Sheaffer Stratowriter Adapter

The early Sheaffer Stratowriter ballpoint pens, first introduced in 1946, were beautiful, well-made writing instruments that are unequaled in quality and appearance even today. However, the early ballpoint refills were not very good – they skipped and leaked – and the original refill was discontinued within a few years. No compatible refill has been made for years, so these great old pens have been useless.

My friend Peter Chapman (aka Tofty) and I thought it would be great to be able to bring them back to full functionality with an adapter that let you use a modern, smooth-writing ballpoint refill. So we developed this 3D printed adapter – an exact match for the original Stratowriter refill – into which you insert a modern D1 (mini) refill.

With the adapter, I carry my Stratowriter every day to use when a fountain pen just isn’t the right choice.

Our adapter fits both the RA-1 retractable and the capped Stratowriters that match the fountain pens of the era. All that is necessary to use the adapter is to remove the old refill, insert the new D1 refill into the adapter, and insert the adapter into the pen. No widgets, no fiddling around with pieces made from old ink cartridges, Q-tips, or other kludges…just insert the adapter exactly as the original refill was inserted.

The adapter is a print to order item at Shapeways.  You can place your order for one or many adapters there and Shapeways will print them and mail them to you.  The entire process takes less than two weeks, including shipping time.  You then add the D1 refill and your Stratowriter is ready to write.

NOTE: I usually have a few of the adapters on hand and you can order them direct from me. Please email me if you want to buy. Price is $8 each, plus mailing cost.

My favorite D1 refill is the Uni Jetstream SXR-200-07, 0.7mm, or SXR-200-05, 0.5mm, which is available online from Jetpens.com or from several sellers on eBay.  The Montverde and Schmidt refills are very good and usually available at local office supply stores.

To visit my store on Shapeways, click this link: Stratowriter Adapter

If you have a question about the adapter, please email me: BamaPen@jehubbard.com

The gallery shows the pens, the adapter, and the D1 refill. Click any picture to open the gallery for larger views:

 

Esterbrook Ballpoint Adapter

In the 1950s, Esterbrook made ballpoint pens that matched their J series fountain pens and pencils.  The ballpoints were the FJ and the Wordathon.  Those pens used a very unusual proprietary refill that has not been made for many years and no currently available refill works in these pens, leaving them useless.

To address this problem, an adapter has been created using 3D modeling and printing.  The adapter accepts a standard D1 (mini) refill which is readily available at most office supply outlets.  It has proven to be very popular and now more than one hundred of the Esterbrook ballpoints have been brought back to life.

The adapter is a print to order item at Shapeways.  You can place your order for one or many adapters there and Shapeways will print them and mail them to you.  The entire process takes less than two weeks, including shipping time.  You then add the D1 refill and your Esterbrook is ready to write.

NOTE: I usually have a few of the adapters on hand, and you can order them directly from me. Price is $8 each, plus mailing cost. Email me if you want to buy direct.

My favorite D1 refill is the Uni Jetstream SXR-200-07, 0.7mm, or SXR-200-05, 0.5mm, which is available online from Jetpens.com or from several sellers on eBay.  The Montverde and Schmidt refills are very good and usually available at local office supply stores.

To visit my store on Shapeways, click this link: Esterbrook Adapter

If you have a question about the adapter, please email me: BamaPen@jehubbard.com

Here’s a link to a review of the adapter by Brad Dowdy, “The Pen Addict”:

https://www.penaddict.com/blog/2018/5/28/modernizing-the-esterbrook-fj-ballpoint

and another one by Jesi Coles on “The Well-Appointed Desk”:

https://www.wellappointeddesk.com/2018/06/vintage-review-esterbrook-ballpoint-pen-brought-back-to-life/

Here are some pictures of my Esterbrook FJ with its original refill and the adapter. Click on either image to open the gallery for larger views:

 

Esterbrook FJ with D1 refill, adapter, and original refill

Esterbrook FJ with assembled adapter and original refill