Esterbrook Brand Being Revived This December?

[spaceink]

I also think that if the brand were to ever become available, crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter would make it possible for someone like B to raise the funds to come out with a truly kick-ass revival, without having to overextend their investment in the project. Just the support from this forum alone would be enough to get things started.

 

And if not Esterbrook, then maybe Anderson pens?

Edited February 5, 2015 by spaceink

[pen2paper]

Esterbrook XXXXX Being Revived This December?

 

edit note to not post when weary ; )

 

 

certainly not the Esterbrook as it was known, and is still out there being used every day in its sturdy vintage form.

 

it would not be a Dollar, (the costly lever issue too), otherwise, yes, it could be done.

 

I'm holding a New, non-Estie Screw-in Nib at this moment. When I saw this nib in three of its several sizes, and the simple but very effective connective design, (I'm not an engineer so I cannot state flawless), I was floored by the well executed design.

 

The Grip Step issue > Not an issue for this pen maker. There's a variety to fit most hands. Machining tolerances are tight, but still a sturdy pen with a smooth comfortable step. It can be done.

 

Could A Art analyze and repro the sturdy celluloid?

 

So, could a modern day Esterbrook be manufactured. Sure! But, there's already a few who are filling the need of variety, with quality, and at a modest cost.

 

Could this business under discussion have sought out an operation to deliver such a product? Yes.

Will they opt to alter their business model to offer a fountain pen that captures the basic qualities we Know as "Esterbrook" (??)

FPN has never been about dogging anything into failure. Quite the opposite, we like to hail creativity, and thoughtful start-up ventures.

so why I am I tapping away here?? oh yes, Esterbrook screw-in nib, with some choice of variety. It Could be done. Still think it will be interesting to see if any of the particulars who could pull this off, will band together to make, The: "Aint Nothin like Real Thing baby", happen ; ) Vintage will always be cool stuff, but an appropriate update could supply a better fit for larger modern day hands, with a choice of c/c lever with a larger fill of ink. jmvho

Edited February 6, 2015 by pen2paper

[lestylo]

Which explains why I said I would never pay the $360 for one. But if they were under a C-note, I might consider it.

 

Be patient. These Esties will eventually be sold on Ebay at prices below wholesale, as he did with Conklin, Chilton and Mabie Todd.

See his latest:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-RED-BLUE-MARBLE-MABIE-TODD-RIALTO-FOUNTAIN-PEN-M-NIB-/271761212021?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f463b0275

“Stunning!”

Look what I came across in a Google search:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/176860-a-holiday-pen-horror-story/

[lestylo]

Seems like the fruit has fallen far from the tree, rolled down the hill and arrived at a superfund site, in this case? Wondering how things might have been different had Sr. been the one to revive Esterbrook. I've seen the Conklins and Chiltons, and they seem like solid pens, and had no idea they were related like that.

 

That Deluxe pen hurts my eyes (sorry jdllizard).

 

I have heard on several occasions that the senior Rosenberg (the father) was well respected, fair and honest.

[kestrel]

 

I have heard on several occasions that the senior Rosenberg (the father) was well respected, fair and honest.

I bought one of those early rebranded Conklins used off you know where. It had issues including a manufacturing defect. Sent it to the company for repairs and got it back with a note from Rosenberg senior asking that I notify him if I had any further problems. All that for a second hand pen.

[RNHC]

Wow. I had no idea. I just came across a mainstream media article on Esterbrook and thought any news that has to with fountain pen was worth noting but I guess it's an old and not necessarily good news.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2015/02/05/reviving-the-pen-that-wrote-american-history/22941265/

[Algester]

sadly if you looked at the pens it really lost the name esterbrook...its everything but in name...

[inkstainedruth]

Wow. I had no idea. I just came across a mainstream media article on Esterbrook and thought any news that has to with fountain pen was worth noting but I guess it's an old and not necessarily good news.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2015/02/05/reviving-the-pen-that-wrote-american-history/22941265/

 

Someone started a thread about that article. I haven't read it yet, but I'd be curious as to what USA Today thought about if they saw some of the comments on *this* thread. Particularly the link to the old thread from a few years ago that lestylo posted.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[bbycrts]

 

Someone started a thread about that article. I haven't read it yet, but I'd be curious as to what USA Today thought about if they saw some of the comments on *this* thread. Particularly the link to the old thread from a few years ago that lestylo posted.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

I think USA Today just reprinted the article from a smaller paper that interviewed RR. He was all agog about that article.

[RNHC]

 

Someone started a thread about that article. I haven't read it yet, but I'd be curious as to what USA Today thought about if they saw some of the comments on *this* thread. Particularly the link to the old thread from a few years ago that lestylo posted.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

I saw that thread. I started a thread on same USA article a bit earlier than that one but it got locked and a reference was made to this one. This thread is most definitely more interesting read.

[spaceink]

That USA Today article just means that they shelled out a good deal of money for a publicist to pitch an obvious press release-like fluff piece (to a paper that doesn't have the highest journalistic reputation, unsurprisingly). I wouldn't take it very seriously as a sign of legitimization for these pens. Sad, though, that it might sucker a few more people into buying these Zombie Esterbrooks.

Edited February 7, 2015 by spaceink

[kp288908]

Brian,

 

Why not just take your ideas and start Andersen Pens. Who cares where the inspiration came from. You could call your pens the K line since it was the next pen Esterbrook would have made.

 

We can talk in LA.

 

Todd

 

HECK YEAH!! That's what I call entrepreneurial spirit.

 

I would get on the K line. Definitely.

[kp288908]

Just saw Tippi Hedren decked out in a mink, gloves and pearls address an envelope with a green Esterbrook in Hitchcock's "The Birds". The new models could never look that cool.

 

So true. =)

[inkstainedruth]

That USA Today article just means that they shelled out a good deal of money for a publicist to pitch an obvious press release-like fluff piece (to a paper that doesn't have the highest journalistic reputation, unsurprisingly). I wouldn't take it very seriously as a sign of legitimization for these pens. Sad, though, that it might sucker a few more people into buying these Zombie Esterbrooks.

Yeah, I read the article last night. Definitely a puff piece. I'm seriously expecting to have one of my in-laws send me the clipping -- probably my one brother in law who tried really hard to give me his old Koh-i-nor Rapid-o-graphs, as well as a fairly nice drafting set a couple of Christmases ago ("sorry, Tom, have no use for the drafting set -- plus have nasty memories of the class in doing isometric projections where the professor required us to use ruling pens -- and I have a set of Rapid-o-Graphs somewhere in a desk drawer at home...).

Wonder if someone should really go on the USA Today website with a link to here. You know, the old Paul Harvey "and now, here's the *rest* of the story...."

You know, I could even (maybe) put up with the step-down to the section on the pens. But it would have been nice if Mr. Rosenberg had bothered to at least give a bit of a nod to the old Js. A choice of nibs. An acrylic body that harkened back to the old celluloid colors. Something.... It's sort of like the Tom Cruise Mission Impossible. If it had been called something else, it would have been a half-decent spy caper movie. But noooo -- he had to go muck with "canon" and throw in a twist that just made all the fans of the old TV show (myself included) simply gag.

Instead, they're just sort of generic looking. They could be one of a half dozen brands, where the acrylics are pretty much identical.

Someone ,I think, mentioned that it's the same company that re-released Mabie Todds. Tried one of the Grammercy pens when I was at Fountain Pen Hospital. It was an attractive pen, and the price wasn't too bad, and it looked to be a reasonable size for someone like me with small hands. But that metal body made it awfully heavy for its size. Quite disappointing, really.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[ANM]

Esterbrian K pens

[harry snyder]

They're a couple of miles from my house, I'll check them out when they open. Saw their ad in the local paper last week, will produce a $400 LE, among others.

[Ghost Writer]

hmmm ... how about Yesterbrook

[Florida Blue]

I think everyone knows the new Esterbrook has nothing to do with the original company and those that don't know, likely don't care. The crowd being targeted isn't the same crowd that wants to use a vintage pen.

 

There was an article in our local newspaper, the Asbury Park Press, a few days ago about the relaunch of Esterbrook and the new owner made it perfectly clear that he is trying to market his pens in the high-end gift market to compete against "luxury pens brand such as Cross, Parker, Waterman or Sheaffer." So the new Esterbrook has no interest in appealing to vintage pen enthusiasts or FPNer's like the revived Wahl-Eversharp. According to the APP article they also want to come out with a stylus pen to use on hand-held devices.

 

Here is a link to the article if anyone is interested:

http://www.app.com/story/money/business/main-street/2015/02/05/esterbrook-pens/22921435/

 

 

Edit: This appears to be the same article that was re-printed by USA Today.

Edited February 8, 2015 by Florida Blue

[ScienceChick]

As has been said, his only interest is trying to make money off the Esterbrook name. This was never intended to be a revival, or honoring, of the Esterbrook pen even though he attempted to sell it that way initially. At least he's finally being honest.

 

I'd put the odds of his eye-wrenchingly ugly pen competing with any other pens, especially luxury brands, as zero. The man is delusional.

[FarmBoy]

As has been said, his only interest is trying to make money off the Esterbrook name. This was never intended to be a revival, or honoring, of the Esterbrook pen even though he attempted to sell it that way initially. At least he's finally being honest.

 

I'd put the odds of his eye-wrenchingly ugly pen competing with any other pens, especially luxury brands, as zero. The man is delusional.

He might do ok. Grifos has and they look to be the same pen using a slightly different pen blank with different engraving and plating.

 

Certainly looks like he sourced his product elsewhere and isn't making it.