Esterbrook Nibs - What's The Difference Between Them All?

[corgicoupe]

2668 is a lowly nib, but one of the smoothest in my cache.

[corgicoupe]

Thanks for the additional information. I have a 1555 Gregg nib that seems pretty good (even with a folded over nib end, it wrote well with the ink in the pen that was reconstituted when I tried to flush the pen); and a 9128 in less than ideal condition (I've taken jewelry-making pliers to it in an attempt to straighten it out, and it wrote somewhat okay when I dip-tested it). But I didn't know that the 9128 was also a type of nib for doing shorthand (even Esterbrook's own nib charts of which I've seen (don't mention it as such..)

Learn something new everu day.

Ruth Morrisson aka instainedruth

 

I keep a desk pen on my computer desk fitted with a lowly 1555 Gregg because it always writes when I need to make a quick note, even if I haven't used it for several days. I read somewhere that it was designed so that a stenographer would not get stuck with a dry or skipping pen when rapidly taking notes.

[SpecTP]

I paid $45 on ebay a few months ago for the 9128 nib.. it's a fantastic nib that is flexible with moderate pressure or lays down a consistent fine line if the pressure is light.

[corgicoupe]

Can you post an example of how it writes?

[SpecTP]

Can you post an example of how it writes?

[corgicoupe]

Thanks. This is one of the nibs I do not have, and may need to acquire.

[pajaro]

Thanks. This is one of the nibs I do not have, and may need to acquire.

 

You might want one of the 9128s. They require enough effort to flex that they feel pretty strong, and I didn't feel there was a chance of damaging the nib. It inspires confidence. Not a wet noodle.

[corgicoupe]

Are you offering one, Paul?

[pajaro]

Are you offering one, Paul?

Do you want to borrow the 9128? PM me is you want to borrow it.

 

This is one of their nibs I find satisfying to use. Usually with one of the M2s I put a Parker 51 pliglas sac in. No sense being bothered with resacs if there is an antidote, unless you just like resacs.

[pitonyak]

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but is there any difference betrween the "manifold " nibs and the regular ones. I'm assuming they're stiffer nibs? Does a "fine- firm" write differnetly than a fine-manifold"? I know the manifolds are for carbon paper.

 

If my memory serves me correctly, the purpose of a "manifold" nib was to handle forms with carbon paper; so you could press harder and leave a mark.

[pajaro]

 

If my memory serves me correctly, the purpose of a "manifold" nib was to handle forms with carbon paper; so you could press harder and leave a mark.

Carbonless multipart forms too. Does anybody do any of this any more?

[BaronWulfraed]

Carbonless multipart forms too. Does anybody do any of this any more?

Well, my checkbook has carbonless duplicate checks... Main reason it also has a Levenger roller-ball (with half the finish missing) that uses international standard cartridges. The only fountain I've ever considered using on it is a Sheaffer Intrigue -- the inlaid nib on that pen sort of noses downwards (no "ski jump" reverse curve) and feels firm enough for carbons.

[pajaro]

Ah, yes, I forgot about carbonless checkbooks.

[cat74]

very odd...I have a 3550 with a stub nib and I see an ebay listing for a pen with the same - yet I see a review and old sale listings from Peyton Street pens where 3550 is an extra fine!!

Did Esterbrook change the type of nib while leaving the numbering the same??

 

lol...or maybe the other stub 3550 I see was from the same original owner as the 3550 I have and they just liked making them into stubs!!! (they look identical!)

[bsenn]

1 hour ago, cat74 said:

very odd...I have a 3550 with a stub nib and I see an ebay listing for a pen with the same - yet I see a review and old sale listings from Peyton Street pens where 3550 is an extra fine!!

Did Esterbrook change the type of nib while leaving the numbering the same??

 

lol...or maybe the other stub 3550 I see was from the same original owner as the 3550 I have and they just liked making them into stubs!!! (they look identical!)

 

The X550 nibs (1550, 3550, 9550, etc) are firm extra-fine. Any one of those that are currently a stub did not start out as a stub.

[gweimer1]

8 hours ago, cat74 said:

very odd...I have a 3550 with a stub nib and I see an ebay listing for a pen with the same - yet I see a review and old sale listings from Peyton Street pens where 3550 is an extra fine!!

Did Esterbrook change the type of nib while leaving the numbering the same??

 

lol...or maybe the other stub 3550 I see was from the same original owner as the 3550 I have and they just liked making them into stubs!!! (they look identical!)

 

Yeah, I would check the nib to see if there is any tipping.  Even being the needles that they are, the 3550 nib should have tipping.  I agree with Farmboy...that nib was likely messed up, and then ground into a stub.

 

And...I found that listing on eBay...that nib was definitely ground to a stub.  I know who the seller is, and he should have noted that in the listing.

[Estycollector]

My rarer nibs came with a pen attached. I felt this was a better way to ensure the nib was original. However, sellers like @gweimer are well regarded. 

[cat74]

17 hours ago, gweimer1 said:

 

Yeah, I would check the nib to see if there is any tipping.  Even being the needles that they are, the 3550 nib should have tipping.  I agree with Farmboy...that nib was likely messed up, and then ground into a stub.

 

And...I found that listing on eBay...that nib was definitely ground to a stub.  I know who the seller is, and he should have noted that in the listing.

yes then - mine is 100% ground to a stub as it looks identical to the one in the listing - writes nice enough but I do like my medium 3668 more!

 

In a futile attempt to curtail my pen buying I'm going to start going through the various Esterbrook nibs that I have - a few years back I purchased a mixed lot with about 20 NOS nibs plus ones that have come with pens - should be fun!! 

[AAAndrew]

Just as an aside, most of the Renew-point nibs are loosely based on one of Esterbrook's original dip pens. The x314, for example, is based on the old Esterbrook 314 Relief dip pen. The x550s are one of the few exceptions. There was no 550 dip pen. There was a 555 accountant and the 556 Advanced School, but no 550. Both the 555 and 556 were fine points and on the firmer side. Why they decided to create a new number rather than just go with an existing model may have to do with the fact that the only extra-fine pointed pen they produced that wasn't also extra flexible or a falcon, was the rather obscure 646 Vertical Writer. A lot of people knew the 555 and 556, both popular with accountants and others who wanted a finer, but stiff pen, to write into account books and ledgers. So, they probably decided to just use 550 to indicate a point somewhere close to the other 55x pens. Just a speculative guess, as we'll never know the real truth. 

 

But if you want to know about the original pen they modeled the fountain pen nib after, check out the Esterbrook Project's nib list. https://theesterbrookproject.com/SITE DOCS/NIB LIST.html

 

The only dip pens Esterbrook created that they labeled as "Extra Fine." 

128 Extra Fine, Flexible

216 Extra Fine Falcon

712 Extra Fine Falcon

333 Extra Fine School Pen (also flexible)

356/357 Art and Drafting (extra fine and extra flexible)

646 Vertical Writer was extra fine and not flexible

1170 Extra Fine Ladies Pen, and "elastic" an old marketing term meaning flexible

 

Andrew

[Inkyways]

Thank you @AAAndrew for this fascination fact on EB dip pens. Now I have an extensive Mini Pen collection and I have not yet tried any of the nibs.

I have time any way to get to know the history and I am going to add up my writing experience on some of them. EB is a fascination pen next to Joseph Gillotts pen. Amazing two b rands that has shaped the writing history.