Esterbrook Merges with Venus Pen and Pencil

In November 1967, we became part of Venus Pen and Pencil Corporation, bringing Esterbrook's long period as an independent pen manufacturer to an end. Camden historical records date the merger to November, while contemporary trade reporting described the transaction as a merger of the two writing-instrument businesses. The combined operation became known as Venus-Esterbrook. The transaction brought together two established American writing-instrument companies. Esterbrook contributed its fountain pens, writing points and other pen products, while Venus had a substantial business in pencils and related writing instruments. By this time, Esterbrook had already left its century-old Camden factory for Cherry Hill and had broadened its range with ballpoints, felt-tip products and newer fountain pens as the market moved away from the products that had historically formed its core business. The merger represented a fundamental change in Esterbrook's corporate history. The Esterbrook name and products continued under the combined organization, but the independently operated company descended from Richard Esterbrook's 19th-century steel-pen enterprise had ceased to exist as a separate business. Venus-Esterbrook itself would undergo another ownership change several years later.