Esterbrook Brand Being Revived This December?

[chad.trent]

So I did get a phone call from Robert Rosenberg (the man behind Esterbrook) yesterday. Well, it was my third call in two days. I missed the other two. But yesterday I finally got to talk to him. I asked him about the similarities between his pens and the ones on Etsy. He claims they are completely different pens. He said if there are any similarities it's because the company that makes them also makes pens for other people, and they may have used Esterbrook's designs for some of their other customers.

 

He also told me they have another line of pens coming out probably in March that will be virtually identical to the Esterbrook J pens we all know and love.

 

There was a lot more discussed and emails exchanged, but I don't want to add any drama to this thread. So if anyone wants to know the rest of the story just ask.

[welch]

So I did get a phone call from Robert Rosenberg (the man behind Esterbrook) yesterday. Well, it was my third call in two days. I missed the other two. But yesterday I finally got to talk to him. I asked him about the similarities between his pens and the ones on Etsy. He claims they are completely different pens. He said if there are any similarities it's because the company that makes them also makes pens for other people, and they may have used Esterbrook's designs for some of their other customers.

 

He also told me they have another line of pens coming out probably in March that will be virtually identical to the Esterbrook J pens we all know and love.

 

There was a lot more discussed and emails exchanged, but I don't want to add any drama to this thread. So if anyone wants to know the rest of the story just ask.

 

- Will the "virtually identical" pens accept a Renew-point nib?

 

- Will the "new J" nibs fit the old J pens?

 

- Will the new J have a sensible "international" cartridge / converter?

[Brian Anderson]

I have the new J. The nib and feed are friction fit in the section. They are not threaded. Converter is similar to a Schmidt K1.

[watch_art]

When I think of modern pens that look like the old Esterbrook, I think of the Levenger Truwriter...

[chad.trent]

 

- Will the "virtually identical" pens accept a Renew-point nib?

 

- Will the "new J" nibs fit the old J pens?

 

- Will the new J have a sensible "international" cartridge / converter?

I asked about the old nibs fitting the new ones and was told no. So, I'm assuming the new nibs won't fit the old pens.

 

It will be a cartridge/converter, but he said they only had prototypes so far so he couldn't tell me any more.

[spaceink]

Well, at least now they have something Esterbrook-related in the works, rather than just re-branded pens. I guess it's probably too much to ask for nibs interchangeable with the old ones, in this day and age (not enough of a pen market anymore to make it worthwhile for that.)

 

My question is who the target demo for these pens will be? If I know anything about Esterbrooks, I'd much rather pick up an old one, rather than a new version that looks like it. If I didn't know anything about Esterbrooks, would I care at all? I guess new Eversharp seems to be doing well enough running with the classic Skyline design, as a comparison, but it does seem tricky.

 

Maybe there is hope for them with a revived actual J series design but those other questionably designed (ghastly, if I may say so) "J" pens, I'm not sure.

Edited January 22, 2015 by spaceink

[TeaHive]

This entire thread gave me lots of laughs, and heartburn. I have nothing further to say about these "pens."

[chad.trent]

Well, at least now they have something Esterbrook-related in the works, rather than just re-branded pens. I guess it's probably too much to ask for nibs interchangeable with the old ones, in this day and age (not enough of a pen market anymore to make it worthwhile for that.)

 

My question is who the target demo for these pens will be? If I know anything about Esterbrooks, I'd much rather pick up an old one, rather than a new version that looks like it. If I didn't know anything about Esterbrooks, would I care at all? I guess new Eversharp seems to be doing well enough running with the classic Skyline design, as a comparison, but it does seem tricky.

 

Maybe there is hope for them with a revived actual J series design but those other questionably designed (ghastly, if I may say so) "J" pens, I'm not sure.

I hope so. I'm not holding my breath though...

[lestylo]

"He claims they are completely different pens. [Right, oh sure, completely.]

He said if there are any similarities it's because the company that makes them also makes pens for other people, and they may have used Esterbrook's designs for some of their other customers." [Maybe the other way round?]

[FarmBoy]

"He claims they are completely different pens. [Right, oh sure, completely.]

He said if there are any similarities it's because the company that makes them also makes pens for other people, and they may have used Esterbrook's designs for some of their other customers." [Maybe the other way round?]

I think the dates will accurately determine the facts.

 

I keep waiting for them to pull all my old models off the shelves. Fortunately for me this forum and some guy that goes by Freedom is keeping the Esterbrook management team occupied and my stock remains safe in the cases.

[berlinairlift]

I would like to add that we saw Esterbrook at the Philadelphia Pen Show this past weekend. Word is that in the spring there will be replicas of double jewel pens as well as others. The website, I was informed, was going to see a bit of an overhaul as well. I look forward to seeing what they come up with. ;-)

 

I was there as well and took a look at them. I was completely underwhelmed.

[chad.trent]

"He claims they are completely different pens. [Right, oh sure, completely.]

He said if there are any similarities it's because the company that makes them also makes pens for other people, and they may have used Esterbrook's designs for some of their other customers." [Maybe the other way round?]

My thoughts exactly. I have also talked to someone else who spoke to them on the phone. We both came away with the same feeling - that we had spent 30 minutes talking to a snake oil salesman.

[OcalaFlGuy]

"Once you get rid of integrity, everything else is a piece of cake."

-J.R. Ewing-

[inkstainedruth]

They now have the "standard" models on Fahrney's website (as of last week sometime, I think).

The pen widths available: medium....

That may work if you're Henry Ford ("You can have any color you want as long as it's black") selling a gazillion Model T cars. I doubt that it would work as an "homage" to/re-working of (I hesitate to say a resurrection of) a company for whom the claim to fame was their interchangeable array of nib widths and types.

I think that chad.trent's description of "snake oil salesman" sums it up pretty well.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Larry Barrieau]

I don't care what this company came up with or what they might come up with in the future I wouldn't/couldn't buy anything from them. From the beginning they have been evasive, dismissive of the people who could have helped their cause (they knew from the beginning that they were going to put out cheesy, non Esterbrook related (bleep)), rude (removing questions that scared them, after asking for feedback, and dishonest. Just one of those slaps in the face is enough for me to write them off.

[JonSzanto]

And yet, they - and the subject - are still being talked about.

[inkstainedruth]

And yet, they - and the subject - are still being talked about.

People rubberneck at car accidents, too....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[bbycrts]

And yet, they - and the subject - are still being talked about.

It is, to those still talking, an interesting subject. I see few here complaining that the subject is still alive - I'm fascinated to watch the whole process unfold and play out in the court of public opinion. Wagering is an improper use of the forums...but I'm sure there are many aspects to the story on which we could lay bets...how low will the "deluxe" models have to be discounted to actually sell? How many retailers will sign on to sell these things? Will the project last long enough to actually bring out true reproduction (or tribute-style) pens? Will the name be sold again or will it fade away? It is more than just being outraged at the besmirching of a grand old name in pendom - it is the armchair coaching that all of us sideliners can do as we watch the whole thing go down in flames (or, less likely, rise to the occasion and thrive). I'll keep talking about it if others want to as well!

[JonSzanto]

People rubberneck at car accidents, too....

 

Not something I would be proud of nor condone. Nonetheless, I didn't mean that the discussion should stop, as it has certain value.

[spaceink]

The $75 J model might be able to attract the attention of someone also looking at, say, a Monteverde pen. It'll just be an aesthetic preference decision vs. anything related to knowing the history of the brand. They are essentially squandering the ability to attract buyers interested in the latter and hence waste a lot of goodwill attached to the Esterbrook brand in the first place.

 

A good reason for this to be discussed: if you search for Esterbrook, this forum is usually one of the first 5 results. Makes for a good warning to consumers that the historic references made in the pen's current marketing material are pretty bogus..

 

Again, Zombie Esterbrook totally could have done better if they had worked the heritage angle by reaching out to the built-in fandom of this historic brand and at the very least come out with a pen that has greater aesthetic nod to the original.

 

Right now, potential buyers of these can do much better just buying a Hero or Duke at a tenth of the price, if they are not the type to go for a vintage original. (In that sense, there's some good in Zombie Esterbrook--less new competitors for listings on the bay.).

Edited January 27, 2015 by spaceink