Early Esterbrook Nibs

[Chuck Naill]

I suppose learning means getting into the weeds. This flat 2556 came in the recent Dollar pen I was able to obtain. I was able to find a photo and description to help me learn about the evolution of the shape of the Esterbrook feeds.

"As I've been saying, the thinnest flat feed was the first and started around 1932. The first 9xxx nibs (around 1940/1941) also have thin flat feeds and a pin-retained collar so the thin flat feed stuck around until at least then. Interestingly, the 3xxx nibs seems to have either a thin flat feed or a thick flat feed. They came out around 1938 and since I see both types of feeds, they would have existed during the transition period. I think the next best indication of where the feed transition occurred is the 8xxx nibs. Although I only have a couple 8xxx nibs for observation, based on the ones I have, and the info from Paul Hoban's book, they all have the thicker flat feed and were introduced around 1943/1944. So I'm calling that date the end of the thin flat feed. The only other later date I can find is a reference in Hoban's book that says the fully round finned feed was being sold in 1949."http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/181060-dura-chrome-nibs/