About Pen Companies
Frequently I have been asked to provide information on contacting pen manufacturers. Below is information on various pen companies. If the contact information becomes out-of-date I would appreciate an e-mail so that I can keep the information current. I hope this information is helpful. .
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Alfred Dunhill
Alfred Dunhill started business in 1893, with the company located in London, England. Dunhill designed a range of products. He invented the pocket cigarette lighter. The products eventually included pens with the first Dunhill pen in 1929. The Dunhill Torpedo has an aerodynamic shape and became a classic. Pens are known for their 18 carat gold nib, each individually cut, ground and finished by hand. In 1977 Dunhill acquired a majority shareholding of Montblanc and then took over the company in 1985. Dunhill is party of Richemont AB Swiss Luxury Good group that holds a range of high-end pen lines that includes Cartier, Dunhill, Montblanc, Piaget and Montegrappa... you get the idea.. Dunhill is still managed as a family business.
Ancora
» Ancora
Aurora
» Aurora
Bexley
Bexley Pen Co., Inc. |
2840-B Fisher Road |
Columbus, OH 42304
Howard Levy, Pres.
Customer Service: US Telephone: 888-377-7367
Web Site: www.bexleypen.com
Email: bexlevy@aol.com
Founded
in 1993 in Columbus, Ohio. The founders include pen enthusiasts and the
company produces a range of pens. The Bexley Pen Company was founded in 1993
by a handful of vintage pen enthusiasts. After decades of admiring, collecting,
and restoring vintage writing instruments, the founders decided to use modem
technology to create classic pen designs that are based on some of the best
pen sytles of the past. The pens use different filling
systems.
Caran d'Ache
19, Chemin du Foron - P.O. Box 332
CH-1226 Thônex - Geneva
Switzerland
Tel: +41 (0) 22 869 01 01
Caran
D'Ache North America:
Caran d'Ache | 19 West 24th St. | New York, NY 10011
Bruno B. Loehrer
Customer Service:
US Telephone: 718.482.7500
World: 41.22.869.01.01
Web Site:www.carandache.ch/
Established in 1924 in Thonex-Geneva, Switzerland. It was in 1924 that Arnold Schweitzer
bought the previus Ecridor Pencil Factory, which in turn was founded in 1915,
and changed its name to the Caran d'Ache Swiss Pencil Factory. Then in 1929
the company manufactured the world's first mechanical pencil -- the Fixpencil.
Caran D'Ache did not start making ball point pens until 1953 and fountain pens in 1970. The company is known for its environmental polcies and uses raw materials that can be recyled. The lacquer finishes for Caron D'Ache pens come from sap which is a renewable resource.
A pen of note, Presidents Reagan and Gorbachev used a Caran D'Achen pen in Geneva (1986) to sign one of the treaties that ended the Cold War. (Jacques Hubscherr, CEO, Caran d'Ache).
Cartier
Customer Service:
US Telephone: 800.CARTIER
World: 33.1.42.18.43.83
Website: www.cartier.com
Founded in 1847 in Paris, France the company is a renowned jewelry company of which include pens. Although some pens were made prior to 1910, it is at that date the company marketed a ranges of pens. Cartier is part of the Richemont AB Swiss Luxury Good group that holds a range of high-end pen lines that includes Dunhill, Montblanc, Piaget and Montegrappa.
Classic Pens
Classic Pens | 660 Orange Street | Los Angeles, CA 90048-4609
Customer Service: Tel: 323.658.7367 | Fax: 323.658.8886
Web Site: www.classicpensinc.com
Founded in 1987 by Andreas Lambrou and Keith G. Brown. The company creates exclusive exclusive fountain pens. In 1990 the first Classic Pens CP series of limited edition pens started with the Targa By Sheaffer CP1. Books published include Fountain Pens Vintage and Modern and Fountain Pens of the World.
Columbus
In 1918 the company was founded in Milan, Italy by Alfredo Verga and his brother Eugenio. The company produced a range of pens, nibs and fountain pen ink. Their first pen, the Columbus Safety Pen No. 1, was made out of black ebonite. Rocky times were in store for the company. The factory was destroyed during WW I. The hiers returned to Milan and updated the brank. The company is now one of the recognized high level Italian pens.
Conklin
28 Harrison Ave, Suite 215
Englishtown, NJ 07726
Tel 732-446-7778 Fax 732-446-7760
email: info@conklinpen.com
Web Site: www.conklinpen.com
Conklin's name was established back in 1898. An inventor, Roy Conklin, developed the Cresent Filler. A pen that was self-filling. The pen was a big success. Today the continues to produce both limited and regular edition pens most based on original styles.
Conway Stewart & Company Limited
2 & 3 Haxter Close
Belliver Estate, Plymouth PL6 7DD, England
Tel: 44 (0)1752 776776 Fax: 44 (0)1752 772333
Customer Service: US Telephone 770.692.0988
Web Site: www.conwaystewart.com/
Founded in 1905 in England the pen has an important historical background. Well established in Britain. Of course Winston Churchill (one of the most popular models is the Churchil Limited Edition) and Tony Blair have used Conway Stewart pens. Every Conway Stewart pen bears its own unique serial number. The pens are know for their great colours and very smooth-writing nibs. Nib come in a range of styles such as extra fine, fine, medium, broad, fine italic, medium italic, broad italic and double broad italic.
A.T. Cross
A.T. Cross Co. | One Albion Road | Lincoln, RI 02865
Charles (Dick) Rizzo Telephone: (800)-452-9312 Ext. 2489 | Fax: (401)-334-4590
Web Site: www.cross.com
Customer Service: US 800-AT-CROSS
The company, one of the oldest in the United States. Commonly stated as starting in 1846, that date is actually the birth date of Alonzo Townsend Cross. The company was founded by Richard Cross and Edward Bradbury whom both came from England and at some point in the 1830's they were making jewerly and pencils..
The A.T. stands for "Alonzo Townsend". Cross and he registered aver 20 US patents in 1873 marking read advances in pens and pencils. For example it was A.T. Cross that held the patent on the propel-repel mechanical pencil which was the forerunner the mechanical pencils used today. In addition, Cross's "Stylographic" pen is considered to be the precursor of to-day's ball-point pen.
In 1881 the company established its first manufacturing centre in Providence which remained until 1958. In 1964 the company moved its head office and factory to Lincoln, Rhode Island.
In 1916 Walter Boss, the company's top sales person, was offered the option of purchasing the business. Boss, and later with his sons Ellery and Russell, lead the company in a range of developments. The company only went into world-wide marketing in 1962 and in 1971 became a public company. Headquarters are in Lincoln, RI.
Curtis Australia
Located in Australia. Represented in the US by
Montague Luxuries LLC
Telephone: 201 891 8700
email: markcmontague@aol.com
I can't speak on a personal basis as I have never used their pens, but they have an established history, over 45 years in luxury product design and manufacture and stand as Australia's only pen maker. Many of their pen lines are made from solid sterling silver or gold. Their products are available for viewing on their website: www.curtisaustralia.com
Delta
Delta srl | via F.lli Cervi, 21 | 81030 Parete (CE)- ITALY
Telephone:++39 081 503 0251 | Fax:++39 081 503 6028
Customer Service: US Telephone 818.704.8888
Web Site: www.deltapen.it
Formed in 1982 by Nino Marino,
Ciro Matrone and Mario Muscente and based in Parete, Italy. The company
ias earned a good reputation. In 1997 they introduced the Delta Coliseum limited edition - the yellow-orange body and black cap.
Eine Marke der helit innovative Büroprodukte GmbH
Osemundstraße 23-25
58556 Kierspe Germany
Customer Service:
Sven Meister
Phone: (+49) 2359 - 905 160
email:
meister@helit.de
Founded in 1922 in Stuttgart, Germany. A small company. The company and in 1981 it became part of IMCO J. Michaelis. They also make pens under other names.
S.T. Dupont
North America:
S.T. DuPont Inc. | 1601 Trapelo Road Waltham | MA 02154
Alain de Charette
Telephone: (800)-341-7003
Customer Service: US Telephone 800.341.7003
The company started in 1872 in Paris, France. Its first pens appeared in 1973. Dupont lacquer pens are well known, the lacquer shop, located in Faverges, France is closed to the public and Dupont is secretive about the process. The sap, from the Phus vernicifera, a tree native to Asian countries, is filtered, matured and coloured according to a process known only within the family. Pens have 8-12 coats of lacquer applied. Each applied, polished and re polished by hand.
Service Contact:
S.T. DUPONT
Service Department
1425 Cranston St.
Cranston, RI 02920
www.st-dupont.com
Telephone:
(800) 341-7003
Faber-Castell
A.W.Faber-Castell USA
438 Main Street | Bedminster | NJ 07921
877-872-3223
Customer Service: US Telephone: 800.311.8684
One of the oldest company around, founded in 1761 in Stein, Germany. The company started with production of high-quality wooden pencils and pencil cases. It is now part of an international group headed by Count von Faber-Castell -- the 8th generation of Fabers. Their first pens were sold around 1908.
En Blacon
CH-1167 Lussy-sur-Morges
Switzerland
phone: 41.21.803.0102
fax: 41.21.803.1929
Having worked with Tiffany & Co. and Alfred Dunhill Jörg has been involved in design for some time. Around 1996 he introducted his own line of pens - ones that have his name (pronounced (hee'sik). Design is important, so traditional aspects of a pen, like the clip, were not included in his lines as the clip impedes the finger.
Contact information available on their Web Site: www.hysek.com
Lamy
Managing director: Dr. Manfred Lamy
Customer Service: US Telephone 800.345.6798
Web Site: www.lamy.com
Josef Lamy founded the company in 1929 and the company still remains in the family with his son, Manfred Lamy heading the firm. Lamy's first fountain pens were manufactured in 1930 in Heidelberg, Germany. The first pen, to carry the Lamy name was produced in 1952. Known for design the pens has a distinctive look. It was one of the first lines of pens that I bought. Even their ink bottles look great!
LeBoeuf
Web Site: http://leboeufpens.com
Originally founded April 28, 1921in Springfield, Massachusetts bya group of men: Frank LeBoeuf, Edward E. LeBoeuf, Leroy J. Learned, John H Williams and Eugene E. LeBoeuf . The company went bankrupt in 1933. In 1993 the name was purchased and by 1995 the new company commenced producing pens.
Marlen
KRONE USA and Canada
Customer Service Tel: 847.215.0011 | Fax: 847.215.0013
International Enquiries:
Tel: +39.081.8918829 | Fax: +39.081.5012505
Web Site: http://www.marlenpen.com
A 21 year old company, located in S. Aprio, north of Naples in Southern Italy. Mario and Antonio Esposito are the two directors that head this create pen company.
MACKINNON PENS
6 Ifoldhurst
Ifold, Billingshurst
West Sussex, England
Tel: +44 1403 752783
Web Site: http://www.mackinnonpens.com
After making pens for various pen companies for a number of years, David MacKinnon has established his own company to produce his line of pens - MacKinnon Pens. In 2006 the company introduced its limited edition Honeycombe pens. The line is limited to 75 pieces, 50 fountain pens and 25 roller ball pens.
MONTBLANC INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Telephone: +49-(0)40-84.001-0 | Telefax: +49-(0)40-84.001-300
(service@montblanc.com)
Montblanc Customer Service Canada
4610 Eastgate Parkway, Unit 1 | Missisauga, Ontario L4W 3W6
Telephone: +1- 905 602 1262
Montblanc Customer Service USA
252 Broadheard Road | Suite 500 | Bethlehem, PA 18017
1.800.995.4810
Web Site: www.montblancrefills.com
Company founded in Hamburg, Germany in 1908 under the name: Simplo Filler Pen Company. In the earliest years the new company may have assembled pens from components made by others. The now famous pen name, Montblanc first appear in 1911 or 1912, when the name Montblanc was registered. In the earlier days the cap tip was white. It was a few years after that the six-pointed star appeared. It was in 1924 the company established lines of pens, with the Masterpiece (Meisterstück) having the number 4810, the height in meters of Mont Blanc appearing on the nib. In 1934 the company changed its name to Montblanc Simplo GmbH. In 1977 Alfred Dunhill obtained controlling interest. US distribution was assigned to Koh-I-Noor. Montblanc USA was later created. Montblanc does not sell its products over the Internet, but you can order refills for Montblanc pens through their web site. Montblanc is part of the Richemont AB Swiss Luxury Good group that holds a range of high-end pen lines that includes Cartier, Dunhill, and Montegrappa.
Montegrappa
Montblanc Service Center
2152 Broadhead Road, Suite 500
Bethlehem, PA 18017
Telephone: 800-995-4810
Web Site: www.montegrappa1912.com
Elmo-Montegrappa was founded in 1912 at Bassano del Grappa, in Italy, by the union of the German engineer Heinrich Helm and the Veneto businessman Alessandro Marzotto. They dedicated themselves to the realization of pens that were valued for their unsurpassed quality. In 1978 a new era was decreed for Montegrappa. The Aquila family took over the company and initiated the production of writing instruments destined to be ever more exclusive. Today Montegrappa pens are valued globally for their excellent quality, exclusive design, functionality and the ancient tradition that has distinguished them since 1912.
Montegrappa, in November 2000 became part of the Richemont AB Swiss Luxury Good group that holds a range of high-end pen lines that includes Cartier, Dunhill and Montblanc.
That means they have a high-end marketing approach. Their pens are no longer found on the Internet. Purchase is face-to-face and with dealers designated to sell their products.
Some of the former Montegrappa folks have started a new pen company, Signum.
Omas
USA
c/o LVMH Watch & Jewelry USA
After Service Division
966 South Springfield Avenue
Springfield, NJ 07081
Tel: 866.273.3469
Fax: 973.912.0267
Customer Service: 800.321.4832
Web Site: www.omas.net
Armando Simoni first started repairing pens, and then progressed to a full factory producing its own pens. The company was been around since 1925 and is located in Italy. Simoni died in 1958 and son-in-law Angelo Malagtuti and wife Raffaella took over the company. Raffaella became the present of the company in 1987 and Gianluca Malaguit, grandon of Armando Simoni held the position of Commercial Sales Director - so there has always been a family connection to the running of the company. Rooted in Italy, the original factory, was actually built in 1924 and located at Orbi Street in Bologna with a new factory also in Bologna opening in 1979.
OMAS is an acronym for "Officina Meccanica Armando Simoni: -- that means the workshop of Armando Simoni; the founder of the company. The family is involved in the running of the company to this day. The OMAS web site contains complete information about the background of the company.
The company is known for quality pens, and pens that take time to make. The curing of celluloid, used in a number of the Omas lines, takes over 300 days in itself. (Celluloid is a vegetable derivative made by combining cellulose with nitric acid and camphore. The curing is very important as if not cured properly, celluloid can lose moisture and shrink. So there is a very detailed process of firing and cooling the celluloid.) The company trains their staff extensively - three years to really learn how to polish the pens in their factor.
The well known Paragon has been produced since 1932.
Parker
Parker Pen Service Centre | 2200 Foster Avenue | P.O. Box 5100 | Janesville, WI 53547-5100
Phone: 1-800-237-8736 | Fax: 1-608-755-7227
Web Site: http://www.parkerpen.com
Founded by George Parker, he started repairing pens and then making his own in 1889. The famous "Lucky-Curve" feed was patent in 1894 -- it meant that when a pen was carried upright the ink would not flood through the nib. It was drain back into the reservoir. Thus, Parker became known as the "clean pen". Parker became part of the Gillette stationary group, along with Waterman -- the stationery group to be sold again to Sanford.
Pelikan
Customer Service 800.628.1910
Web Site: http://www.pelikan.de
The company actually dates back to 1832 when Karl Hornemann, an art teacher, developed his own artist colours. Later, Günther Wagner, a chemist, joined the firm. Eight year later, Günther bought the company and established his family crest -- a pelican feeding its chicks -- as the company logo. Wagner moved to company into the production of inks for writing and drawing. He passed on the management of the company to his son-in-law Fritz Beindorff in 1895. Later, in 1925 the company launched the Pelikan No 100 - the first workable piston filler fountain pen.
Ownership of the company changed and the Malaysia-based Pelikan Holding owns the majority of the shares in the company.
The company introduced in 1929 the classic green and black striped pen is known as the "Stresemann". They entered the era of the limited edition pen with the Blue Ocean model in 1993.
Chartpack includes information on Pelikan pen repairs.
Platinum
1005 Mansel Road, Suite A |
Roswell GA 30076
Customer Service Tel: 1.800.887.5886 |
Tel: 770.998.9894 |
Fax: 770.992.0288
Founded in 1919, one of Japan's leading pen manufacturers. One of their most known
pens, the 3776, is named so as that is the height of Mt. Fuji in meters.
Pilot
Pilot Pen Corporation of America
Customer Service Department | 60 Commerce Drive | Trumbull, Connecticut 06611 USA
Customer Service Tel: 203.381.4808
Web Site: www.pilotpen.com
Founded in 1918, Pilot Corporation is the oldest and largest manufacturer of writing instruments based in Japan. Pilot became the trade name of the original Namiki company. When launching its pens in the United States the company wanted to have a separate brand name and they went back to the founding company's name - Namiki.
Quill
Quill's parent company, T & T Manufacturing, started making pencil mechanisms back in 1945. By acquiring Quill in 1972 the entry into a fuller range of writing instruments was underway.
Recife
RECIFE Writing Instruments
Attention: Pierre Fay
P.O. Box 2314 | 5 Crystal Lake Drive | Orleans, MA 02653
Customer Service: Tel: 508.240.3075 | Fax: 800.647.1882
Web Site: www.recife.fr
Founded in 1987 with its head office at Meudon la Forêt, Cedex, France. Leo Smaga and Stephen Arnal founded the the company. Pens are designed in-house. The web site is a bit slow to load. Be patient. Available in English and French.
Retro 1951, Inc.
Retro 1951 Inc. | 1306 Exchange Drive | Richardson, TX 75081
Telephone: 972-479-1405
Customer Service: 800.466.1951
e-mail (stipula@retro51.com)
Web Site:
Retro produces the Tornado pens.
Rotring
Customer Service: 800.BEST.PEN
Established in 1928 in Hamburg, Germany. The company acquired the American distribution company Koh-I-Noor.
Sheaffer
United States:
Sheaffer, Inc. | 301 Ave. | H Ft. Madison, Iowa 52627
Information: Telephone: 319-372-3300 | Fax: 319-372-7539
Repair: Telephone: 800.FINE.PEN
Canada:
Sheaffer Pen Inc. | 6700 Century Ave. - Suite 104 | Mississauga, Ontario L5N 2V8
Telephone: 905-542-1910 | Fax: 905-542-1911
United Kingdom:
Sheaffer Pen, Ltd. | Maylands Ave. | Hemel Hempstead Herts HP2 7ER
Telephone: 0442-233411 | Fax: 0442-233022
Germany:
Sheaffer Pen Vertriebs GmbH | Postfach 64 66 97014 | Wurxburg Spessartstrabe 59 97-85 Wurzbury
Telephone: 0931 41 61 97 Fax: 0931 41 61 85
Web Site: www.sheaffer.com
Founded by Walter A. Sheaffer in Fort Madison, Iowa, in the backroom of his jewelry store. Started producing their own pens in 1912 and in 1913 the company had seven employees. The company is known for a number of important design aspects of fountain pens including the first practical lever filling fountain pen. That earned Walter Sheaffer a U.S. patent in August of 1908. Today it may seem like a small thing, but at the time it was significant. A single stroke of a slim metal lever is used to fill the pen reservoir directly from the ink bottle. No more hand filling pens with eye droppers!.
Enthusiastic response was met, Sheaffer risked his life savings to establish the W.A. Sheaffer Pen Company in 1912.
In 1966 Sheaffer became part of Textron Inc. and in 1976 a division of the Eaton Paper Com. The company was next taken over by BIC.
Signum
Penne Signum | via S. Andrea, 20 | 26061 Bassano del Grappa
Tel: 0424.566226
Customer Service: US Telephone 877.754.6867
Web Site: www.stipulausa.com
e-mail: essegi@pennesign.it
North American Distributor
Empire Writing Instruments, Ltd. | 34 Waldorf Court | Brooklyn, New York 11230
Web Site: www.empirepens.com/
The company is located in Bassano del Grappa and has been producing pens since 1979.
Customer Service: 800.835.3232
Web Site: www.tombowusa.com/
The US company is owned by Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan. In the US since 1983, and in operation in Japan since 1913 the company started as an manufacturer of wood-cased lead and coloured pencils.
Wahl, and adding machine company, acquired Eversharp Pencil Company and began the business of writing instruments. In 1957 Eversharp sold its writing-instrument division to Parker.
