Fountain Pen Companies - Fascinating Early History

Below are listed some interesting facts about someParker was able to improve the flow of the ink,
of the companies who have made majorsolving his students problems, and for the next 30
contributions to the development of the fountain pen.years worked on fountain pen designs. He also
Most of these companies share some things indesigned a lever type filling system.
common. First, many of the fountain pens theyMontblanc -- A fountain pen company located in
created are highly sought after by people who collectGermany, the Montblanc name is known around the
antique fountain pens because they are a high qualityworld. They have been making some of the best
and are also miniature works of art. Additionally,known pens in the world since 1908. In addition to
many of these companies have been around forfountain pens, they also lend their name to other
over 100 years, so they are not new businesses.luxury items like fragrances and eye wear. There are
W. A. Sheaffer Pen Company -- The Sheaffer penthose who accuse Montblanc of sacrificing the quality
company was established in 1912. But five yearsof their pens and just relying on their marketing
earlier, in 1907, is when the real story began. Theefforts. However, the vintage fountain pens made by
Sheaffer brand is one of the best known names inMontblanc are still generally very highly sought after
the fountain pen industry.by those who collect antique fountain pens.
At that time fountain pens were very messy andThe Montblanc company believes that there are
inconvenient to refill. You basically took an eyecounterfeit Montblanc pens being sold on the internet,
dropper and dripped ink directly into the reservoir.and they will not allow their official dealers to sell this
Walter Sheaffer didn't like this method and startedway. Critics of the company maintain that it is just a
experimenting with other possibilities. He wanted toway that they can artificially inflate the retail price of
develop something that would be simple and easy totheir fountain pens.
use.Waterman -- Louis Waterman got a patent in 1884
The result of his experiments was the developmentfor a unique system of getting the ink onto paper.
of the first lever filling fountain pen for which he gotHis process involved channeling the ink down the
a U.S. patent in 1908. His invention was a small metalback side of the nib. Many people believe the
lever that could fill the reservoir of the pen directlyWaterman fountain pens are some of the finest
from the bottle of ink.made anywhere in the world. Although the company
Pelikan -- Since 1838 (170 years!) the Pelikan companywas started in the United States the manufacturing
has been in business. Gunther Wagner bought theof the fountain pens is now done in Paris, France.
original factory in 1871 when it was first just an inkHe sold his fountain pens on a very small scale until
and paint operation. Wagner's family crest was usedWorld War I. After that his sales took off and today
as the inspiration for the logo and the name.the company has a name that is one of the most
The company manufactured its first fountain pen inrecognized in the industry. Their fountain pens are
1929. They introduced a new system for refilling thevery reliable and have a reputation for writing
fountain pen with ink, called a differential plunger. Thisperfectly every time.
was a new piston filling system that was highlyOmas -- Each pen that comes from the Omas
reliable. Pelikan is well known for its high standards offactory is hand made. The fountain pens are thought
workmanship and nibs that are top quality. The nib ofby many to be among the finest luxury fountain pens
each fountain pen is shaped and polished and thencreated. Each pen can take up to 100 days to be
for quality control, is written in by hand.made, and attention is paid to the finest details, so it
Parker -- In a way the Parker Pen Company is similaris no wonder that their vintage fountain pens are so
to the Sheaffer Pen Company in that both werehighly regarded. The nibs of their pens produce a high
created to solve a problem with the quality of writingquality of calligraphy because they are extremely
instruments. The company history traces back moreflexible. Established in 1925 in Italy, Omas set their
than 100 years. George Parker was an instructor, andexpectation of extremely high standards at the point
he would teach his students how to operate thewhen the business was founded.
telegraph. He observed his students grumbling aboutAll of these companies have fascinating stories behind
the ink as it flowed from their fountain pens.the pens they created. Many vintage fountain
Sometimes there was too much ink and often therecollectors prefer one brand over the other, and you
was no flow at all. Parker was particularly tuned intocan bet that a lot of these pen manufacturers will be
this because he was already working for anothercreating pens throughout the next 100 years. They
fountain pen company, in addition to teaching thehave given their best and are loved by the collectors
telegraph. He was selling fountain pens to earn extrawho acquire vintage fountain pens as a hobby.
money.