Feeling bad for the Esterbrook forum...

**pajaro** · August 13th, 2014, 08:16 PM

A lot depends on whether the nib has received some smoothing attention or not. I have a few Esterbrook nibs that are sublime, with a velvety feel.

**Hawk** · October 11th, 2014, 08:29 PM

I still remember my grade school Esties. They had a red body with an inscription something like this:
Community Consolidated School District 65
Evanston, Illinois
The cap was white.
It would be neat to find one....

**Frank** · October 12th, 2014, 09:10 PM

I landed a black J recently with a Cross on the cap- "Church" pen??

Frank

**tandaina** · October 12th, 2014, 09:49 PM

Could be a pen customized for a priest or maybe a military chaplain?

**southpaw52** · May 7th, 2015, 01:00 PM

Just added my 10th Esterbrook, it is a Dollar one.

**pajaro** · May 8th, 2015, 12:27 PM

Excellent. I am glad to see another post here. The Esterbrooks are quite interesting with all the different types of nibs.

The dollar pen is even more interesting than the J series.

**southpaw52** · May 9th, 2015, 03:45 PM

Personally, Esterbrook quality is very good. Rarely do you see an Esterbrook in poor condition. What other pen can you buy under $50 that has an interchangeable nibs?

**southpaw52** · May 9th, 2015, 03:49 PM

I have a J with that has an inscribed cross in the cap. From my research that were two types made one was aftermarket and one was done in the factory. The ones done in the factory were etched into the cap supposedly for the Catholic church. Sorry the one I have is not for sale.

**pajaro** · May 12th, 2015, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by southpaw52

I have a J with that has an inscribed cross in the cap. From my research that were two types made one was aftermarket and one was done in the factory. The ones done in the factory were etched into the cap supposedly for the Catholic church. Sorry the one I have is not for sale.

Could you please post a picture of this pen? I hadn't even heard of such a pen. Thanks for posting about it.

**Laura N** · May 12th, 2015, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by Hawk

I still remember my grade school Esties. They had a red body with an inscription something like this:
Community Consolidated School District 65
Evanston, Illinois
The cap was white.
It would be neat to find one....

I'm a proud product of District 65 myself.

We were given no pens, alas.

**SteveE** · May 13th, 2015, 01:40 PM

I'm a product of the Chicago Public School System, and we had to supply our own pens. I used a red SJ and a blue J through most of grade school. The pens had supremely smooth medium nibs, but I'm sure the smoothness was due to wear, as these were the folded-tip variety and wore more rapidly than the higher-line tipped nibs.

The Esties are still great pens. I still have them, and they probably still work, although I haven't inked them for years. I did have them re-sacked by Sam Himoto at the Universal Pen Hospital in Chicago back about 20+ years ago. Sadly, Sam passed away some time ago, and Chicago no longer has a pen repair shop downtown.

**southpaw52** · May 13th, 2015, 03:27 PM

Here is a picture of the inlaid cross on the cap of Esterbrook J.

**Hawk** · May 13th, 2015, 07:36 PM

Laura, My grade school was Washington School and graduated from ETHS IN '65.

**SteveE** · May 14th, 2015, 08:42 AM

Hawk - We were contemporaries, and probably competitors! I graduated from Chicago's Senn High School in '65. Time sure goes fast when you're having fun. . .