Conway Stewart

Conway Stewart Wellington with medium 18k nib...

When you buy this, you are buying a 100 year old treasured, British brand name.  
Each pen is hand crafted in England from the finest materials available by some of the world's most skilled craftsman. Conway Stewart pens are not "mass produced".
Conway Stewart uses only the finest 18 carat solid gold and rhodium plated gold nibs and bands in its pens.
Each pen bears a unique hallmark engraved at the assay office, the world accepted independent recognition of precious metal quality.
Conway Stewart offers all new customers a 100 year guarantee with each pen, during which it will repair or replace a pen free of charge if there is a defect due to faulty materials or workmanship. This excludes defects arising from accidental damage, misuse or wear and tear.
Conway Stewart is the only manufacturer who continues to use traditional materials and filling mechanisms that were used in the Golden Era of the fountain pen (lever fill, button fill) with the option of the modern converter cartridge for today’s users.
No other pen manufacturer offers as wide a selection of high quality resins. Conway Stewart prides itself in obtaining high quality resins – its materials have depth, which is not the case with many other resin pens.
Every pen has an identification number on the barrel which is recorded. This number authenticates the writing instrument and gives the consumer peace of mind that they are not purchasing a counterfeit.
Each pen is delivered in its own high quality Conway Stewart branded presentation box.
Conway Stewart pens have graced the finest hands. Distinguished users include the H M the Queen, American Presidents, British Prime Ministers and Heads of State from around the World.
Conway Stewart pens are a chosen gift of the British Government and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, among others.
Every pen made by hand, and not mass produced on large factory lines.
Each pen goes through meticulous quality control checks before leaving the premises. Conway Stewart is diligent in making sure that each pen is tested for optimum writing performance before it leaves the premises. A skilled craftsman test-writes the writing instrument for smooth quality writing pleasure and a further test is conducted by another skilled technician for ink flow and aesthetics.
Eight x 18 carat solid gold nib grades to satisfy even the most discerning writer. Each nib is made to the most stringent specification.
Conway Stewart models are available in different sizes – length and girth – as well as different weights to satisfy every user’s requirements and all pens come with a choice of converter cartridge as the filing mechanism.
Heavier than average coating of gold on all Conway Stewart clips to reduce tarnishing in years to come.
Conway Stewart writing instruments have been recognized by Pen World International Readers’ Choice awards as ‘prize winners’ – Model 100, Best Pen Brand Icon 2006; Churchill, Best Pen, Retro Styling in the 2001; Duro was nominated as Best Pen, Future Classic in the 2005.
Ultimate confidence in a hand-made, quality British product which can be cherished by not only you, but by future generations.
So sad that this iconic pen maker was forced into retainer ship and closed due to lack of demand in 2014!! Delighted for I have one!!!

Montegrappa

The Company's name is indicative of the location of the manufacturing facility. ELMO is the Italian interpretation of the name of one of the Founders who was of German origin, Eng. Heinrich Helm. MONTEGRAPPA is the name of the famous mountain which rises to a height of 1775 meters and dominates the Bassanese landscape.

The manufacturing facility was housed in a most impressive building which was formerly an ancient location of a Thermo-Electric Power Plant and was suitably adapted to the needs of the creative minds of the two partners. Even today MONTEGRAPPA is enjoying the fruit of its labours in the same building. At the beginning production was concentrated mainly on the manufacture of gold nibs with iridium and the processing of ebonite and precious metals culminating in the introduction of piston filling pens. ELMO-MONTEGRAPPA was one of the pioneers in the manufacture of writing instruments made from galalith and celluloid and their endeavours enabled them to become leaders in their domestic market. 

Close to the ELMO-MONTEGRAPPA factory was situated the Villa Azzalin, which during the conflict. was converted into a field hospital. Two volunteer ambulance drivers for the Italian Red Cross at that time were the famous writers Ernest Hemingway and John Dos Passos, both of whom spent many happy hours visiting the factory and experimenting and testing various MONTEGRAPPA fountain pens. and availing themselves of the Company's "after-sales service". In 1921 the Marzotto family acquired a majority interest which gave them control of ELMO-MONTEGRAPPA, and their marketing activity resulted in wider distribution, public awareness and appreciation of the quality and design of MONTEGRAPPA Pens. During the Second World War the Bassano del Grappa area was subjected to considerable military activity precipitating the loss of valuable raw materials. Records show the difficulties involved in obtaining certain metals which necessitated the manufacture of glass nibs. In 1946 a fire in the celluloid store caused the complete destruction of an entire section of the factory where records of co-operation with WATERMAN and other large companies were kept. 

Following the fire, the management decided to discontinue the use of celluloid and concentrate their efforts using precious metals i.e. gold and silver. 

From the hands of MONTEGRAPPA‘s technicians exciting new models were introduced which were acknowledged from competitors for their originality. 

The introduction and worldwide acceptance of the revolutionary ball point pen from the USA. severely affected the sales of Fountain Pens; not only MONTEGRAPPA's but many other famous makes. The progressive decline in the demand for MONTEGRAPPA products depressed the Marzotto's shareholders to such an extent that a decision was made to dispose of the Company. Although this was MONTEGRAPPA's darkest period the entrepreneurial Aquila family purchased the Company. The new proprietors brought a new stimulus to the company and it was unanimously decided that the best way to restore the reputation of MONTEGRAPPA was by relaunching the original models which had made former generations proud owners of MONTEGRAPPA writing instruments. In I983 the first reproduction version of the 1915 MONTEGRAPPA Reminiscence was successfully introduced to the market. 

At that time the company became a market leader in the fervent world of writing, being the first to suggest the revival of pens which had enjoyed favour in past epochs. 

The classical design and exquisite taste coupled with its variety of models enabled the subsequent Reminiscence range by MONTEGRAPPA to penetrate not only the domestic market but also many export markets. 

In 1992, to commemorate the 8oth Anniversary of the foundation of MONTEGRAPPA, a limited edition fountain pen of only 1,912 pieces was produced for worldwide distribution in 1993. The 80th Anniversary fountain pen typified the craftsmanship of MONTEGRAPPA writing instruments from Italy's oldest pen factory. This signaled the beginning of the production, on an annual basis, of numbered limited edition pens appealing especially to a more exclusive and discerning audience.

This is why writing with a MONTEGRAPPA is a privilege, “THE PRIVILEGE OF A LIFETIME".

My Montegrappa Fortuna, a gift from my wife on our 25th wedding anniversary...

The Swadeshi Pen

The Swadeshi Pen

Ratnam Pens, which were known as ‘swadeshi' pens during the freedom ovement, brought fame to Rajahmundry and the pen-maker, K.V. Ratnam. Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, S. Kasturiranga Iyanger of The Hindu, Indira Gandhi, V.V. Giri, Ramnath Goenka of the Indian Express, and Archibald Nye, Governor of Madras, were known to have used them.

When Gandhiji gave a call to boycott foreign goods, Ratnam was involved in making lithographic blocks, methim, in 1921. Gandhiji advised him to make something that would be utilitarian and affordable to the common man.

Ratnam made a pen in Ebonite and sent it to Gandhiji. The Mahatma wrote to him on July 16, 1935from Wardha: “Dear Ratnam, I must thank you for the fountain pen you sent me… I have needed it and [it] seems to be a good substitute to the foreign pen, once in the bazaar. Yours sincerely, M.K. Gandhi, 16.7.1935.”

When Congress leaders met in Kakinada in 1937, Nehru travelled to Rajahmundry to see Nyapathi Subba Rao Pantulu, one of the founders of The Hindu. Together they went to Ratnam Pens and bought a pen each.

‘Ratnam Pens' thus gained popularity across Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and even elsewhere in the country and the world.

A small, traditional house on Fort gate Street serves as the workshop today. Popularly known as the ‘Kotagummam' of Rajahmundry, the house has a sign board: “Pioneers of Pen Industry in India since 1932, K.V. Ratnam & Sons, Ratnam Ball Pen Works, Mfrs: Swadeshi ‘Ratnamson' pens, 14 CT-Gold Nibs.”

Mr. Murthy says each pen took two days to make.

Mr Siva Ratnam, the present owner, is a wonderful man. He sent me these two pens by post, so beautifully packed, that the eagerness to see the pens made me open it! I am so proud to hold this piece of our history!