Penmakers of the early 20th century offered a variety of different finishes for their nibs, of which the most prized were always the gold-plated pens. Brandauer took a unique branding approach in calling these gold-plated stub pens “Electro Gilt,” an antiquated name for the process of electroplating that makes gold-coated nibs possible. Unique trade names and elaborate descriptions were all part of the competitive world of early-to-midcentury penmaking.

These stub nibs are called “J pens,” with the letter J stamped into each one. They were very popular nibs, used everywhere because they are smooth and broad (thus, easy to use). J pens, which were made by a number of different companies, are even mentioned by name in a couple of Sherlock Holmes stories.

We estimate that this pen is 80+ years old. Thanks to the protective coating applied to all dip pens (even new ones produced today), they are in excellent vintage condition. They’ve been checked for rust and other defects by our experts and are ready to return to service on your desk.

As with any dip pen, you will need to remove the protective coating so that ink will stick to the nib consistently. To remove the coating, simply dip your new pen in ink a couple of times and wipe it off. Repeat until the ink coats the nib completely and doesn’t bead up. This process takes about 15 seconds and only needs to be done once, before you use the pen for the first time.

Sold individually. Made in England.