I've had a few questions about where Esterbrook fountain pens are made. Here is a link to an interview with the Kenro Industries President from 2018. The skinny is, he says they are made in Asia and Europe. My guess is they are made in China or Taiwan and assembled with German nibs and packaged in Eastern Europe (Romania, Czech Rep., Croatia). This is very similar to how Sheaffers are currently made. goldspot.com/blogs/magazine/six-questions-for-the-president-of-the-new-esterbrook-pen-company
It appears as though these are nice pens to try but are not priced to own. I must say, I've been tempted but could never pull the trigger on these. Here's a thought, there are plenty of pens now that lately only sport Jowo nibs, (Esterbrook, MonteVerde, Conklin, etc.) -- how about a clip on the same Jowo nib on several pens to show which uses the nib best and offer the best value?
Hi Doug! Great Video. I always enjoy my weekend a little bit more because of your videos. I have several Esties and I love them. I agree that the price is a little high but where these pens really shine in my opinion is with their specialty grind offerings. The Journaler and the Scribe are my favorites. They are also compatible with vintage Esterbrook nibs if you shell out for the converter section.
I ordered a vintage Esterbrook SJ (gray marbled finish with chrome trim and an EF nib) just this week. I've been looking for an Esterbrook I liked the finish on in an EF for some time and this one just popped up.
Thanks Doug! I've recently been wondering about the two sizes compared to pens I am familiar with. Great that you compared the Leonardos, which I have had the pleasure of trying. Really useful. Love your videos, keep up the great work!
Love the shirt, Doug! I've been within picking distance of a Martin, but never played one. I had a '59 Gibson J-50 that I was forced to part with years ago and life has never been the same since. I could never carry a flashy pen. I have a fistful of Parker Sonnets in matte black with gold trim: low profile understated elegance
@@InkquiringMinds Just one of those twists of fate that yank the brass ring from your hand, and now time and appreciating value has put a replacement out of reach.
Am I first? I probably am as far from Canada as you can get. The Estie pens are very pretty particularly the honey coloured one. I'm not sure I am seeing a compelling reason to buy them compared to the Leonardo etc that are out there unless they are at a special price. The dollar exchange rate is pretty bad for us non US so perhaps I need to buy my next pen made in an economy with a falling currency. 🤑 However thank you for showing them and as always you do a great job. You are my Sunday going to meeting event!
Doug, love the Esties. I have a black and gold Goldrush which is elegant. If/when you review your ASC loan pen.....Figboot has commented on the laser etching on the nib and how its hard to clean of ink on the 'show face'. When i fill mine, i don't clean the ink off the show face. Being gold the smooth surface repels the ink and the stippled part hangs on to it. I therefore get a 'negative space' image in the colour ink i have in the pen. I find it a useful reminder of the ink in the pen and it highlights the design. I suspect it's deliberate. Kind regards.
I have an oversized Estie Sea Glass. I was very surprised at how comfortable it is. I want to get another, but the acrylic on most of them looks like cheap aquarium gravel. I’ll keep looking though.
Greetings and thank you for your finely done reviews, and guitar openings. I just recently realized that KENRO INDUSTRIES is located just a few minutes from where I live. Unfortunately they do not have a public showroom, or sell slightly off pens at a discount such as the Dover book publishing company down the road used to do with their merchandise). Sadly, because many of the pen designs of the brands Kenro either owns or distributes are wonderful, their prices are beyond my means, often by a lot, even Esterbrook.
I have one Estie that I bought specifically to try the vintage nib converter. While I like the larger size, I have to agree, I don't see the value for the higher cost. I also found that the section threads are identical to my Wancher dream pen, so I can also use the vintage section in that pen as well. Curious they have the same spring inner cap....
I recently dipped my toes into a few vintage Esterbrooks. Lots of interesting nib options, and lever fillers to tinker with... The only reason I am eyeing an Estie Oversized is for the option to use the vintage nibs - giving me a modern reason to stay more interested in the vintage Esterbrooks. I feel the vintage converter should be included with the new Esterbrooks, as that is about the only sensible reason to buy a new Estie. However, I would still need to purchase in a discounted or sale type deal, as quality comparisons do not justify the current price - and the vintage Esterbrooks will write just fine without a new Estie...
I had quite a significant number of the vintage Esterbrooks and nibs before the modern iteration. I looked for a sale, and a shop that offered discounts, say Fountain Pen Day, and bought the modern Estie that was least expensive.. I enjoyed it so much that I now have 6 modern including an Oversize. I like the ease of converters over sacks and being able to see ink levels. But those vintage nibs are The Best!!
Doug, thank you for this great review, of the 4 Esterbrook pens. Was a bit shocked that the oversize model was, comparatively, so expensive at least as a list price.
Hi Doug. I have a few Estie oversized pens, and they run $225 USD, $279 USD if you order it with a special nib grind on a number of sites. The special collection items run a little more-about $300. All prices are before sales tax. Still to your point, it would be nice if they were a little cheaper in price (not quality). Before the price increase, the standard size, standard model collection went for $156 (discounted on various sites) and $60 more for the special grind nibs (i.e., Journaler, Scribe, and Needle Point). I notice on my Esties, that over time the nibs loosen up and give a slightly wider line-this usually takes a while for me because I tend not to use much pressure on my pens when I write. If you have original Esterbrook nibs, you can purchase the MV adapter that allows you to use the original nibs. Based on all that I’ve read, the Oversized Esterbrook cap was not meant to be posted. So trying to post the cap may end up cracking the cap. Stay well.
Not sure why I'm even watching this review given I already own 4 Esties in regular size (lol). I did learn one thing though, I don't think I'd like anything less than a fine nib on an Estie (which I own and love). That EF seemed well,....oof!. I absolutely agree on the pricing for the oversized pen. I won't buy it because it should have a gold nib, and I can definitely get a better pen for that price. (hello Furore!) The screwing of the cap on the Esties is actually one of my favorite features. Maybe not as convenient, but for me it's as satisfying as hearing the click some pens make when recapping (to each his own, huh?).. That said, all of your other points about the pen were spot on! Thanks again for a great review!
I really like the Estie. I found my cap liner's spring is stuck. I was at a pen show and the Esterbrook representative told me it can certainly be fixed but it will still works fine in sealing the nib. Other than that I have no complaints with the performance of the pen. The Nouveau Bleu resin is stunning. Great review, Doug.
At 9:25 Doug! Where did you get that Diamine stand? 😯 I could use something like that very much! I was able to get 2022’s Diamine Inkvent Calendar and it always feels like I am going to knock them over. Makes me very nervous. Did it come with the Calendar or was it bought later somewhere else? If you don’t mind sharing, that is? Now back to your video. Love the acrylics on these Esterbrook’s. Beautiful! Cheers
I made it. Well, I designed it and my son 3D printed it. You can buy them here: tinyurl.com/5ethdkvx But hurry, because James is closing the Esty shop as he just doesn't have time to keep up with orders due to his full time work on the TV series "Heartland".
Janice has great taste in fountain pens. I know because I have those pens as well as a Peacock and Rockytop version. My favorite thing is being able to use my vintage Esterbrook nibs in these modern sackless pens. Best of both worlds.
@InkquiringMinds @Inkquiring Minds OK thanks a lot for your reply, what would you recommend i do with a jinhao X159 with no nib or feeder?....love the video's
I was about to complain about the pricing, but I think this is just part of an industry-wide trend. So I'm gonna buy everything quick, before the prices go up again. Soon enough we will be laughing in nostalgia at being able to buy big, pretty steel-nibbed pens for only $300.
One of the best things about the Estie is you can get a MV Nib Adaptor so you can use vintage Esterbrook nibs. That gives you the largest nib selection of any fountain pen.
I love my Estie and my Leonardo equally. They are both fabulous pens to write with. I do have a slight preference for the Easterbrook acrylics over the Leonardos. I wonder if they’re actually made in the U.S.?
How did you know I'd been eyeing an esterbrook oversized but wanted to know how it compared the estie and other pens?! It seems expensive when the body is acrylic and the nib is steel so also curious about different nibs, swappability, and writing performance. I'm excited to watch the rest of the review. Thank you for doing this!
I've been curious about estabrook pens. I appreciate this review very much. I embarked on my fountain pen journey last year in June with the goal of improving my handwriting. Your videos have helped tremendously. Writing he's as much about the pain as it is about oneself. That said, when I will eventually choose to spend more that $200 on a pen, it will definitely be a Leonardo. I three MoonMan M 800 fitted with different italics ground Nibs that I have a hard time putting down once I start writing. All this to say that I agree at $300 I agree Esterbrook is not inspiring me to part with my money as much as a Leonardo. There I said it! Haters are gonna hate 🤷🏾♂️
So finally, after all the praise for the Estie and its smooth nibs, I ordered one, in all-black gloss. Visually beautiful, but--a scratchy medium nib, the tines probably misaligned. So disappointed. It is going back, of course, but I'll give them one more try.
I’m guessing that you’ve already purchased the new Asvine vacuum filler the v126. If not you should get it…I’ve been really impressed with the offerings Asvine has released lately. Just ordered mine in blue!
Those acrylics are gorgeous, especially the Honeycomb. However, I think these pens are overpriced. I enjoy your Sunday reviews and restorations. I always look forward to them. Thanks!
I will be the first to Love this. ❤️. I enjoyed the review. I am unsure what justifies Esterbrook Estie's pricing scheme. I do not own one yet [want the flex one], but I, d sooner get MZG2 than that. Maybe I should move to Calgary and try your dear friend's ones and pick one 😀.
The President of Kenro Industries said in 2018 that the Esterbrook pens will be made in Europe and Asia. So, this sounds similar to some other "US" brands like Sheaffer, that have headquarters in the USA but the manufacturing is done in China and assembly done in places like the Czech Republic and Eastern Europe. goldspot.com/blogs/magazine/six-questions-for-the-president-of-the-new-esterbrook-pen-company
Thanks for helping make my mind, indeed I always felt like the Estie are too expensive for what they are and indeed comparing them with Leonardo makes sense, I own a bunch of them (8 I think) and they are great both in large and standard sizes and their nibs are stellar though pretty standards. Overall, it is a matter of taste for sure, I find the Leonardo more elegant than Esterbrook pens and between your review and Leonardo being less expensive it removed any temptation to try the Estie (my wallet appreciates...). Thanks man for your nice videos, very informative and funny! Cheers
Was hoping one of those had the scribe nib or journaler nib. I'm interested in the scribe nib the most. Esterbrooks to me are over priced when you can get Leonardos cheaper with the same style nib. They look good though I will say that.
@@InkquiringMinds Can't wait to see a review on them if she does. I think the scribe nib is an italic and the journaler nib is a medium version of a stub? I think that is right anyways.
Nice, fair review! I 100% agree with your likes & dislikes. I don’t own any modern Esterbrooks, only because I feel they are way overpriced, but well-made.
Just a thought... maybe a Chinese pen company should make a modern pen compatible with vintage Esterbrook nibs/assemblies. There are a TON available! It would also be more true to the Esterbrook heritage of being an affordable pen for all! They could call it the Esteriver or Estercreek or Esterstream? Now that's a clone I might be able to get behind(because Esterbrook has WAY over-priced their Esties)!
I don't think Doug has used either of these interesting philosophical quotes yet: No matter how far a jackass travels, it won’t come back a horse. -The character Batou in Ghost In the Shell 2: Innocence. The human body is a machine that winds its own springs. -Julien Offray de La Mettrie
I really wish vintage brands were closer to their originals. Not sure there's really anything similar to the vintage Esterbrook with these, other than name and color of the box, even with the vintage nib converter. Esterbrook was around $40 new, today's money. No limited production/special editions. 6 basic colors and that's it. And actual house made nibs in minimally 33 versions. Modern are just too expensive for what you are actually getting.
That's not surprising since the company went out of business 47 years before a multibrand corporation bought the name. They own Aurora, Loclen, YStudio, Otto Hutt, and distribute Sheaffer among other luxury product brands.
I am a new owner of the reconstituted (or "zombie") Estie. No I didn't buy it; it was my only Christmas gift, and I got it with the whole fancy bundle from a penblogger buddy of ours. It's the Nouveau Bleu. The other colors in this group have English language names, but this one's French. They could have named it "New Blue", but the rhyming parts aren't spelled the same way. This suggests the immortal poem "A jackass named John in his prime / Ev'ry mountain and hillock could climb./ He climbed like a monkey/ Though he was a donkey./ They're spelled alike. Why don't they rhyme?
So ESTIE is manufactured in Asia and some in Europe with a jowo nib. Well, save your money and purchase a Conklin or Monteverde, made in Asia and sports a Jowo nib, and is a hell of a lot cheaper. Plus, Conklin, Jowo, and Leonardo converters screw in, and there is no mess. Estie’s converters don’t screw in, and they work themselves loose in the barrel staining lighter resin pens and making a mess. This is a huge drawback for me. Estie is way overpriced since they used to sell for $125 last year. I assume Kenro is getting greedy. I think Leonardo is much better quality by a long shot. Estie is on the same level as Conklin, and both are Asian made with Jowo nibs. I’ll take the Conklin for a lower price. Purchase a pilot vanishing point or e95s for a cheaper price than ESTIE and get yourself a gold nib too. Great review, Doug.
Thanks, Barry. Yeah, Kenro are Aurora, Otto Hutt, YStudio, Esterbrook, and distrubute Sheaffer. Conklin and Monteverde are Yaffa Brands and, as you say, are made in Asia. I think Leonardo is doing an excellent job at competing with Asian-made, US owned brands with a superior product.
@@InkquiringMinds Leonardo is incredibly well-made and beautiful and is on par with pens like Montblanc and Pelikan. Since Estie is so expensive and is Asian-made, I think wing sung, and Jinaho would be better choices. If you don't like the Chinese nib, purchase an estie Jowo for 25 bucks and replace the Chinese nib, and you save a fortune and have a pen that writes just like an Estie for lots of less money. Doug, thanks again, buddy. Your videos are so good and entertaining.
I've had a few questions about where Esterbrook fountain pens are made. Here is a link to an interview with the Kenro Industries President from 2018. The skinny is, he says they are made in Asia and Europe. My guess is they are made in China or Taiwan and assembled with German nibs and packaged in Eastern Europe (Romania, Czech Rep., Croatia). This is very similar to how Sheaffers are currently made. goldspot.com/blogs/magazine/six-questions-for-the-president-of-the-new-esterbrook-pen-company
It appears as though these are nice pens to try but are not priced to own. I must say, I've been tempted but could never pull the trigger on these. Here's a thought, there are plenty of pens now that lately only sport Jowo nibs, (Esterbrook, MonteVerde, Conklin, etc.) -- how about a clip on the same Jowo nib on several pens to show which uses the nib best and offer the best value?
Hi Doug! Great Video. I always enjoy my weekend a little bit more because of your videos. I have several Esties and I love them. I agree that the price is a little high but where these pens really shine in my opinion is with their specialty grind offerings. The Journaler and the Scribe are my favorites. They are also compatible with vintage Esterbrook nibs if you shell out for the converter section.
I'll have to try those nibs (when Janice gets them)
I ordered a vintage Esterbrook SJ (gray marbled finish with chrome trim and an EF nib) just this week. I've been looking for an Esterbrook I liked the finish on in an EF for some time and this one just popped up.
Thanks Doug! I've recently been wondering about the two sizes compared to pens I am familiar with. Great that you compared the Leonardos, which I have had the pleasure of trying. Really useful. Love your videos, keep up the great work!
My pleasure!
Great video Doug. I have the Essie with journaler nib by Gena Salorino. It’s great if you get one.
Is that the architect or the stub?
Great review. Really like your numeric line width data. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Love the shirt, Doug! I've been within picking distance of a Martin, but never played one. I had a '59 Gibson J-50 that I was forced to part with years ago and life has never been the same since.
I could never carry a flashy pen. I have a fistful of Parker Sonnets in matte black with gold trim: low profile understated elegance
A '59 J50 would be hard to part with!
@@InkquiringMinds Just one of those twists of fate that yank the brass ring from your hand, and now time and appreciating value has put a replacement out of reach.
Am I first? I probably am as far from Canada as you can get. The Estie pens are very pretty particularly the honey coloured one. I'm not sure I am seeing a compelling reason to buy them compared to the Leonardo etc that are out there unless they are at a special price. The dollar exchange rate is pretty bad for us non US so perhaps I need to buy my next pen made in an economy with a falling currency. 🤑 However thank you for showing them and as always you do a great job. You are my Sunday going to meeting event!
Yay! I'm not only an "influencer", I'm a Brighton Babe EVENT!
Doug, love the Esties. I have a black and gold Goldrush which is elegant. If/when you review your ASC loan pen.....Figboot has commented on the laser etching on the nib and how its hard to clean of ink on the 'show face'. When i fill mine, i don't clean the ink off the show face. Being gold the smooth surface repels the ink and the stippled part hangs on to it. I therefore get a 'negative space' image in the colour ink i have in the pen. I find it a useful reminder of the ink in the pen and it highlights the design. I suspect it's deliberate. Kind regards.
Interesting "undocumented feature"!
Love that Honeycomb. But I agree with you on the Leonardo pen.
I have an oversized Estie Sea Glass. I was very surprised at how comfortable it is. I want to get another, but the acrylic on most of them looks like cheap aquarium gravel. I’ll keep looking though.
You too!!? Wow I thought it was just me.
Greetings and thank you for your finely done reviews, and guitar openings. I just recently realized that KENRO INDUSTRIES is located just a few minutes from where I live. Unfortunately they do not have a public showroom, or sell slightly off pens at a discount such as the Dover book publishing company down the road used to do with their merchandise). Sadly, because many of the pen designs of the brands Kenro either owns or distributes are wonderful, their prices are beyond my means, often by a lot, even Esterbrook.
Your desk 😮😮❤😍
I have one Estie that I bought specifically to try the vintage nib converter. While I like the larger size, I have to agree, I don't see the value for the higher cost. I also found that the section threads are identical to my Wancher dream pen, so I can also use the vintage section in that pen as well. Curious they have the same spring inner cap....
Probably made in the same Asian factory. Same tooling.
I recently dipped my toes into a few vintage Esterbrooks. Lots of interesting nib options, and lever fillers to tinker with... The only reason I am eyeing an Estie Oversized is for the option to use the vintage nibs - giving me a modern reason to stay more interested in the vintage Esterbrooks. I feel the vintage converter should be included with the new Esterbrooks, as that is about the only sensible reason to buy a new Estie. However, I would still need to purchase in a discounted or sale type deal, as quality comparisons do not justify the current price - and the vintage Esterbrooks will write just fine without a new Estie...
I had quite a significant number of the vintage Esterbrooks and nibs before the modern iteration. I looked for a sale, and a shop that offered discounts, say Fountain Pen Day, and bought the modern Estie that was least expensive.. I enjoyed it so much that I now have 6 modern including an Oversize. I like the ease of converters over sacks and being able to see ink levels. But those vintage nibs are The Best!!
Doug, thank you for this great review, of the 4 Esterbrook pens. Was a bit shocked that the oversize model was, comparatively, so expensive at least as a list price.
Me too! Good to see you Peter!
Hi Doug. I have a few Estie oversized pens, and they run $225 USD, $279 USD if you order it with a special nib grind on a number of sites. The special collection items run a little more-about $300. All prices are before sales tax. Still to your point, it would be nice if they were a little cheaper in price (not quality). Before the price increase, the standard size, standard model collection went for $156 (discounted on various sites) and $60 more for the special grind nibs (i.e., Journaler, Scribe, and Needle Point). I notice on my Esties, that over time the nibs loosen up and give a slightly wider line-this usually takes a while for me because I tend not to use much pressure on my pens when I write. If you have original Esterbrook nibs, you can purchase the MV adapter that allows you to use the original nibs. Based on all that I’ve read, the Oversized Esterbrook cap was not meant to be posted. So trying to post the cap may end up cracking the cap. Stay well.
Yes, I saw that the OS was not intended to be posted. Thanks for sharing Harold!
Not sure why I'm even watching this review given I already own 4 Esties in regular size (lol). I did learn one thing though, I don't think I'd like anything less than a fine nib on an Estie (which I own and love). That EF seemed well,....oof!. I absolutely agree on the pricing for the oversized pen. I won't buy it because it should have a gold nib, and I can definitely get a better pen for that price. (hello Furore!) The screwing of the cap on the Esties is actually one of my favorite features. Maybe not as convenient, but for me it's as satisfying as hearing the click some pens make when recapping (to each his own, huh?).. That said, all of your other points about the pen were spot on! Thanks again for a great review!
Thanks!
I really like the Estie. I found my cap liner's spring is stuck. I was at a pen show and the Esterbrook representative told me it can certainly be fixed but it will still works fine in sealing the nib. Other than that I have no complaints with the performance of the pen. The Nouveau Bleu resin is stunning.
Great review, Doug.
Thanks, Paul!
At 9:25 Doug! Where did you get that Diamine stand? 😯 I could use something like that very much! I was able to get 2022’s Diamine Inkvent Calendar and it always feels like I am going to knock them over. Makes me very nervous.
Did it come with the Calendar or was it bought later somewhere else? If you don’t mind sharing, that is?
Now back to your video. Love the acrylics on these Esterbrook’s. Beautiful! Cheers
I made it. Well, I designed it and my son 3D printed it. You can buy them here: tinyurl.com/5ethdkvx But hurry, because James is closing the Esty shop as he just doesn't have time to keep up with orders due to his full time work on the TV series "Heartland".
@@InkquiringMinds that’s amazing. Thank you much. I’m heading over now. Cheers
@@InkquiringMinds I grabbed two! And a 30ml as well! Thanks again, Doug! Cheers
Janice has great taste in fountain pens. I know because I have those pens as well as a Peacock and Rockytop version. My favorite thing is being able to use my vintage Esterbrook nibs in these modern sackless pens. Best of both worlds.
That is awesome!
I'd love to know which ink you used at the start? It's lovely.
J Herbin Kyanite du Nepal
does anybody know if a "Fountain Pen Iridium Nib 35# Nib EF F M For Majohn C1/ C2/ M6/ 600S" will fit a jinhao X159
It will not.
@InkquiringMinds @Inkquiring Minds OK thanks a lot for your reply, what would you recommend i do with a jinhao X159 with no nib or feeder?....love the video's
@@RoyalMale1 Buy another x159. There don't seem to be nib replacements for the #8 steel yet.
@InkquiringMinds OK thankyou
I was about to complain about the pricing, but I think this is just part of an industry-wide trend. So I'm gonna buy everything quick, before the prices go up again. Soon enough we will be laughing in nostalgia at being able to buy big, pretty steel-nibbed pens for only $300.
At least the Leonardos are made in Italy, not China.
One of the best things about the Estie is you can get a MV Nib Adaptor so you can use vintage Esterbrook nibs. That gives you the largest nib selection of any fountain pen.
I love my Estie and my Leonardo equally. They are both fabulous pens to write with. I do have a slight preference for the Easterbrook acrylics over the Leonardos. I wonder if they’re actually made in the U.S.?
They are made in Asia and assembled in Eastern Europe. goldspot.com/blogs/magazine/six-questions-for-the-president-of-the-new-esterbrook-pen-company
How did you know I'd been eyeing an esterbrook oversized but wanted to know how it compared the estie and other pens?! It seems expensive when the body is acrylic and the nib is steel so also curious about different nibs, swappability, and writing performance.
I'm excited to watch the rest of the review. Thank you for doing this!
I read your thoughts!
I've been curious about estabrook pens. I appreciate this review very much. I embarked on my fountain pen journey last year in June with the goal of improving my handwriting. Your videos have helped tremendously. Writing he's as much about the pain as it is about oneself. That said, when I will eventually choose to spend more that $200 on a pen, it will definitely be a Leonardo. I three MoonMan M 800 fitted with different italics ground Nibs that I have a hard time putting down once I start writing. All this to say that I agree at $300 I agree Esterbrook is not inspiring me to part with my money as much as a Leonardo. There I said it! Haters are gonna hate 🤷🏾♂️
Thanks for sharing, jj bishop!
So finally, after all the praise for the Estie and its smooth nibs, I ordered one, in all-black gloss. Visually beautiful, but--a scratchy medium nib, the tines probably misaligned. So disappointed. It is going back, of course, but I'll give them one more try.
I’m guessing that you’ve already purchased the new Asvine vacuum filler the v126. If not you should get it…I’ve been really impressed with the offerings Asvine has released lately. Just ordered mine in blue!
Asvine sent me one. The review will be up Saturday.
Those acrylics are gorgeous, especially the Honeycomb. However, I think these pens are overpriced. I enjoy your Sunday reviews and restorations. I always look forward to them. Thanks!
Glad you like them!
I will be the first to Love this. ❤️. I enjoyed the review. I am unsure what justifies Esterbrook Estie's pricing scheme. I do not own one yet [want the flex one], but I, d sooner get MZG2 than that. Maybe I should move to Calgary and try your dear friend's ones and pick one 😀.
I totally agree!
I now own a blueberry and a punch.. I’m looking for one in lilac.. good lord.
I always appreciate your vids.
Thank you 😊!
Are they made in the US or elsewhere.?
The President of Kenro Industries said in 2018 that the Esterbrook pens will be made in Europe and Asia. So, this sounds similar to some other "US" brands like Sheaffer, that have headquarters in the USA but the manufacturing is done in China and assembly done in places like the Czech Republic and Eastern Europe. goldspot.com/blogs/magazine/six-questions-for-the-president-of-the-new-esterbrook-pen-company
Thanks for helping make my mind, indeed I always felt like the Estie are too expensive for what they are and indeed comparing them with Leonardo makes sense, I own a bunch of them (8 I think) and they are great both in large and standard sizes and their nibs are stellar though pretty standards. Overall, it is a matter of taste for sure, I find the Leonardo more elegant than Esterbrook pens and between your review and Leonardo being less expensive it removed any temptation to try the Estie (my wallet appreciates...). Thanks man for your nice videos, very informative and funny! Cheers
Thank you so much, Christian!
Was hoping one of those had the scribe nib or journaler nib. I'm interested in the scribe nib the most. Esterbrooks to me are over priced when you can get Leonardos cheaper with the same style nib. They look good though I will say that.
I think Janice is getting one of each - so we'll see! :)
@@InkquiringMinds Can't wait to see a review on them if she does. I think the scribe nib is an italic and the journaler nib is a medium version of a stub? I think that is right anyways.
@@williamcatalano1762 One is an architect and one is a stub. But which is which I don't know.
@@InkquiringMinds That's right... the scribe is the architect. Journaler is the medium stub!
That diamine Aurora borealis of yours looks like a green, dunken green type colour. Mine is a very dark teal. Didn't know they can looks so different!
I thought so to. That's what Janice wrote down the ink was.
With the newer raven color, you don’t have to push the cap down to engage the threads anymore.
But the other colors are far superior.
Nice, fair review! I 100% agree with your likes & dislikes. I don’t own any modern Esterbrooks, only because I feel they are way overpriced, but well-made.
Thanks! And I agree!
Just a thought... maybe a Chinese pen company should make a modern pen compatible with vintage Esterbrook nibs/assemblies. There are a TON available! It would also be more true to the Esterbrook heritage of being an affordable pen for all! They could call it the Esteriver or Estercreek or Esterstream? Now that's a clone I might be able to get behind(because Esterbrook has WAY over-priced their Esties)!
LOL Great idea!
I don't think Doug has used either of these interesting philosophical quotes yet:
No matter how far a jackass travels, it won’t come back a horse. -The character Batou in Ghost In the Shell 2: Innocence.
The human body is a machine that winds its own springs. -Julien Offray de La Mettrie
I really wish vintage brands were closer to their originals. Not sure there's really anything similar to the vintage Esterbrook with these, other than name and color of the box, even with the vintage nib converter.
Esterbrook was around $40 new, today's money. No limited production/special editions. 6 basic colors and that's it. And actual house made nibs in minimally 33 versions.
Modern are just too expensive for what you are actually getting.
That's not surprising since the company went out of business 47 years before a multibrand corporation bought the name. They own Aurora, Loclen, YStudio, Otto Hutt, and distribute Sheaffer among other luxury product brands.
@@InkquiringMinds They DO turn out better than Yafa. 😁
Lütfen türkçe alt yazı seçeneği. Teşekkür ediyorum 🙂
A 4 pen review in 1 video, lotta bang for your buck!
I am a new owner of the reconstituted (or "zombie") Estie. No I didn't buy it; it was my only Christmas gift, and I got it with the whole fancy bundle from a penblogger buddy of ours. It's the Nouveau Bleu. The other colors in this group have English language names, but this one's French. They could have named it "New Blue", but the rhyming parts aren't spelled the same way. This suggests the immortal poem "A jackass named John in his prime / Ev'ry mountain and hillock could climb./ He climbed like a monkey/ Though he was a donkey./ They're spelled alike. Why don't they rhyme?
LOL Awesome!
Too expensive for stainless steel nibs. If Sailor can put a 14k nib on a sub $200 fountain pen, so could EB.
😇🩷🙏🙌
The Nuevo Blu is very attractive. The photos of it are so boring.
So ESTIE is manufactured in Asia and some in Europe with a jowo nib. Well, save your money and purchase a Conklin or Monteverde, made in Asia and sports a Jowo nib, and is a hell of a lot cheaper. Plus, Conklin, Jowo, and Leonardo converters screw in, and there is no mess. Estie’s converters don’t screw in, and they work themselves loose in the barrel staining lighter resin pens and making a mess. This is a huge drawback for me. Estie is way overpriced since they used to sell for $125 last year. I assume Kenro is getting greedy. I think Leonardo is much better quality by a long shot. Estie is on the same level as Conklin, and both are Asian made with Jowo nibs. I’ll take the Conklin for a lower price. Purchase a pilot vanishing point or e95s for a cheaper price than ESTIE and get yourself a gold nib too. Great review, Doug.
Thanks, Barry. Yeah, Kenro are Aurora, Otto Hutt, YStudio, Esterbrook, and distrubute Sheaffer. Conklin and Monteverde are Yaffa Brands and, as you say, are made in Asia. I think Leonardo is doing an excellent job at competing with Asian-made, US owned brands with a superior product.
@@InkquiringMinds Leonardo is incredibly well-made and beautiful and is on par with pens like Montblanc and Pelikan. Since Estie is so expensive and is Asian-made, I think wing sung, and Jinaho would be better choices. If you don't like the Chinese nib, purchase an estie Jowo for 25 bucks and replace the Chinese nib, and you save a fortune and have a pen that writes just like an Estie for lots of less money. Doug, thanks again, buddy. Your videos are so good and entertaining.
It’s a shame but I think these pens are overpriced for what you get. They are well over $300 in Australian dollars
I agree.
Too pricey! Chinese made?
I'm not sure if they are Chinese or Taiwanese or Philippines, but they are made in Asia with German nibs yeah.