Visit To Gem & Co., Chennai, Makers Of Gama Fountain Pens And One Of The Oldest Pen Makers In India … Part 2

[shrujaya]

Though I had spoken with Mr Pratap over the phone, this was the first time I would be meeting him. I introduced myself to one of the assistants who had approached me and he then called Mr Pratap over. I spoke to him about our tele-conversation and correspondence and he seemed to remember. Based on our conversation some 4 years back, Mr Pratap had given me rare fountain pens made by Gem & Co., with gold nibs – Gama Royal and Gama Manifold. He had taken them out of the Gem archival stock and given them to me. Those pens are a treasured part of my collection of Indian fountain pens.

 

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The gray pen in the middle is the Gama Manifold, and the steel cap and gold cap ones on either side are Gama Royal fountain pens

 

 

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The 14 CT Gold Nibs

 

Mahesh and Shubha had acted as my liaison in Chennai then, and I introduced my brother too to Mr Pratap. I have also been using their Gama ebonite fountain pens, and especially their recent ebonite range has been extremely pleasing to the eye and wonderful to write. (http://jaisiri.blogspot.in/2013/11/gama-supreme-jumbo-handsome-ebonite.html & http://jaisiri.blogspot.in/2014/05/the-gama-kambar-re-engineered-by-hari.html)

 

I was there for more than an hour and we talked about the old Gama gold nib pens, the new ebonite range, nibs in general, availability of raw material, travails of making silver filigree body fountain pens, and also about those pens they have stopped making. Since Hari is our common link to Gem & Co., Mr Pratap had enquired after him. He showed me their recent experiments with vibrant acrylic. Of course, those jumbo ebonites were there too on the shelf. He then brought out a box and showed me ‘work in progress’ silver filigree pens. He said the difficult part, in the Indian context, was to bring the two different sensibilities of the jeweller-artisan, who makes the silver casing, and the pen-maker, who designs the pen, together and make each other understand what one wants and what the other can do. And since it is the pen-maker’s call, the jeweller has to be cajoled, sweet-talked, etc., into making the silver filigree casing according to the pen-maker’s requirements. All this takes a lot of time, Mr Pratap said, and most of the times we are talking on the phone without seeing the actual thing, and trying to make each other understand only through descriptions. But still, the results are good so far, and I have to find buyers now, he said.

 

 

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The silver filigree casings for pens

 

And all this while, people were walking in, some for getting a nib fixed, some for getting their pens filled, some came for ball pens, and refills. The two elderly gentlemen in the shop catered to the needs of the customers while Mr Pratap and I were having a chinwag. Most of the times Mr Pratap himself handles all repairs and fixes nibs with his hands. For all these nib settings and tweakings, Mr Pratap doesn’t charge anything. If you are lucky, he just smiles or ‘smirks,’ as one fountain pen geek put it on FPN, if you ask ‘how much?’ If he really likes you and your enthusiasm for fountain pens, he would gently admonish you for not using your pen properly and would advise you to take care of your pen, wash it, clean it regularly, etc.

 

The other thing you’d notice inside the glass cases, apart from the pens, is the feature length articles on Gem & Co., that appeared in newspapers … the meticulous manner in which they are arranged gives the interested reader an unhindered view of the each article, in case one wishes to read them … this also shows the obvious pride with which Mr Pratap showcases his legacy, his skill, and also foregrounds the fountain pen …

 

 

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Time to buy pens and Mr Pratap showed me the Gama Ivory, one of their recent fountain pens. I liked the ivory colour, very unusual actually. It is a bit like creamy white. Very clean lines and very little metal. I liked it and I also liked the Gama ‘Demonstrator.’ I never had a full fountain pen made of transparent material. I wanted to buy one, but Mahesh told me to take both, and that one would be his gift to me. What more does one need when you have a younger brother who indulges you!! Thanks Mahesh … I will write in detail about these two pens in later posts, but for now, here is how they look …

 

 

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And before we left, I thought it wise to mark the occasion by taking a photograph with Mr Pratap ...

 

 

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As we come out of Gem & Co., it is already dark … and the lights have come on … I look back and see that the name board of Gem & Co., is illuminated …

 

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[fountainpagan]

Another splendid episode.

 

Such a wonderful trip you have enabled me do... Thank you shrujaya!!

 

Those silver inlaid pens are of great beauty. I am sure Mr Pratap will have no difficulty selling them. Succh a pity India is so far away .

[mhguda]

Wonderful story, and yes! I would certainly like to be one of the buyers. Maybe with your help, shrujaya... How might we organize that?

They are very beautiful.

[EbonitePen]

Fantastic post, thanks so much for sharing your experience and allowing us a look inside the Gem & Co. store.

 

Gamas are my favorite pens among all Indian pens I have tried. I only wish that they had a website or a catalog that would allow international customers purchase from them directly.

[shrujaya]

Thanks mhguda ... yes, the silver pens are beautiful to look at ... It has been a year since I visited them, so I am not sure ... I will have to check with Mr Pratap and find out ... in case something turns up, I'll let you know ...

 

Thanks EbonitePen for your thumbsup .... Gamas are truly wonderful writing instruments ... I have been using their Demonstrator model for some time now regularly and it is a delight ... I am glad you like them too ... the lack of a website or a catalogue is really a pity, I agree ... I do not know what the issues are, but there is always hope ...

 

Regards,

[fountainpagan]

I would like to consider one of the silver pens, too. Thank you very much, Shrujaya.

[bobje]

You've enabled all of us to accompany you on this delightful visit -- thank you!

[mhguda]

Thanks shrujaya, I look forward to hearing from you. I too have a number of Gamas, in fact I think they were the Indian pens that first got me fired up about the wonderful pens that are made in India. In my collection is a Jumbo demonstrator, similar to yours but cigar shaped. I also keep it inked and use it on a regular basis. However in the latest iteration I have just managed to scrub away every little bit of ink from the cap, and while I liked the looks of your photographs, the pristine looks of most of my pen a real pleasure for me. To each their own, I guess...

[Sagarb]

Thanks for this wonderful story..

[shrujaya]

I would like to consider one of the silver pens, too. Thank you very much, Shrujaya.

 

I haven't yet got around to checking this out with Mr Pratap ... will do so soon and let you know ...

[shrujaya]

You've enabled all of us to accompany you on this delightful visit -- thank you!

 

Dear Bobje ... thanks ... I am pleased that I was able to share my experience with all of you through this post ...

[shrujaya]

Thanks shrujaya, I look forward to hearing from you. I too have a number of Gamas, in fact I think they were the Indian pens that first got me fired up about the wonderful pens that are made in India. In my collection is a Jumbo demonstrator, similar to yours but cigar shaped. I also keep it inked and use it on a regular basis. However in the latest iteration I have just managed to scrub away every little bit of ink from the cap, and while I liked the looks of your photographs, the pristine looks of most of my pen a real pleasure for me. To each their own, I guess...

 

It was only when I started to take photographs of the Gama Demonstrator that I saw the possibilities of images. Yeah, to each their own ... maybe some day, I too would like the scrubbed clean look on my Gama Demonstrator ...

[shrujaya]

Thanks for this wonderful story..

I am glad you liked the story, Sagar ... thanks ...

[fountainpagan]

 

I haven't yet got around to checking this out with Mr Pratap ... will do so soon and let you know ...

Thank you very much, Shrujaya.

[avoiceinthedistance]

Thanks for this story, Shrujaya. That Ivory is mighty sweet-looking.

[shrujaya]

Thanks for this story, Shrujaya. That Ivory is mighty sweet-looking.

 

Thanks avoiceinthedistance ... I am happy that you like the story ... have posted some photos of the Ivory ...

[amk]

Please let us know about those silver filigree pens. I haven't seen anything as beautiful as that in the fountain pen world since the great days of Italian overlay Watermans - 1930s I think? They are absolutely lovely. I would certainly be pleased to add one to my collection!

[mehandiratta]

Those silver jacket pens are awesome..

I am planning for a visit soon...

[shrujaya]

Hi all ... spurred on by your appreciation of the silver cased pens and some of your requests to find out if they are for sale, I spoke with Mr Pratap today ... he was very pleased by the appreciation, of course ... he told me that the pens are almost done, but they are still sorting out some issues reg. weight and increasing the barrel capacity ... in its present state the pens are too heavy for regular use, he said ... he has asked me to post his email and mobile number for interested fountain pen enthusiasts to get in touch with him reg. the progress of this pen (and other pens too) ... his email is maddur161@gmail.com and his mobile number is 9884209055 ...

 

I will continue to follow this up, and I feel others should also mail him ...

 

Regards,

 

Shrujaya

[Tweel]

I always enjoy these accounts of visits to Indian pen makers.

 

Can anyone tell me what the source or meaning is of the brand name "Gama"?