Big, Bigger, Biggest!

Big, Bigger, Biggest!

We continue our discussion of fine pointed flexible pens, the most sought after and most popular pens at present. For your edification, I would like to compare the similarities of  three Esterbrook pens, the #128 Extra Fine Extra Elastic, the #815 Interstate (as it was originally named.), and the #453 Business & College Pen (as it was originally named.) The #128 is considered a rather big pen in comparison to say the original A1 Professional from Esterbrook. This was previously discussed in an older post. Additionally, we also discussed how the #128 was cloned many times over into different names and different numbers of pen. Changing the name and number was not the only form of cloning Esterbrook did.  They also changed its size. 

Here is a comparison of the three pens, the #128, #815, and #453.  You can see that the #815 is only slightly longer and wider than the #128. Likewise the #453 is slightly longer and wider than the #815. One might think bigger is better; in this case it is both correct and incorrect. Let’s first take a closer look into what makes them similar.

Here is a side shot of Esterbrook’s #128 Extra Fine Elastic Pen. What you first need to notice is the side cuts.  This is the chief feature of an elastic pen. Without the side cuts, the twines are restricted in their movement and become firm. Notice that the cut extends just past the gravity well.  The gravity well shape is another feature of elasticity and flexibility. Another feature is the thickness of metal, followed closely by its temper. What makes it an extra fine pen is its point. The last feature of flexibility is the groove stamping you see on the point. Before this they used a grinding wheel to shave off the surface metal on the point. We will discuss groove vs grind in another post.

Here we now see the side shot of Esterbrook’s #815 Interstate pen. Notice the similarity in the side cut? It’s essentially identical in its shape. However, its cut ends right at the end of the gravity well. Since the pen is a bit wider it doesn’t need such a long side cut.  If they did, the pen would flex so far the ink wouldn’t be able to travel down the twines. This is also why the gravity well is larger. Also note that the point is the same fine point, albeit ground instead of grooved in this photo. This pen was later named: #815 SCHOOL Fine Flexible (I don't have an example at this time, but I saw a box of them and was unable to purchase them). A more apt description of the pen than Interstate. The original intention of the name interstate wasn’t in regards to road systems. Rather, it indicates a transition from training pens into professional ornamental pens. I have discovered school supply lists from the 20s that mention this pen as a required supply. This was likely the pen used just prior to high school.

Finally we see Esterbrook’s #453 Business & College Pen. Again, we see the similar side cut design as the previous pens. This time it’s higher up and its cut doesn’t go all the way back to the gravity well.  Again, this pen is longer and wider and its gravity well is large. It was necessary to design it in this way to ensure it wasn’t overly flexible and stopped the flow of ink. The point was considered medium, but I have been able to get hair thin lines out of it. 

The pen was later named: #453 SCHOOL Medium Flexible, as seen in the photo above. Again, it denotes the raw description of its function. It originally named for its rank when used. You would have been using this pen as a regular writing instrument for college and it was equally used in business to draw up contracts. You can see that the older version has been hand ground but the newer version has neither a grind nor a groove stamp.  When the manufacturing process switched to groove stamping, many pens lost their flexible point features altogether. This is because giving it the groove stamp feature would have made it too flexible and therefore useless. Another reason was that there was a higher demand for firmer pens. Thankfully, the #453 didn't loose its flexible features over time like many other pens did; we will be discussing those pens on a different post.

Here is a comparison against a United States Quarter, just to give you an idea on size perspective. The only real advantage to using the #128 Extra Fine Elastic Pen is that you can use it in an oblique holder. The other two pens are too large and the point would be off center. Therefore, it is best to use the other two pens in a straight holder. Back in the day, the technique that was taught required you to use your shoulder to move your arm. This was termed a muscular movement. The #815 and #453 are best suited to those techniques.

In finality, if you are unable to locate any extra fine extra elastic pens to write in copperplate ornamental script, try using one of its larger clones, the #815 Interstate or the #453 Business & College Pen. They are all equally fantastic! They also make superb and unequaled inking pens for comics and art!

Happy hunting!