Osmia Supra

[Karin]

I noticed in a previous thread that someone mentioned the Osmia. I have a Supra and I wonder if anyone (Wim perhaps ) can give me some info on it.

It's a pretty little burgundy piston filler with a flex nib and gold clip and band with a black jewel on top. Nice looking pen.

When were these made and what models did they come in.

 

Thanks,

Karin

:bunny1:

[wimg]

Hi Karin,

 

Osmia was a smaller brand with excellent quality pens, which was taken over by Parker, for a while at least, in the late 20s I believe, and in 1950/51 it was bought by Faber Castell. From 1952 the pens were all branded FC, so if you have an Osmia it will date from 1951 or before.

 

I can't tell you a lot about the line of pens, just that, with the exception of a few bigger ones, they are all fairly small, in line wih the pens of that time I guess, very well crafted, very beautiful pens, and piston fillers.

 

I think KCat has a nice example, maybe we can get her to put some pictures up...

 

Oh, found a little history, from some correspondence with a German collector:

 

1919 Georg and Hermann Boehler, two KAWECO workers from Heidelberg, Germany founded the Boehler& Cie. in the neighbourhood in Dossenheim. They made hard rubber and galalith safetys and propelling pencils. Later they produced gorgeous colored, fishbone and striped pens and golden overlays with very fine flex nibs. During the early 20th their nib tips were made of pure Osmium, which was even harder than the natural found Iridium from Tasmania.So the trade mark OSMIA was born (spell: Osmeeah)

1928-1930 they cooperated with Parker, but the Americans didn´t make a big deal. They left Osmia and Parkers export manager C.J. Lamy founded Orthos, later Lamy Pens in Heidelberg. Also Hermann Boehler went off 1938 and founded his own firm.

1935 Faber Castell began to purchase Osmia stocks and took over the works 1951. The Faber- Osmia FP production was stopped 1975.

 

There are a few (very few) websites with Osmia info, but that is mostly in German.

Here is the most useful one, and impossible to find if you don't know it:

Faber and Osmia pens

 

Anyway, HTH, warm regards, Wim

[Karin]

Thanks Wim,

I'll try to take some pictures soon too.

[KCat]

Thanks Wim,

I'll try to take some pictures soon too.

sounds good - i'll try to soon. i have a bum leg for now. KCat the Human Barometer.

[Kaweco]

Hi wimg

With this message I give you a belated permission to post private messages

"German collector"

Hello Karin

Maybe I can tell you a little bit more if you send a pic.

Kind Regards

Thomas

[Karin]

Here's a pic of that Osmia that I mentioned long ago.http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a248/karin55/DSC00322.jpg

[yavoymalaga]

Hi! I've just bought an Osmia 64 from a croatian dealer. It's nice, its got an ultra fine nib.

[rustynib]

Can anyone give an idea of the various sizes of the Osmia Supra pens ?