Fountain Pen Chronology

[simp]

The following is a fountain pen chronology of events that I wrote trying to summarize all the information I got about brands, models, technical innovation and materials. That information is distributed in the single pages dedicated to single brands and models of the www.fountainpen.it site, but I also tried to have it summarized in a single page.

 

My site is in Italian, because I'm not good enough to write it in english, but I tried to maintain at least the chronology also in english, so that more people could use it, if they like. The original and updated version of this list is maintained (as wiki) in this page of the above site.

 

The information of this chronology is about the main brands of fountain pen producers, american, european and japanese for which I have a dedicated page. It also starts from the earlier time but because I'm only interested in old fountain pens, there very little, if nothing, on the actual models and brand.

 

I hope that this list of events will be useful, but I cannot give any warranty about precision. All information is obtained form books, research on the few catalogues copies and ADs I got, and internet. In the most part of it the list should be correct, but there are some uncertainty and probably a lot of errors, that I hope some more knowledgeable people will correct.

 

You can also probably find a lot of poor english: I'm sorry, I tried to do best in my limited knowledge...

 

Regards

Simone

 

 

==== Fountain Pen Chronology ====

 

1761

 

* Kaspar Faber starts a pencil production in Stein, is the beginning of Faber-Castell

 

1832

 

* Carl Hornemann starts a paint production factory, is the beginning of the Pelikan

 

1843

 

* Mabie Todd Swan is founded

 

1846

 

* Richard Cross and E. W. Bradbury begin their activities in the United States

 

1848

 

* Morton is founded

 

1856

 

* Esterbrook is founded as the United States Steel Pen Manufacturing Company

 

1862

 

* Holland is founded

 

1863

 

* Gunter Wagner acquire the Carl Hornemann factory and start using the Pelikan trademark

 

1875

 

* Soennecken is founded

 

1878

 

* Pelikan is registered as trademark

* Johan Faber starts the Johan Faber A. G., part of what will be the Faber-Castell

 

1879

 

* Alonso T. Cross patents the stilographic pen and a new mechanical pencil

 

1881

 

* Cross Pen Company is founded in Boston

 

1883

 

* Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik, that will become Kaweco, is founded

 

1884

 

* Lewis Edson Waterman get the first patent for his feeder

* Paul E. Wirt is founded

 

1885

 

* Cross starts fountain pen production

 

1888

 

* Waterman is incorporated

 

1889

 

* George Stafford Parker get his first patent and starts the Parker Pen Company

* Holland is incorporated

 

1890

 

* Waterman introduces the first desk pen with conical end

 

1892

 

* Waterman introduces the tapered models

* Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik, that will become Kaweco, begins fountain pen production

 

1894

 

* Parker patents the "Lucky Curve" feeder

 

1897

 

* Roy Conklin begins working on fountain pens

* A. A. Waterman is founded (not sure)

 

1898

 

* Alexander Castell renames the A. W. Faber in A. W. Faber-Castell

 

1899

 

* Waterman introduces the n.10 nib and the spoon feed

* Parker patents the Jointless Pen

* Moore is founded as American Fountain Pen Company and launch of the Moore Non-Leakable Fountain Pen

* H. Koch and R. Weber acquire the Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik, that becomes Kaweco

 

1901

 

* Conklin Pen Manufacturing Co is founded, patenting the crescent filler

* Pelikan introduces the Pelikan 4001 inks line

 

1902

 

* Crocker is founded

* A. A. Waterman get the patent for the twist filler

 

1903

 

* Eclipse is founded

 

1904

 

* la Waterman introduces its first overlay model

 

1905

 

* Waterman introduces the riveted Clip Cap

* Onoto is founded

* Frank Jarvis and Thomas H. Garner begin fountain pen production under the name Conway Stewart

* Holland introduces the sleeve filler and the Eureka model

 

1906

 

* Holland introduces the pull filler

 

1907

 

* Waterman introduces its first safety

* Parker introduces the Snake models

 

1908

 

* Montblanc is founded as Simplo Filler Pen Co. GmbH

* Walter A. Sheaffer get the first patent for his lever filler

* Holland introduces the hatchet filler

 

1909

 

* Montblanc introduces the Rouge et Noir model

* Conway Stewart is founded as Conway Stewart & Co. Ltd

* Kaweco patents a safety pen with threaded bottom to be turned by screwing the cap

 

1910

 

* Montblanc introduces the first model called Montblanc

* Waterman introduces the sleeve filler

 

1911

 

* Kaweco publish the first catalog, showing their initial models and the 616, forerunner of the Sport

 

1912

 

* Waterman introduces the coin filler

* Parker introduces the Jack Knife model

* the first fountain pens marked Sheaffer were produced

* Holland retires the hatchet filler

 

1913

 

* Sheaffer is founded as W. A. Sheaffer Pen Company

* Waterman introduces the coin filler

 

1914

 

* Wahl Adding Machine enter the writing instrument market as Eversharp

* Waterman retires the coin filler

* Kaweco acquire Morton, taking their know how and starts its nib production in Heidelberg

 

1915

 

* Waterman introduces the lever filler and retires the sleeve filler

* Holland retires the pull filler

 

1916

 

* Tibaldi is founded

* Conklin introduces its spring clip

* Parker introduces the button filler

 

1917

 

* Waterman introduces the new Waterman Standard Numbering System

* Eversharp introduces the Tempoint model

 

1918

 

* Pilot is founded as Namiki Manufacturing Company

* Columbus is founded

 

1919

 

* Aurora is founded

* Osmia is founded as Böhler und Cie

* Conway Stewart introduces the first lever filler and safety models

* Holland retires the hatchet filler

 

1920

 

* Sheaffer introduces the Lifetime

* Conway Stewart get the The Conway Stewart trademark and introduces the Duro model

* Morton ceases operations

* Ancora is founded

* Holland start using the lever filler

 

1921

 

* Parker introduces the Duolfold

* Wahl Eversharp introduces the Wahl Pen, or Wahl All Metal Fountain Pen

* LeBouef is founded

* Dunn is founded

* Montblanc retires the Rouge et Noir model

* Conklin introduces the first lever filler models

 

1922

 

* Parker adds Junior and Lady models to the Duolfold line

* Sheaffer replaces SHEAFFER-CLIP mark on clips with Sheaffer'S

* Eversharp retires the Tempoint model

* Panici Freres & Co is founded, they will produce the Bayard pens

* Conway Stewart introduces Dinkie, Pixie and Universal models

 

1923

 

* Chilton is founded

* Conklin introduces the Duragraph model

* Sheaffer introduces the White dot

* Waterman introduces the mottled hard rubber

 

1924

 

* Carter enters the fountain pen market

* Chilton introduces its new pneumatic filler

* Dunn get its first bankrupcy filing (?)

* Conklin introduces the Endura model, retiring the Duragraph

* Sheaffer introduces the celluloid, converting the production of its Flattop models to the new material

* Conway Stewart introduces the Dandy model and coloured celluloid, Dinkie and Duropoint become trademarks

* Columbus is registered as trademark

 

1925

 

* la Conklin retires the crescent filler

* OMAS is founded

* la Aurora introduces the Duplex model

* Wirt is sold

* Parker introduces first celluloid Black Tipped Jade models

* KWG (Badische Federhalterfabrik Knust, Woringen & Grube), that will acquire Kaweco, is founded

* Theodore Kovacs invents the piston filler

 

1926

 

* Parker converts all production to celluloid, starting from Duolfold

* Parker introduces Pastel models

* Waterman introduces the rippled hard rubber

* Chilton introduces celluloid models

* Carter starts selling its first fountain pens

* KWG introduces the Arumia pens

* Eversharp introduces the Rosewood hard rubber (???).

 

1927

 

* Waterman introduces the Ripple model in both number 5 and 7

* Waterman introduces the nibs colour classification

* Eversharp introduces celluloid models in the Jade Green, Lapis Blue and Coral Red colours.

* Carter converts its production to celluloid

* Chilton introduces the second version of its pneumatic filler

* OMAS patents the "Penna del dottore"

* Pilot starts producing mechanical pencils

* Moore introduces its first celluloid models

* Bayard introduces its first lever filler models

* Columbus introduces its first celluloid models and patents a spoon filler

* Conway Stewart patents its button filler

* KWG introduces the Arumia Original and the Colleg line

* Dunn ceases operations

 

1928

 

* Parker introduces the True Blue model and acquire Osmia for the european production

* Eversharp introduces the Gold Seal, the Personal Point nibs and the Deco Band model

* KWG introduces the "U" series for the Arumia Original and Arumia Meisterklasse

 

1929

 

* Pelikan introduces 100, the first piston filler

* Waterman introduces the Patrician model in Onyx, Turquoise, Jet, Emerald and Nacre colours

* Sheaffer introduces the Balance

* Parker introduces the Streamlined version of the Duofold and retires the True Blue

* Eversharp introduces the Equipoised model and retires the Wahl Engine Turned pens

* Aurora starts the sub-brands Olo and Asco

* Conklin introduces the Streamlined Symetric model and retire the Flattop Endura

* Carter introduces its Pearltex models

* Columbus patents its spoon filler

* first Kaweco bankrupt, KWG acquire the trademark and the Kaweco Badische Füllhalterfabrik is born

 

1930

 

* Lamy is founded

* LeBouef introduces its sleeve filler

* Aurora introduces the Novum and Optima models

* Cross introduces an enamelled bands fountain pen pairing with pencils

* Parker retires from Osmia and the Osmia Gmbh is founded

* Eversharp introduces the the Brasilian Green celluloid

 

1931

 

* Conklin introduces the Nozac model

* Parker introduces the Quink ink

* Eversharp introduces the Doric model and the Oxford sub-brand

* Sheaffer introduces the Feather Touch nib

* Aurora and Edacoto join in the french market with the Duo Moderne

* Columbus introduces its first lever filler models

* A. W. Faber-Castell and Johan Faber A. G. start to join

 

1932

 

* Parker test the Golden Arrow, the Vacumatic forerunner

* Parker introduces the Trift Time models

* OMAS introduces the Extra model

* Eversharp introduces the Bantham model, the Adjustable Point nibs and retires the Equipoised and Deco Band models

* Sheaffer produces a blue Balance model, only for this year

* Waterman introduces the Moss Agathe Patrician

* Bayard introduces the Special 8 and Superluxe models

* Carter retires from fountain pen market

 

1933

 

* Parker introduces the Vacumatic model and retires Trift Time

* Eversharp produce some Bantham with the Century of Progress Exhibition mark

* LeBouef ceases operations

* Aurora introduces the Superna model

* Conway Stewart introduces the Scribe and International models

* Bayard introduces the Luxe and Superluxe Grosse Containance models

 

1934

 

* Montblanc is renamed in Montblanc-Simplo GmbH

* Parker introduces the economic line Parkette

* Conklin introduces the Word gauge

* Sheaffer introduces the economic brand Wasp

* Aurora introduces the Asterope model

* Panici Freres & Co is renamed Stylo Bayard

* Conway Stewart introduces the Cracked Ice celluloid

* Waterman reduces Patrician colours to Onyx, Moss Agate and Jet only

* Kaweco introduces the Dia model

 

1935

 

* Chilton introduces the Wing-flow model

* Esterbrook introduces the Dollar Pen model

* Parker retires the Duofold

* Sheaffer introduces the Vac-Fill

* Aurora introduces the Etiopia model

* Conway Stewart become a public company, and introduces the diamond clip

* Faber-Castell begins Osmia acquisition

* Osmia introduces the Supra Luxus, Supra, Osmia, Osmia Brilliant, Supra Progress, Progress and Brilliant models

* Bayard introduces a decorated band on Superluxe model

* Kaweco introduces the Sport model

 

1936

 

* OMAS introduces the Lucens model and the "stantuffo tuffante" filling system

* Waterman introduces the InkVue model and retires Patrician

* Parker introduces the Challenger model (or 1935?) and the Vacumatic Golden Web

* Wahl Eversharp introduces the Coronet model

* Sheaffer introduces the radius clip on the Balance

* Jif-Waterman create the first cartridge filler

* Faber-Castell introduces a Faber-Castell model

 

1937

 

* Sheaffer introduces the 57 model, that will be named Crest

* Parker introduces the Speedline Vacumatic

* Wahl Eversharp introduces the plunger filler Doric

* Bayard rename the Luxe line ad Special Luxe

* Kaweco introduces the Elite model

 

1938

 

* Conklin introduces the Glider model and retire the Endura Symetric and Nozac

* Conklin is sold to a Chicago investor group

* Wahl Eversharp introduces the Pacemaker and Airlite models

* Parker introduces the Shadow Wave version of Vacumatic

* Pilot is renamed as Pilot Pen Co., Ltd. and the logo take the "P" letter instead of "N"

* Bayard introduces another band in the Special Luxe

 

1939

 

* Chilton introduces the Golden Quill model

* Parker introduces the Duofold Geometric retires Parkette and Challenger

* Conklin production is transferred to Chicago

* Waterman introduces the HundredYear model and retires 94 and 3 models

* Bayard introduces the Niveauclair model, with visible ink level

 

1940

 

* Sheaffer introduces th Tuckaway model and the Balance Defender

* Parker introduces the Blue Diamond life warranty (or 1939?)

* Parker introduces the Laidtone Duofold and retires the Duofold Geometric and the Shadow Wave Vacumatic

* Eversharp retires the Bantham

* Aurora introduces the Selene model

* Esterbrook introduces the 9000 series

* Bayard introduces the Superstyl model

 

1941

 

* Parker introduces the 51

* Chilton ceases operations

* Eversharp introduces the Skyline model and retires the Doric, Coronet and Pacemaker models and the Oxford series

* Bayard introduces the Super Luxe model

 

1942

 

* Sheaffer introduces the Triumph line and retires some Balance models

 

1943

 

* Eversharp introduces the Fifth Avenue model

* Waterman introduces the Commando and 1003 models, and a smooth HundredYear

* Esterbrook begin using the twist filler

* Bayard introduces the Excelsior model with changeable nib

 

1944

 

* Esterbrook introduces the Model J series converting the twist filler to the lever filler

 

1945

 

* Eversharp introduces the CA, ballpoint pens starts appearing

* Waterman introduces the Taperite model

* Sheaffer introduces the Craftsman model

 

1946

 

* Parker introduces the VS model

* Sheaffer retires all Balance models

* Moore introduces the Fingertip model

* Eversharp retires the Fifth Avenue model

 

1947

 

* Sheaffer introduces the Fineline model

* Parker introduces the 51 Demi

* Aurora introduces the 88 model, designed by Marcello Nizzoli

* Bayard introduces new version of Special 8, Special Luxe and 4 models

 

1948

 

* Conklin ceases operations

* Eversharp introduces the Symphony model, designed by Raymond Loewy and retires the Skyline

* OMAS introduces the 361 model

* Parker introduces the 21, turns the 51 to the aerometric filler and retires Vacumatic and Laidtone Duofold models

* Bayard retires the Excelsior

 

1949

 

* Parker introduces the 51 Flighter and retires the VS

* Sheaffer introduces the Touchdown filler

* Conway Stewart introduces the 58

* Bayard introduces a new version of Superstyl, the Capostil and the Special 8 economic version

 

1950

 

* Parker introduces the 41 and the 51 Special and reintroduces the Parkette

* Sheaffer introduces the TM - Thin Model and retires the Tuckaway

* Waterman introduces the Skywriter

* Bayard introduces the Super Bayard

* Faber-Castell introduces the Gentleman

* Kaweco introduces the Carat

* Holland ceases operations

 

1951

 

* Parker retires the 41

* Moore retires the Fingertip

* Faber-Castell complete Osmia acquisition

 

1952

 

* Sheaffer introduces the snorkel

 

1953

 

* Waterman introduces the CF model

* Eversharp introduces the Ventura and retires the Symphony

* Parker retires the Parkette

* Sheaffer introduces the TIPdip and retires the Fineline

 

1954

 

* Waterman USA ceases production, but Jif-Waterman is still active

* Conway Stewart introduces the Conway Stewart 100

 

1955

 

* Conway Stewart introduces the Conway Stewart 22 Floral

 

1956

 

* Parker introduces the 61

* Moore ceases operations

* Bayard use the accordion filler for the Souverain de Luxe

 

1957

 

* Sheaffer introduces the Skripsert using cartridge filler

* Waterman USA completely ceases operation, but Jif-Waterman continues introducing the X-Pen

* the Eversharp writing instrument division is sold to Parker

* Aurora introduces the Duo Cart

* Conway Stewart introduces ballpoint and turns production to plastic

 

1958

 

* Sheaffer introduces the Lady Sheaffer as a Skripsert model

* Onoto ceases operations

* Bayard introduces the Souverain de Luxe series

 

1959

 

* Sheaffer introduces the PFM and retires other snorkel models

 

1960

 

* Parker introduces the 45

 

1961

 

* Sheaffer introduces the Imperial similar to PFM

 

1962

 

* Parker introduces the VP

 

1963

 

* Parker introduces the 75

* Sheaffer retires the TIPdip

* Aurora introduces the 98

 

1964

 

* Kaweco introduces the VP

 

1965

 

* Parker retires VP and 21

 

1967

 

* Soennecken ceases operations

 

1968

 

* Sheaffer retires the PFM

 

1970

 

* la Parker introduces the T1

* la Aurora introduces the Hastil, designed by Marco Zanuso

 

1971

 

* Parker retires the T1

* Esterbrook ceases operations

* Jif-Waterman acquire the Waterman trademark and become Waterman S.A.

 

1975

 

* Parker retires the 51

* Conway Stewart ceases operations

* Ancora ceases operations

* Faber-Castell retires from fountain pen market

 

1981

 

* Kaweco ceases operations

Edited March 15, 2008 by spic

[simp]

Adding some info on Lamy, cannot find more, at this moment.

 

1952

 

* Sheaffer introduces the snorkel

* Lamy introduces the Lamy 27

...

 

1965

 

* Parker retires VP and 21

 

1966

 

* Lamy introduces the Lamy 2000

...

 

[Jeff L]

Your wiki site (www.fountainpen.it) is very impressive. You've obviously put a considerable amount of effort and thought into it. Your chronology is a good encapsulation of the voluminous pages of information there.

 

I have a question regarding your entries on Carter. You indicate that "Carter enters the fountain pen market" in 1924 and then that "Carter starts selling its first fountain pens" in 1926.

 

So what was Carter doing in 1924 that brings them into the market if they don't actually have any pens at that time?

[Kaweco]

You can also probably find a lot of poor english: I'm sorry, I tried to do best in my limited knowledge...

 

Don`t mention it. If I take a look to the history of Kaweco or Osmia, everybody is able to find the 1:1 copies of your web page in the FPN forum in English.

:angry:

[simp]

You can also probably find a lot of poor english: I'm sorry, I tried to do best in my limited knowledge...

 

Don`t mention it. If I take a look to the history of Kaweco or Osmia, everybody is able to find the 1:1 copies of your web page in the FPN forum in English.

:angry:

 

As I already stated I'm trying to collect all the information I can get, and I did this from many sources, and certainly FPN is one of them. And as you can see at the bottom of both the pages (and in many other), there a list of citation and references to give credid to those sources. So I have no problem to recognize the fact that I learn a lot from FPN.

 

But you are accusing me of doing a 1:1 copy of some FPN page, and I cannot accept this. And it's quite evident that this cannot be true, because for example you cannot find in FPN this high resolution scan of the istruction paper that I put in the Faber Castell & Osmia page (because I scan that from a box I personally own) nor the Kaweco and KWG logos that I draw by myself.

 

I was not there when the events happened, so I had to learn them by reading histories in books, other web sites and also in FPN. Now I'm just trying to write down by myself all I learned, putting together all the info I have and sometime also asking here about facts when I have doubts. And I did this giving anyone the permission to copy and reuse all the work I did for free because I'm using a Wikipedia style license on all the contents of the site.

 

I also tried to give credit to all of my sources, but what I wrote was written by me and not copied. If the fact that Osmia was founded in 1919 by Hermann Böhler is true, (as it seems because many sources agree about this) I cannot wrote this in a much different way than this. And when I wrote an history of a brand, if the chronology of the facts I know is correct, that will be similar to other histories because the facts are the same.

 

So if you think I missed some credits please tell me where, and I'll do my best to put them where is needed, and I apologize in advance for any error like this.

 

But if you are accusing me of copying I'm not going to apologize, because this is not true.

 

Simone

 

 

 

 

[langere]

Please add that the Sailor Pen Company was founded in 1911.

 

Erick

[simp]

Please add that the Sailor Pen Company was founded in 1911.

 

Erick

I added to the page in www.fountainpen.it, and I also tried to my initial message, but it seems that I can no more edit it. I nuderstood that it is possible to edit messages, but now I don not understand how to do this.

 

Simone

[simp]

Your wiki site (www.fountainpen.it) is very impressive. You've obviously put a considerable amount of effort and thought into it. Your chronology is a good encapsulation of the voluminous pages of information there.

 

I have a question regarding your entries on Carter. You indicate that "Carter enters the fountain pen market" in 1924 and then that "Carter starts selling its first fountain pens" in 1926.

 

So what was Carter doing in 1924 that brings them into the market if they don't actually have any pens at that time?

 

You can find some more infos on the links I put in the bottom of the page. From what I understand Carter started its official production in 1926, but it seems, at least according to this article, that they started selling pens in 1924. So I guess they started selling pen from Lughling leftover that they seems to acquire (at least according to this other article).

 

But this is just a guess, I do not have any direct knowledge about this, all I have is an AD, dated september 1929. I put a scan of it here.

 

So if someone has some more direct info about Carter beginnings, it should be nice to know.

 

Simone

 

[Alvarius]

How come Montblanc celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2006 if they were founded in 1908?

 

Edit: BTW: Nice overview!

Edited September 4, 2008 by Alvarius

[simp]

How come Montblanc celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2006 if they were founded in 1908?

 

Edit: BTW: Nice overview!

Company are always flexible when interpreting their foundation date (usually always going back...).

 

It seems (but I do not have any direct reference) that Eberstein was in business from 1906 and probably Montblanc is taking this as its beginning, but for sure the Simplo Filler GMBH was founded on 1908.

 

If someone has more detailed infos on the early years of the Montblanc fonders I will be happy to know.

I found quite interesting this page:

 

http://www.montblanc-pens.com/montblancpens.html

 

Regards

[Stani]

Coll Stuff.....

 

Reading the thread make me think of Picaso's words:"I SEE I STEAL".

 

 

 

..........Stani