Modernizing the Esterbrook FJ Ballpoint

If you have been following me for any length of time, you will have heard me discuss the cigar box pen storage I use on my desk. They are made by a friend of mine named John, better known online as Bamapen.

John is a tinkerer at heart, and a lover of pens of all types. These two things came into play with the latest toy he sent me: A 3-D printed adapter to allow D1 refills to be used in the Esterbrook FJ ballpoint pen.

It took me a while to get to this review (sorry John!) and I’m sorry I waited so long because this is a fun pen to use, and a part of what makes this hobby of ours so great. There was a time not so long ago where pens like this Esterbrook with proprietary refills were a lost cause. With the advancements and accessibility of 3-D printing technology over the past several years, enterprising writers can get their old favorite pens up and writing again.

John did just that by designing an adapter based on the original Esterbrook refill, and making it compatible with a common refill from the modern market - in this case the D1 sized refill. The D1 is commonly used in mini pens and multi pens due to its short, skinny format. It has become popular enough that many top manufacturers, such as Uni-ball, have added them to their product lineup using their best ink formulations, like the Jetstream.

I’m using a black 0.7 mm Jetstream refill with the Esterbrook adapter in this FJ pen, and it works like a champ. The fit is perfect, almost as if it is the original setup. That’s kind of the point, right? The original pen, with a modern writing experience.

Using Shapeways, or other 3-D printing services, has become a great way for us to get old pens back in action, or make changes to modern pens - like adding clips - to better fit our respective styles. The growth and popularity of services like these can only benefit us all.

Maybe I need to 3-D print one of my old favorite pens, The Pilot Explorer, and get it back into the market.

My thanks to John for entrusting me with his creation. I may just need to buy this one off of him.

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Sailor 1911 Large Stormy Sea: A Review

(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)

Sailor has been producing the 1911 model for thirty years in a variety of colors. The most recent iteration (available only in North America) is Stormy Sea.

Stormy Sea is a gorgeous deep blue with silvery chatoyance.

The rhodium-plated 21k nib and rhodium trim complement the color perfectly. The large version is 140.5mm/5.53 inches capped, 122.7mm/4.83 inches uncapped, and 153.6mm/6.05 inches posted. I think of this as a medium-sized pen, especially since it’s slightly smaller than a Montblanc 146. A large pen (to me) is one that is comparable to a Montblanc 149.

I bought my Stormy Sea from Dan Smith and had the medium nib ground to an italic.

This gives the nib a bit of line variation and a lot of character, though you definitely have to find the sweet spot to avoid scratchy writing and corner snags.

If you prefer a smoother writing experience, I’d suggest a stub, but I’m really enjoying the crispness of this italic grind.

Stormy Sea comes in a typical Sailor dark blue clamshell box—no super fancy packaging for this pen.

One cartridge and a converter are included.

The pen is a typical cigar shape with rhodium trims on the cap, grip, and barrel. The cap sports Sailor’s simple clip and a large ring engraved with “Sailor Founded 1911.”

The 21k nib is decorated with scrollwork and the Sailor anchor logo. I think Sailor produces some of the most beautiful nibs available today (though Aurora nibs are my absolute favorite).

Although most of my Sailor nibs are unyielding, this nib has a tiny bit of give to it, which I like.

I inked my Sailor Stormy Sea with an ink brand that is new to me: Krishna, purchased from Vanness. The color is called, appropriately, “Sailor’s Blue” and it’s a perfect match for this pen. I’ll be reviewing several Krishna inks soon.

Many retailers offer the new Sailor Stormy Sea 1911 in large or standard sizes, but I highly recommend purchasing from Dan Smith since you get a complimentary nib grind along with your purchase. The pen (with nib grind) costs $288 plus shipping.

Pros

• The Sailor 1911 Large is a comfortable pen and will fit all but the largest hands well. Because it is made from resin, it is not heavy (24.5 grams capped), and, in fact, it might be too light for those who prefer hefty pens.
• The Stormy Sea color is one of the most beautiful Sailor colors I’ve seen. I absolutely love the silvery sheen and deep sea blue color.
• As you would expect, the nib is outstanding. Sailor nibs do have some feedback, but if you don’t like that, you can have them ground into a smoother tip, such as a stub. If you plan on having the nib ground, I highly recommend purchasing from Dan Smith since a nib grind is included with the purchase.
• Even though the Sailor converter doesn’t hold a ton of ink (1.1mm), I like converter fillers because they are super easy to clean.

Cons

• Sailor pens are on the expensive side, especially since they are made from resin and the cigar shape isn’t especially unique. But, the price includes a solid 21k nib.
• If you prefer weightier pens, the Sailor 1911 (even the large model) will probably be too light for you.

TWSBI ECO-T Yellow Green Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter.)

The TWSBI ECO-T is an update to the original ECO released a few years ago. Not a lot of changes were made and people seem divided over whether or not the changes were improvements. The old version is still available, though, so whichever you prefer, you're good.

I prefer this new version. The main body of the pen is the same, but the cap, piston knob, and grip have been made triangular. The old version had a hexagonal cap and knob, and the grip was rounded with three flared barbs at the end to stop your fingers from sliding forward. Some people loved the grip, but I found the barbs uncomfortable, and I like that the ECO-T has opted for a more subtle, molded grip. The triangular grip does encourage a certain hold, but it's rounded enough that it may not be too intrusive for alternative grips. It's definitely not as bossy as the Lamy grip section.

Another small improvement they made is to put a rubber o-ring at the back end of the pen to help with secure posting. It does work--the pen posts with no wiggle--but it's very long and back-heavy when posted. It may work okay for larger hands, but I suspect it's a bit much even then.

Otherwise, my experience is the same as with the previous ECO. The nib writes wonderfully and starts up right away every time. I love the sloshy ink tank and the alarming key-lime color.

After several broken TWSBIs, I still have the TWSBI jitters--I feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. But this model has fewer moving pieces and fewer threads, so I'm hoping it might be more durable. I haven't babied it--it's been a purse and pocket carry for a few weeks now without the cracking and leaking issues I've had with my other TWSBIs. So I find myself, once again, cautiously hopeful. I've had too many sour experiences to consider myself a fan of the brand, but I am enjoying the heck out of this pen. I want to believe! If it holds up, this pen could easily be a daily writer for me.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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