Differenze tra le versioni di "Columbus/en"
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Also around 1935 the Columbus introduced a new arrow clip, an obvious imitation of the one used by [[Parker]] on the [[Vacumatic]] model. The new clip was progressively used on many different models, but it was applied primarily on the top models marked ''Extra''. In 1936, as a result of the good commercial success achieved by its pens, [[Columbus]] moved its activities into the new headquarters of Via Lamarmora in Milan, where more space allowed to meet the increased production needs. | Also around 1935 the Columbus introduced a new arrow clip, an obvious imitation of the one used by [[Parker]] on the [[Vacumatic]] model. The new clip was progressively used on many different models, but it was applied primarily on the top models marked ''Extra''. In 1936, as a result of the good commercial success achieved by its pens, [[Columbus]] moved its activities into the new headquarters of Via Lamarmora in Milan, where more space allowed to meet the increased production needs. | ||
| − | + | In addition to the top line of the various series marked ''Columbus Extra'' the company also produced lower price pens simply marked as ''Columbus'', also identified by a numerical code. In the production of the second half of the '30s stand out among these the [[Columbus 3x|30]] and [[Columbus 55]] lines. Around 1940, even if there is who gives the origins to the second half of the '30s, the [[Columbus 25]] was introduced to a compact pen with a stylized spear-shaped clip using a [[button filler]] system. Although not marked as top line, the pen was provided with very elegant band decorations on the cap, similar to those found on the top models of the ''Columbus Extra'' series. | |
[[Image:Columbus-25-Capped.jpg|thumb|left|Una [[Columbus 25]]]] | [[Image:Columbus-25-Capped.jpg|thumb|left|Una [[Columbus 25]]]] | ||
Versione delle 22:50, 15 feb 2012
Columbus was founded in 1918 and was between the firsts Italian fountain pens manufacturers. The Columbus pens, like many other similar productions in Italy, were imitations of the more famous American brand models, however they had good quality and excellent style, and for these reason the company is considered to be between the most significant brands of the Italian market.
History
On 19 May 1918 the Eugenio and Alfredo Verga brothers founded in Milan the Alfredo Verga dei Fratelli Verga Snc,[1], 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.
The first models were black ebonite safety pens, produced in six different sizes from 1 to 6, and in long or short version. Their style was a imitation of that one used by German producers (like Montblanc or Kaweco) with rounded cap top and barrel end. These pens were in fact produced with all the external components purchased in Germany, while just the internal mechanism, the assembly and the finishing was made in Italy.
Like other Italian pens of the same period, Columbus pens were imitations of the most famous models at that time, but they were produced locally so they could be sold at much lower prices. Most of the Columbus initial production consisted in safety pens with gold plated (both 14k or 18k) overlays. The pens had good technical quality, and their decorations were very sophisticated, by far the best of that time and significantly better than those of the foreign models they imitated.
The activity was quite successful and in 1924 the Columbus trademark was officially recorded at Reg. Gen. N. 26261[2] 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.[3] At the same time the company expanded its production by introducing new versions of gold-plated overlays 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[4] 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 ebonite. The range of available overlays 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 ebonite 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.
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 (nº GB-334913), 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 nº CA-327288, that's assigned to the Mabie Todd company, that in that period was about to launch its leverless filler, which creates an unexpected link between these two companies.
Also in 1929 the Columbus Extra line was introduced, using the new filling system. Since then the name Columbus Extra was used to indicate the high-end production, so under this name were produced a wide variety of different models. Typically all models were further identified by a numerical or literal code. This line, with the same name and the same model numbers, remained in production for about a decade, while undergoing many stylistic and technical changes. Therefore is very difficult to classify with the same name a production that can be highly differentiated.
The pens of the first Columbus Extra line were Flat tops, clear imitation of the Parker Duofold; they were produced in four versions numbered 98, 96, 94 and 80, the first three respectively corresponding to large, medium and small size, and the forth to a lady version (same size of the small, but with cap ring instead of clip). In 1931 the Columbus Extra underwent a restyling following the trend of streamlined shapes, and the cap was decorated with a different cap band. The pens of this period, however, although it were obvious imitations, were of good quality and very elegant. The 98 model remains one of the best pens made at that time.
Around the 1935 a new faceted Columbus Extra was introduced. The pen was a lever filler, and remained in production until the late '30s. The pen was produced in three sizes, large, medium and small, identified by their initials as Columbus Extra G, Columbus Extra M e Columbus Extra P.[5] It was produced in two version, with three rings or with a greek motif decorated band. The pen was a lever filler, with a wheel clip, similar to the one used on the Doric, and virtually identical to the one used on the same name model produced by Omas.[6]
Also around 1935 the Columbus introduced a new arrow clip, an obvious imitation of the one used by Parker on the Vacumatic model. The new clip was progressively used on many different models, but it was applied primarily on the top models marked Extra. In 1936, as a result of the good commercial success achieved by its pens, Columbus moved its activities into the new headquarters of Via Lamarmora in Milan, where more space allowed to meet the increased production needs.
In addition to the top line of the various series marked Columbus Extra the company also produced lower price pens simply marked as Columbus, also identified by a numerical code. In the production of the second half of the '30s stand out among these the 30 and Columbus 55 lines. Around 1940, even if there is who gives the origins to the second half of the '30s, the Columbus 25 was introduced to a compact pen with a stylized spear-shaped clip using a button filler system. Although not marked as top line, the pen was provided with very elegant band decorations on the cap, similar to those found on the top models of the Columbus Extra series.
Sempre nella seconda metà degli anni '30 venne dato inizio alla produzione di modelli in celluloide trasparente che consentissero di visualizzare il livello di inchiostro, secondo la nuova tendenza inaugurata dalla Vacumatic, ed è di questo periodo la nascita della Columbus 112 a siringa rovesciata. Nel 1938 l'azienda ottenne un brevetto (nº IT-288327) per uno stantuffo a vite, che ebbe come conseguenza la realizzazione della serie 100 con caricamento a stantuffo.
Nel periodo a cavallo fra la fine degli anni '30 e l'inizio degli anni '40, l'azienda risentì, come tutti gli altri produttori europei, degli effetti dell'economia di guerra, ed a causa delle difficoltà economiche e di approvvigionamento venne effettuata una drastica semplificazione della produzione, utilizzando un unico sistema caricamento a pulsante di fondo e la clip a freccia su tutti i modelli. Nel 1941 l'azienda lanciò un modello destinato ai militari, la Columbus 29 in seguito immesso anche sul mercato generale.
Nel 1942 durante un bombardamento la fabbrica di Milano di Via Lamarmora venne quasi completamente distrutta,[7] la produzione venne spostata a Lesa, sul Lago Maggiore, con notevoli difficoltà logistiche essendo gli stabilimenti suddivisi in quattro diversi capannoni alquanto lontani fra loro. In questo periodo l'azienda si limitò a proseguire una limitata produzione dei modelli esistenti senza nessuna variazione o innovazione e solo nel 1946, quando l'azienda poté tornare a Milano, venne ripresa la produzione a pieno regime.
A metà degli anni '40 la Columbus e introdusse sul mercato la 134 con caricamento a levetta e di grandi dimensioni, una chiara imitazione della Skyline della Eversharp. Dello stesso modello vengono prodotte anche la versione 132 di dimensioni medie, e la 130, piccola, per signore. Sempre negli anni '40 viene prodotta una penna stilografica con caricamento a stantuffo, la 40 ed una ristilizzazione del modello 55 che diventa una intera linea di penne.
Negli anni '50, seguendo sempre le tendenze di oltreoceano trainate dal grande successo della Parker 51, la Columbus introdusse il nuovo modello 70 a pennino coperto, in questo caso però la penna non è una imitazione pedissequa, la penna è realizzata in celluloide e con caricamento a stantuffo, inoltre il cappuccio era a vite, ed il pennino solo parzialmente coperto per consentire una scrittura flessibile. Come per altre imitazioni italiane, come l'Aurora 88 o la Omas 361 anche in questo caso la penna è probabilmente più interessante dell'originale.
L'ultima serie prodotta in celluloide è stata la Columbus 90 introdotta all'incirca nel 1951, e realizzata sia con caricamento a stantuffo che con un particolare pulsante di fondo a fondello non rimovibile, simile al push-knob della Montblanc. La produzione degli anni '50 vide l'abbandono della celluloide per l'uso della più economica plastica a stampo, e la produzione di modelli con pennino carenato e cappuccio in plastica o penne scolastiche.
Nel 1957 il fondatore morì lasciando l'azienda in mano al figlio Enrico, ma ormai il mercato delle penne stilografiche era in completo declino a causa della diffusione della penna a sfera, la scelta fu quella di rivolgersi alla produzione di penne di fascia medio bassa e per il mercato scolastico, ma l'azienda subì un inesorabile declino. Nel 1992 i resti dell'azienda ed il marchio Columbus vennero venduti alla Santara Srl che ancora oggi produce penne moderne con questo nome.
Template:CronoMarche |- | 1918 || Nasce la Alfredo Verga dei Fratelli Verga e inizia la produzione di penne Columbus |- | 1922~ || (data indicativa[8]) Introdotto il modello Columbus 670 |- | 1924 || Viene depositato il marchio Columbus |- | 1927 || La Alfredo Verga dei Fratelli Verga si scioglie, Eugenio Verga prosegue le attività da solo |- | 1929 || Brevettato un proprio sistema di caricamento a cucchiaio |- | 1929 || Introdotta la prima linea Columbus Extra e l'uso della celluloide |- | 1931 || Introdotta la versione streamlined della linea Columbus Extra |- | 1934~ || (data indicativa[9]) Introdotta la serie 30 |- | 1935 || Introdotti i modelli Columbus Extra sfaccettati con caricamento a levetta |- | 1935 || Introdotta la clip a freccia |- | 1936 || Le attività si spostano nella nuova sede di Via Lamarmora a Milano |- | 1936 || Introdotto il modello Columbus 55 |- | 1937~ || (data indicativa[10]) Introdotta la Columbus 112 a siringa rovesciata |- | 1938 || Introdotta la serie 100 con caricamento a stantuffo |- | 1940? || Introdotta la Columbus 25 |- | 1941 || Introdotta la Columbus 29 |- | 1942 || La fabbrica di Via Lamarmora viene distrutta da un bombardamento, la produzione si sposta a Lesa |- | 1946 || La produzione ritorna a Milano nella sede di Via Lamarmora |- | 1946 || Introdotta la serie 130 (o 1948) |- | 1947~ || (data indicativa[11]) Introdotta la serie 50 |- | 1949~ || (data indicativa[12]) Introdotta la Columbus 40 |- | 1951 || Introdotta la serie Columbus 90 |- | 1952~ || (data indicativa[13]) Introdotta la Columbus 70 |- | 1955~ || (data indicativa[14]) Introdotti i modelli in plastica |- | 1957 || Morte di Eugenio Verga |- |}
Template:LegendaModelli |- | Extra || 1929 || 98, 96, 94, 80 |- | Extra Faccettata || 1935 || G, M e P |- |}
Note
- ↑ meaning Alfredo Verga Society of the Verga Brothers.
- ↑ Letizia Jacopini reports on "The history of the fountain in Italy," the number 23247, which presumably refers to the fact that the mark is registered in Vol. 247, Ranked #23 in the register of trade marks.
- ↑ meaning security guaranteed.
- ↑ on the 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.
- ↑ from the italian "Grande" (big), Media (medium) and "Piccola" (small).
- ↑ although there are no specific documentary references, is a known fact that Eugenio Verga knew and had friendly relations with Armando Simoni; the pens produced by Columbus and Omas have in many cases, materials and finishes virtually identical and because this many conjectures have been made, such as the fact that Omas may have produced for some times some Columbus models, or that the two companies have made joint purchases from the same suppliers.
- ↑ questo è anche il motivo per cui ci sono forti incertezze su molte date, essendo andati persi nell'occasione tutti gli archivi dell'azienda.
- ↑ si fa riferimento alla prima metà degli anni '20
- ↑ si fa riferimento alla metà degli anni '30
- ↑ si fa riferimento alla seconda metà degli anni '30
- ↑ si fa riferimento all'immediato dopoguerra
- ↑ si fa riferimento alla fine degli anni '40
- ↑ si fa riferimento alla prima metà degli anni '50
- ↑ si fa riferimento alla metà degli anni '50
Riferimenti esterni
- http://www.pentrace.net/article092801120.html Un articolo da Pen Trace
- http://www.columbuspenne.it Il sito dell'attuale proprietario del marchio, all'interno ci sono varie informazioni storiche molto interessanti
- http://www.italianfountainpenacademy.it/storia/columbus.htm Una storia della marca, interessante