New Esterbrook Dip Pen discovered

[AAAndrew]

Just posted to the new and improved The Esterbrook Project site a new Esterbrook dip pen. It's number appears in no catalog or salesman sample card or advertisement. It appears to be a very early pen, and is now the second example of a possible co-marketing campaign with a set of school books from the late 1860s. 

 

We know the Esterbrook #1 National Series is a very early pen because of both the double grind (parallel as well as perpendicular to the axis of the nib), and the oval imprint. 

 

 

There are a few other "#1" pens produced by Esterbrook, but none that are just Esterbrook #1. There is the Esterbrook #1 Centennial, the Esterbrook #1 Colorado (which is really the #305 Colorado), Esterbrook #1 Oblique (which is really the #223 Oblique). 

 

The "National Series" imprint was something I had only seen once before, on a rare #303 Extra Fine pen. In 1872, Esterbrook lost a lawsuit with Gillott and had to renumber their 303s to the #333 so as to avoid trademark infringement of Gillott's extremely popular 303 Extra Fine, which had been sold in the US for almost 30 years before Esterbrook decided to make their copy. 

 

This 303 is also marked with the name "National Series" in a similar, early, oval style of imprint. 

 

 

Right now the only explanation is still speculation. My best theory is that these "National Series" pens were marketed to accompany a popular set of school textbooks. 

 

Ad from The Buffalo Daily Republic, Buffalo, NY, Aug 1, 1873

 

Ad from Fremont Tri-Weekly Tribune, Fremont, Nebraska, April 7, 1870.

 

 

Until I can clearly find out more about the National Series of books, and find some kind of connection between the Esterbrook pens and this series of books, this will remain speculation. 

 

Regardless, these are two VERY early Esterbrook pens, and finding a second National Series pen from this first decade of Esterbrook's existence and in a number previously unknown, is pretty darned cool. 

 

 

[inkstainedruth]

You always find the most fascinating stuff!  

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[AAAndrew]

One more ad, this one shows that these were widely used in Pennsylvania.  From Harrisburg Times, Dec 21, 1867. 

 

 

 

The series was also rather popular out in western states, and was officially adopted by Missouri and North Carolina state departments of education, among others. It seems to have been the major replacement in many places for the old and out-dated McGuffey's Eclectic Reader. 

 

 

[inkstainedruth]

Fascinating!  Especially since my husband and I drove past the exit for Williamsport (which I've been to a few times due to the other hobby) and through Blairsville just last night on the way home.  And my uncle and aunt used to LIVE in West Chester....  Trying to remember if I've ever driven through Phoenixville (I had to look that one up on Google Maps...).

Of course, the ad spelled "Pittsburgh" wrong.... 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

ETA:  I may have driven through Phoenixville, because my husband's uncle used to be the minister at the historic church at Valley Forge (but is still a working Episcopal church).  We went to his uncle's funeral and I've never seen so many clergymen in one place at the same time outside of the Vatican....  The bishop gave the homily and told how he'd have long discussions with my husband's uncle -- who didn't like the direction the church was going, and I forget now if it was my husband or his oldest brother (I was siting in between them) but one of them leaned over and said, "Like NOT doing the service in Latin..." ).

[AAAndrew]

And with Esterbrook still with offices/warehouse in Philly, and the factory across the river in Camden, this at least shows the National Series was widely used in Pennsylvania.

 

One other interesting mention of the Series was a letter recommending these books for Southern States who, the author contended, still used very "sectional" texts to teach their children only the messages they wanted to teach them. The author recommended the National Series as it was less biased and more based on "truth" according to the author. I do know that North Carolina adopted the series, as well as Missouri, so at least those states were following the author's advice. 

 

Esterbrook would not have been above jumping on such a bandwagon. I'll keep looking for some concrete connection.