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Thread: Took an Ebay Gamble...

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    Default Took an Ebay Gamble...

    Indistinct picture, pen described as "Esterbrook Shorthand Pen".

    In the picture it *looks* Copper, so I bid.

    I return to the picture - now it looks like it might be red? I rationalise this as not mattering, after all, the only red Estie I have is an SJ - I'm sure this pen is a J.

    I win the auction, and spend a bit of time over the next couple of days peering at the seller's photos. Maybe it *is* copper, but I can't see the "shimmer" type finish in the pics at all.

    So today, I arrive home to a package, and inside is...

    ...a Copper Icicle LJ, with a 9128 nib. The imprint is incomplete, but the metal work & body is in great condition, even down to the clip, which looks to have never been used & is tight to the cap. Sac has gone, but I can fix that. All in all, very pleased. Still seeking my Copper shimmer, and Green shimmer Js, of course, but this little gamble has paid off nicely

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    Senior Member manoeuver's Avatar
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    what, no foto? come on now.

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    WOW! My mouth was literally agape for a full 60 seconds when I finally read "...a Copper Icicle LJ, with a 9128 nib," no less!

    Corn-gratulations, John! This couldn't have happened to a nicer Monkey =)

    And manoeuver is correct, we need a picture.

    You can take care of your own sac replacement but you don't own a loupe?

    Somebody get this man a loupe. Please.

    Awaiting photo,

    =) Eric
    Son of Ragnar

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    Ha! No, no photo (yet)! It's a very tricky colour to capture accurately, which is probably why the pic on the auction was so poor.

    I've a couple of mobile phone shots - if I can get the blasted thing to upload them, I'll post - hoping to do some proper pics with my SLR at the weekend.

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    18012012066.jpg18012012065.jpg

    Told you they were terrible pics! Taken in a bit of a rush last night.

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    No John, those are great pics! Worth a 1000 words apiece, easy. Much better than no pics at all.

    Your pics make me want to hang out at eBay all day.

    Oh wait, I was probably going to do that anyway...

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    Here we go - pen is still as it was when it arrived - I'm planning to spend some time this weekend cleaning it up, replacing the sac &c.

    DSC_8097-01.jpg

    That 9128 nib...

    DSC_8090-01.jpg

    Cap - clip is absolutely tight to the body of the cap, as though it's never been used.

    DSC_8095-01.jpg

    DSC_8101-01.jpg

    The incomplete imprint, about the only fault I can pick with the pen really.

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    Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!

    Next up, a writing sample, correct?

    And now, do tell... what is the background in these pics? Do I see a radio tower sending out waves?

    Yes, I'm easily distracted. You should see me on eBay!

    =)

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    Quote Originally Posted by eriquito View Post
    Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!

    Next up, a writing sample, correct?
    Fingers crossed! The pen's obviously been put away inked...for 40 years or so... I'm soaking the nib unit now (2 days, still getting rehydrated blue ink coming from it!) I can't wait to run some ink through it, but want to get rid of the old stuff first.

    There was some good news with the section, which didn't need any heat to be freed from the barrel at all. The sac was completely dessicated, and needed some work with a bamboo skewer to shift - under a light, I can still see bits and pieces of dust in the barrel, although I'm not sure I'm up to removing J bar & lever to clean all this out completely. A new sac is on the section ready, and I'm hoping the nib unit will be clean & ready to fit this evening, although that old ink is taking it's sweet time...
    And now, do tell... what is the background in these pics? Do I see a radio tower sending out waves?
    Yup - it's the cover of Orbital's John Peel sessions EP - it's what happened to be atop the record player when I was setting up the camera, and I thought the green would set off the copper nicely (In fact, it just made the colour balance even more difficult to get right )

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    Well, the nib has soaked clean, the section is back in the barrel, so...

    Writing sample;

    copper_writ005.jpg

    Like a lot of EFs, there's a definite "toothy" feel to the nib, even on Rhodia dot paper - I may just need to get used to the orientation the nib "likes" to write in. It's pretty pleasant to draw with (hence the doodle at the bottom of the page).

    The line variation is fairly impressive, although the widest lines in the picture are achieved by putting on more pressure than I feel comfortable with!

    Ink is Diamine Chocolate, Paper is from a No. 12 Dotpad.

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    Senior Member Tracy Lee's Avatar
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    Loving the doodle. Looks to be a good first writing sample.

    Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk

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    Mr. Monkey, Sir! Again... that's a doodle??

    I shudder to think of the masterpieces you produce when you actually sit down to create art.

    Someday I hope to learn to doodle as do you do doodle.

    Beautimous, indeed!

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    Thanks both - I say again, a doodle is anything you begin without a clear end in mind

    Having a desired end point doesn't improve the quality per se either, as the pages of werewolves on the 'phone (encouraged by Eric's joke about the California phone book a while ago) in my sketchbook prove

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    Quote Originally Posted by John the Monkey View Post
    Thanks both - I say again, a doodle is anything you begin without a clear end in mind
    Aha! Got it. Your doodle definition make perfect sense.

    So a doodle is sort of accidental. I wish my accidents looked half as good as your doodles.

    I'll keep practicing =)

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    THAT IS A COOL PEN.

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    Hey John,

    Looks like you scored big time on this pen. Congratulations!! and I finally learned what the Icicle pen looks like .
    Who says you can't teach 'Ol dawgs new tricks.

    Use the pen in good health and hope it wasn't too much of a pain in the butt to get it back into shape.

    You got my favorite model Estie LJ, in my favorite color Root Beer, in that nice pattern, with a 9000 series nib,
    so what could be bad.
    Last edited by manoli; February 15th, 2012 at 03:59 PM. Reason: wanted to add something

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    Quote Originally Posted by manoli View Post
    Looks like you scored big time on this pen. Congratulations!! and I finally learned what the Icicle pen looks like .
    Who says you can't teach 'Ol dawgs new tricks.

    Use the pen in good health and hope it wasn't too much of a pain in the butt to get it back into shape.
    Not at all - sac replacement is a fairly easy task, and I think I was lucky that the old ink soaked out of the nib fairly easily.
    You got my favorite model Estie LJ, in my favorite color Root Beer, in that nice pattern, with a 9000 series nib,
    so what could be bad.
    Strictly speaking, I think this is Copper (fairly sure Rootbeer is much darker) - definitely a nice find, although my hunt for a Pearl finish Copper continues!

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    That is a fantastic score and the pen is beautiful. Use it in the best of health.

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    John, coming over from the other thread - you have yourself a beautiful pen and I love your doodle as well!
    I'm looking forward to my red one!

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    WOW! What an awesome find! Beautiful pen!

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