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== History ==  

== History ==  

On 19 May 1918 the Eugenio and Alfredo Verga brothers founded in Milan the ''Alfredo Verga dei Fratelli Verga Snc'',<ref>meaning ''Alfredo Verga Society of the Verga Brothers''.</ref>, with headquarters in Corso di Porta Romana n.80. ''Alfredo Verga'' already worked as a trader for [[Conway Stewart]], while ''Eugenio Verga'' was a salesman for the ''[[Uhlmann's Eterno]]''. The purpose of the new company was to enter the market with production and sales of fountain pens, nibs, ink and stationery. Eugenio chose the name of their products, [[Columbus]], while Alfredo gave the company his name; the same year the first fountain pen, called ''Columbus Safety Pen nr. 1'', was produced.

On 19 May 1918 the Eugenio and Alfredo Verga brothers founded in Milan the ''Alfredo Verga dei Fratelli Verga Snc'',<ref>meaning ''Alfredo Verga Society of the Verga Brothers''.</ref>, with headquarters in Corso di Porta Romana n.80. ''Alfredo Verga'' already worked as a trader for [[Conway Stewart]], while ''Eugenio Verga'' was a salesman for the ''[[Uhlmann's Eterno]]''. The purpose of the new company was to enter the market with production and sales of fountain pens, nibs, ink and stationery. Eugenio chose the name of their products, [[Columbus]], while Alfredo gave the company his name; the same year the first fountain pen, called ''Columbus Safety Pen nr. 1'', was produced.

[[Image:Columbus-Extra-98-Flattop-Mottled-Capped.jpg|thumb|A ''[[Flat top]]'' [[Columbus]]]]

[[Image:Columbus-Extra-98-Flattop-Mottled-Capped.jpg|thumb|A ''[[Flat top]]'' [[Columbus]]]]

The activity was quite successful and in [[1924]] the [[Columbus]] trademark was officially recorded at {{Marchio|26261}}<ref>Letizia Jacopini reports on "The history of the fountain in Italy," the number 23247,seen in many pens, which presumably refers to the fact that the mark is registered in Vol. 247, Ranked #23 in the register of trade marks.</ref> at the department of the economy. After this date the pens started reporting an extended imprint (compared to the previous one havin only the ''Columbus'' name) bearing the registration number and the words ''sicurezza garatita''.<ref>meaning ''security guaranteed''.</ref> At the same time the company expanded its production by introducing new versions of gold-plated [[overlay]]s pens.  

The activity was quite successful and in [[1924]] the [[Columbus]] trademark was officially recorded at {{Marchio|26261}}<ref>Letizia Jacopini reports on "The history of the fountain in Italy," the number 23247,seen in many pens, which presumably refers to the fact that the mark is registered in Vol. 247, Ranked #23 in the register of trade marks.</ref> at the department of the economy. After this date the pens started reporting an extended imprint (compared to the previous one havin only the ''Columbus'' name) bearing the registration number and the words ''sicurezza garatita''.<ref>meaning ''security guaranteed''.</ref> At the same time the company expanded its production by introducing new versions of gold-plated [[overlay]]s pens.  

In this period, placed in the first half of '20s, there was also a change of style, passing from the imitation of Germans model to the American ones. The change is shown by some as a consequence of birth, in [[1927]], the new Columbus Eugenio Verga, but there are<ref>on the [http://www.columbuspenne.it/COL/antiche/pagine-ita/origini.htm historic section] on the company site the [[Columbus 670]] is dated to 1924, and there is a commercial letter from 1926 were such models are shown.</ref> clear references to pens with this style produced before the separation of Verga brothers.

In this period, placed in the first half of '20s, there was also a change of style, passing from the imitation of Germans model to the American ones. The change is shown by some as a consequence of birth, in [[1927]], the new Columbus Eugenio Verga, but there are<ref>on the [http://www.columbuspenne.it/COL/antiche/pagine-ita/origini.htm historic section] on the company site the [[Columbus 670]] is dated to 1924, and there is a commercial letter from 1926 were such models are shown.</ref> clear references to pens with this style produced before the separation of Verga brothers.

In the first half of '20s  the [[Columbus 670]] model, very similar to [[Waterman 42]], was introduced. It was produced in three size, normal, thin, and ladies,  and in black, red or [[mottled]] hard rubber. The range of available [[overlay]]s was also expanded, form the simple engraving machine were added to decorations or bas gallery and this work became one of the strengths of the company. There is a remarkable production of this pen with an engraving of the star of David on the body of the pen (also listed on the packaging) as a result of an agreement between Columbus and the ghetto in Milan.  

In the first half of '20s  the [[Columbus 670]] model, very similar to [[Waterman 42]], was introduced. It was produced in three size, normal, thin, and ladies,  and in black, red or [[mottled]] hard rubber. The range of available [[overlay]]s was also expanded, form the simple engraving machine were added to decorations or bas gallery and this work became one of the strengths of the company. There is a remarkable production of this pen with an engraving of the star of David on the body of the pen (also listed on the packaging) as a result of an agreement between Columbus and the ghetto in Milan.

In [[1927]], when the [[safety]] hard rubber models were too old, the company faced a crisis and broke up. The two brothers separated, ''Alfredo Verga'' founded its own company, the ''[[Omega A.V.M.]]'' while ''Eugenio Verga'', owning of the [[Columbus]] trademark, continued alone creating a personal company with its own name.  

In [[1927]], when the [[safety]] hard rubber models were too old, the company faced a crisis and broke up. The two brothers separated, ''Alfredo Verga'' founded its own company, the ''[[Omega A.V.M.]]'' while ''Eugenio Verga'', owning of the [[Columbus]] trademark, continued alone creating a personal company with its own name.  

[[Image:ColumbusSpoonFiller.jpg|thumb|Patent excerpt for the new filling system]]

[[Image:ColumbusSpoonFiller.jpg|thumb|Patent excerpt for the new filling system]]

While maintaining the production of previous models the new [[Columbus]] began to put attention to technical innovations, a new double channel feeder, used on top models until the 40s, was created, and the company began testing the use of celluloid. The company tried to position themselves on the market aiming to produce pens which were generally of good quality but sold at the lowest prices possible. In [[1929]] a new filling system was patented (on the mechanism is imprinted the number 268327, not present in any archive, but the {{Cite patent|GB|334913}} is present), essentially an own version of the [[spoon filler]]. This patent also has a very interesting story, there is in fact a variant of 1931, the {{Cite patent|CA|327288}}, that's assigned to the [[Swan|Mabie Todd]] company, that in that period was about to launch its [[leverless]] filler, which creates an unexpected link between these two companies.

While maintaining the production of previous models the new [[Columbus]] began to put attention to technical innovations, a new double channel feeder, used on top models until the 40s, was created, and the company began testing the use of celluloid. The company tried to position themselves on the market aiming to produce pens which were generally of good quality but sold at the lowest prices possible. In [[1929]] a new filling system was patented (on the mechanism is imprinted the number 268327, not present in any archive, but the {{Cite patent|GB|334913}} is present), essentially an own version of the [[spoon filler]]. This patent also has a very interesting story, there is in fact a variant of 1931, the {{Cite patent|CA|327288}}, that's assigned to the [[Swan|Mabie Todd]] company, that in that period was about to launch its [[leverless]] filler, which creates an unexpected link between these two companies.

[[Image:192x-Columbus-Extra-Flattop-Front.jpg|thumb|left|A ''[[Flat top]]'' style [[Columbus Extra|Extra]] from '20s]]

[[Image:192x-Columbus-Extra-Flattop-Front.jpg|thumb|left|A ''[[Flat top]]'' style [[Columbus Extra|Extra]] from '20s]]

Also in the second half of the '30s [[Columbus]] started producing models with transparent celluloid that allow to see the ink level, according to the new trend inaugurated by [[Vacumatic]]. From this this period was the birth of the [[Columbus 112]], a [[plunger filler]] model. In [[1938]] the company obtained a patent ({{Cite patent|IT|288327}}) for a screw piston, which had as a consequence the creation of the [[Columbus 10x|100]] line, equipped with a [[piston filler]] loading system.  

Also in the second half of the '30s [[Columbus]] started producing models with transparent celluloid that allow to see the ink level, according to the new trend inaugurated by [[Vacumatic]]. From this this period was the birth of the [[Columbus 112]], a [[plunger filler]] model. In [[1938]] the company obtained a patent ({{Cite patent|IT|288327}}) for a screw piston, which had as a consequence the creation of the [[Columbus 10x|100]] line, equipped with a [[piston filler]] loading system.  

During the period between the late '30s and the beginning of the '40s, the company affected, as all other European producers, the effects of the war, and because of economic difficulties and supply shortage a drastic simplification of production was made, using only [[button filler]] and arrow clip on all models. In 1941 the company launched a model produced exclusively for the army, the [[Columbus 29]] that after was also distributed on the overall market.

During the period between the late '30s and the beginning of the '40s, the company affected, as all other European producers, the effects of the war, and because of economic difficulties and supply shortage a drastic simplification of production was made, using only [[button filler]] and arrow clip on all models. In 1941 the company launched a model produced exclusively for the army, the [[Columbus 29]] that after was also distributed on the overall market.

In [[1942]] during a bombing the factory in Milan on Via Lamarmora was almost completely destroyed,<ref>this is also why there are strong uncertainties on many dates, because all the archives were lost in that occasion.</ref>, and the production was moved to Lesa, on Lake Maggiore, with considerable logistical difficulties since the plants were in four different sheds quite distant from each other. In this period the company merely continued a limited production of existing models without any change or innovation and only in 1946, when the company was able to return to Milan, the production was resumed at full capacity.

In [[1942]] during a bombing the factory in Milan on Via Lamarmora was almost completely destroyed,<ref>this is also why there are strong uncertainties on many dates, because all the archives were lost in that occasion.</ref>, and the production was moved to Lesa, on Lake Maggiore, with considerable logistical difficulties since the plants were in four different sheds quite distant from each other. In this period the company merely continued a limited production of existing models without any change or innovation and only in 1946, when the company was able to return to Milan, the production was resumed at full capacity.

[[Image:Columbus-134-Open.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Columbus 13x|Columbus 134]]]]

[[Image:Columbus-134-Open.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Columbus 13x|Columbus 134]]]]

In the '50s, following the market trends set by [[Parker]] with the success of the [[51]], [[Columbus]] introduced the [[Columbus 70|70]], an [[hooded nib]] model. In this case however the pen was not just an imitation: it was made in celluloid and used a [[piston filler]], it also had a screw cap, and the nib was only partially covered to allow the us of a flexible nib. Like other Italian imitations of the [[51]], such as the [[Aurora 88]] or the [[Omas 361]] the pen is probably more interesting than the original.  

In the '50s, following the market trends set by [[Parker]] with the success of the [[51]], [[Columbus]] introduced the [[Columbus 70|70]], an [[hooded nib]] model. In this case however the pen was not just an imitation: it was made in celluloid and used a [[piston filler]], it also had a screw cap, and the nib was only partially covered to allow the us of a flexible nib. Like other Italian imitations of the [[51]], such as the [[Aurora 88]] or the [[Omas 361]] the pen is probably more interesting than the original.  

The last series produced in celluloid, the [[Columbus 90]] was introduced approximately in 1951, and made both as [[piston filler]] or with a special [[button filler]] with the bottom back not removable, similar to the ''[[push-knob]]'' of [[Montblanc]]. The production of the '50s saw the abandonment of celluloid for the use of cheaper molded plastic, and the production of [[Columbus Anni '50|models]] with [[hooded nib]] and cheap plastic pens for the student market.

The last series produced in celluloid, the [[Columbus 90]] was introduced approximately in 1951, and made both as [[piston filler]] or with a special [[button filler]] with the bottom back not removable, similar to the ''[[push-knob]]'' of [[Montblanc]]. The production of the '50s saw the abandonment of celluloid for the use of cheaper molded plastic, and the production of [[Columbus Anni '50|models]] with [[hooded nib]] and cheap plastic pens for the student market.

In 1957 the founder died, leaving the company in the hands of his son Enrico, but at that time the fountain pen market was drastically shrinking due to the spread of the ballpoint pens. The choice was towards the production for the school and the low end of the market, but the company suffered an inexorable decline. In 1992 the company renmants and the [[Columbus]] trademark were sold to ''Santara Srl'' that is still producing some modern pens under the same brand.

In 1957 the founder died, leaving the company in the hands of his son Enrico, but at that time the fountain pen market was drastically shrinking due to the spread of the ballpoint pens. The choice was towards the production for the school and the low end of the market, but the company suffered an inexorable decline. In 1992 the company renmants and the [[Columbus]] trademark were sold to ''Santara Srl'' that is still producing some modern pens under the same brand.