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Looking For Information On A Vintage Fountain Pen Brand "cial"


shalitha33

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Cial is supposed to be a fountain pen brand that was once available in Sri Lanka around or before the 70s. I am not sure if it was locally made there or imported either from India or somewhere else. Although i do keep hearing about this brand I have never personally seen any example of a pen. I am really interested in finding a bit more.

 

Does any of you have had any experience with this brand?

 

I would really appreciate if some one with an example of a cial fountain pen can share a picture. I am really interested to know what it looks like.

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Cial was the cheapest fountain pen that was available in Ceylon during the 60s and in the early to mid 70s. Often it became the first fountain pen of most students during that era. 
 

They were manufactured in Sri Lanka, by Colombo Industrial Agencies Ltd. The first letters of the company name was the name given to the brand. They were also the importers of Platignum fountain and coloured felt pens from England. Cial factory was located at the Minuwangoda Road, Ekala, Ja-Ela, opposite the old CTB Bus Body Workshop. I started my working life at Cial as an Accounts Clerk over a three month’s period at Cial. I believe the company still exists and they carry the brand name on ballpoint pens at present. Hope this is helpful.

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On 4/2/2021 at 7:06 PM, Jude G said:

Cial was the cheapest fountain pen that was available in Ceylon during the 60s and in the early to mid 70s. Often it became the first fountain pen of most students during that era. 
 

They were manufactured in Sri Lanka, by Colombo Industrial Agencies Ltd. The first letters of the company name was the name given to the brand. They were also the importers of Platignum fountain and coloured felt pens from England. Cial factory was located at the Minuwangoda Road, Ekala, Ja-Ela, opposite the old CTB Bus Body Workshop. I started my working life at Cial as an Accounts Clerk over a three month’s period at Cial. I believe the company still exists and they carry the brand name on ballpoint pens at present. Hope this is helpful.

 

Great Info

vaibhav mehandiratta

architect & fountain pen connoisseur

 

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Resurrecting an old thread.

I used Cial fountain pens in School and my 1st FP was a Cial. You could say it started my interest in fountain pens 43 years ago. The only fountain pens available in Sri Lanka those days, in the early 70's were Cial, Platignum and Pilot. One could buy Parker if you travelled overseas because they were only available at the airport duty free shop.  

I still use a Parker 45 and a Parker 75 (my grandfathers) bought in the duty free shop 😄 50 years ago.

Although the Cial was locally made it worked well. 

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