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Although not famous as [[Aurora]] and [[Omas]], [[Ancora]] is one of the most important brands in the Italian fountain pen history. While the brand did not created relevant technical inventions, nor distinguished itself for design originality and innovation, often producing models clearly inspired by those of the most famous brands, the pens that [[Ancora]] produced were excellent, and remarkable for the quality of their celluloid, proposed in beautiful and original colors.

Although not famous as [[Aurora]] and [[Omas]], [[Ancora]] is one of the most important brands in the Italian fountain pen history. While the brand did not created relevant technical inventions, nor distinguished itself for design originality and innovation, often producing models clearly inspired by those of the most famous brands, the pens that [[Ancora]] produced were excellent, and remarkable for the quality of their celluloid, proposed in beautiful and original colors.

The company was between the most relevant Italian brands up to '50s, but as it was for all the other fountain pen manufacturers, she underwent the crisis due to the advent of the ballpoint pen that caused its gradual decline until the final closure in 1975. Like it happened for other historical companies, the brand [[Ancora]] was reused starting from 1988 for the production of modern fountain pens.{{Infobox_Brand|Ancora}}

The company was between the most relevant Italian brands up to '50s, but as it was for all the other fountain pen manufacturers, she underwent the crisis due to the advent of the ballpoint pen that caused its gradual decline until the final closure in 1975. Like it happened for other historical companies, the brand [[Ancora]] was reused starting from 1988 for the production of modern fountain pens.{{Infobox_Brand|Ancora}}

==History==

==History==

The [[Ancora]] date of foundation is not known with certainty and there are conflicting versions.<ref>there is some uncertainty also about the surname of the founder, because there are documents reporting both the ''Zanini'' and the ''Zannini'' names, but no convincing explanation of the appearance of an extra "n".</ref>  According to A. Lambrou, it was founded in 1909 by ''Giuseppe Zanini'', in Sesto Calende, on the shores of the Lago Maggiore, but it is not known from which source Lambrou infers such a distant date; on the company's official website, although sources are not indicated again, the origin of the company was reported to 1919 in Bologna,<ref>but the company's website is not very reliable, there was a big error in the Zanini birth date, badly transcribed in 1897 when the birth certificate posted on the website (no more present) showed the correct date of 1879, also present in the start of activities registration.</ref> which is consistent with what has been indicated by others.<ref>The main reference is, however, the Letizia Jacopini book in which various documentary evidences are reported.</ref> Finally, [[:Categoria:Ancora_Documents|some invoces]] from 1941 are showing the claim ''Casa fondata nel 1902'', but this almost certainly refers to the begininng of Zanini commercial activities, not to [[Ancora]] foundation.

The [[Ancora]] date of foundation is not known with certainty and there are conflicting versions.<ref>there is some uncertainty also about the surname of the founder, because there are documents reporting both the ''Zanini'' and the ''Zannini'' names, but no convincing explanation of the appearance of an extra "n".</ref>  According to A. Lambrou, it was founded in 1909 by ''Giuseppe Zanini'', in Sesto Calende, on the shores of the Lago Maggiore, but it is not known from which source Lambrou infers such a distant date; on the company's official website, although sources are not indicated again, the origin of the company was reported to 1919 in Bologna,<ref>but the company's website is not very reliable, there was a big error in the Zanini birth date, badly transcribed in 1897 when the birth certificate posted on the website (no more present) showed the correct date of 1879, also present in the start of activities registration.</ref> which is consistent with what has been indicated by others.<ref>The main reference is, however, the Letizia Jacopini book in which various documentary evidences are reported.</ref> Finally, [[:Categoria:Ancora_Documents|some invoces]] from 1941 are showing the claim ''Casa fondata nel 1902'', but this almost certainly refers to the begininng of Zanini commercial activities, not to [[Ancora]] foundation.

[[Ancora]] initial history is quite clouded, we know for sure that Zanini began its activities in the field of writing articles in Bologna, where apparently he was in contact with ''Armando Simoni'' (founder of [[OMAS]]) and where there are traces of his activities dating back to [[1918]].<ref>in the Letizia Jacopini book ''La storia della stilografica in Italia 1900-1950'' is published a report of start of activities for the ''Arti Grafiche - Giuseppe Zanini'' dated February 22, 1918.</ref> In [[1920]] he founded with a partner, Clerici, a company named ''Fabbrica e Commercio di Penne Stilografiche e Raffinati Oggetti per Arti Grafiche''.<ref>meaning ''Factory and commerce of fountain pens and fine objects for graphic arts''.</ref> The production of these early years was not yet clearly identified by the trademark [[Ancora]]. The official website of the actual trademark holder reports the purchase of a stationery shop in Bologna and the beginning of the production of fountain pens in 1919.  

[[Ancora]] initial history is quite clouded, we know for sure that Zanini began its activities in the field of writing articles in Bologna, where apparently he was in contact with ''Armando Simoni'' (founder of [[OMAS]]) and where there are traces of his activities dating back to [[1918]].<ref>in the Letizia Jacopini book ''La storia della stilografica in Italia 1900-1950'' is published a report of start of activities for the ''Arti Grafiche - Giuseppe Zanini'' dated February 22, 1918.</ref> In [[1920]] he founded with a partner, Clerici, a company named ''Fabbrica e Commercio di Penne Stilografiche e Raffinati Oggetti per Arti Grafiche''.<ref>meaning ''Factory and commerce of fountain pens and fine objects for graphic arts''.</ref> The production of these early years was not yet clearly identified by the trademark [[Ancora]]. The official website of the actual trademark holder reports the purchase of a stationery shop in Bologna and the beginning of the production of fountain pens in 1919.

The collaboration with Clerici continued until [[1924]], when Zanini founded his personal company, with the name ''Fabbrica di penne stilografiche e commercio, stampe in genere e riproduzioni opere d'arte''.<ref>meaning ''Factory for fountain pens, prints and art reprints''.</ref> In [[1925]], the activity thus far hosted in Zanini own house, was moved to Sesto Calende. The [[Ancora]] trademark ({{Marchio|40112}}) was indeed registered only in [[1929]]. In [[1938]] the production was moved to Arona, where new plants were created.<ref>both dates where reported by Letizia Jacopini in his book as result of a search in the Bologna Chamber of Commerce documents.</ref> After the death of the founder, the son Alfredo took over the management, up until [[1975]] when the company was closed.

The collaboration with Clerici continued until [[1924]], when Zanini founded his personal company, with the name ''Fabbrica di penne stilografiche e commercio, stampe in genere e riproduzioni opere d'arte''.<ref>meaning ''Factory for fountain pens, prints and art reprints''.</ref> In [[1925]], the activity thus far hosted in Zanini own house, was moved to Sesto Calende. The [[Ancora]] trademark ({{Marchio|40112}}) was indeed registered only in [[1929]]. In [[1938]] the production was moved to Arona, where new plants were created.<ref>both dates where reported by Letizia Jacopini in his book as result of a search in the Bologna Chamber of Commerce documents.</ref> After the death of the founder, the son Alfredo took over the management, up until [[1975]] when the company was closed.

[[File:1952-11-Ancora-Lusso.jpg|thumb|left|An [[Ancora]] advertisement from '50 for the [[Lusso]] model.]]

[[File:1952-11-Ancora-Lusso.jpg|thumb|left|An [[Ancora]] advertisement from '50 for the [[Lusso]] model.]]

{{BrandChrono|Ancora}}  

{{BrandChrono|Ancora}}  

== External references ==

== External references ==

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071228211800/http://xoomer.alice.it/leiacopi/ancora.htm] An old page by Letizia Jacopini

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071228211800/http://xoomer.alice.it/leiacopi/ancora.htm] An old page by Letizia Jacopini

== Notes ==

== Notes ==

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{{CategorizeBrand|Italia}}

{{CategorizeBrand|Italia}}