There is a style of pen that I have been enjoying immensely over the past year or two. I don’t know if this particular grouping has a name, but they share the same style of design, and fall in the same general price point. Leonardo Officiana and Montegrappa make pens that meet whatever this artificial criteria is, as does Esterbrook, which I am finally getting around to reviewing.
I know, I’m a little late to the new Esterbrook party, but I’m here now. And the Esterbrook Estie in Lilac has been proven to be worth the wait.
The story of Esterbrook is a long one, primarily as one of the great American writing brands for a period of over 100 years. It saw a small, yet ultimately failed, reappearance in 2014, prior to being bought out by US luxury goods distributor Kenro Industries in 2018. And from what I’ve seen so far, Kenro has Esterbrook on the right track as a new representation of the brand, not a direct throwback to history.
Any expectation that Kenro would mimic the past was thrown out quickly with the release of the flagship pen in the lineup, the appropriately named Estie. It is a traditional cigar-shaped pen, made in various acrylics from basic Black, to Tortoise Shell, to the Lilac I am currently using, and many more in between - including some limited editions.
The barrel sizes offer range as well, with a Slim model, a Standard, such as this one, and a few Oversized models mixed in for good measure.
While they may not look like your grandparents Esterbrook pens, Kenro did make sure that you could use your vintage Esterbrook nibs with these new pens by creating the MV Nib Adapter. It’s an add-on, but well-worth it if you have a hoard of vintage Esterbrook nibs laying around (I know who you are!) It’s a great way for the brand to be able to discuss the wonderful history of the product while bringing in a group of new users, like myself.
So let’s get into why I like it, and why I think this range of pens in the overall market is as strong as its been in years. First off, the Lilac acrylic is stunning. That’s what caught my eye originally, but there were plenty that came before it, such as Honeycomb and Blueberry, and hopefully many more to come after.
Secondly, the build quality is excellent. This is not an inexpensive pen at $156, nor is it a budget-breaker in the grand scheme of fountain pens. It uses Esterbrook-stamped Jowo Steel nibs, fills by standard international cartridge or converter, and has a cushion cap to keep the nib from drying out when closed.
Finally, the Esterbrook Estie feels wonderful to write with. It’s a large pen which you won’t want to post, but not too large or weighted poorly to make it uncomfortable to use. The acrylic has some density to it, and even my preferred Extra Fine nib glides across the page. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed using it since Kenro provided it to me at the Philadelphia Pen Show in January, and I can see more Esterbrooks in my future.
The one thing I can’t figure out about the Esterbrook Estie - and Leonardo Momento Zero and Montegrappa Elmo that I mentioned above - is why this section of the market is popping off, at least in my eyes. You can buy gold-nibbed pens for cheaper, and you can buy small-batch custom poured and machined acrylic pens for around the same price. And many of the existing designs in the $150-$200 range are considered all-time classics.
Is it that we like the new shiny materials of the pens? I know I do. The louder the material the better as far as I am concerned. And we already have the inks to match. I talk about fountain pens as being the most customizable writing instruments on the market, and these are prime examples. Are manufacturers now willing to break the black and gold mold of yesteryear into more modern styles? And have them perform as well, if not better? Is the modern fountain pen market separating itself from a sometimes stodgy history?
I don’t know what it is, but as a fountain pen fan, I like it. And I want more of it. Show us what you got in 2020, Esterbrook. I’m here for it.
(Kenro Industries provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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