Esterbrook
Encyclopedia
Richard Esterbrook was the largest pen manufacturer in United States, having reached a record of producing 216,000,000 pens a year.
There were no men in this country learned in the pen trade and no suitable machinery, so it was necessary to design and build all machines. Only fifteen people were on the first payroll, but the growth of the company has been a steady one. The buildings have been added tp from time to time and in 1912 a five-story concrete building was erected nearly doubling the size of the plant. Automatic Machines have replaced hand work, and the output greatly increased.
Just one year after his death, in 1896 the company started an Esterbrook branch in England to join the ranks of the other main pen manufactures in Birmingham. By 1920 the fountain pen was fast becoming more popular amongst people who were tired of dipping the pens into ink. To meet this demand the company manufactured its first fountain pen. In 1930 the company sought less expensive means of manufacturing pens because gold and jewel tips were too expensive and in this same year they began selling fountain pens in England. The Esterbrook Company began using the metal Iridium which they called "Durachrome". To meet the fountain pen demand the company reformed as "The Esterbrook Hazel Pens Ltd". In 1940 war had come to strike a blow at the Esterbrook company.
The post war years had seen a decline in particularly the Export Trade to the traditional markets of the British Empire, as those countries had gained independence and, due to American Aid, had more Dollars to spend in the States on products than Pounds in the United Kingdom.
The company continued to thrive until the beginning of 1960 when started to see a decline in export trades with England. In 1967 the Esterbrook Empire was bought out by the Venus Pencil Company and thus the name changed to Venus Esterbrook, which continued to produce the renew points for fountain pens. There were numerous administrative changes and moves and eventually their final base of operations was vacated in 1972, though the building still stands today. The company, in one fraction or another can now be traced to Berol Ltd.
was an enthusiastic user of Esterbrook pens. He particularly used a Nº 356 model to ink and letter his famous Donald Duck
comic-book pages.
The beginning
Richard Esterbrook (1812-1895 ) was a Cornish Quaker from England who saw an opportunity in the United States to manufacture Steel Pens. In 1856 he traveled to the US to set up shop as "The Steel Pen Manufacturing Company". In 1858 he was able to establish himself as the sole pen manufacturer in the USA and he changed the company name to "The Esterbrook Steel Pen Mfg. Co." , with just 15 employees and settled down in Camden, New Jersey. At the time, two of the four pen companies located in the United States were situated in Camden. Besides Esterbrook, the first in the country, the C. Howard Hunt Pen Company at 7th and State streets produced pens, pencil sharpeners and allied products and employed 125 workers. At its height, the Esterbrook plant had 450 workers and produced 600,000 pens a day.There were no men in this country learned in the pen trade and no suitable machinery, so it was necessary to design and build all machines. Only fifteen people were on the first payroll, but the growth of the company has been a steady one. The buildings have been added tp from time to time and in 1912 a five-story concrete building was erected nearly doubling the size of the plant. Automatic Machines have replaced hand work, and the output greatly increased.
Development
Quality was a key factor in his success. His steel pens were versatile, long lasting, and came in many different styles to fit the varied writing styles of the public. Sadly, Richard Esterbrook didn't see the "empire" his company was to become as he died in Atlanta on October 12th, 1895.Just one year after his death, in 1896 the company started an Esterbrook branch in England to join the ranks of the other main pen manufactures in Birmingham. By 1920 the fountain pen was fast becoming more popular amongst people who were tired of dipping the pens into ink. To meet this demand the company manufactured its first fountain pen. In 1930 the company sought less expensive means of manufacturing pens because gold and jewel tips were too expensive and in this same year they began selling fountain pens in England. The Esterbrook Company began using the metal Iridium which they called "Durachrome". To meet the fountain pen demand the company reformed as "The Esterbrook Hazel Pens Ltd". In 1940 war had come to strike a blow at the Esterbrook company.
Decline
In 1947 the company bought out John Mitchell (which had been established in 1822 as the World's first manufacturer to cut nibs by machine) and then acquired Hazell Pen Co. The company re-formed again as The Esterbrook Pen Company. Some time after this the company ceased production of dip pen nibs permanently. They had also started decreasing the quality of the dip pens in almost every area including construction, and materials.The post war years had seen a decline in particularly the Export Trade to the traditional markets of the British Empire, as those countries had gained independence and, due to American Aid, had more Dollars to spend in the States on products than Pounds in the United Kingdom.
The company continued to thrive until the beginning of 1960 when started to see a decline in export trades with England. In 1967 the Esterbrook Empire was bought out by the Venus Pencil Company and thus the name changed to Venus Esterbrook, which continued to produce the renew points for fountain pens. There were numerous administrative changes and moves and eventually their final base of operations was vacated in 1972, though the building still stands today. The company, in one fraction or another can now be traced to Berol Ltd.
Artists related with Esterbrook
The famous Disney artist Carl BarksCarl Barks
Carl Barks was an American Disney Studio illustrator and comic book creator, who invented Duckburg and many of its inhabitants, such as Scrooge McDuck , Gladstone Gander , the Beagle Boys , The Junior Woodchucks , Gyro Gearloose , Cornelius Coot , Flintheart Glomgold , John D...
was an enthusiastic user of Esterbrook pens. He particularly used a Nº 356 model to ink and letter his famous Donald Duck
Donald Duck
Donald Fauntleroy Duck is a cartoon character created in 1934 at Walt Disney Productions and licensed by The Walt Disney Company. Donald is an anthropomorphic white duck with a yellow-orange bill, legs, and feet. He typically wears a sailor suit with a cap and a black or red bow tie. Donald is most...
comic-book pages.