Esterbrook is an American pen manufacturer with a long history. Kenro Industries has recently secured the rights of using the brand name – and has then revived this traditional brand, hence the slogan “Americas original (Est. 1858), Reborn (2018)”. Esterbrook kicked off this resurrection with a model called the Estie, which obviously is a kind of a nick name for Esterbrook and a tribute to the brand history.
The pen itself is really interesting and made a buzz in social media and the pen community in no time. Cigar-shaped, solid built, no 6 JoWo nib, interesting closing mechanism, no frills pen – and all this with a well-known history. Quite a good base recipe for a pen that has caught many an interest.
The most interesting feature of the pen, though, may be the separately available MVA (Modern-to-Vintage-Nib-Adaptor), which basically is an extra section that can take any Esterbrook vintage nib to be used with the Estie. Since Esterbook began manufacturing nibs in the US in the mid-1800s, there are still tons of those vintage nibs available on the market, often for little money. Hence, the MV-adaptor is a great way to use vintage nibs in a modern pen – and maybe even a ‘gateway drug’ for users of modern fountain pens that for different reasons never have pulled the trigger on a vintage pen.
Before we hop into the review, I would like to take the opportunity to thank Esterbrook Pens for supporting the review of this pen.
But now, check out the video-review below, which is as always preceded by some quick facts. Again, I hope the review is helpful and that you enjoy watching it!
Quick Facts
- Esterbrook Estie (black with gold trim – available in a number of other different barrel- and trim colors)
- Turned acrylic barrel (polished)
- Gold coloured metal accents
- Cushion cap á la Platinum Century 3776
- Fills with standard international cartridges (converter provided with pen)
- Available No 6-steel-nib options: Extra Fine (EF), Fine (F), Medium (M), Broad (B) – (JoWo nibs)
- MVA (Modern-to-Vintage-Nib-Adaptor) is available optionally for ca. 50 USD (basically an extra section that can take any Esterbrook vintage nib to be used with the Estie)
- Price: around 160 USD
Video Review
Picture Gallery
(Click on photos to enlarge)