Visualizza wikitesto di LUS/en

<noinclude>{{Infobox_Brand|LUS}}</noinclude>
The ''LUS'' was founded in [[1929]]<ref>as reported on [http://www.museomils.it/index.php?it/117/lus] of the website of the Saronnese Museum of Industry and Labor.</ref> in Saronno by Umberto Legnani, an experienced mechanical worker, with his wife Giuseppina Carnelli when. fired because of the effects of the recession, he decided to start his own business producing nibs and other stationery. The ''LUS'' brand (abbreviation of ''Legnani Umberto, Saronno'') was recorded in [[1931]].<ref>this date was cites in the previously cited website, but now is no more present, and in the database of the ''"Archivio Centrale dello Stato"'' the first Umberto Legnani owned trademark is dated 1935 ({{Marchio|50842}}), and the LUS trademark registratration, as ''"Lus Milano"'', is dated 1951 ({{Marchio|104100}}).</ref> The activity started from the production of steel nibs, but around [[1934]], at a change of venue, it began production of fountain pens, although the main activity remained the production of nibs and office supplies. 

Fountain pens production became a major activity in the postwar period, with the production of both high-end and economic pens. In particular, the company was one of the first, indeed probably the first, to start in [[1948]] ballpoint pens manufacturing; the [[1950]] ''Retracto'' model is one of the first reversed point. The company also possessed a patent ({{Cite patent|US|2902978}}) from [[1955]] (awarded in 1959) for a cartridge with a metal ball inside that would facilitate the ink flow. Having established a good position in the new market, the company had a great success in the following years.

In [[1968]] with the death of Umberto Legnani, his wife Giuseppina Carnelli took over the management of the company. The company maintained its family-run connotation and Umberto Legnani's children and grandchildren worked there. Giuseppina Carnelli remained at the helm of the company until 2000, when she died at the age of 92.<ref>This information is taken from [https://www.museomils.it/8-marzo-un-grazie-a-tutte-le-donne this article] on the "Museo delle Industrie e del Lavoro del Saronnese" website.</ref>

The main production is still for school and economical low-end pens, sold by tobacconists, stationers and even vending machines. The company is still doing business as ''Mondial LUS Spa''.

==External references==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130616220554/http://www.pentrace.net/penbase/Data_Returns/full_article.asp?id=406] Giovanni Abrate article on Pen Trace
* [https://www.museomils.it/collezioni/#lus] Company page on the MILS website
* [http://forum.fountainpen.it/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1897] Discussion on FountainPen.it forum
* [https://forum.fountainpen.it/viewtopic.php?t=30683] Presentation of a [[LUS Atomica]]
* [https://www.museomils.it/8-marzo-un-grazie-a-tutte-le-donne/] Article discussing the role of Legnani's wife
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==Notes==
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{{CategorizeBrand|Italia|Secondary brand}}</noinclude>