On this week’s My Favorite Pen, We take a look at a dip pen so large, even Esterbrook called it as such, The Esterbrook Mammoth Falcon!
The Esterbrook Falcon nib was one of their most popular nibs of all time. The 048 Falcon was perfectly suited for “General Business Purposes” and had a medium amount of flex. The nibs were slit at the sides to allow for more flexibility. Esterbrook made a smaller version of the Falcon nib suitable for ladies that was numbered the 182. On the opposite side of the spectrum, they made a falcon nib so large they actually called it Mammoth.
Esterbrook Mammoth Falcon Nib
When compared to other dip pen nibs this is indeed a large nib. Just shy of 2-3/8″ long and about 15/32″ at it’s widest point. This is a pen that will get you noticed, and fast. the shaft size is about 9/32″ wide, so this nib does not fit into your standard holders. To solve that problem, Esterbrook created a special holder just for this pen, The Esterbrook & Co. Mammoth Falcon holder.
Esterbrook Falcon Family
This special holder has a brass ferrule with a large oval section with the Esterbrook imprint. At the end of the brass ferrule, is a pleasing cross hatched area just before the wood taper starts. The holder itself measures 6-3/4″ long, the whole pen being 8-5/16″ long with the nib in place.
Esterbrook Mammoth Falcon Holder
Esterbrook later took the 048 falcon nib and made it the 2048 and 9048 fine falcon flexible nibs that were used on pocket pens. Obviously, the renew-point was much smaller than the Mammoth Falcon.
Esterbrook Mammoth Falcon with Ink
While Esterbrook dip pen nibs are bountiful on sites such as eBay and at pen shows and in antique malls, this particular nib, the 340 Mammoth Falcon, is such a scarce nib it borders on the realm of rare. To find the holder is even more of a challenge. Perhaps as equally scarce is the box these came in. I had the chance to purchase one once, but the price was just too much. Maybe some day I’ll find another.
Esterbrook Mammoth Falcon
The combination of this dip pen nib being extremely large, the need for a special holder which Esterbrook actually made, and it’s scarcity make it a desirable and fun pen to collect. This is why this is one of my favorite pens.
Ink it up!
Brian & Lisa