Best Fountain Pen Brand In The USA [Details Explained]

The fountain pen was made in the USA in the late nineteenth century. The writing instrument of choice for many people for over a hundred years was made possible by the invention of steel pens by Lewis Waterman. Steel pens did not require any dipping into an inkwell as fountain pens did, so they were much easier to use.

What You Need To Know About The Fountain Pen

Inventor Lewis Waterman is credited with the invention of the first practical fountain pen. Waterman was issued patent number 128,839 on March 29, 1884. Waterman’s fountain pen was quite different from previous models because it featured a rubber-covered, retractable metal nib that could be placed into an inkwell to “charge” it (like today’s ballpoint pens). In addition, Waterman designed his pen with a counterweight to balance the weight of the nib when writing so that the pen would not have to be held at an awkward angle. This made writing easier and more comfortable for users.

Lewis Waterman is also known as a “paperhanger.” He was born in 1837 and began his career as a paperhanger, a person who pastes wallpaper on walls. He became interested in the process of making pens and patented several inventions related to pen making. His first patent was issued in 1868 for an improvement to the fountain pen.

Lewis Waterman also invented an improved fountain pen filling system that used water instead of ink. The new design had a large reservoir for water and a small hole at the end of the reservoir that allowed the ink to flow into the reservoir when it was dipped into an inkwell. This design was used in the creation of Waterman’s Ideal Fountain Pen, which became very popular.

Best Fountain Pen Made In The USA

1) Ensso

Ensso  is a Japanese company that uses traditional craftsmanship and modern manufacturing techniques to create high-quality writing instruments. Ensso Pens was established in Japan in 1949 and has since been part of the Shin-Etsu Chemical Company, which is now part of The Dow Chemical Company.

Ensso Pens is known for fountain pens made with black lacquer (called the “black pen”) and gold lacquer (the “gold pen”). The black pen has a brushed finish while the gold pen has a smooth finish. To achieve this, each model of Ensso Pen is handcrafted by an artisan using traditional methods including lathing, sanding, polishing, and coating each piece with lacquer.

2) Pelikan

Pelikan is an Austrian brand of writing instruments, which was founded in 1832 by Johann Georg Heinrich Andreas Pelikan. The company is based in Graz and is now a subsidiary of the Swiss company, Ricoh. The original factory was made of wood and housed in a building designed by Josef Hoffman. In 2006, Pelikan opened its largest manufacturing facility to date in Graz, Austria.

Today, Pelikan manufactures fountain pens and ballpoints. In addition to their standard line of fountain pens and ballpoints, Pelikan also makes custom and limited edition pens for collectors at the PELIKAN Museum in Graz.

3) Montblanc

Montblanc has been producing luxury pens since 1921. The company is based in the Swiss town of St. Imier and is currently a subsidiary of the Ricoh Company. The company’s history can be traced back to 1823, when Jean-Pierre Merckle, a watchmaker from Grenoble, France, decided to create his own line of pens after noticing that many other pen manufacturers used expensive precious metals in their products. Merckle was convinced that he could produce a more affordable product by using less expensive materials such as ebonite. In 1823, Merckle opened his first shop in Grenoble and began producing his own line of luxury pens made from ebonite.

Today, the company is still based in Grenoble, France. The company’s products are sold in over 60 countries and can be found in most major retail outlets and department stores. The company also produces a line of writing instruments for children.

4) Parker Pen Company

The Parker Pen Company was founded by William Parker in 1854. Since then, the company has been owned by a number of families including the DuPont family (1871–1946), the Ball family (1947–1988), and the Parker family (since 1988). Currently, it is owned by a US-based conglomerate du Pont corporation, which purchased Ball Corporation in 1988. The company produces fine writing instruments such as fountain pens, ballpoints, rollerballs, and other products.

5) Waterman

The Waterman Pen Company was founded in 1881 by Charles F. Waterman in New York City. Over the years, the company has expanded to include multiple factories in North America, Europe, and Asia. Today, the company is owned by a US-based corporation known as Esterline Technologies Corporation. In addition to its standard line of writing instruments, the company also produces ballpoint pens for children as well as specialty pens such as fountain pens and rollerballs for collectors.

6) Noodler’s Ink Company

The Noodler’s Ink Company was founded in 2008 by Nathan Tardif. The company produces custom fountain pen ink colors and inks for other companies. The company’s products are sold through its online store and at various pen shows around the world.

7) Lamy

The Lamy Company is a Swiss-based corporation that was founded by Josef Lamy in 1930. The company produces writing instruments, including fountain pens, rollerballs, and ballpoints. Its corporate headquarters are located in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.

8) Franklin-Christoph

The Franklin-Christoph Company was founded in 1977 by German businessman Michael Christoph. The company produces writing instruments (such as fountain pens, rollerballs, and ballpoints). Its corporate headquarters are located in Glattbrugg, Switzerland.

9) Bexley

The Bexley Company was founded in 1986 by American entrepreneur Peter Bexley. The company produces writing instruments (such as fountain pens, rollerballs, and ballpoints). Its corporate headquarters are located in Bexley, Ohio.

10) Montegrappa

The Montegrappa Company was founded in 1883 by Cesare Montegrappa. Today, the company is a subsidiary of the Italian holding company Luxottica. The company produces writing instruments (such as fountain pens, rollerballs, and ballpoints). Its corporate headquarters are located in Casale Monferrato, Italy.

11) Pilot

The Pilot Pen Company was founded in 1930. The company produces writing instruments (such as fountain pens, rollerballs, and ballpoints). Its corporate headquarters are located in Tokyo, Japan.

The company has its headquarters in the U.S., however, it does manufacture its pens overseas in China (pens are made there and then sent to the U.S.) and Japan (the nibs are made there and then shipped to the U.S.). In addition to its standard line of writing instruments, the company also produces ballpoint pens for children as well as specialty pens such as fountain pens and rollerballs for collectors.

12) Conklin

The Conklin Pen Company was founded by William Conklin in 1847. The company produces writing instruments (such as fountain pens, rollerballs, and ballpoints). Its corporate headquarters are located in New York City, New York.

13) Cross

The Cross Company was founded by William Cross in 1856. The company produces writing instruments (such as fountain pens, rollerballs, and ballpoints). Its corporate headquarters are located in San Francisco, California.

The company has its U.S. headquarters in San Francisco and its manufacturing plant is located in Manila, Philippines. The company’s products are sold via the internet through their website and at various pen shows around the world.

Conclusion

So, fountain pen brand in the USA is not all about the name but also about the quality of pens, and how it is manufactured. A good pen should be smooth to write with, and the ink should flow smoothly. The clip should be sturdy enough to hold the pin in place, but still, feel comfortable in hand.

Reference: 

Resource 01: https://goldspot.com/pages/american-made-pens