Question About A 3668 Nib And Pen

October 9, 2015

I have this Transitional J:

Here is the nib:

Here are a few other designs of the same nib. Note the starburst pattern and breather hole differences.

Pictured credited to Readymade in this FPN thread here:

Can anyone shed some light on an approximate date for the pen?

Also, maybe what it might be valued at? I restored it, so it is talc'd, sacced, and polished up if that might matter. Not intending to sell it now, so mostly just curious about it.

Thanks in advance.

October 9, 2015

I have bought this for $33 on ETSY.

Edited October 9, 2015 by Lamyrada

October 10, 2015

Good question, not sure why the difference in nibs.

But I'd pay $33 just for the nib and be happy at the deal I got.

The pen is worth maybe $30, but add that 3XXX nib and it's probably worth around $60-$75.

****This is just my opinion based on what I've seen in my relatively short time as an Esty collector, others may have better more accurate info****

Edited October 10, 2015 by jdllizard

October 10, 2015

As near as I could figure (based on advertising, and without an actual period catalog to verify), the "transitional" with 3-ribbed cap jewel began showing up near or in the last year of WWII (1944-1945).

The first model to use the 3-ribbed jewel was the "twist filler", and it came in 1943. I guessed that wartime restrictions on the use of steel began relaxing in 1944, so the Company started moving into the J-series design then, using the older flat-bottom Dollar-pen barrel design, merged with the new streamlined cap, introduced on the twist-filler.

The 3x nibs are earlier, around 1938. I believe the "teardrop" breather hole is the earlier design.

HTH

October 10, 2015

I have a NOS 3668 nib, like the one on the right, sitting in my white Dollar pen. I got the nib for $30, with the original box. As Hobiwan noted, the pen and nib don't match historically, so that may be a factor in the value. You might get better value by matching pens and nibs chronologically.