Esterbrook
Pens and Ephemera

Would the American Automobile Association get more customers today if they handed out free fountain pens with memberships? That would appear to be the story behind this 1950 Esterbrook J-model. Who knows? Maybe it got its kicks in a 4-door Packard rolling down Route 66. It might have rattled around some classic glove compartment given its light wear from use. No cracks, but the cap ring is a tad loose. We restored it with a new ink sac. This vintage pen sports a steel upgrade nib marked 2668. We find it writes a nice extra-fine line with light feedback. 12.6cm capped.

We aren't certain about the official Esterbrook letter designation for this model, but it relates to the Esterbrook J-series of fountain pens. Our vintage pencil is a lovely mint green and still in good working order. Cap actuated, you click the tail cap to advance or retract the .9mm lead. A couple spare leads are under the tail cap, but the eraser is long gone. A crisp imprint greets you on the barrel, and it only has light wear from use. 12.3cm.

For those who hunt the elusive incised cap bands on Esterbrook Dollar pens, here's a great green slender model just for you. This is a sharp vintage pen, which we just restored with a new ink sac. There are no cracks, only a couple scuffs and light wear from use. The chrome cap and lever are in good condition--still shiny. Its nib is a steel 1551 nib that you will find writes a fine line with feedback. Pretty par for the course for steel nibs of the 1940s and '50s. Click the headline for close-ups. 12.1cm capped.

Among the more sought after features on Esterbrook Dollar Pens are the incised cap bands, such as the ones seen on this copper-colored model. We restored this vintage pen with a new ink sac and are happy to say it is free of cracks. However, that does not mean it is free of cosmetic flaws. Click the headline for a close-up. There's a little divot that you can see is missing from the tail end. Plus, there is general wear all over the cap and barrel. Its chrome parts lack their original luster and we couldn't get them to buff back up to a good shine. One of the highlights is this pen's upgraded 2668 nib, which writes a very smooth fine line. 12.1cm capped.

Matching the autumn leaves, our Esterbrook LJ is a lovely copper color. We restored this vintage pen with a new ink sac. The model LJ meant Long J-model in the world of vintage Esterbrook pens. Ours is in excellent condition without any cracks or deep scratches. A nice crisp imprint. Perhaps it has a little wear from use but nothing serious. Its 1555 Gregg nib was intended for the Gregg shorthand writing method. It is a surprisingly smooth nib. Gregg nibs were often used by secretaries, journalists and anyone taking dictation. 12.8cm capped.

Can you spot what makes this Esterbrook Dollar Pen so special? Need to click the headline for a close-up? Need a clue? Look more closely at the bottom of the cap. 3 incised cap bands! This is one of the rarer features to be found on an Esterbrook Dollar Pen. We restored this vintage pen with a new ink sac, and it is in great working order. The cap is crack-free with minimal wear. Unfortunately, there's a scar the wraps a quarter of the way around the barrel between the threads and lever. You can see it in the photo. Unlike most 1551 nibs, we find this one to be an insanely smooth, wet medium writer. The pen itself is the long-skinny version of the pen. Were it the J-series, it would be an LJ, but we aren't sure of the Dollar Pen designation. 12.1cm capped.