Modern Esterbrook

[writepen]

Hello Fellow Fountain Pen Devotees!

In 1858 Richard Esterbrook founded The Esterbrook Steel Pen Mfg. Co. In 1947 The Company reorganized as The Esterbrook Pen Company. Note the photo of the old Esterbrook Building in New Jersey, USA. Some famous people who used Vintage Esterbrook Pens: US Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, Walt Disney, Charles Schulz, just to name a few. The Esterbrook Pen brand was acquired by Kenro Industries in 2018.

The photo of my Estie is also attached. In addition to the Evergreen color, this fountain pen is available in ebony, tortoise, and cobalt. A rollerball with the same color options is part of the Estie collection. Additionally, every color and mode choice is offered with a choice of silver or gold trims and nibs.

Estie Features and Benefits

Balanced-in-the-hand, acrylic writing instrument.

Nib/Point range: JoWo # 6 size steel nib in extra fine, fine, medium and broad.

Polished, Palladium clip, convenient pocket placement and Cushion Cap Closure, ink flows without hesitation even after pen has been unused.

Filling system is cartridge or converter--Schmidt included.

A bonus is the availability of both a vintage nib adapter as well as an Esterbrook vintage nib (neither included in the pen price, can be ordered as an addition).

Ron of Penchalet.com fame is an Authorized Esterbrook Dealer and a trusted merchant who delivers what he promises...excellent customer service.

Edited March 23, 2019 by writepen

[titrisol]

NICE! their website is also cool

https://www.esterbrookpens.com/

[corgicoupe]

My first impression... I received my tortoise fountain pen with gold trim yesterday, so this is really a first impression. I chose the fine nib, and glad I did. The pen is larger than I expected, being about the same as my Pelikan 800 and Sheaffer Connaisseur in the hand. It need not be posted, even in my large hand and it is well balanced that way. The cap is light enough that the pen still feels balanced when posted. I particularly like the matching section, as a black section would have been a distraction from the coloration. I filled it with Private Reserve American Blue and found it to write smoothly. The spring-loaded cap is different but will be easy to adjust to.

I got mine from Mario at Toys from the Attic, primarily because it was the suggested source mentioned by two colleagues at the past weekend pen club meeting, one of whom had purchased his at the recent Atlanta Pen Show. It was shipped directly from Kenro. Since I already have 10 vintage Esterbrooks and another 10 nibs, I was not interested in the nib adapter.

The pen looks good, feels good and writes well. The tortoise coloration is the wildest thing in my small collection.

[Honeybadgers]

The "school pen" should be $25 (it's all but confirmed to be a rebranded indian pen), and the new estie should be $65 and include the adapter

 

Current prices, to me, are an absolute joke. You can get an osprey milano in acrylic or ebonite, a better pen, for $70. Or their school pen, made from acrylic and a great parker duofold shape/color, for $30.

[corgicoupe]

I suspect one could make those same comments about many of the current market prices. I suppose it's simply a matter of whether one wants to own a particular pen. I decided I wanted the new Esterbrook and was willing to pay the street price for it.

[Beginnersmind0]

Good to hear positive things about these pens! I love the idea of the cushion cap, as I dont write as much as I used to. I have a Platinum 3776 with the slip and seal cap which addresses the same issue as the Estie. I love the 3776! But the coloration is a little blah. I am excited to find the Estie; a pen that wont dry out on me, AND be fun to look at!

[corgicoupe]

The "cushion cap" does take getting used to, but only when replacing the cap. Not really noticeable when uncapping. The turquoise is quite translucent and there are a few places that almost look like abalone.