What’s in a name?
As previously mentioned in my previous post, many people flock to a certain brand name in dip pens predominantly due to word of mouth and reputation. To pen collectors the name Joseph Gillott might as well be “Joe Gold” the way people are willing to throw thousands of dollars acquiring their pens. Don’t get me wrong, I am one of those people, only I don't have the thousands of dollars. Joseph Gillott pens are utterly fantastic, no doubts there! However, it is negligent to assume that no other pen maker could ever achieve that level of mastery on their own. In this post, I will continue to discuss the Esterbrook Art & Drafting pen series; is this issue we will discuss the number #355 Art & Drafting pen.
One thing that must be understood is that pen manufacturers did not patent their pen designs. Why is that? Well, in order to patent the design you’d have to explain how it was made. That would reveal secrets like metal thickness, steel temper, and ink flow characteristics. It was wiser to let others attempt to copy you and fail. Therefore, the secret was held by a select few. These people were all connected. Joseph Gillott was one of the first pen makers, who inspired Richard Esterbrook the 3rd, who was then responsible for C.H. Howard Hunt. As such we will be comparing the #355 Art & Drafting Pen to the #100 Artist from Hunt Pen Company and the Joseph Gillott #290 Lithographic.
First, let’s take a look at the slight evolution of the #355 from Esterbrook. As previously discussed in my other post regarding the #356 Art & Drafting Pen, Esterbrook made some design changes to the pen. In this version I suspect that change was due to cost factors.
As previously mentioned in my previous post, many people flock to a certain brand name in dip pens predominantly due to word of mouth and reputation. To pen collectors the name Joseph Gillott might as well be “Joe Gold” the way people are willing to throw thousands of dollars acquiring their pens. Don’t get me wrong, I am one of those people, only I don't have the thousands of dollars. Joseph Gillott pens are utterly fantastic, no doubts there! However, it is negligent to assume that no other pen maker could ever achieve that level of mastery on their own. In this post, I will continue to discuss the Esterbrook Art & Drafting pen series; is this issue we will discuss the number #355 Art & Drafting pen.
One thing that must be understood is that pen manufacturers did not patent their pen designs. Why is that? Well, in order to patent the design you’d have to explain how it was made. That would reveal secrets like metal thickness, steel temper, and ink flow characteristics. It was wiser to let others attempt to copy you and fail. Therefore, the secret was held by a select few. These people were all connected. Joseph Gillott was one of the first pen makers, who inspired Richard Esterbrook the 3rd, who was then responsible for C.H. Howard Hunt. As such we will be comparing the #355 Art & Drafting Pen to the #100 Artist from Hunt Pen Company and the Joseph Gillott #290 Lithographic.
First, let’s take a look at the slight evolution of the #355 from Esterbrook. As previously discussed in my other post regarding the #356 Art & Drafting Pen, Esterbrook made some design changes to the pen. In this version I suspect that change was due to cost factors.
In the picture above, the obvious difference is the hand grind on the pen. Although this picture doesn’t exactly depict its size, I assure you it’s very, very, small. It’s about 1 inch long and about 3 / 20 of an inch wide. It is used to illustrate fine details and can be used to write extremely small scripts. It has a very small ink capacity and is extremely thin, almost fragile metal. It does not tolerate heavy pressure. Of all the steel pens made, it is one of the most delicate. The only real strength it has is in its temper. That dark blue hue is a result of the final heat tempering. These pens have ranged in temper from light blue, to purple, and the latest versions marked ESTERBROOK (instead of R.ESTERBROOK&CO. ) are pitch black. With that said, the competition ranged in other colors.
Shown above is the elder of the #355s that I have against two different eras of
the Hunt #100 Artist and the Joseph Gillott #290. As you can see, the design is
nearly identical. They all have the same thin metal, with the same shaped
point, and nearly the same gravity well, and they have all been hand ground.
Actually, it’s very remarkable that they ever chose to hand grind these pens.
The pen is so extremely fragile that any miscalculation on the grind wheel would
have eaten through the pen or at least bent the point into a useless
shape. The craft is awe inspiring, in my opinion. This is one of the reasons, I
am certain, that Esterbrook chose to cease grinding. It was an added cost as well
as adding time to production. With that said, there isn’t any functional
difference between them other than the colorful aesthetics. It is my calculation that the
main purpose behind the temper for these pens was to protect them from
corrosion. They all flex in the same manner, and have the same action. The only potential curiosity would actually
be the Hunt pen. Hunt became famous for their “round pointed” pens. This was a
19 step procedure to make the points and edges rounded so that they would not
catch on the paper. The earlier versions of the Hunt #100 Artist had “Round
Pointed” stamped on them. They later dropped that clause. In regards to the
Joseph Gillott, it just looks more attractive. Its finish is smoother and you
can tell there was more care in its creation. However, that aesthetic doesn’t
change how it inks. So really it’s value is all in the name. The name means
everything.
So, if you’re disappointed you couldn’t fork out the hundreds on a box of vintage Joseph Gillotts #290, be humbled if you could acquire and afford the more practical, and more available Esterbrook #355 Art & Drafting or the Hunt #100 Artist.
Happy hunting!
So, if you’re disappointed you couldn’t fork out the hundreds on a box of vintage Joseph Gillotts #290, be humbled if you could acquire and afford the more practical, and more available Esterbrook #355 Art & Drafting or the Hunt #100 Artist.
Happy hunting!
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