Esterbrook Brand Being Revived This December?

[Mr. JW]

The pens arrived today. When I get off work in a couple of hours, I'll take a look. Let's just say a humorous exchange of texts has already taken place.

 

I am looking forward to your thoughts on these "Esterbrooks." Any chance you can give us snippets of the text exchanges?

[FarmBoy]

The pens arrived today. When I get off work in a couple of hours, I'll take a look. Let's just say a humorous exchange of texts has already taken place.

Which one of you made the first comment involving the term 'bling'?

[Brian Anderson]

ok, so I have seen the pens. I have not inked up the fountain pen yet. Give me some time to look them. The step between the barrel and section was bigger than I expected.

[FarmBoy]

B llllllllling.

 

Better go check the pen cases and see if you are infected and the old stock dissappeared.

[OcalaFlGuy]

I have bling filters.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[bbycrts]

 

Honestly, I don't believe they are trying to revive the brand or anything. For them, this is just a way to try to make some quick money.

 

 

Which, given how little information is available, and given how much negative buzz they've been getting (we're now up to 11 pages and the pens aren't even available yet -- and it isn't entirely clear they *will* be available anytime soon), that seems a somewhat unlikely prospect under the circumstances.

It also isn't clear they've done either sufficient (if any) market research, other than say "Hey, FP people like Esterbrooks -- we'll make a mint!"

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

edited for formatting

Two things here -

 

I agree that there is no brand revival being attempted - just an attempt to cash in on a familiar name.

 

Second, the attention of a group of enthusiasts often means little to a company if that's NOT the intended audience. I bet the people behind this project know full well what the FP community thinks of their attempt - but they're really not trying to curry our favor. They will use flowery language and display period ads to make the average consumer think that 1) Esterbrook was a premium brand in its day and 2) that fountain pens are hip and trendy and flashing the Esterbrook name around on your new pen will make YOU look hip and trendy.

 

I've been part of a very active ukulele community for a long time and have seen the same thing happen with companies using the name of the old "greats" to market a new, and usually sub-par, product.

 

On the bright side...those attempts rarely seem to be successful. I think the marketers way overestimate the value of a name that really is best known by the enthusiast community and means almost nothing to the target audience.

 

In the end, Esterbrook is gone, will stay gone, and won't really come back no matter how good the attempt at a revival.

[OcalaFlGuy]

I'm still chuckling over the new Bling just being the antithesis of the original Estie.

 

After you explained the term to Mr. E he would have probably slapped your face.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[chad.trent]

 

 

Two things here -

 

I agree that there is no brand revival being attempted - just an attempt to cash in on a familiar name.

 

Second, the attention of a group of enthusiasts often means little to a company if that's NOT the intended audience. I bet the people behind this project know full well what the FP community thinks of their attempt - but they're really not trying to curry our favor. They will use flowery language and display period ads to make the average consumer think that 1) Esterbrook was a premium brand in its day and 2) that fountain pens are hip and trendy and flashing the Esterbrook name around on your new pen will make YOU look hip and trendy.

 

I've been part of a very active ukulele community for a long time and have seen the same thing happen with companies using the name of the old "greats" to market a new, and usually sub-par, product.

 

On the bright side...those attempts rarely seem to be successful. I think the marketers way overestimate the value of a name that really is best known by the enthusiast community and means almost nothing to the target audience.

 

In the end, Esterbrook is gone, will stay gone, and won't really come back no matter how good the attempt at a revival.

I agree, but honestly, if the FP community isn't their intended audience, who do they think is going to by a $400 pen? Or even a $70 pen?

[Chiro75]

THis re-branding/revival/whatever is an abomination.

[bbycrts]

I agree, but honestly, if the FP community isn't their intended audience, who do they think is going to by a $400 pen? Or even a $70 pen?

You're absolutely right - which is why I feel absolutely certain their attempt is going to fail spectacularly...I mentioned ukulele stuff? None of the "revival" projects I watched were successful because the seller overestimated the public's familiarity with the brand they were trying to "revive" and because the enthusiasts saw what a crock the whole attempt was. I think this whole Esterbrook debacle is headed in the exact same direction.

[benbot517]

I agree, but honestly, if the FP community isn't their intended audience, who do they think is going to by a $400 pen? Or even a $70 pen?

 

Really, most people view a pen as a disposable item. People see the purchase of an expensive instrument as justified, after all a good musician can use the right tool to make beautiful things. In my mind, the term "writing instrument" is a very descriptive term, and really speaks to how we see pens. They are finely tuned instruments that are used to craft beautiful things. In that respect, a good instrument is worth the cost, however most people don't view pens that way, so a $70 pen sounds strange, much less a $400 one.

[pajaro]

Using a brand name that had emphasized low-bling pens that were cost effective and low cost to roll out a product line that is bling heavy and costly seems like the prostitution of a respected brand. It's pretty amusing that this has stirred up a lot of commotion. It's like rolling out a line of pens as the Cadilac Escalade of pens, or as a slightly redesigned '74 Coupe DeVille of pens.

[Cryptos]

I am not convinced that resurrecting these things is a good thing. Part of the reason why people like vintage pens is becasue they ARE vintage. They are a product of their own time. As an example look at the new Eversharp Skylines. To me they lack any semblance of character and are pale imitations of the original. That style was of its own time, not now. I like Skylines - I still have a couple - but I like them because they are of that earlier time, not modern replicas. And conversely, in its day it was a fabulous new design. The modern versions are not enough of a new design to distinguish themselves.

[ANM]

Cryptos, I think you could say the same thing about modern Parker Duofolds or the Sheaffer Balance II's. Even though the companies making them never quite went away, the modern versions are pale imitations of the originals.

[chad.trent]

Hmm... This looks pretty familiar to me. What say you guys?

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/183317292/hanmade-fountain-pen-green-resin

[bluefish65]

Hmm... This looks pretty familiar to me. What say you guys?

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/183317292/hanmade-fountain-pen-green-resin

I say disappointing. Did you just happen to run across this while looking at pens on etsy?

[benbot517]

At least that one doesn't have a "silver plated" nib.

[chad.trent]

I say disappointing. Did you just happen to run across this while looking at pens on etsy?

Yeah. I was just looking through stuff and ran across it.

[NinthSphere]

I saw that a while back. Slightly wider cap band, but otherwise they've got NeoEstie beat both in price & time.

[EclecticCollector]

Cryptos, I think you could say the same thing about modern Parker Duofolds or the Sheaffer Balance II's. Even though the companies making them never quite went away, the modern versions are pale imitations of the originals.

To be fair though, that's just your opinion (which others happen to share). Personally I love the late-80s and newer Duofolds and don't much care for the vintage ones. Neither of us are wrong, we just have different tastes. For what it's worth the redesign last year killed it for me, so in another 20 years I might be saying the same thing you did.