View source for Esterbrook 048-A gray

{| class="infobox"
|colspan=2 align=center|[[File:Esterbrook logo.png|link=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esterbrook]]
|-
|colspan=2 align=center| '''Esterbrook 048-A gray'''
|-
|'''Manufacturer''' ||Esterbrook
|-
|'''Nib No.''' ||048
|-
|'''Descr.''' ||Falcon Pen, gold
|-
|'''Tip''' ||M
|-
|'''Markings''' ||Exterior
|-
|'''Mark 1 lateral L''' ||048 
|-
|'''Mark 2''' ||R.ESTERBROOK & CO'S
|-
|'''Mark 3''' ||FALCON PEN
|-
|colspan=2 align=center| [[File:Picture 655.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Esterbrook 048-A gray - top view, with ruler]]

|}

Described in contemporary advertising (''1938 Esterbrook Catalog'') as: "The #048 Falcon has a medium point with a medium flex. There is enough flex to give character to writing or drawing. Flexible, medium. For general business purposes. Most popular pen in the world. 048 Bronze finish. 048-A Gray finish.  

[https://theesterbrookproject.com/NIB%20SHEETS/ESTERBROOK%20048%20FALCON%20PEN/ESTERBROOK%20048%20FALCON%20PEN.html The Esterbrook Project] says that Esterbrook considered this to be their flagship pen. The leading "zero" is always included in the name of this pen. The Project describes this nib as a robust, sharp-pointed pen. With convolutions in the waist area to increase the body diameter to greater than the heel diameter. Medium point and medium flex. Narrow oval vent hole with blunted ends. Examples in bronze, gold-plated, silver, gray finish, amalgam, copper plated, and tar coated. 

''Esterbrook Pens and What They Will Do'' shows two descriptions for the 048: "The most popular and largely used business pen in the world. A universal favorite." Also, "Bronze, gray, gold-plated, nickel-plated. Turned up point. The most popular pen in use for general business purposes."

====Versions====
There are six distinct versions of the Esterbrook 048 nib in the Chappy's Nibs collection:

* [[Esterbrook 048 br v1 | '''Bronze Version 1:''' ]] bronze finish, and the abbreviation for Company is shown as "Co"  
* [[Esterbrook 048 br v2 | '''Bronze Version 2:''' ]] same as Bronze Version 1 - plus a third line, "MADE IN U.S.A."
* [[Esterbrook 048 br v3 | '''Bronze Version 3:''' ]] same as Bronze Version 2 - except that ESTERBROOK is moved from Mark 2 to Mark 4  
* [[Esterbrook 048 silver | '''Silver:''' ]] silver-plated finish
* [[Esterbrook 048 gold | '''Gold:''' ]] gold-plated finish
* [[Esterbrook 048-A gray| '''Gray:''' ]] 048-A has a gray finish

(These version names are defined for this collection alone, and are not necessarily industry-wide terms.)  

The nib pictured below is '''Gray'''.

====Photos====
Click any image for a full-resolution photo: 2200 x 640. The image with the ruler is 2300 x 1196.
[[File:Picture 654.jpg|thumb|650px|none|Esterbrook 048-A gray - top view]]
[[File:Picture 652.jpg|thumb|650px|none|Esterbrook 048-A gray - side view, upper]]
[[File:Picture 653.jpg|thumb|650px|none|Esterbrook 048-A gray - side view, lower]]

==External Links==

* [https://theesterbrookproject.com/NIB%20SHEETS/ESTERBROOK%20048%20FALCON%20PEN/ESTERBROOK%20048%20FALCON%20PEN.html The Esterbrook Project - 048 page]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esterbrook Wikipedia - Esterbrook page]
* [http://hans.presto.tripod.com/nibs/esterbrook.html Blam Nib site - Esterbrook page]
* [http://www.zanerian.com/ZanCat.html Zanerian - catalog]

[[Category:Nibs]]