Great showing. I like the honeycomb color, but the nib is a drawback for me. I have an Opus Koloro, and I think that the same style or manufacturer might be used. It's a smooth enough nib, but the line, an M writes XXF to me.
I agree on both. What I loved about this pen was that I could put one of my amazing vintage Esterbrook nibs on the pen. The one it came with was nothing special.
Good review. I keep coming back to this pen, so tempted to get one. I love the Seaglass model that came out last year, and the sparkly versions, like Peacock….but I just feel they are overpriced. Definitely no longer made in the USA. China, more likely. A very pretty pen, why such a basic nib? I like my pens to be attractive, but how they write is the most important thing….and in this case, the same writing experience can be had for a lot less.
I think that exact same acrylic was used last year or the year before for the Delike Alpha in acrylic (the one that looks like kaweco sport but can take a regular converter)
I love this pen honeycomb esterbrook. Thank you for the review, I'm a little worried about Iron Gall combination with a steel nib. Usually steel is corroded by an Iron Gall ink. Enjoy this wonderful pen, lucky you that you don't have to pay much import taxes. For my country there are too much carrier taxes unfortunately, otherwise I would have already ordered. Bye and thank you.
Modern iron gall inks are quite different from the older formulations. I've never had any trouble. Here is an article that delves into more detail: kwzink.com/language/en/manufactured-inks/iron-gall-inks/fountain-pens-iron-gall/
I came that close to buying an Estie back in December or January (not this finish) but I pulled back because when all is said and done, there's nothing that special about it, especially for the price. Now they have this honey finish in an oversized pen too, which might be a little more interesting. I also have one vintage Esterbrook lever filler which I don't use, but your video reminded me that I could get other nibs for it that I might find more appealing. So that's what I'm going to do. Thanks for the reminder.
You're right. As a pen by itself, it's not special (other than the pretty finish). I have some vintage Esterbrooks, but there is something to be said for being able to use the vintage nibs in a modern converter system.
It is on my list, but not near the top. I believe there is a king-size version of this pen as well. The adapter and availability of antique flex nibs is attractive. Man, I love how that iron gaul/gall(?) ink darkens. Shame it doesn't retain some gold highlights though.
I didn't have this brand on my radar until I saw this in person. What a wonderful finish. I liked the Blueberry finish a bit more and went with that, but the Honeycomb may end up in my collection at some point.
The team at Goulet is always so intentional about those little things. I'm guessing every Estie Honeycomb is probably getting the bee sticker. I have a Quo Vadis notebook I've been using to track 2020 House and Senate races, and the front and back covers have been my pen sticker depository. Once that's full, I'm out of ideas though.
That's true. Maybe if I study their website a bit I could find something about this. I like the bee. I don't usually put stickers on things, but maybe I can find it a home!
Yeah, well, they recently switched from note cards to stickers made of the staff sketches that were previously placed onto their notecards. I get it; producing thousands of custom handwritten notes had become near impossible for them to keep up with. I just ordered their new orange seasonal Edison, and it naturally came with an orange goldfish. I didn't hear anything about a matching policy, but that totally sounds like something they would just do internally without specifically explaining.
Other people have been putting magnetic backing on them and turning them into refrigerator magnets. Goulet Nation has a few examples of that, using magnetic vent covers from Home Depot.
I was deciding between this pen and Parker Sonnet Metro for two weeks. Same price, very different pens. At the end I went for the Sonnet but this acrylic really is beautiful.
Thanks for the 1st impression - love this finish! like the sticker too - I'm into bees - if I had some land (or a garden?) I'd look into keeping bees, which are increasingly endangered. Did you know that honey collected in your local area can help build up resistance to allergies, because it acclimatises the body to the characteristics of local plants? And it's healthy and promotes healing ... and ... loadsagoodstuff. In the UK there's a huge opportunity in urban spaces to take advantage of all the gardens! not that this is really urban here! I know nothing about them though, really, so I'd need to research. After my house fire they found a beehive in my loft - I was devastated to hear that they had called an exterminator to remove it before they told me. I'd have been on t'phone to local beekeepers like a shot. (When my cat brought home a live bat I called Friends of the Bat who collected it, fed it, warmed it, and brought it back to release. They kindly confirmed that we have lots of bats here. Since we'd had them fly into the house and out again ... we knew!) Back to t'pen! It's useful that your review was relatively lukewarm, emphasising the USP really being the option to use the pen with vintage nibs. There's been a fair bit of hype around about the Estie, & I have been considering getting one, but thought it quite pricey. Since I have no vintage nibs sitting without a home, I can put this back on the back burner!
There are a lot of bees around here. People bring in beehives for the summer and move them south for the winter. I haven't heard of local people doing beekeeping, but the issue did come up in the state legislature, so there must be some doing it. I agree. The pen is gorgeous, but the writing experience by itself is nothing special. But I'm very much enjoying my vintage nib in it!
if you write the pen's name first in the title, your videos will pop up when we search the pen on youtube :D i tried to find this video and it was not in the first page when i searched for the pen's name
I am quite depressed listening to your current view of JoWo nibs..I have a couple going in my 'PIU 'at the moment and quite enjoy them as daily writers (B nibs). I put it down to your last six months of excessive exposure to vintage/old European gold nibs . It so amazing how a podcast can effect your mood. Such is life(no need to comment).
I did not mean to be depressing. Truth is, I only have about 2 pens in my current collection with JoWo nibs. But you are right that the experience with vintage pens has warped my view of nibs a bit!
Great showing. I like the honeycomb color, but the nib is a drawback for me. I have an Opus Koloro, and I think that the same style or manufacturer might be used. It's a smooth enough nib, but the line, an M writes XXF to me.
I agree on both. What I loved about this pen was that I could put one of my amazing vintage Esterbrook nibs on the pen. The one it came with was nothing special.
that ink is looking good.
I agree! A fun IG ink.
I have a vintage 1940s Esterbrook Transitional J with a 8461 nib - I am in love with how smooth it writes!
Some of those vintage nibs are great! And really the old Esterbrook pens were pretty good.
Good review. I keep coming back to this pen, so tempted to get one. I love the Seaglass model that came out last year, and the sparkly versions, like Peacock….but I just feel they are overpriced. Definitely no longer made in the USA. China, more likely. A very pretty pen, why such a basic nib? I like my pens to be attractive, but how they write is the most important thing….and in this case, the same writing experience can be had for a lot less.
I agree that they are overpriced. And the nib is nothing special.
Cartridge and converter /pens/ are easy to clean, but the converter itself can be a nightmare to clean.
I sometimes use a syringe to flush the converter. The only ones I have trouble with are the ones which let ink get behind the piston.
I think that exact same acrylic was used last year or the year before for the Delike Alpha in acrylic (the one that looks like kaweco sport but can take a regular converter)
I remember seeing it on the Delike!
I love this pen honeycomb esterbrook. Thank you for the review, I'm a little worried about Iron Gall combination with a steel nib. Usually steel is corroded by an Iron Gall ink. Enjoy this wonderful pen, lucky you that you don't have to pay much import taxes. For my country there are too much carrier taxes unfortunately, otherwise I would have already ordered. Bye and thank you.
Modern iron gall inks are quite different from the older formulations. I've never had any trouble. Here is an article that delves into more detail: kwzink.com/language/en/manufactured-inks/iron-gall-inks/fountain-pens-iron-gall/
that ink is amazing. changing the colour from light yellow-brown to dark brown is really nice.
Yes, I enjoy it!
I came that close to buying an Estie back in December or January (not this finish) but I pulled back because when all is said and done, there's nothing that special about it, especially for the price. Now they have this honey finish in an oversized pen too, which might be a little more interesting. I also have one vintage Esterbrook lever filler which I don't use, but your video reminded me that I could get other nibs for it that I might find more appealing. So that's what I'm going to do. Thanks for the reminder.
You're right. As a pen by itself, it's not special (other than the pretty finish). I have some vintage Esterbrooks, but there is something to be said for being able to use the vintage nibs in a modern converter system.
Beautiful pen Thanks for the review
You're welcome! I'm glad to have you.
I love that finish
Agreed!
It is on my list, but not near the top. I believe there is a king-size version of this pen as well. The adapter and availability of antique flex nibs is attractive. Man, I love how that iron gaul/gall(?) ink darkens. Shame it doesn't retain some gold highlights though.
The ability to use the antique nibs was the main appeal. And I agree on both counts with that ink.
I didn't have this brand on my radar until I saw this in person. What a wonderful finish. I liked the Blueberry finish a bit more and went with that, but the Honeycomb may end up in my collection at some point.
I agree that the finish, in person, is quite attractive. The finish (and ability to use vintage nibs) were what tipped me over the edge.
The team at Goulet is always so intentional about those little things. I'm guessing every Estie Honeycomb is probably getting the bee sticker. I have a Quo Vadis notebook I've been using to track 2020 House and Senate races, and the front and back covers have been my pen sticker depository. Once that's full, I'm out of ideas though.
That's true. Maybe if I study their website a bit I could find something about this.
I like the bee. I don't usually put stickers on things, but maybe I can find it a home!
Yeah, well, they recently switched from note cards to stickers made of the staff sketches that were previously placed onto their notecards. I get it; producing thousands of custom handwritten notes had become near impossible for them to keep up with. I just ordered their new orange seasonal Edison, and it naturally came with an orange goldfish. I didn't hear anything about a matching policy, but that totally sounds like something they would just do internally without specifically explaining.
Other people have been putting magnetic backing on them and turning them into refrigerator magnets. Goulet Nation has a few examples of that, using magnetic vent covers from Home Depot.
@@liberal424242 Good use for it!
I was deciding between this pen and Parker Sonnet Metro for two weeks. Same price, very different pens. At the end I went for the Sonnet but this acrylic really is beautiful.
I think the Sonnet feels a little more high quality, but you are right that this is attractive, and I love that I can use vintage nibs.
I love my Esties!! I finally have an easy way to use my vintage nibs! Plus, they are very pretty pens.
Agreed on both.
Interesting ink, and I've never used an iron gall type. I'd like to see the Estie next to the Platinum President.
That may happen in this week's Pens in Use...
Thanks for the 1st impression - love this finish!
like the sticker too - I'm into bees - if I had some land (or a garden?) I'd look into keeping bees, which are increasingly endangered. Did you know that honey collected in your local area can help build up resistance to allergies, because it acclimatises the body to the characteristics of local plants? And it's healthy and promotes healing ... and ... loadsagoodstuff. In the UK there's a huge opportunity in urban spaces to take advantage of all the gardens! not that this is really urban here! I know nothing about them though, really, so I'd need to research.
After my house fire they found a beehive in my loft - I was devastated to hear that they had called an exterminator to remove it before they told me. I'd have been on t'phone to local beekeepers like a shot. (When my cat brought home a live bat I called Friends of the Bat who collected it, fed it, warmed it, and brought it back to release. They kindly confirmed that we have lots of bats here. Since we'd had them fly into the house and out again ... we knew!)
Back to t'pen! It's useful that your review was relatively lukewarm, emphasising the USP really being the option to use the pen with vintage nibs. There's been a fair bit of hype around about the Estie, & I have been considering getting one, but thought it quite pricey. Since I have no vintage nibs sitting without a home, I can put this back on the back burner!
There are a lot of bees around here. People bring in beehives for the summer and move them south for the winter. I haven't heard of local people doing beekeeping, but the issue did come up in the state legislature, so there must be some doing it.
I agree. The pen is gorgeous, but the writing experience by itself is nothing special. But I'm very much enjoying my vintage nib in it!
I want one of those shirts :P
Thanks! Sadly the store is now closed.
if you write the pen's name first in the title, your videos will pop up when we search the pen on youtube :D i tried to find this video and it was not in the first page when i searched for the pen's name
I did not know that! But, in fairness, I'm a small channel in the fountain pen world, so TH-cam may be promoting other channels more.
I am quite depressed listening to your current view of JoWo nibs..I have a couple going in my 'PIU 'at the moment and quite enjoy them as daily writers (B nibs). I put it down to your last six months of excessive exposure to vintage/old European gold nibs . It so amazing how a podcast can effect your mood. Such is life(no need to comment).
I did not mean to be depressing. Truth is, I only have about 2 pens in my current collection with JoWo nibs. But you are right that the experience with vintage pens has warped my view of nibs a bit!
Do you know when the original esterbrook stopped selling pens? I need to do my research on the current company too. Great video btw. Thanks again
I had read they quit fountain pens in 1967 and then ceased operations entirely in 1971. But my source is Wikipedia.