Filcao Founder, Franco Grisolia, Is Dead

[tryphon]

I am saddened by the news that my friend Franco Grisolia passed away yesterday, surrounded by his family. Franco was the founder and driving force behind FILCAO; a company he started back in 1963. FILCAO pens are known and appreciated all over the world. Franco liked celluloid and some of his best selling pens were produced in stunning celluloid patterns, like the rare Tuscan Sunset celluloid used fot he Leader pens. At the start of the new millennium, Franco reintroduced button filling to his pens: a nod to the past of Settimo Torinese, the town where his company was located and the center of Italian penmaking for almost a century. FILCAO's collaboration with Pentrace produced two stunning pens: first the Columbia, a retro looking, but very efficient button filler that was created by Richard Binder and the writer in the USA and by Franco in Italy. The Columbia was very successful and a trailblazer for some of its features. The Pentrace LE pen was made a year later in only 200 pieces that sold out in less than two hours and are very desirable collectibles today.

Franco was a real pen connoisseur, a collector, an innovator, a passionate enthusiast.

He will be missed. I had the honor of calling him friend and I was fortunate to distribute his creations in North America.

I lost a friend and all lovers of fountain pens have lost a brilliant designer.

Edited February 15, 2015 by tryphon

[hari317]

Very sad news.

[subbucal]

RIP Mr. Franco

[jar]

Sorry to hear that.

[da vinci]

Very sad news.

[rwilsonedn]

Indeed sad news. The few FILCAO pens I have seen combined a delightful visual aesthetic with an excellent writing experience. He brought pleasure to many people.

ron