Esterbrook Presentation Preview

[AAAndrew]

I finally have my materials lined up for the presentation I'm giving to my local pen club on Sunday. The topic is Esterbrook.

 

For some reason I laid them out from right to left (I do that with my playing cards as well, I wonder what that says about me), but I'll be sure and put it other way 'round at the meeting.

 

It's not absolutely everything I have, for example the dip pen boxes are just a small sample to indicate different time periods. But these are all of my pens. I do have one more red hockey puck (444) dip-less coming in the mail tomorrow, but otherwise this is what I'm bringing.

 

I will also bring some dip pens that correspond with the nibs I have on the pens.

 

First image: Dip pen boxes. Top two are from 1889, small tin from 1879-1900. Then 1914 (NY Stationers' Assoc Annual Banquet giveaway). Then two from the 1920's including a Standard Railroad pen box made for and sold only through Sears and Roebuck, and a big and a little box from the 1930's. Then the bottom one from 1940's-50's. Two Esterbrook holders and a fun Esterbrook bar compass from the 30's. And a blotter imprinted with the picture of Richard Esterbrook Jr. (founder). Came with my Esterbrook book. (thanks Paul!)

 

At the top a pre-WWII 8-ball in box with papers and a Dollar Pen push pencil advertisement.

 

Then pens going from right to left: Dollar Pen (later model with ridge going all the way down the clip), Black Transitional (early with three-line top jewel), Green of the same. A 2556 nib in box to show how the nibs were sold.

 

 

 

Next image:

Across the top, right to left, the 477 Dip-less marked Property of Air Force U.S. Army, and pen marked the same.

Dip-less 427 restored with two later dip-less pens

Dip-less 445 restored (and filled with ink)

Below that the J pens: (right to left)

Silver J: imprint of James Losey Atlas Point Safety Committee

Copper J

Red SJ

Red LJ

Red J

Blue LJ

Blue SJ

Blue J

Delux

Green Icicle

Aqua CH

In front is a J pen and pencil set in box with AAA imprint and a blotter showing Relief pens that also came with my Esterbrook book

 

 

 

Third Image:

Top row, burgundy ridged wedge desk holder with tan CH desk pen

Burgundy 8-ball desk set in box (116-R)

Green "saucer" Stylist Desk Set with lever desk pen

 

Pens:

Light Blue CH

Blue Safari

Olive Green Aerometric

Levenger (early one, that really is trying to look like an Esterbrook)

Red-tailed lever desk pen

 

 

I'm going to bring the following dip nibs as well to go with the nibs I have on my pens

048

314

442

460 (also works for 461 which is just a slightly larger version of the 460)

555 (also works for 550 which is not a dip pen number)

556

668

And I'm not quite sure what nibs to bring to match the 314-B and the "Broad" Renew-point.

 

Well. There you go. I tried to get something from just about every period of Esterbrook development (except the eye droppers and Relief pens on the front end, and the later felt tips and others from the very, very late end). I've got at least a sample of each color of the main J pens. I have a icicle, a couple of CH and a smattering of desk and dip-less models.

 

Hopefully this will at least be a decent introduction for folks who know little to nothing about the brand. I'm also going to fill up most of the pens so people can try out the different nibs. I've even thrown in an Osmiroid nib (on the red SJ).

Edited April 29, 2016 by AAAndrew

[Bitzel]

That's really amazing. What a beautiful collection!

[Hobiwan]

Excellent presentation! Great historical overview of the Company's production and evolution over the years.

[AAAndrew]

Excellent presentation! Great historical overview of the Company's production and evolution over the years.

 

Thanks! Praise indeed.

[Runnin_Ute]

Very nice collection.

[FarmBoy]

right to left?

Right to Left?

RIGHT TO LEFT?

RIGHT TO LEFT?

 

what were you thinking.

[AAAndrew]

Obviously, not much.

 

It's odd, I arrange cards in my hand when playing cards that way too. Not sure what it means. Maybe it comes from when I studied classical Chinese.

 

I'll get it right on Sunday.

[AAAndrew]

Finished the presentation. It seemed to go well. I got to see a small-sized dollar pen in copper. Something I've not seen before. Not many were adventurous enough to try the dip nibs. I had 048, 442, 555, 314 and a 128 to take on a trial run next to desk pens loaded with the appropriate renew-point nibs.

 

No relief or eyedropper pens showed up. That's the main gap in my collection, but people seemed to appreciate the historical background and getting to write with a bunch of pens.

 

It was fun!

[Runnin_Ute]

Glad it went well Andrew!

[PaFitch]

Excellent collection, excellent pictures, and an excellent presentation.An earned

 

Right to left is good Hebrew. Your arrangement is perfectly logical.