Esterbrook 128 v1
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| Esterbrook 128 v1 | |
| Manufacturer | Esterbrook |
| Nib No. | 128 |
| Descr. | Elastic Pen, Version 1 |
| Tip | EF |
| Markings | Exterior |
| Mark 1 lateral L | 128 |
| Mark 2 | R.ESTERBROOK & CO'S |
| Mark 3 | EXTRA FINE |
| Mark 3 | ELASTIC PEN |
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Described in contemporary advertising (Zanarian) as: "No. 128. Jackson Stub Pen. Falcon shape. The most popular stub pen made. Good inkholding capacity."
The Esterbrook Project describes this nib as providing a stub tip on a falcon body. "V" shaped vent hole. Little flexibility. Gray finish.
The American Stationer (10/31/1889) published a description of Esterbrook's 128, which foreshadowed a bit of controversy over the name. "The “Falcon” is undoubtedly the most popular form of fine pointed steel pen ever put on the market. There has been a steady call for a pen of similar style, but with a stub point. In response to this the Esterbrook Pen Company has just put on the market a pen filling these requirements. This new pen is known as the “Jackson Stub,” and an illustration of it is presented herewith. The pen has a smooth, easy action, and possesses qualities which will commend it to those who wish a thoroughly effective pen for rapid writing." As it turns out, Leon Isaacs & Co. began producing a stub version of a Falcon-shaped nib just a few years before Esterbrook, and copyrighted the name Falcon Stub. And while Esterbrook implied that they invented the new style, they also carefully avoided using the terms Falcon Stub or Stub Falcon in their advertising. (See AAAndrew's Steel Pen blog.)
Esterbrook Pens and What They Will Do describes this as a good stub pen for business use. Well liked by lawyers. Medium stub point.
Brandon McKinney's analysis of the markings and grindings date this version of the Jackson stub at around 1918.
Versions
There are two distinct versions of the Esterbrook #128 Elastic Pen in the Chappy's Nibs collection:
- Version 1: gray finish, Company abbreviated as "CO'S"
- Version 2: gray finish, same as Version 1, plus a third line, "MADE IN U.S.A."
(These version names are defined for this collection alone, and are not necessarily industry-wide terms.)
The nib pictured below is Version 1.
Photos
Click any image for a full-resolution photo: 1650 x 480. The image with the ruler is 2300 x 1196.
