Esterbrook Brand Being Revived This December?

[FarmBoy]

They have now (finally) taken my photo off their FB page. Sheesh, what a pain in the buttocks.

greg

You can join the three of us in LA and hear what FarmBoy really thinks of the new esterbrooks. Jon has an exemption so we will not get banned.

[sd10521]

You can join the three of us in LA and hear what FarmBoy really thinks of the new esterbrooks. Jon has an exemption so we will not get banned.

 

Can you guys set a date and time and do this on a webcam for the rest of us to enjoy?

 

I don't have any single malt scotch but I will raise a glass of Maker's Mark for the occasion.

[mike.jane]

So, I'm very confused to see the new Esterbrooks on Kickstarter. Here you are: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/esterbrook/esterbrook-luxury-pens-and-fine-writing-instrument/description

 

Because all but one -the most basic of the 'rewards'- are pens that already exist and that are already being sold at fahrney's right now.

As I take it the idea of kickstarter is to back projects, so that products can come into existence, can be manufactured with the pledged capital.

What's happening here might not be explicitly against kickstarter's rules -I didn't find anything- but it's still a bit sleazy to misuse the platform like this.

 

If someone wishes to inquire with kickstarter....I'd think that's fair game.

 

This might also interest the people holding copyrights on images. Maybe something on the kickstarter page belongs to you.

 

More upsetting is this: There are basically two things offered here: The special-kickstarter-edition low cost FP for 30$ backing. An unlimited number of backers can sign up for those. Okay, fair enough, I suppose. And then there's the 'J's (RB & FP) and these will cost you the exact same amount of what they cost at fahrney's. And you could buy one there right this instant. So... srsly, what?

 

Edit: Oh, and the voice-over in the project video is really bad. Almost pitifully so.

 

Edit2: Oh, and if you scroll down to the photo of the 30$ reward pen, way to go on a poorly printed barrel with two misprinted spots in it. Can't wait to get my hands on that beauty.

Edited February 2, 2015 by mike.jane

[inkstainedruth]

First Brian, then Greg, now Pen World? Yep. It's "But Honestly Monica" all over again.

So I wrote to Mr. R over the weekend on the interactive comment form on the company website, suggesting it was really not good business sense to alienate a potential customer base: being vague or disingenuous about information such as manufacturing location (which I believe might not be legal in the US, although I didn't say that); cribbing photos without permission/recompense/acknowledge-ments; calling people liars, etc.; and suggesting that he might want to consider doing an Internet search about the BHM brouhaha (Google calls it a meme!) because violating international copyright law is a good way to get into serious trouble. We'll see if he bothers to respond. Honestly -- even the Newell-Rubbermaid people paid a *little* bit of attention when I told them (being the mouthy American broad that I am) what I thought of their customer service regarding the issues I had with my Parker Urban, and that the brand name USED to stand for quality....

Man, I wish I was going to LA -- I like a good Highland single malt as well as the next girl.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[FarmBoy]

Can you guys set a date and time and do this on a webcam for the rest of us to enjoy?

I don't have any single malt scotch but I will raise a glass of Maker's Mark for the occasion.

Several groups of letters already monitor me. I'm sure one of them can bring cameras.

[Brian Anderson]

Ok, so Lisa and I did a video review of the new Esterbrook. Take a look at the blog post and the video here:

 

http://blog.andersonpens.com/?p=4214

 

Cheers!

Brian

[benbot517]

That step down just looks brutal. There are just too many worthy contenders against it.

[bbycrts]

Whoa. I agree with Ben - even if everything else was wonderful the step down would sink it for me.

[Veltri]

Kickstarter rewards are sometimes not honoured after payment is collected.

With all the shady things and comments going on by the new Estercrook company, I wonder if backers will get anything.

[spaceink]

Nice, fair review. That step is going to feel uncomfortable, for many people. Could a wider section not have been found and used instead? Seems less a design flaw than a procurement misstep--assembling with what readily available parts they could find at the time.

 

At $75, not too bad, but the competition is tough. Aside from the mentioned new pens, the vintage ones seem like such a much better deal, given these specs. Will be interested to see what they will do with the next new one they have sketched out on the FB page..

[FarmBoy]

I checked the usual on-line pen site this week and was able to get Js for sub-15 including shipping though I should note a bit of tweaking was needed on some of them.

[bbycrts]

Nice, fair review. That step is going to feel uncomfortable, for many people. Could a wider section not have been found and used instead? Seems less a design flaw than a procurement misstep--assembling with what readily available parts they could find at the time.

 

At $75, not too bad, but the competition is tough. Aside from the mentioned new pens, the vintage ones seem like such a much better deal, given these specs. Will be interested to see what they will do with the next new one they have sketched out on the FB page..

The Andersons did a great job with the review - I could hear especially Brian really working to stay objective - must've been hard

 

As far as not too bad at $75...well, I have a pair of Rosettas that I purchased for less with well-fitted sections and Jowo nibs (in other words - verified German provenance). I also have a pair of Nussbaum JRs that were sold for far less - I wish they'd been able to make those fly - I would have the entire product line, they were THAT good.

 

Anyway - the review really reinforces to me that this startup has not been well organized, from design of the product, research of the history, marketing of the product...it's a pretty good "how not to do it" display.

[jdllizard]

I feel ashamed, but I threw $30 (+$5 for shipping) at the Esterbrook kickstarter. More out of morbid curiosity than anything. They're looking for $10K and are only at $641 with 12 people in so far, so I doubt I'll be getting one of the "special edition kickstarter" pens unless a bunch more schmucks like me show up and decide to "donate" in the next few weeks. With all the trouble the new Esterbrook company has stired up already, I'll be keeping a close eye on my account to make sure no financial funny business goes on. And if by some miracle the Kickstarter actually meets it's goal, I'll be sure to post if and when my pen arrives, along with a general review.

 

Keeping my fingers crossed for a working and useable, Royal Blue Esty!

 

We'll see.

[lestylo]

Ok, so Lisa and I did a video review of the new Esterbrook. Take a look at the blog post and the video here:

 

http://blog.andersonpens.com/?p=4214

 

Cheers!

Brian

 

Very thoughtful, polite and fair review. You obviously spoke your words carefully.

What I took away from it is: the box is nice.

I would call it a “bless your heart” review. You Southerners know what I mean. The rest of you can see:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Bless+your+heart

[chad.trent]

Thanks Brian and Lisa for doing that. Pretty much confirmeed what most of us were thinking. I'm not surpsied at all that they didn't want you as a dealer once you had called them out publicly. They seem to like to shoot themselves in the foot every chance they get.

Edited February 2, 2015 by chad.trent

[inkstainedruth]

I would call it a “bless your heart” review. You Southerners know what I mean. The rest of you can see:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Bless+your+heart

I'm earworming Paula Deen even as we speak....

So, it's roughly the size of a Noodler's Neponset. I tried picking one of those up at their table at OPS and it was very heavy (I love my ebonite Konrad, but the ebonite Neponsets were just too big for me). That gives me another frame of reference.

Thanks to Brian and Lisa for doing the video review. It's pretty clear that I don't think I'd like one of these (size, the step down to the section, the lack of ability to adequately post...).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Margana]

It strikes me that the company has alienated the pen community that would value the Esterbrook name while hoping to appeal to a public (non-FP people) that never heard of Esterbrook. Not that they won't succeed eventually, but early sales to the former look iffy. Sales to the latter will take time to cultivate. Sounds like they could use that single malt right about now.

 

The new Estie has made the Conklin Duragraph stub I purchased in December look like a real bargain, both for quality and at a very reasonable price of around $44. Note that two very positive reviews sealed the deal since I wasn't even in the market for another pen. That's a word to the wise if Rosenberg is following this thread and you know he is...

[alc3261]

I have now watched the Anderson's review - it is a really dreadful pen!!

[sd10521]

I have now watched the Anderson's review - it is a really dreadful pen!!

 

Indeed!

 

But it was a very nice review, considering...

[Zillaxila]

what upsets me is that they use a great and reputable company of now vintage pens that have great design, construction, and an overwhelming fan base that love their products. Then they come up with these pens that are clearly made in poor quality standards of materials and finishing, and put a ridiculous price tag on them.

 

For what you pay for these new pens you can get a perfectly restored Esterbrook J series pen and trust me the difference is obvious just by looking at the images.

 

Take for example the new Conklins (which are ok) but they stay true to the old design. Also the new Wahl Eversharp skyline pens, they are great and make the name of the company proud of what they are doing.

 

To take a vintage pen company and make less than mediocre pens just to take advantage of their fan base and possible economic gain is just horrible. and they look like a very sketchy company.