Esterbrook J-Bar And Spacer

November 18, 2018

Hi Everyone,

I'm in the middle of restoring some Esterbrook SJs, and learning more all the time of course -- I will post photos of the final product, which I promise will be a set of lookers!

Wouldn't you know one of the J-bars was broken, and came out with sac pieces in a heap. There was something else in there I wasn't expecting, and thanks to other posts I've learned it's a spacer for proper positioning and to prevent the J-bar from creeping back into the barrel away from the lever's...lever-ing action.

In advance of jumping into pen repair I realized a strong and tiny LED light would be useful, and then I discovered they came with cameras attached

So here are some photos of my J-bar mess, followed by two with spacers in situ behind the J of the J-bar. Enjoy!

(I hadn't yet set the date or time on the camera!)

Matt

November 19, 2018

I had forgotten about the charms of restoring these pens. The J series are fairly easy to work with, and I learned a great deal from them. The way in which these pens fit together is at once simple and ingenuous. Thank you for your information about the lights.

November 19, 2018

I'm beginning to think I should offer prayers of thanks...

I found an Esterbrook at a local antique store. It looked quite clean (especially compared to the snorkel next to it that had the two-tone plating of the nib rotting away). I took a chance and bought the Esterbrook, expecting to make it my "learn to replace a sac" pen. ($20 for a clean looking pen -- half of that would the cost of a nib unit) But before dismantling it, I took a chance to see what it would do with pen flush solution.

Joy -- it drew liquid, and expelled it. Not much color came with it. I've been using for Sudoku puzzles (along with the other inked pens) for nearly two weeks now.

Took some research to learn it is an LJ variant. I just swapped the 2xxx nib with a 9xxx nib (I had a few nibs that I'd bought off eBay years ago in conjunction with a few Dip-Less systems).

Edited November 19, 2018 by BaronWulfraed

December 9, 2018

Looks like you are on the right track

Could you furnish us with some details on your small light w. Digital camera ability

I really liked and appreciate your photos too

Tom

December 10, 2018

Looks like you are on the right track

Could you furnish us with some details on your small light w. Digital camera ability
I really liked and appreciate your photos too
Tom

Hi Tom,

Glad you liked the photos!

The camera was purchased from Amazon, and it is the "Teslong Short Focus Endoscope, 1.5~2cm Focal Length Barrel Borescope Inspection Camera with 0.21inch Waterproof Gooseneck, 3.5inch LCD Screen, 6 LED Lights, 2600mAh Lithium-Ion Battery, Tool Box." It was $114, and honestly I can't believe how relatively inexpensive that is compared to others out there, and for what this one does.

When considering something like this for pens, I discovered it's very important to get one with a short focal length -- even this camera is sometimes difficult to use when you get to the end of a barrel inside, but this particular model has the shortest focal length of all the ones I saw available.

I can't tell you how many times in the past few weeks I've used it either as just a light to shine down a barrel, or to take a virtual trip inside a barrel or cap. I've used it to help locate and remove stubborn pieces of calcified sac, or to diagnose a wonky J-bar. At one point I was able to visualize Richard Binder's diagram of a Waterman's lever removal, but from the inside of the pen itself! Really a thrill, and so useful.

Matt