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[[Immagine:Tibaldi-Logo.svg|center|400px|Tibaldi Logo]]

[[Immagine:Tibaldi-Logo.svg|center|400px|Tibaldi Logo]]

The [[Tibaldi]] was founded in [[1916]], and is one of the oldest manufacturers of fountain pens in Italy. The author considers the second among the oldest Italian manufacturer of fountain pens. If there were brands operating on the market since before this date, like [[Montegrappa]] or [[Nettuno]], none of these can qualify in its early stages as a true fountain pens manufacturer  apart [[Uhlmann's Eterno]]. After the death of the founder, the company underwent a period of decline, with a drop in quality and sales, failing to overcome the crisis of the advent of disposable ballpoint pens, closing its doors permanently in [[1965]], even if the mark has been reused in recent years for the production of some modern models.

The [[Tibaldi]] was founded in [[1916]], and is one of the oldest manufacturers of fountain pens in Italy. The author considers the second among the oldest Italian manufacturer of fountain pens. If there were brands operating on the market since before this date, like [[Montegrappa]] or [[Nettuno]], none of these can qualify in its early stages as a true fountain pens manufacturer  apart [[Uhlmann's Eterno]]. After the death of the founder, the company underwent a period of decline, with a drop in quality and sales, failing to overcome the crisis of the advent of disposable ballpoint pens, closing its doors permanently in [[1965]], even if the mark has been reused in recent years for the production of some modern models.

The [[Tibaldi]] was notable for the production of quality pens that could enable it to compete with American products which were then imported into Italy. Although the company has not made ​​significant innovations in technical terms, the pens produced have nothing to envy in terms of quality to those of other major Italian manufacturers, such as [[Omas]] and [[Aurora]]. Of particular value are the beautiful models in celluloid made ​​in the 30s, which are considered among the most beautiful ever made transparent celluloid pens.{{Infobox_Brand|Tibaldi}}{{BrandData|Founder=Giuseppe Tibaldi|Date=1916|Place=Firenze|Country=IT|Fullname=G. Tibaldi e C.|Closing=1965}}

The [[Tibaldi]] was notable for the production of quality pens that could enable it to compete with American products which were then imported into Italy. Although the company has not made ​​significant innovations in technical terms, the pens produced have nothing to envy in terms of quality to those of other major Italian manufacturers, such as [[Omas]] and [[Aurora]]. Of particular value are the beautiful models in celluloid made ​​in the 30s, which are considered among the most beautiful ever made transparent celluloid pens.{{Infobox_Brand|Tibaldi}}{{BrandData|Founder=Giuseppe Tibaldi|Date=1916|Place=Firenze|Country=IT|Fullname=G. Tibaldi e C.|Closing=1965}}

== History ==

== History ==

The [[Tibaldi]] was founded in Florence on October 20 [[1916]] by ''Giuseppe Tibaldi'' as ''"G. Tibaldi e C."'' with headquarters in Via Madonna della Querce. The company was bourne by collaboration between Tibaldi, who was behind a family business enterprise, and ''Giovanni Benelli'', a technician with extensive experience in precision mechanics which became the production manager and the director of the factory.<ref>most of the historical information reported in this page comes from the book ''"Tibaldi - A story of fountain-pen and man"'' by Letizia Jacopini and Enrico Bettazzi.</ref>  

The [[Tibaldi]] was founded in Florence on October 20 [[1916]] by ''Giuseppe Tibaldi'' as ''"G. Tibaldi e C."'' with headquarters in Via Madonna della Querce. The company was bourne by collaboration between Tibaldi, who was behind a family business enterprise, and ''Giovanni Benelli'', a technician with extensive experience in precision mechanics which became the production manager and the director of the factory.<ref>most of the historical information reported in this page comes from the book ''"Tibaldi - A story of fountain-pen and man"'' by Letizia Jacopini and Enrico Bettazzi.</ref>

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[[Image:194x-Tibaldi.jpg|thumb|A 1941 [[Tibaldi]] advertisement.]]

[[Image:194x-Tibaldi.jpg|thumb|A 1941 [[Tibaldi]] advertisement.]]

Self-registerd as the ''First and most important Italian manufacturer of Fountain Pens'' the ''G. Tibaldi e C.'' is certainly one of the oldest factories Italian fountain pens; this record is disputed both by [[Montegrappa]], which traces its origins to four years before, and [[Nettuno]] whose initial traces date back to 1911. [[Montegrappa]], however, began production fountain pens only in the 20s, being born as a nibs manufacturer, and therefore cannot considered the first fountain pens factory, being in this back even to the [[Aurora]]. The [[Nettuno]], from the limited data available, it appears to have been a simple family business where pens were assembled for their shop, the registration of the company is, however, as of 1916 for the [[Tibaldi]] and the actual production of fountain pens also in this case is to ask starting from the 20s, which again does not qualify as either factory fountain pens, nor as a producer to all effects. The only documented antecedent production is the [[Uhlmann's Eterno]] one, of which there are traces as early as 1913.

Self-registerd as the ''First and most important Italian manufacturer of Fountain Pens'' the ''G. Tibaldi e C.'' is certainly one of the oldest factories Italian fountain pens; this record is disputed both by [[Montegrappa]], which traces its origins to four years before, and [[Nettuno]] whose initial traces date back to 1911. [[Montegrappa]], however, began production fountain pens only in the 20s, being born as a nibs manufacturer, and therefore cannot considered the first fountain pens factory, being in this back even to the [[Aurora]]. The [[Nettuno]], from the limited data available, it appears to have been a simple family business where pens were assembled for their shop, the registration of the company is, however, as of 1916 for the [[Tibaldi]] and the actual production of fountain pens also in this case is to ask starting from the 20s, which again does not qualify as either factory fountain pens, nor as a producer to all effects. The only documented antecedent production is the [[Uhlmann's Eterno]] one, of which there are traces as early as 1913.

[[File:Tibaldi-DifferentTimePens-Serie-Posted.jpg|thumb|left|A group [[Tibaldi]] pens.]]

[[File:Tibaldi-DifferentTimePens-Serie-Posted.jpg|thumb|left|A group [[Tibaldi]] pens.]]

The [[Modelli iniziali Tibaldi|first produced models]] were black hard rubber [[safety]] pens, both plain and  with metal [[overlay]]. Among these there were a special ''doctor's pen'' model that like the [[Omas]] one contained a thermometer inside the barrel. [[Tibaldi]] safeties remained in production with various modifications of the [[fall]] of [[Tibaldi]] until the 40s. But the most interesting in the early ones was the [[Perfecta]] model, produced in the early 20s, with a [[torsion filler]] and a  complex safety system as the first example of automatic filling fountain pen.

The [[Modelli iniziali Tibaldi|first produced models]] were black hard rubber [[safety]] pens, both plain and  with metal [[overlay]]. Among these there were a special ''doctor's pen'' model that like the [[Omas]] one contained a thermometer inside the barrel. [[Tibaldi]] safeties remained in production with various modifications of the [[fall]] of [[Tibaldi]] until the 40s. But the most interesting in the early ones was the [[Perfecta]] model, produced in the early 20s, with a [[torsion filler]] and a  complex safety system as the first example of automatic filling fountain pen.

In this initial period, following a strategy adopted by many Italian producers, [[Tibaldi]]  used an alternative mark, ''"The GTB Pen London"'', that following the xenophilous trends was masquerading itself as Anglo-Saxon company. With this mark were produced second tier pens, substantially identical, apart from the finish of the cap top and the knurls of the bottom, to the production marked [[Tibaldi]].  

In this initial period, following a strategy adopted by many Italian producers, [[Tibaldi]]  used an alternative mark, ''"The GTB Pen London"'', that following the xenophilous trends was masquerading itself as Anglo-Saxon company. With this mark were produced second tier pens, substantially identical, apart from the finish of the cap top and the knurls of the bottom, to the production marked [[Tibaldi]].

In the 20s, following a common trend for the Italian market, which saw a plethora of [[Parker]] [[Duofold]] imitations, also [[Tibaldi]] produced a [[Tibaldi Flattop|new series]] of  [[lever filler]] ''[[flat top]]'' pens, clearly inspired by this model. The new pens were made initially in hard rubber, and in a second time in celluloid. A special feature of these models is the presence of a production of hard rubber pens in special colors (like yellow/green, or blue) that is found only<ref>at least the present knowledge of the author.</ref> in the [[Waterman]] production.  

In the 20s, following a common trend for the Italian market, which saw a plethora of [[Parker]] [[Duofold]] imitations, also [[Tibaldi]] produced a [[Tibaldi Flattop|new series]] of  [[lever filler]] ''[[flat top]]'' pens, clearly inspired by this model. The new pens were made initially in hard rubber, and in a second time in celluloid. A special feature of these models is the presence of a production of hard rubber pens in special colors (like yellow/green, or blue) that is found only<ref>at least the present knowledge of the author.</ref> in the [[Waterman]] production.

[[Image:Tibaldi-Trasparente-Black-Capped.jpg|thumb|A [[Tibaldi]] [[Tibaldi Trasparente|Trasparente]].]]

[[Image:Tibaldi-Trasparente-Black-Capped.jpg|thumb|A [[Tibaldi]] [[Tibaldi Trasparente|Trasparente]].]]

But competition from low-cost plastic pens, and the beginning of the spread of disposable ballpoint pen began to weigh significantly on the fortunes of the company, with the change of ownership Pagliuca tried to boost production going to fully ogival shapes and to decrease prices also sought to streamline production through the use of parts produced in the district of [[Settimo Torinese]], at the expense of great quality which until then had been a feature of the company's production.  

But competition from low-cost plastic pens, and the beginning of the spread of disposable ballpoint pen began to weigh significantly on the fortunes of the company, with the change of ownership Pagliuca tried to boost production going to fully ogival shapes and to decrease prices also sought to streamline production through the use of parts produced in the district of [[Settimo Torinese]], at the expense of great quality which until then had been a feature of the company's production.  

The [[Produzione finale Tibaldi|new lines]], characterized by ogival shapes, with metal and [[hooded nib]], and the transition to plastic materials in plain colors, however did not have a great success, despite promotional the efforts made ​​by Pagliuca. In the 60s [[Tibaldi]] suffered a progressive decline until the closure in 1965. As with many other historical brands, the company was reborn recently ​​to exploit the prestige of its history in the production of modern fountain pens.

The [[Produzione finale Tibaldi|new lines]], characterized by ogival shapes, with metal and [[hooded nib]], and the transition to plastic materials in plain colors, however did not have a great success, despite promotional the efforts made ​​by Pagliuca. In the 60s [[Tibaldi]] suffered a progressive decline until the closure in 1965. As with many other historical brands, the company was reborn recently ​​to exploit the prestige of its history in the production of modern fountain pens.

{{BrandChrono|Tibaldi}}  

{{BrandChrono|Tibaldi}}