All Pens and Ephemera

Esterbrook J-model pens are fun to collect for all of the dozens of nibs the company sold. Overall, this is a standard black J-model. Remarkably, it still has a functional Esterbrook imprinted ink sac. More impressive is that it comes with an upgraded 2284 steel nib. This was intended as a "Signature Stub" nib. It has some gentle oblique and stub qualities, but, overall, it writes more like a double-broad nib. Take it easy on some corners, as it can dig in a little. However, the nib can be extremely smooth when you get it angled correctly. The cap and barrel have some wear from use but no cracks. 12.8cm capped.

We think this was an early version of the Sheaffer Student Pens that would be better known as cartridge fillers in the 1960s-'80s. This one sports a TouchDown filler that was first introduced in 1949. We restored this 1960s' pen with a new ink sac and O-ring. You will write a medium line with its slightly scratchy steel nib. Click the headline for close-ups. Overall, the pen is in decent cosmetic condition. Only the top of the nib looks scratched up. 13cm capped.

Pelican birds carry their dinner in a pouch. Why should you carry Pelikan pens in a special pouch. We have a lovely leather pouch from Pelikan that claims to hold 2 pens. We would argue it might be better suited for one really big pen or two average pens. Looks like new and comes with its box.

Needing a quality pen that was also affordable to help get through the Great Depression, Parker developed the Challenger line. Our Parker Deluxe Challenger is a handsome green marble with the older Duofold-style button filler. It is an average sized pen with a small 14k gold nib. You will write a nice, firm fine line with it. A lower-tier pen they did some cheap plating over a steel clip. Most of the plating has worn away. No cracks, but the pen does have wear from use. Fully restored with a fresh ink sac. It is a nice vintage pen daily driver. 12.7cm capped.

Coral is one of the most sought-after colors in the world of vintage pens. We restored this junior-sized Wahl-Eversharp Gold Seal pen in coral with a new ink sac. The coral is a little discolored, which you can see in contrast to its matching pencil. The pen has a 14k gold "Signature" nib that unscrews and is marked as a medium. You will write a nice medium line that is both smooth and has a touch of feedback. No chips or cracks. Light brassing on the cap bands and lever. The pencil has some light brassing but is otherwise stunning. We think it works and will update after tracking down our 1.1mm lead. Pen measures 12.1cm capped.

Early Krone luxury pens harkened back to the Parker Duofold button filler. Our Krone Hyperbole is one of those pens, which we had fully restored with a new ink sac at Krone's factory. The nice thing about these preowned luxury pens is that Krone guarantees them for life. So when the sac finally gives out, just send it back to them for a free repair! We like how this model looks like old-fashioned hard candy. The silver trim is nice, too. You will write a nice medium line with a little feedback...even though the 18k gold nib is marked XF for extra fine. 11.7cm 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.

Germany is known for its emphasis on quality and luxury, and we think the German brand Pelikan is antithesis of writing excellence. The Pelikan Souveran R800 is a large rollerball pen that is very sophisticated. Our preowned luxury pen is in almost-new condition with minimal wear. Included are its original box and a fancy, cream-colored carrying pouch. We just installed a new blue rollerball refill. The company logo features a frosted golden field with a mama pelican and a single chick. 14.2cm capped.