For those who have a keen interest in the history of pen brands, I have just completed 'A Brief History of Onoto' which is posted on HubPages www.hubpages.com/Onoto.

I have included a number of photos, which will help you get a flavour of the history of this famous British brand and I have also included the story of its recent resurrection.

It's more of an overview than a detailed history, but I hope you find it interesting!

That was very interesting - thanks! My urge to buy a Magna was greatly enhanced, though - house rent or pen, that is the question.

If you're interested in Onoto, you might want to check out the two Onoto print ads from the '20s I have listed on iOffer.

-Doc

Not being familiar with the site, would you please post a link to iOffer?
Thanks,
gary

Just got a Magna - Who needs rent! Wonderful pen with a lovely flexible No.7 nib. Everything just screams quality from the nib to the wonderful piston filling mechanism. I wish a pen with this filling mechanism was still made.

The article is very interesting and informative. Thanks for writing this.

Cheers,
Hari

Gorgeous pens, Peter! But I would feel everso selfish if my kids ended up on the streets in order that I'd get one. Patience is the key. Serenity now!

Quite correct! My daughter always comes first - though I have bought her a couple of fountain pens!

Now that's the way to do it. As soon as my son is old enough not to see a pen primarily as a missile weapon I'll get one for him too.

I read with interest the brief history of Onoto, but I think the company was reincarnated for the wrong reasons. If it is only interested in producing very limited editions at what I am sure are steep prices, count me out. How about producing some pens for the population at large or at least pens for the pen afficionados who desire to purchase pens to write with, not put in their safety deposit boxes. If there are some affordable pens being produced (under $400) it wasn't apparent from Onto's website.

I am afraid I agree with this sentiment. If they had reintroduced the classic Onoto filling mechanism then one could put a good case. However I don't really see any connection. Very nice looking pens and I am sure they fill a niche. Just not one that I am interested in!

Thanks for your comments. It's always good to get feedback and to try and understand the marketplace. When we had the chance to resurrect the Onoto brand, we researched the market carefully and decided we would prefer to be a niche player rather than a small player in a very big pool. We have had great response from our customers, so on balance we think we made the right decision.

But we do listen to our customers and that's why we are about to launch the Onoto Magna Writer, the first acrylic Onoto since 1958. We think it's priced competitively too, especially when you consider it has sterling silver fittings and an 18ct gold nib. It may not quite hit your $400 mark - but it's not too far adrift, currency fluctuations considered.

It's just been put up on the website, so why not take a sneak preview at: www.Onoto.com

I am sure that will encourage more people to try an Onoto. Shame it doesn't have any option but the cartridge converter though. Re-introduce the plunge filler and I happily would pay a 50% premium! Well done on reacting though.

Thank you for your article, it is a very interesting source of information.

I have a question about it, concerning two dates that does not match with the ones cited in this other article:

http://www.penmuseum.co.uk/master 11.htm

You, and and also this other article, are talking of 1924 as the starting time for the production of lever filler Onoto's, and the 1928 as the starting time for the production of celluloid models.

The cited article talk of 1922 for the introduction of lever filled models and of 1926 for the introduction of colored model (I'm assuming is talking of celluloid pens, because red mottled were already cited). Do you know what can be the source of this different time indication?

Simone

I'm glad to see Onoto come back with some nice new pens!

I will certainly be giving them my full consideration!!

David,

I tried to access the link above, and also the one on your website, but all I got was a 'page not found' error!

Please help.

I've found the problem! The correct link should be: http://www.onoto.com/magnawriter.asp

But the link on your website home page, when I click on the picture of the pens, is http://www.onoto.com/maganwriter.asp!! This needs to be corrected.

Hi Simone. I think the reason for the discrepancies is simply that they happened more than 80 years ago! As far as I am aware, there is no authoritative history of Onoto available - although we are doing our best to research and assemble one. I'll keep you posted!

Thanks guys. Apologies for the error! There's nothing worse than a dyslexic programmer!

David - please bring back the plunge filler!

I appreciate the manufacturing issues, but with computerised tooling they should not be insuperable, and I think they would give you an edge over certain other makers in your price bracket.

David,

I read the brief history with interest. Is it possible, as and when you get time/info, to put up more about the pens made by Onoto over the years?

I'm particularly interested in the early pens, having inherited my grandmother's pen ( http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...showtopic=40712 ) and that's sparked off an interest in the other pens of the era and other Onoto's of any date. However having over a century of history, Onoto's range is amazing - almost as amazing as how difficult it is to get info about them. If you have an insider's access to the history of the pens, it would be great to see anything you can publish.

Regards

Richard.

May I second that!

Whilst Conway Stewart are famous for having produced a tremendous number of different pens with no regard whatsoever to logic in the numbering of models, De La Rue do seem to have had some sort of a plan; it certainly cannot be true that "nobody knows what the numbers on the blind cap mean", however often one hears this said.

If the tutelary deities of FPN were to consider awarding a page to Onotophiles, we might even make a start among ourselves...?

Yes please! Have just acquired a lovely pair of brickwork 1202s. Gorgeous pens. Make a plunger Onoto Magna writer and I will buy one tomorrow!