The Esterbrook “Write Your Story” journals are a collaboration between Esterbrook and lettering artist Betty Soldi. The A5 journal comes in three colors: burgundy, teal and camel. The cover has a faux leather feel and is adorned with foil and etched embossing in Betty’s “Alphabetty” font. The journal is hard cover, with a sewn binding.

The inside of the journal is also fun! The first spread shares a bit of history about the Esterbook brand as well as a few facts and tips about writing with different nibs. The next page provides a place to trace the “Alphabetty” font if you wish, and encourages you to have fun with your own lettering. What follows are 2 pages set up for recording the contents of your journal.

The bulk of the journal is made of up numbered pages (190) of 80 lb fountain pen friendly paper in a cream color with 5mm gray dot grid. To the touch it feels smooth and almost a little luxurious. The final details include an envelope at the back, and a ribbon bookmark with an Esterbrook charm.

Now we get to delve into the paper! I found the paper enjoyable to write on. It was super smooth, and the ink dried fairly quickly. There was no feathering or bleeding, and on the plain writing sample (the first one below) there was very little show through.

I then tested wider nibs, different kinds of pens (brush, gel, etc) and even a silver writer which I believe is alcohol based. Even with those there was show through, but no other issues.

Ultimately my opinion on this notebook is that it’s pretty darn nice. I am definitely a tactile person, and just holding the cover and feeling the paper in my hands is a pleasure. It’s not an inexpensive investment and I surely wouldn’t use it for to do lists and the like, but if I’m thinking about keeping it as a journal and re-reading it over and over, then I would definitely consider buying another!

DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Esterbrook for providing this journal free of charge for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Notebook Review: Esterbrook “Write Your Story” Journal appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

Details regarding pricing and full color range have not yet been announced so I will provide an overview from the samples I have on hand.

The Esterbrook inks are available in 50ml bottles, similar in shape to Kaweco inks and

The samples I received were:

• Aqua and Shimmer Aqua
• Tangerine and Shimmer Tangerine
• Cobalt Blue
• Evergreen
• Scarlet
• Shimmer Lilac

I suspect there is a standard Lilac formulations and the potential for shimmer variations of the Scarlet, Cobalt Blue and Evergreen though I do not have confirmation about this.

All three shimmer inks I received have gold particles. The particles seem very fine but seem to settle in the bottle quickly so, despite the fineness of the particles, I suspect pens will need to be rolled regularly while using in order to keep them evenly distributed. I does make me wonder if the next Estie won’t be a demonstrator model to take full advantage of showing off the ink colors and shimmer particles?

The color difference between the Aqua and Cobalt Blue is very minor. Instinctually, if an ink is called Aqua, I tend to expect it to be more, well, aqua. The Esterbrook Aqua is much more of a royal blue. The Scarlet and Tangerine are pleasing shades of “stock colors” while the Evergreen and Shimmer Lilac are more adventurous colors in an IIO (initial ink offering). Both the Lilac and Evergreen seem to have been designed to coordinate with the Estie pen colors.

Shimmer Ink Comparisons:

I don’t have a ton of shimmer inks but I was surprised to discover that I had very close matches for all three of the Esterbrook shimmer inks. Depending on the price per bottles from Esterbrook, there are some options or alternatives for each ink color.

Esterbrook Evergreen is a dark pine-y green. Finding similar ink colors was a game of finding other dark greens that were neither too blue or too yellow. The Ferris Wheel Press Misguided Mistletoe, though a shimmer ink, was the closest match. The other deep greens were either a little darker or a little more blue.

Esterbrook Scarlet is a classic red albeit a little on the orange side. There is no sheening like several of the comparison swatches (Irori and Aka, specifically).

Esterbrook Tangerine is sitting in that sweet spot of oranges that is so popular these days in the pen community. Esterbrook Tangerine is very close in color to Robert Oster x Pen Addict Fire on Fire. I’d be hard pressed to tell them apart if they were not on labelled cards.

Finally, the Esterbrook Cobalt and Aqua. I found these two inks too similar in hue for a first ink launch. I also think that the Aqua ink was not what most would view as aqua. I’ve included swatches above that are colors I tend to associate when I hear the word aqua. I think the Cobalt Blue is a good rich blue to include in aa first ink release but the Aqua left me seriously wanting.

Overall, the launch of the Esterbrook ink line is interesting. The color range chosen is a bit different than many classic pen companies (Waterman, Sheaffer, Cross, etc) but covers similar ground. The addition of shimmers to its IIO (initial ink offering) is a bold move. I’m curious to see if this is all the colors that Esterbrook is planning to do or if this is just the first collection of many.

Tools:

• Pens: Midori bullet pencil modified dip nib holder with Zebra G titanium nib ($33.50 per 10-pack), Acrylic dip nib pen (Approx. $15), Shawn Newton Esterbrook Nib Holder with #9556 nib
• Swatches: Col-o-Ring Ink Testing Book ($10) & Col-o-dex Rotary Cards ($15)
• Brush: Blick Synthetic Round #0
• Ink: Esterbrook Ink Collection ($? for 50ml bottle)

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Kenro for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Ink Overview: Esterbrook Ink appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

The Maraschino is available in both the silver palladium trim and gold tone trim with coordinating nibs in both the regular and oversize. The retail price for the regular size is $156 and the oversized is $200. Both models accept the vintage Esterbook nib adapter ($39).

We have reviewed the Estie Lilac Slim, Estie Honeycomb, Estie Blueberry, and Estie Tortoise with Gold Trim so going into a great deal of detail about the shape and overall handling of the pen at this point seems redundant. Discussing the color and material, however, seems entirely appropriate.

Wowsa! This material is GORGEOUS! It is a beautiful crushed ice red ranging in color from a deep reddish-burgundy to a pinky-almost-white.

Of course, I had to mix a drink with this pen and YES, I speared a maraschino cherry with the nib. There is no length I will not go for a good photo. Pen flush will definitely be needed. I do recommend using Luxardo cherries in your cocktails.

Tools:

• Paper: Nanami Seven Seas Cafe Notes B6 5mm grid notebook ($20)
• Pens: Esterbrook Estie Maraschino Fountain Pen with Palladium Trim ($156)
• Ink:  Pelikan Star Ruby

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Kenro Industries for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Eye Candy: Esterbrook Estie Maraschino Fountain Pen (F) appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

The JR Pocket Pen ($140) is available in three colors (Capri Blue, Carmine Red and Tuxedo Charcoal) and the option for either silver or gold hardware.

The dangers in undertaking a project like this is that it will never be the same nor should it be. The point of recreating a pen like the J is to make a pen that looks just a classic but might not suffer from being 60+ year old fragile plastic, require fiddly lever-filling or be quite as small as the original since the modern pen user might prefer a larger pen. Of course, there will also be sacrifices required to accomplish goals and things that you and I, as consumers, and Esterbrook, as a company, might have wanted to keep but, for one reason or another, could not be accomplished.

With this caveat, let’s consider the new Esterbrook JR Pocket Pen.

Like previous Esterbrook products, the JR Pocket Pen ships in the fabric covered, magnet closure box that creates an attractive presentation for the pen. The JR ships with a cartridge and a standard international converter as well as a branded microfiber cleaning cloth. I’ve developed quite a collection of these.

Both ends of the JR Pocket Pen are flat. The cap end has an embedded metal disc with the Esterbrook X etched into it while the bottom end has a larger metal cap with no markings or decoration.

The nib of the pen is etched with the new Esterbrook X logomark upgrading the look. The nib is stainless steel nib in rhodium or gold plating, depending on pen hardware and nib options are extra fine, fine, medium, broad and stub 1.1. I tested a medium nib.

I know the next question on many pen aficionados minds will be “Does the JR Pocket Pen have a converter to accept vinta ge Esterbrook nibs?” I spoke with Esterbook/Kenro and the answer is that the converter for the JR Pocket Pen is in production. Due to the pandemic, production and shipping was delayed but the company did not want to wait to release the pen just to wait for the vintage nib converter. It will be available soon and should be priced similarly to the converter that was available for the Estie. Follow-up question and answer, “No, the Estie vintage nib converter will not fit.”

As with previous Esterbrook pens, the nib worked flawlessly. These nibs are teaching me to appreciate medium nibs (words I NEVER thought would ever come out of my mouth). I matched my ink to the pen body using an older Pen BBS ink but only discovered after I photographed everything that the ink is not currently in production. (SORRY!)

I spent a lot of time with the new JR Pocket Pen sitting next to my extensive pile of vintage Esterbrook pens. I’ve been collecting them for many years and Esterbrook was how I got into fountain pens in the first place. So, much of what I looked for with the JR Pocket Pen surrounded how close it came to the original look-and-feel of the original designs. As I said earlier, there are both good and bad aspects to comparing a modern version of a vintage pen. I am simply outlining the differences so that anyone looking to purchase a JR Pocket Pen can make an informed purchase. Please take my next comments with this in mind.

The clip  is simple and straight, like the original and features the grooves, similar to the original Esterbrook. They are not as defined and do not include the Esterbrook lettering that was featured on the original J pens. The cap band on the JR is a wider, smooth band with the Esterbrook logo type etched into it rather than the ridged, thinner ring of the original bands. The JR Pocket Pen clip is also attached “invisibly” compared to the original J series which is connected to the pen via the silver cap under the jewel.

One of the most notable characteristics of the J series pens are the “jewels” on the ends of the pen, usually in black that are a two-step layer of dots. It moves the look of the pen away from a flat-end pen to a slightly cigar shape. Clearly, the JR Pocket Pen is missing this contrasting element.

The is the addition of a metal ring about two-thirds down the body of the pen. If the JR Pocket Pen was a piston-filler, this ring would make sense but it is not so the addition of the ring is curious and not in keeping with the aesthetic of the original J design. There may have been a cost/manufacturing necessity for this as it is right where the lower third of the pen starts to taper.

The grip section on the JR Pocket Pen is longer and more tapered than the original J Series pens.

Finally, the cap-to-body size is noticeably different. It’s one of the aspects that stood out most to me. There seems to be more bulk (too much material?) for the cap that makes the cap look too big for the pen. It’s a pen muffintop. (Okay, that was an opinion statement. And probably a little harsh but it’s the one thing that I get hung up on with this pen.)

Compared to Other Pens:

First, I wanted to compare the JR Pocket Pen to some of Esterbrook’s other releases. From left to right: the JR Pocket Pen, the Estie Lilac Slim size and the Camden Composition.

The same pens, uncapped. The JR Pocket Pen can be posted while the Camden and the Composition are not postable, at least I’ve found they are not easy to post.

Compared to other modern pens, from left to right: Pilot Decimo, Pelikan M600, TWSBI ECO, Pilot Metropolitan, Esterbrook JR Pocket Pen, Lamy AL-Star, Aurora Optima and Sailor Pro Gear Slim. The JR Pocket Pen is very comparable in size to a Pro Gear Slim.

When posted, the JR Pocket Pen is similar in length to the the Pelikan M600, Pilot Metrolitan and Aurora Optima.

This is the size comparison everyone is waiting to see. The JR Pocket sitting amongst its historical brethren. From left to right: Lady’s Dollar Pen, pastel or CH pen, SJ, full-sized Dollar Pen, shorter Dollar Pen (not actually called an SJ at that point, but similar), the green and black are both Transitional (flat bottom), the JR Pocket Pen,  LJ, J,  and Deluxe. As you can see, the JR Pocket Pen is very similarly sized to the J and the LJ as the name would suggest.

The JR Pocket Pen measures 4.875″ (12.4 cm) closed, 6″ (15.2cm) posted and 4.625″ (11.8cm) unposted. It weighs approximately 20gms capped and 13 gms uncapped with a full converter. The J weighs approximately 15gms capped and 10gms uncapped.

The Esterbrook Pen Nook:

Another item now available from Esterbrook is the navy leather Pen Nook. I received the Triple Pen Nook ($125) to review as well which was perfect to show off the Carmine Red JR Pocket Pen and it’s older cousins.

The case is stitched with contrasting red thread and features the Esterbrook X (infinity) symbol on the magnetic closure.

It’s a hard-sided case to protect your pens from getting tossled in transport from the office to home (when that becomes an issue again) or even in your desk drawer.

The case unfolds to reveal three divided compartments large enough to hold most fountain pens and elastics to keep the pens from unexpectedly escaping, even if the case gets turned over.

In the Esterbrook Pen Nook was the final stop for color comparison between the JR Pocket Pen and my two red vintage Esterbrooks: a Tempo Red Purse Pen and an SJ. The color of the Carmine Red is much closer to the warm Tempo Red than the more rich, striated wine red of the SJ.

Overall, I think the JR Pocket Pen is the fountain pen everyone had been hoping that the new Esterbrook would release. Are there elements of the design I wish were different? Of course. That said, this is a solid step forward into the world of retro pen design.

In fashion, retro is a term used often when clothes are made in the style of a previous time but in new material, sizes and with other modern considerations in mind. Those in the vintage community are of two minds about retro fashion: some love it because it create inclusivity (original vintage items are hard to find, often expensive, require special care and don’t always fit everyone’s needs) and others think they are an abomination (we’ve all heard these arguments in the pen community too. “Just buy a vintage pen. New stuff isn’t as good. They don’t make ’em like they used to… Yadda yadda yadda.”) I believe there is a place for both. I certainly don’t want sourpuss attitudes about either but I appreciate both sides. I want to continue to try to save and maintain vintage objects as long as we can but I also want to make the aesthetic available to wider audiences and if that is easier through retro creations, as long as they are done well and thoughtfully, I wholeheartedly support them.

Tools:

• Paper: Rhodia Uni-Blank No. 18 with 6mm guide sheet
• Pens: Esterbrook JR Pocket Pen ($140) and various vintage Esterbrook pens (prices vary)
• Ink:  PenBBS #220 Watermelon Red (no longer available but other colors are  available)

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Esterbrook for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Fountain Pen Review: Esterbrook JR Pocket Fountain Pen appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

The Esterbrook Camden Composition ships in the tweedy, academic-looking magnetic box. Tres apropos!

The inside of the packaging is the padded pen bed and includes the microfiber cloth, a standard international cartridge and a converter (in the pen at present).

The pen itself is a lovely with textural, spatter paint-over-metal. It has a simple, slightly cigar shape to it with a simple, tapered, spring-loaded clip.  The simple pen shape lends itself to a busier paint/material. Around the base of the cap, where it meets the body of the pen, is a fine, white line and the Esterbrook logo monogram. On the end cap is the new Esterbrook X logo on the microfiber cloth.

The grip is a smooth molded plastic. The threads are noticeable if you grip low enough but the grip section seems long enough that it’s unlikely to be an issue. There is a slight step-up between the grip section and the barrel of the pen but it’s been rounded off a bit so it’s not particularly noticeable. The cap seal with a “cushion cap” mechanism that has a bit of a spring seal to it. It reminds me of the snap-and-seal of Platinum and Wancher.

The nib is a standard #6 Schmidt nib. I tested the medium nib. I seem to like the Schmidt medium nibs. There’s a crispness to them with a little bounce. Maybe I’ve gotten to the point where, depending on the nib manufacturer, I have a specific preference for a nib width but all the Schmidt mediums I’ve tried recently, I like. Usually, I avoid medium nibs like my life depended on it but I’m reconsidering that course of action.

When asked what color Camden Composition I wanted to review, it had to be the Lime.  Of course it did. I mean, the photo above had to be taken, right? And this photo was just for size comparison. From left to right: Kaweco Sport, Lamy Safari, Esterbrook Camden Composition (5 7/8″ or 150mm), Pilot Metropolitan and Pilot Prera.

Same pens as the photo above but uncapped which brings me to the only point I haven’t raised yet about the Camden Composition: it does not post. So, in use, the CC is about the same length as a posted Kaweco Sport or Pilot Prera (5 1/8″ or 130mm).

In terms of weight, the Camden Composition weighs about 36gms capped, with a full converter, and about 19gms uncapped.

In writing, I found the weight of the pen and the bouncy nib to be a joy. It’s a really nice pen. The width of the pen is comfortable and easy to hold. The texture is interesting and different. I am a little curious if the paint will chip over time but I guess time will tell. The lime color is joyous and the Composition spatter coloring is very unique. It’s unlike any other pen that’s come across my desk.

Tools:

• Paper: Rhodia Uni-Blank No. 18 with 6mm guide sheet
• Pens: Esterbrook Camden Composition in Lime with Medium Nib (MSRP$195, Street Price $156).
• Ink:  Pen BBS No. 224 Tolstoy (No longer available, recommend Pen BBS No. 342 Matcha Ice Cream $16 as an alternative)

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Kenro Industries for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Fountain Pen Review: Esterbrook Camden Composition (Lime) appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

Seriously though, I was very excited to hear about the new Estie Lilac and to find out that they had introduced a smaller, slimmer version was an added bonus.

But first, let’s cover all the standard details:

The Estie ships in the same red textile box that all the other pens have shipped in.

Nestled inside the cushioned ivory interior is the lovely pen. The Estie Slim comes with both a converter and cartridge.

The downside of the Slim model is that it will not work with the MV-Adaptor that allows for the use of the vintage Esterbrook nibs that can be used with the standard sized Estie pens.

The Lilac is a brilliant violet with a crushed resin look. I think the silver hardware looks great with the purple color. I think the color choices keep getting better with the Estie. The new Esterbrook Estie started with some very classic colors but they have been slowly exploring more adventurous colors with each release.

The Schmidt #5 nib is very similar in size to the original vintage Esterbrook nibs so I was really hoping that they had developed a new converter that would work with the Slim model. Oh well. It’s still a gorgeous pen.

The Estie Lilac Slim features a #5 Schmidt nib rather than the #6 Jowo nib that is on the standard sizes Estie.

I liked the medium nib on my Estie Honeycomb so much I got a medium on the Lilac Slim as well. Of course, since the Honeycomb is a Jowo and the  Lilac Slim is a Schmidt nib, it’s not really fair to compare.

The Schmidt nib has a little bit of bounce and writes pretty well out of the box. While not a flexible nib, the Schmidt nib is a pleasing writing experience. I know there are some that firmly prefer Jowo over Schmidt but I have not had issues with one over the other.

When compared with the original Blueberry Estie in standard size, it’s easy to see both the color and size difference. The Lilac Slim weighs in at a scant 21gms capped and filled compared to the full sized Estie at 26gms. Uncapped, the Slim is just 12gms compared to 17gms for the full-sized Estie.

Capped, the Slim is about 5.5″ to the full-size Estie’s 6″. And uncapped, its just 4.8″ to the full-sized Estie’s 5.25″ length. There’s a difference in overal width too which can be a comfort issue too. I prefer a slightly more slender pen because my hands are so small.  (I was just complaining yesterday that my most recent travel coffee mug was too big for me to hold with one hand comfortably without fear of dropping it. I have to carry it with two hands like a toddler. So embarrassing!)

I wanted to compare the Estie Slim to other pens as well like the TWSBI Eco, a Lamy AL-Star and a Kaweco Sport for size. Above are the pens all capped. Below are the same pens posted, except for the Lilac Slim which doesn’t post.

Unposted, the Lilac Slim is shorter than a Kaweco Sport when its posted.

Overall, I think the Estie Slim will be a great addition in the new Esterbrook pen line-up. It’s beautiful and introduces a wider size range to the brand. It’s unfortunate that it does not continue to support the vintage nibs but I’m not sure how important that is to the pen community as a whole. For many, continuing the Esterbrook brand in a respectful way is more important than continuing to tie it to the older nib technology.

Included with my shipment were these lovely shaped paper clips and bookmarks which is a lovely addition. The bottom clip is the original Esterbrook factory building, in case you’re curious. I’m not sure if these will be available for purchase or if they are a special promotion. Ask your favorite retailer!

Tools:

• Paper: Rhodia Uni-Blank No. 16 with 6mm guide sheet
• Pens: Esterbrook Estie Lilac Slim ($148 at Pen Chalet or Vanness Pens)
• Ink:  Sailor Studio 143 ($18 for 20ml bottle)

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Kenro Industries for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Pen Review: Esterbook Lilac Slim Estie appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

I won’t talk much about the history of Esterbrook here since Jesi went into detail about it in her review or about the adapter available for the Estie which makes it possible to use vintage Esterbrook nibs with your modern Estie pen using a cartridge or converter since that’s also been covered.

One of the details that neither Jesi nor Laura mentioned was the packaging. It’s the same box that is used for the Phaeton 300R as well. The red fabric box has a sort of origami unfolding and cream interior that is inviting. It’s not as “pen coffin-y” as a lot of pen boxes. There is an elastic to hold the pen in place and it lays on a padded platform. The lid is foil stamped, in white, with the Esterbrook logo. After my comments regarding the Vertex packaging, the Esterbrook packaging is the perfect balance of protective without being “too much”. I’d always prefer boxes that can be completely recycled or can have legitimate second-use but that’s not always something that pen manufacturers are thinking about when planning their boxes. Maybe someday?

While I normally prefer silver hardware on my pens, with the warm golden tones on the Honeycomb, the gold hardware really works with the resin material creating a warm overall look.

The nib is a stock Jowo nib etched with the Esterbrook name and “1858”.

This really is a beautiful pen. I know I don’t have a ton to add about the aesthetics but the cracked, caramel resin is stunning to look at. I just kept taking pictures of this pen.

The true delight was the nib. (Ignore that I wrote “Fine” on my writing sample. It is definitely on the finer side of medium).

I haven’t used a medium Jowo nib before and it wrote beautifully. I really like it. And to be completely honest with you, I usually hate medium nibs. Both Bob and I have been picking up this pen and using it and commenting on how much we are enjoying it. That’s say A LOT. He usually writes with a fire hose and I usually write with a needle and we both like this pen and the nib. I usually like small pens and he likes oversized pens. To say that this is the perfect “in-between” sized pen that works well for larger hands and smaller hands might just jinx the magic.

To compare it to some other pens in my collection, left to right: Franklin-Christoph P45 (different model), Birmingham Pen Co. Model-A, the Esterbrook Estie (regular size), Sailor Pro Color (different model), and Pelikan M605. The Estie is a little bit longer than the ProColor but similar in width to the most of these models.

All of these pens post except the Model-A but the Estie gets a bit top heavy for me. The Estie is 6.875″ (175mm) posted which is really long for me. Uncapped, it’s only 5.25″(133mm) and capped it’s only 6″ (152mm) which is considerably more managable in hands that wear kid-sized gloves.

In terms of weight, the resin material keeps the pen light and easy to hold at only 26gms filled and capped and 17gms uncapped. You can see why this pen is so appealing.

Overall, if you have yet to consider an Esterbrook Estie, there are now several resin colors to choose from as well as the standard size and the oversize models. Being able to try out vintage nibs on the Estie (with the addition of the adapter, from Pen Chalet or Goldspot) makes this pen a no-brainer.

Tools:

• Paper: Rhodia Uni-Blank No. 18 with 7mm guide sheet
• Pen: Esterbrook Estie in Honeycomb with Gold Hardware (from Goldspot or Pen Chalet $156USD)
• Ink: stock blue cartridge included with pen

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Kenro Industries for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Fountain Pen Review: Esterbrook Estie Honeycomb (Medium Nib) appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

Ever since the Esterbook Estie came out, I’ve been wanting to get one. However, the original colors didn’t scream “Buy me!” so I figured I’d wait until I saw one that did. This past summer the Cobalt Blueberry (I’ve also seen it called the Blueberry Ice) screamed loud and clear. And so one came home with me!

The Estie is a made of resin, in this case a blue and white resin, that gives it a marbled look. The Estie comes with an logo printed Jowo steel nib and is available in XF, F, M, B or 1.1 Stub. In my case I opted for a Fine nib. Finally, the Estie comes in two trim options: silver and gold. For the icy blue, I preferred the silver trim.

One of the things that intrigues me the most about the new Esties is the MV adaptor (sold separately) that allows you to use vintage nibs in your modern Estie. I haven’t tried it yet, but I hope to soon!

So far, I have to say that I’m enjoying the Estie quite a bit. It’s a bit larger than the pens I usually use, but I still find it comfortable to hold and write with. The nib writes smoothly and firmly and the ink flows well through the feed system. I am quite sure I can’t say anything more profound than Jesi on the subject of the Estie.

Overall, I’m really glad I added this one to the collection.

There are still a few available, and of course the next big thing is Honeycomb!

• Paper: Maruman Mnemosyne N182A Inspiration Notebook A5 ($10.50)
• Pen: Esterbrook Estie Cobalt Blueberry with Silver Trim, Fine Nib ($156)
• Inks: Sailor Shikiori Shimoyo (20ml for $12)

DISCLAIMER: Some of the items included in this review were provided to us free of charge for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Fountain Pen Review: Esterbrook Estie Cobalt Blueberry appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

The Phaeton 300R ships in the same box as the Estie. It’s a red textural fabric box, like burlap, with white foil stamped logo on the top. It’s neither overly flashy nor overly cheap which is appropriate for a pen at this price point.

The Phaeton 300R is available in several acrylic colors: red, blue, green and black with a silver cap and gold plated clip and nib. It ships with a plunger-style converter.

The nib is only available in a medium width presently but its a presently crisp medium.

The Phaeton weighs 18gms capped or posted and a mere 8gms unposted. It’s a small pen overall measuring just 5.5″ (14cm) capped, 4.875″ (12.5cm) uncapped and 6″ (15.3cm) posted. It takes its dimensions from vintage pens so it might not work for everyone. It does post though.

In writing, I wasn’t sure I was going to like the Phaeton because I don’t usually write with medium nib pens but the Phaeton has a crisp, almost italic-like grind on the nib making it a pleasant writing experience. I find most medium nib pens to be rather flat and round creating a rather uninspired writing experience — like writing with a ballpoint pen. So, the more crisp, flat medium angle on this nib (and it could just be the nib I received) is a pleasant surprise.

Overall, the pen speaks to me aesthetically. I missed my chance to get one of the Aurora Duo Cart pens last year which fulfilled a similar vintage vibe and the Esterbrook Phaeton is at a much better price point.

I do hope that other nib sizes will be offered at some point but the medium nib is actually quite appealing.

Tools:

• Paper: Rhodia Uni-Blank No. 16 with 6mm guide sheet
• Pens: Esterbrook Phaeton 300R in Signal red MSRP $85 $68
• Ink:  Birmingham Pen Co. William D. Boyce Emerald Scout (part of the Ink Parcel subscription)

DISCLAIMER: Some items included in this review were provided free of charge for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Fountain Pen Review: Esterbrook Phaeton appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

Knowing all of that and trying to present something a bit different, I have decided to present my pen show review from the view of a vendor since, well,  I am a vendor.  This means it will be heavy on photos before and after the show, totally lacking some events* (if I was too busy to even touch my phone’s camera), and perhaps a different viewpoint than other reviews.  It also means that if you want to see what happened during the busy daytime, you will want to supplement this review with another.  I hope you enjoy this slightly different take!

* Seriously missing from this review is the great time we all had at the Pen Show Mixer arranged by the lovely and hardworking Lisa Vanness from Vanness Pens. It was a blast, but I wasn’t able to take any photos.  Kimberly has a nice collection of photos from the mixer here, though!

Packing Up

As a vendor who usually takes a flight to shows, a big part of packing up is cutting down on weight.  I’ve tried to find good ways to protect pens in the smallest space.

It’s amazing how much you can fit into a suitcase.  Sometimes it’s only tough finding room to pack clothing.

Getting There

I find flying over the midwest to be a beautiful experience.  I personally like to see rivers through farmland.

I’m always ready for the pen show as I fly out.  Headphones let me actually believe planes can be quiet.

Those who drove to this particular show found the parking a bit on the expensive side.  As far as I could see, though, this was the only downside to the location.  Beautiful hotel, lots of restaurants close by…

The Hotel

This is a view of the hotel restaurant from the mezzanine level where the vendors’ tables were located.  As I said, beautiful hotel.  Lots of space as well.

A BIG hotel.  I thought it was great that there was no 13th floor.

The view from a hotel room was never too big of a deal to me – until suddenly it was. So now I always get a photo.

Before The Show

We were allowed to set up for the Philly show the night before it opened.  That helps quite a bit since no one wants to arrange anything at 7 am.  It’s a great time for me to talk to people who have arrived early — a laid back feeling with the excitement of the show ahead. Nik Pang decided to get more calligraphy practice in by making me a lovely sign for my table.

Just behind me, the Andersons were setting up as well.  Sandra (The Cupcake Master of the Universe) looked like she was ready for the show to get going! Phil and Ashley (aka SgtStretch and MrsSgtStretch) stopped in for chat time.

The Table

Nik has quite a way with pens and ink.

My table was all set up the night before, ready for the public on Friday.

This is my favorite part of my table!  The Esterbrook testing station all ready for people to try lots of vintage nibs.  I love being able to help people find the nib they enjoy, one that they know how it feels before they head home.  I was overjoyed to come across this testing station a few years ago.  This may have graced the counter at a department store in the early 1950s.

The Food

I may or may not eat healthy food while I’m at a show.  However, at least it is colorful!

I also have amazing friends who will bring back stir-fried noodles for me late at night.

And of course, there are plenty of treats and snacks and possibly a rogue bottle of wine.  After the pen show closed for the night, personal pens and cookies came out, this time supplied by my wonderful roommate, Kimberly.

The PENS!

So, the reason pen lovers come together for these shows: the pens!  One popular spot was the Franklin Christoph Prototype Trays.  These were placed out each morning — one of a kind patterns and materials.  On Friday morning, the trays were laid out but no one was allowed to pick them up until 9 am.  It was a tough rule to follow.

The dark purple pens on the tray to the right are Franklin Christoph’s most recent pen model, the 46.  It is the same length as the 45L but slightly wider and it uses a #6 nib (a standard size in many modern fountain pens).

And the Esterbrooks!  This collection brought joy to my heart.

Of course, I needed to purchase a Franklin Christoph.  This is a Pocket 66 pen in a beautiful rose, brown and gold material from Mike Allen’s Woodshed Pens.  I call it Chocolate Covered Strawberry.

The People

Even though the pens are central to a pen show, the people are what make a pen show memorable and worth all of it.  Franklin Christoph announced the return of their popular S.I.G. nib due to the hard work of Dr. Audrey Matteson who is now their main nib grinder.  Audrey did an amazing job at the show!

Mike (Inkdependence), Kimberley, and Andy stopped by with big smiles for me! They often provided me with food, soda, and restroom breaks.  Thank you!

At the end of the show, I was finally able to get a photo of the ever elusive Ralph Reyes. And a computer bag.

Andy and I shared a ride back to the airport on Monday.  Notice how well her hair matches her scarf!

Lisa Anderson has been a good friend to have and has a wonderful smile.

Nik Pang and Ian Schon were catching up with one another as the last vendors packed up to head back home.

Going Home

Heading back home after a show is bittersweet.  Saying goodbye to everyone after a busy time together is tough but I love going back to my family and the (relative) quiet of home.  The end of the show means it’s time to head back to my beloved workbench to restore more pens and nibs for the next show.

This time, I had plenty of cold and snow waiting!

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