One of my vintage fountain pens

I haven't written with one of my Esterbrook J-series pens in quite a while so I pulled out this one and filled it with Mont Blanc Irish Green ink.  Right now, of the pens I have inked up, this is the oldest dating from somewhere between 1949-1952 from what research I could find.

I haven't written with one of my Esterbrook J-series pens in quite a while so I pulled out this one and filled it with Mont Blanc Irish Green ink.  Right now, of the pens I have inked up, this is the oldest dating from somewhere between 1949-1952 from what research I could find.

Wow, that's one nice pen. Love how elegant the writing looks. Alas, such things are beyond me, being a leftie. Our hands immediately rub right across our writing.

mrdoug, I know there are folks who have managed to at least partially overcome lefty+fountain pen=disaster.  You can also try Googling or You Tube.  I found this on You Tube: https://youtu.be/IypzgWiN1GY At least it's a start.  My problem is that as I get older (I'm 75) my hand will sometimes jerk while I'm writing and I don't get the smooth look of my letters as I did several years ago.  I just keep at it.  If you decide to give fountain pens a try, good luck and enjoy.

I have always admired your penmanship, Freddy! It is quite beautiful.

I haven't written with one of my Esterbrook J-series pens in quite a while so I pulled out this one and filled it with Mont Blanc Irish Green ink.  Right now, of the pens I have inked up, this is the oldest dating from somewhere between 1949-1952 from what research I could find.

Ooh, nice!

1. Did you have to replace the rubber ink sac?
2. Is that a flex nib? You're getting a lot of nice line width variations. Or is it just change of speed?

Which reminds me - I gotta get around to ordering a Fine nib for my Nemosine Fission.

My third grade teacher tried her best to improve my penmanship.  Alas, she did her best.  Freddy, your hand is absolutely stunning.

I haven't written with one of my Esterbrook J-series pens in quite a while so I pulled out this one and filled it with Mont Blanc Irish Green ink.  Right now, of the pens I have inked up, this is the oldest dating from somewhere between 1949-1952 from what research I could find.

Beautiful penmanship you have

mrdoug, I know there are folks who have managed to at least partially overcome lefty+fountain pen=disaster.  You can also try Googling or You Tube.  I found this on You Tube: https://youtu.be/IypzgWiN1GY At least it's a start.  My problem is that as I get older (I'm 75) my hand will sometimes jerk while I'm writing and I don't get the smooth look of my letters as I did several years ago.  I just keep at it.  If you decide to give fountain pens a try, good luck and enjoy.

lefty fountain pen disaster? that should be rewritten as lefty ANY WRITING UTENSIL disaster.

pencil, pen, marker? anything I use to write with is going all along the side of my left hand...lol

Guys, thank you for the compliments on my penmanship.  As I stated, it was much better up until a few years ago.  Still, I really enjoy using a fountain pen.  Granted, sometimes it can be messier than a ballpoint, maintenance is a must, and a more deliberate writing style helps tremendously.  It's sort of like the difference between using a Gillette Fusion and shaving gel vs. a D.E., S.E., or straight razor, brush, and soap.  Both will get the job done and the Fusion option is great when in a rush but the satisfaction of the shave definitely comes with the more old school equipment.

John Rose, I have several Esterbrooks and have replaced the sacs on a few but honestly don't remember if this was one of them.  Also, the nib is definitely not a flex.  The 1551 is considered a firm medium.  Here is something about it: https://fpquest.com/2014/02/25/nib-notes...chool-nib/.

... Still, I really enjoy using a fountain pen.  Granted, sometimes it can be messier than a ballpoint, maintenance is a must, and a more deliberate writing style helps tremendously.  It's sort of like the difference between using a Gillette Fusion and shaving gel vs. a D.E., S.E., or straight razor, brush, and soap.  Both will get the job done and the Fusion option is great when in a rush but the satisfaction of the shave definitely comes with the more old school equipment. ...

That's it exactly. I always like to learn Lost Arts of various kinds.
Plus, with cursive writing it becomes a secret code that Gen-X and Millennials cannot read.

About the nibs - I could not decide between a Fine or a Medium (from Birmingham Pens), so I got one of each, for my Nemosine Fission. (YOLO!)
This is the Medium: