJ debate. If one of the pens was hanging from a shirt pocket then 50 years of gravity would stretch it, I'm sure... :roflmho:

[Noel249]

O.k., take another look: http://bit.ly/Te8Qrs.

 

The 5 1/4" pen has a different cap band and filling lever design.

 

N.

Edited December 24, 2012 by Noel249

[Sasha Royale]

One of the sellers on Ebay sells restored Esterbrooks J-series pens.

It is his hobby. He provides a detailed natative of each pen. I

have noticed that there are variations in the dimensions. Overall

length and cap diameters are not always the same.

 

I find tha J-series to be excellent writers. They are obviiously

durable. I like them a lot. Correct me, if I am wrong, but I get

the impression that they were "low-end" or "economy" fountain pens

in the 1940's and 1950's. Perhaps, changes occured in different

"run" or when molds were replaced.

 

The SJ and LJ are supposed to be the same diameter. What if you

have an SJ with an LJ cap? Wouldn't that be unnaturally long ?

Edited December 24, 2012 by Sasha Royale

[Noel249]

Hi Sasha,

 

I have read here and elsewhere that these were indeed low-priced pens with a marketing angle of a nib for every job (my phrasing). They were apparently very popular as college pens.

 

The caps on all my pens are all equal in length. The (Brown II?) LJ barrel is longer than the others.

 

I like the feel of a fat J best, but I'm really enjoying this longer pen, especially with the 9668 nib and Havana Brown ink. (!!)

 

I'm also starting to think that I have two LJs - one Copper and one Brown II. Also now have a Cobalt Blue J (which needs a new nib) and a Dubonnet Red J with a very interesting 2314-M relief stub nib.

Edited December 24, 2012 by Noel249

[79spitfire]

The long one is an Icicle, I'm not sure there ever was a standard J icicle, (at least I've never seen one). Mine is very similar to yours, but the standard LJ length. I wonder if it's a 'last of production piece' as they were switching over to the safari style pen.

[Harlequin]

That's the color of Estie I'd like, copper. Although the Dubonnet Red is nice looking as well. I've never seen an icicle before though. I am still thinking the J would be the one for me, with a medium nib... but that's without having written with a fine nib before- on pretty much any FP (that I'm aware of the nib size for, that is). Honestly, I don't think I have enough info to make a decision, b/c I'm betting they each have a different feel in the hand.

[Noel249]

The color of the longer LJ was something of a surprise since the eBay seller's photos were so poor. It has turned out to be a lovely pen and the length is a bonus. Really nice balance. And, as I said above, the 9668 is wonderful.

 

Harlequin, I'd urge you to look for a "flexible" nib in whichever point you choose, fine or medium. Esterbrook made some "book-keeping" nibs (Fine-Firm) and those are quite scratchy.

Edited December 25, 2012 by Noel249

[Harlequin]

The color of the longer LJ was something of a surprise since the eBay seller's photos were so poor. It has turned out to be a lovely pen and the length is a bonus. Really nice balance. And, as I said above, the 9668 is wonderful.

 

Harlequin, I'd urge you to look for a "flexible" nib in whichever point you choose, fine or medium. Esterbrook made some "book-keeping" nibs (Fine-Firm) and those are quite scratchy.

 

Well, I keep seeing Esties on ebay with 9556 nibs, are those also very scratchy? I've never used a flex nib before, but I've heard quite a few people say that they aren't the best option for people new to FPs to start with...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Noel249]

I think it would depend on what you've been writing with -- what you prefer now.

 

I've never done well with ball-points, especially fine-point ball-points. I've generally used something like the Pilot Rolling Ball pens.

 

So, for me, a flexible medium nib is my favorite. It glides across the page and the ink flows freely.

 

Some of the pens I've bought came with fine points, and one of the Esties came with a Firm Fine -- awful. Scratchy, hard to draw across the page.

 

Here's a good reference on nibs: http://www.esterbrook.net/nibs.shtml

 

And this: http://www.richardsp.../?page=main.htm (you have to drill down to "Reference pages,' "specialty nibs," then "Esterbrook Renew."

Edited December 25, 2012 by Noel249

[Harlequin]

lol! I have that page at richardspens bookmarked I'll check the esterbrook page as well. Just in nswer to your question, i've been using a medium nib, but I think a fine nib would be just as good too.

[Noel249]

There's something wrong with Richard Binder's site ... no matter which URL you copy, it always brings you to his home page ...

 

The esterbrook.net site is a great resource for lots of things, including, I just noticed, lower prices than Richard Binder's site for sacs and shellac.

Edited December 25, 2012 by Noel249