Esterbrooks

Summary Comments on Esterbrook by Mike Kecseg who tested nearly all the Esterbrooks. All the nibs are nice nibs that could be used for either formal work like envelopes or certificates, or for informal work like fine art pieces. It proves that the Esterbrook nibs were extremely well-made and are certainly better than most of the nibs being made today. If calligraphers can think of pointed nibs as being used for more than traditional scripts like copperplate or Spencerian they should find a use for almost all of these Esterbrook nibs.

Chancellor (broad edge) 1g

"Hard to get thin up strokes; best for small informal script as less responsive to pressure & release", MK
"Great with gouache on Fab Artistico but only fair with Eternal on eps; not much thick/thin variation", EW

EST239

Relief (broad edge) 7g

"Small, stiff chisel pen that would work well for small informal scripts. Nice response to pressure & release", MK
"Great w/ gouache on Fab. Art.; stiff; not much thick/thin variation. Mitchell 5 or 6 or Brause .5mm better", EW

EST314

Double Line Ruling 2g

"Could be used to give an interesting effect to small broad edged lettering. Can’t do pressure & release", MK
"Great effect", LM

EST344

Drafting 354

"Very sharp, very flexible, fine hairlines. Sharp point catches; needs slow writing", SE
"Too pointy, scratchy & flexible to be used for lettering", MK

EST354

Drafting 355

"Nice point; very flexible. Good for
someone with a very delicate touch. Very fine hairlines." MK "This is a favorite of many of our customers." Brenda

EST355

Maritime

2 g Nice, smooth nib with medium ?exibility. Shaft too long to ?t in holder comfortably. MK • Did not like. GW

EST369

Manifold

2g "Very rounded point. Thin strokes fairly heavy; could be used for small lettering for reproduction or eps", MK

EST460

Esterbrook 805

Oval Point 4g, "Medium flexibility, spoon point. Uncomfortably long shaft doesn’t fit into holder well", MK
"Did not like", GW
"Large; moderately flexible; hairlines good on eps w/ Eternal & laser paper", EW

EST805

Esterbrook 905 Radio

19g, "Nice, spoon point with good response to pressure & release. Very smooth & good for informal scripts", MK

EST905

Esterbrook 912 Radio

(broad edge) 10g, "Small chisel point works well for informal variations. Medium flex", MK

EST912

Esterbrook 913 Radio

(broad edge) 11g, "Slightly flexible stub; not great", SE
"Small chisel point larger than 912 above so heavier thicks. Works well doing informal scripts; imitates a small pointed brush", MK

EST913

Esterbrook 939 Radio

(broad edge) 4g, "Smooth, not flexible. Too stiff for Fab. Art. SE • Very stiff; works for small informal scripts", MK

EST939

Esterbrook 942 Radio

(broad edge) 8g, "Very flexible; good for pointed brushlike lettering", MK
"Somewhat flexible broadedge pen. Lovely hairlines, quite comfortable on eps & Fab. Art. w/gouache. Not enough thick/thin contrast on laser paper", EW

EST942

Esterbrook 984 Radio

(broad edge) 2g, "Small chisel. Hard to get thin up strokes. For small italic or informal scripts", MK

EST984

Esterbrook 987 Radio

2g, "Long, fairly stiff, smooth but not crisp", SE
"Spoon type, best for informal scripts", MK

EST987

Esterbrook Jonquil

(broad edge) 3g, "Extremely stiff, small chisel point. Could be used for monoline small script", MK

ESTJON

Esterbrook Sampler

1 each of all 21 vintage Esterbrooks

ESTSET

Esterbrook 531

EST531

Esterbrook 988

EST988