Esterbrook #280 J Fine Points

Description:

Name(s): “J” Fine Points, “J”
Shape: Straight
Finishes: Black
Tip: Pointed
Prices: ¢

Comments:

A “J” pen, which was a popular style in Europe, especially the UK. These are generally responsive and smooth writers. Even the “fine” ones are a little broader than normal pens, but much smoother to write with, hence their popularity.
“J” pens were never really popular in the US. I don’t know of another US manufacturer who made a “J” pen. Would love to proven wrong.
The “J” on the pen was made by grinding off the black, tar coating from the letter, and is a common practice on UK “J” pens.

Other Images:

1890 Esterbrook Pens and What They Will Do

1926 Esterbrook Catalog

1938 Esterbrook Catalog

A William Mitchell “J” pen from the UK. You can see the how Esterbrook was copying this older style.

An early J Pen box, before they differentiated between Broad and Fine.

References:

The existence of this pen is confirmed or surmised by the following:

Listed in the c1890 Esterbrook Pens and What They Will Do
Listed in the 1926 Esterbrook Catalog: while I got this from another source, it appears that this pdf may originally be from the collection of the Pen Collectors of America, or from the same source from which they got their scan.
Listed in the 1938 Esterbrook Pens Catalog
Listed in the 1941-42 Esterbrook Pen Catalog: from the Pen Collectors of America library of resources.

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