Thanks for this review. I was curious about it, but the grip is just a little too small for me due to arthritis. Thanks for mentioning the dimensions. Good job.
I'd considered an Esterbrook JR before, but thought they were expensive for what you get. Here in the EU, they go for 160€. 149€ will get your a Sailor Pro Gear Slim or a Pilot 91 with a 14K nib. Made in-house to boot. Today I did cave, but only because I was able to get it for just shy of 95€. Wouldn't have paid a penny more.
I’m extremely fond of my very many Esties. Especially the vintage J series from which this modern ‘reborn’ JR is obviously inspired. This pen is alright, but like most of the newest Esterbrook pens, is blatantly overpriced, in my eyes. Instead of just sticking a run of the mill, awfully monotonous, boring Jowo nib into their pens, then unfairly charging us $40 extra for the MV nib adaptor, Esterbrook really ought to consider making their own new nibs again. That would make these reborn Esties at these prices not only acceptable but marvellous. I considered, then decided against buying this exact JR (Capri) pen. Maybe $100 max would have sealed the deal for me. For $29 more I bought the much lovelier Edison Collier Pearlized Juniper instead. For the record, Edison also use Jowo nibs, but their especially tuned steel nibs are absolutely stellar, across all their models. Not so with Esterbrook. I bought the nib adaptor and use my assorted vintage nibs on my Oversized Estie and Camden pens.
It's a nice looking piece, but my small pen of choice is the Pelikan M200/M205. In fact today i ordered the new M205 Moonstone version, and I got a price much lower than here in the U.S. by going to Fontoplumo. This made it $15 less than the JR and it's a piston filler and a sweet writer. But I do own and like the Estie model.
Nice pen, personally I wouldn't say it's pocket size as it really isn't much smaller than a conventionally size pen also the finish looks kinda similar to 'Galaxy' from PenBBs. Now here's where the pens falls (for me at least), while it's cool that the pen has some history, then again what pen doesn't. Secondly $140-$170 is a lot for a steel nib, even at $100 it's still a bit much for such an "okay" looking pen and a "okay" filling system, they've definitely strayed from the path of being semi affordable which is kind of a bummer.
I guess the logo is two Es facing each other, but it is really hard to see that rather than an X. I would think a small change in the logo--maybe something like elongating a bit along one axis of slightly separating the Es--would help.
Nice looking pen, but $20 less would make it even more attractive!
Could be said of most pens... but in this case... I think it’s at the top of it’s acceptable price range.
My first thought was ‘I wonder how big it is compared to an M200?’ Thanks for the review!
Thanks for this review. I was curious about it, but the grip is just a little too small for me due to arthritis. Thanks for mentioning the dimensions. Good job.
I'd considered an Esterbrook JR before, but thought they were expensive for what you get. Here in the EU, they go for 160€. 149€ will get your a Sailor Pro Gear Slim or a Pilot 91 with a 14K nib. Made in-house to boot.
Today I did cave, but only because I was able to get it for just shy of 95€. Wouldn't have paid a penny more.
I’m extremely fond of my very many Esties. Especially the vintage J series from which this modern ‘reborn’ JR is obviously inspired. This pen is alright, but like most of the newest Esterbrook pens, is blatantly overpriced, in my eyes.
Instead of just sticking a run of the mill, awfully monotonous, boring Jowo nib into their pens, then unfairly charging us $40 extra for the MV nib adaptor, Esterbrook really ought to consider making their own new nibs again. That would make these reborn Esties at these prices not only acceptable but marvellous.
I considered, then decided against buying this exact JR (Capri) pen. Maybe $100 max would have sealed the deal for me. For $29 more I bought the much lovelier Edison Collier Pearlized Juniper instead. For the record, Edison also use Jowo nibs, but their especially tuned steel nibs are absolutely stellar, across all their models. Not so with Esterbrook. I bought the nib adaptor and use my assorted vintage nibs on my Oversized Estie and Camden pens.
It's a nice looking piece, but my small pen of choice is the Pelikan M200/M205. In fact today i ordered the new M205 Moonstone version, and I got a price much lower than here in the U.S. by going to Fontoplumo. This made it $15 less than the JR and it's a piston filler and a sweet writer. But I do own and like the Estie model.
Lovely little pen, though out of my price range. Almost as nice as the Pelikan you also showed.
Nice pen, personally I wouldn't say it's pocket size as it really isn't much smaller than a conventionally size pen also the finish looks kinda similar to 'Galaxy' from PenBBs.
Now here's where the pens falls (for me at least), while it's cool that the pen has some history, then again what pen doesn't. Secondly $140-$170 is a lot for a steel nib, even at $100 it's still a bit much for such an "okay" looking pen and a "okay" filling system, they've definitely strayed from the path of being semi affordable which is kind of a bummer.
Great review!
Compact pens that post securely are good writers pens. Just not a big wrap for that X marks the spot logo. Ballpark Australian price?
$220-250... so not far off the price of the full size Estie really.
I guess the logo is two Es facing each other, but it is really hard to see that rather than an X. I would think a small change in the logo--maybe something like elongating a bit along one axis of slightly separating the Es--would help.