As seems to be the case with many of our pen purchases, we get them from office supply stores that go out of business. Today’s story is no different, a cache of New Old Stock Esterbrook CA101 and A101 pens!
The 101 series of pens was produced late in the game by esterbrook and cost $1.95 at the time regardless of whether the customer purchased the Cartridge version or the Aerometric version. CA therefore is the Cartridge version, and A is the Aerometric version.
Esterbrook CA101 Grey
There are four main colors in the series (although collectors will tell you there are six, but the two remaining colors, dark blue and a white nurses pen, are exceptionally rare): Green, Blue, Orange, and Grey. They are all really great colors, although the Orange and Green may win out in terms of unique colors.
Esterbrook A101 Orange Filler Unit
The cartridge CA101 uses a proprietary cartridge which these days is all but iumpossible to find, but we are including a new old stock cartridge with the pen for you to refill with a syringe. No converter currently available will fit this pen, and one was never offered. If you wanted to fill from the bottle, you need the A101 version, which only fills from the bottle, the filler unit is not designed to be removed. For those wishing to use on a long term basis, Sheaffer cartridges can be utilized in the CA101 provided you pre-pierce the cartridge for the tightest possible fit, otherwise the section nipple can break.
Esterbrook CA101 Blue
Each pen has the original factory sticker on the back of the cap designating the nib number and designation, along with the price and the model. These are all very clean, with some very minor drawer wear after having sat around an office supply store for the better half of fifty years.
Esterbrook CA101 Green Sticker
These are extremely durable pens, and great for use in travel as the plastic is very solid. Every part of the pen unscrews for disassembly, making cleaning a breeze, as well as making any issues with TSA when traveling easy to deal with. We have a good number of the CA101’s, but only a couple of A101’s, so if you want to fill from the bottle with one of these, better act fast! Check out the entire collection here!
Ink it up!
Brian & Lisa