Some of the oldest around...
Pelikan 1832
Pelikan is a German, yet Swiss-incorporated manufacturer of fountain pens
and other writing, office and art equipment, credited with the
invention of the differential-piston filling method. Their "true"
history began with the model "100" and the modified 100N (both fountain
pens), which sparked the genesis of the company's distinctive styling.
A T Cross 1846
For more than 166 years, Cross has re-invented writing instruments,
combining design ingenuity with jewelry-quality craftsmanship. We were
America's first manufacturer of quality writing instruments, and that
means that we've been making pens people use, depend on and enjoy for a
long time.
Diamine inks 1864
Ink Manufacturer's since 1864 Diamine Inks relocated to this purpose built
'state of the art' factory in Liverpool in 1925, where they successfully carried
on using the traditional methods and formulas for ink production. Over the years
the company was taken over many times and relocated yet again, but throughout
the DIAMINE TRADE MARK and production methods survived symbolising the finest
quality in Fountain Pen Inks, Calligraphy Ink, Drawing Ink and Writing Inks.
Waterman 1884
The initial years of Waterman's involvement in pen manufacturing are
unclear. The earliest records of reservoir pens date back to the tenth
century, with the oldest surviving examples dating back to the 18th.
Waterman's improvements on basic pen design and aggressive marketing
played a vital role in making the fountain pen a mass-market object.
The key novelty feature of Waterman's first fountain pens was the
feed, for which his first pen-related patent was granted in 1884. From
the beginning, competition in the fountain pen industry was fierce, both
in the marketplace and the courtroom. Despite later company literature
that depicts Lewis E. Waterman as a golden-hearted innocent, all
evidence indicates that he was a tough, savvy, and innovative
businessman.
Parker 1888
George Safford Parker, the founder, had previously been a sales agent for the John Holland Gold Pen Company. He received his first fountain pen related patent in 1889. In 1894 Parker received a patent on his "Lucky Curve" feed, which was claimed to draw excess ink back into the pen body when the
pen was not in use. The Lucky Curve feed was used in various forms until
1928.
Sheaffer 1908
The year: 1912. The place: Fort Madison, Iowa. Walter A. Sheaffer takes
his grand idea of a pen-filling apparatus that utilizes a lever system
and, with his life savings, founds the W.A. Sheaffer company.
Pilot/Namiki 1918
The first PILOT pen was launched in Japan
in 1918. At this time, the country was opening up to Western
influence and was importing European techniques. Trade agreements
and contracts were being concluded and the Japanese, whose
writing was not very adapted to the demands of commercial
trade, quickly had to simplify the lines of their ideograms.
Many pen factories were set up in the Land of the Rising
Sun at this time.
Lamy 1952
In the evolution of Lamy from a small Heidelberg writing implement
factory to the market leader and brand manufacturer of international
significance, the birth of the Lamy design brand in 1966 was without
doubt the most important milestone.
