Esterbrook
Pens and Ephemera

Copper is our favorite color of the Esterbrook J-model pen. And any fan of exotic Esterbrook nibs will enjoy its steel up-grade nib of an oblique 9314-B model. If you aren't used to oblique nibs, it might take a minute for you to adjust to it. However, once you are used to it, it is a smooth writing vintage pen that goes from extra fine to nearly 1mm wide. We restored this vintage pen with a new ink sac. No cracks, deep scratches or chips mar the finish of this pen. You'll see a little wear from use. There's an odd dark spot below and to the left of the pocket clip. We couldn't polish it out; maybe it is a part of the plastic. Nice, deep imprint. 12.7cm capped.

It is always difficult to tell if a Esterbrook Transition is original or a repairman's special. Whatever our vintage pen is, it has nice matching colors. Click the headline for a close-up. We restore this pen with a new ink sac. You might want to pay special attention to the cap. It has a black-plastic jewel with 3 stripes, instead of the usual circles. Also, there is not "Esterbrook" on the pocket clip. No cracks. Tight clip. Light wear from use. You will write a broad line with a little feedback with its steel 2556 nib. 12.4cm capped.

It is nearly impossible to tell if the Esterbrook Transition pen is an authentic one or a repairman's marriage. We aren't sure, ourselves, but this pen does have a rarer cap with a three-banded black "jewel" on top and no "Esterbrook" written in the clip. We restored it with a new ink sac and new 1461 steel nib. Our vintage pen has some wear from use, but there are no cracks. The clip has a little jiggle, but it doesn't spin. You will write an extra-fine to fine line that is surprisingly smooth for a 1000-series nib. Mind you, that there is still a little feedback, but this isn't a bad nib by any means. 12.6cm capped.

Best known as the pen that taught America how to write with a fountain pen, Esterbrook J-models are legendary. Required by many high schools and trade schools, Esterbrooks were also attractive, affordable and customizable. That's right. You just unscrew the nib if it breaks or you don't like it, and screw in another of at least 3 dozen tip styles. The Esterbrook J-model is the thickest of the Esterbrook J-series. We restored this pen with a new ink sac. It also comes with an up-grade nib by Esterbrook standards. It is a 9450 for "Extra-Firm Posting." It is a very firm extra-fine with a little feed back. No cracks mar the stunning sapphire blue, but the top "jewel" is partially missing. There also are marks around the section. The rest of the pen is pretty good and ready for daily use. Click the headline for close-ups. 12.7cm capped.

One of the most popular brands of vintage pens we sell are Esterbrooks. These pens of the 1950s helped to teach America how to write with a fountain pen. We restored this Esterbrook J model with a new ink sac. The cap and barrel are heavily worn, but there are no cracks. Click the headline for a closeup to spy that the cap "jewel" has been chipped away a bit. These 1555 nibs were extra-fine and intended for the Gregg Shorthand writing method. This one writes with some feedback but not too bad for a steel nib. 12.5cm capped.

Esterbrook Dollar Pens were a fixture of the 1940s. Very affordable and easily customized with screw-in nib assemblies. This is one of the company's harder-to-find specialty nibs: the 2314-B Relief nib. It is a left-foot oblique nib made of steel. We find it writes very smoothly with some nice--but not dramatic--line variation. Nevertheless, the smoothness makes it fun to write with all day. We restored this vintage pen with a new ink sac. No cracks or deep scratches mar this pen, but it does have a little wear from use. You will see this is one of the shorter versions of the Dollar Pen. Click the headline for close-ups. 11cm capped.

Enjoy a uniquely dark copper-colored Esterbrook SJ model fountain pen. Most of these are much brighter and more vibrant, but this classic Estie has a more earnest quality. No cracks or deep scratches, only light wear from use. Both of its circular black "jewels" are complete. We restored our vintage pen with a new ink sac. Another nice feature of this pen is its upgraded 9128 steel nib. You will write about as nice and smooth an extra-fine line as any Esterbrook steel nib can write. 12cm capped.

More rarities are on display with this Esterbrook Dollar Pen. Please note the three incised cap bands. Add on the rare 1314 left-foot oblique nib, and you have an interesting classic Estie. No cracks or deep scratches. The only cosmetic issue, other than light wear from use, is the pitting on the lever filler. We restored this pen with a new ink sac. The oblique nib on this one is very sharp and scratchy. Yet, it delivers nice line variation for a trade off. Click the headline for close-ups. 12.1cm capped.