To Pen a pun is often done
But he who tries in truth be wise,
Should Scan close then the stamp on pen
If Esterbrook across it lies.

The Esterbrook Steel Pen Factory, the first of its kind in America was established at the foot of Cooper Street in 1858, by Ricahrd Esterbrook. Two or Three attempts had been made before this time to manufacture pens in the United States, but they had proven to be failures. There were no men in this country learned in the pen trade and no suitable machinery, so it was necessary to design and build all machines. Only fifteen people were on the first payroll, but the growth of the company has been a steady one. The buildings have been added tp from time to time and in 1912 a five-story concrete building was erected nearly doubling the size of the plant. Automatic Machines have replaced hand work, and the output greatly increased.

The original Esterbrook factory was built right over the old Camden Water Works and for many years the scrap was dumped into the reservoir. A part of the original stand pipe is still carefully guarded by the company. Where the present new bnuilding joins the old brick building was the original Ferry Dock, and the company had great difficulty in getting the piles for the new building down through the logs that were used as a foundtation for the Ferry Slip. It is hard to visulaize that where Locke's old factory is (now wned by the Victor Talking Machine Company) was open water and the Pen Company kept its boats anchored there.

The output of the Esterbrook Factory has grown from a small beginning to a production of over 216,000,000 pens a year. These are shipped to every country in the world. None of the original group of men connected with the plant are living, but Charles Bowden has been continuously with the company practically sixty years.

Esterbrook Obituary found in the Atlanta October 12th, 1895

The Pen Man is Dead

Richard Esterbrook, the first manufacturerof Steel Pens, Dies. New York, October 11, Camden New Jersey special says that Richard Esterbrook, founder of the first stell pen manufactory in the United States, and manufacturer of the Esterbrook pens, died in this city last evening. He had been ill several weeks with a complication of diseases and his advanced age rndered recovery impossible. He was a member of the Society of Friends. He came from England and established his factory in 1860 in a little frame building on the site of the present big establishment, which employs nearly 400 hands.

Richard Esterbrook Obituary, found in the New York Times, October 13th 1895

Richard Esterbrook, President of the Esterbrook Steel Pen Manufacturing company, died at Camden, New Jersey, Friday night. He was eighty-three years old. He was born in Liskard County of Cornwall, England, and on coming to this side of the water located in Canada. He shortly afterward moved to Camden.