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The [[Kaweco]] is one of the oldest companies in Germany, one of the first (preceded only by [[Soennecken]]) to enter the writing instruments market. In the first decades of the 1900 [[Kaweco]] was the leading fountain pens manufacturer of Germany, competing at international level with the American companies. Unable to adapt to market trends, the company suffered a first bankruptcy in 1929, when it was taken over by another fountain pens manufacturer.
 
The [[Kaweco]] is one of the oldest companies in Germany, one of the first (preceded only by [[Soennecken]]) to enter the writing instruments market. In the first decades of the 1900 [[Kaweco]] was the leading fountain pens manufacturer of Germany, competing at international level with the American companies. Unable to adapt to market trends, the company suffered a first bankruptcy in 1929, when it was taken over by another fountain pens manufacturer.
  
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While continuing to produce good quality pens in the '30s and in the postwar period, as for many other manufacturers suffered an inexorable decline since the 60s, with the introduction of the ballpoint pen. To date, the brand was acquired by the ''H & M Gutberlet Gmbh'' to recreates modern versions of the popular models of the company.{{Infobox_Brand|Kaweco}}
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While continuing to produce good quality pens in the '30s and in the postwar period, as for many other manufacturers suffered an inexorable decline since the 60s, with the introduction of the ballpoint pen. To date, the brand was acquired by the ''H & M Gutberlet Gmbh'' to recreates modern versions of the popular models of the company.{{Infobox_Brand|Kaweco}}{{BrandData|Founder=Luce, Ensslen|Date=1883|Place=Heidelberg|Country=DE|Fullname=Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik}}
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
  
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The first fountain pens production of the ''Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik'' goes back to 1892, with hard rubber [[eyedropper]] and [[safety]]  pens. In [[1899]] two businessmen, ''Heinrich Koch'' and ''Rudolph Weber'' acquired the company, which became the ''Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik Koch, Weber & Compagnie'', shifting production to Handschuhsheim, and marketing began to be carried out under the brand name ''KaWeCo'', born from the abbreviation of ''Koch, Weber & Compagnie'', other brands used at the time were [[Perkeo]] and [[Kaweco Omega|Omega]]. In the same period is believed to have begun the nibs importation from [[A. Morton & Co.]] in New York.
 
The first fountain pens production of the ''Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik'' goes back to 1892, with hard rubber [[eyedropper]] and [[safety]]  pens. In [[1899]] two businessmen, ''Heinrich Koch'' and ''Rudolph Weber'' acquired the company, which became the ''Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik Koch, Weber & Compagnie'', shifting production to Handschuhsheim, and marketing began to be carried out under the brand name ''KaWeCo'', born from the abbreviation of ''Koch, Weber & Compagnie'', other brands used at the time were [[Perkeo]] and [[Kaweco Omega|Omega]]. In the same period is believed to have begun the nibs importation from [[A. Morton & Co.]] in New York.
  
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At the beginning of the century the company had only a few dozen workers (something like 25 employees in 1903), but the production of black chased  hard rubber [[safety]] fountain pens was of excellent quality and had a great success. In 1903 were introduced the mechanical pencils ''KO-MIO'', in [[1908]]te company was awarded the first patent for a fountain pen.<ref>patent D.R.G.M. 224101, that's unknown in the database European Patent Office.</ref> In [[1909]] the company founded subsidiaries in Vienna, Paris and Zurich, as well as having numerous sales agencies across Europe and beyond (eg. in Turkey in Istanbul, in Egypt in Cairo and in Russia in St. Petersburg). In this period roughly two-thirds of its production was destined for the foreign market, and it is possible, given the links with [[A. Morton & Co.]] that also some American produced fountain pens have been resold with [[Kaweco]] brand.
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At the beginning of the century the company had only a few dozen workers (something like 25 employees in 1903), but the production of black chased  hard rubber [[safety]] fountain pens was of excellent quality and had a great success. In 1903 were introduced the mechanical pencils ''[[KO-MIO]]'', in [[1908]]te company was awarded the first patent for a fountain pen.<ref>patent D.R.G.M. 224101, that's unknown in the database European Patent Office.</ref> In [[1909]] the company founded subsidiaries in Vienna, Paris and Zurich, as well as having numerous sales agencies across Europe and beyond (eg. in Turkey in Istanbul, in Egypt in Cairo and in Russia in St. Petersburg). In this period roughly two-thirds of its production was destined for the foreign market, and it is possible, given the links with [[A. Morton & Co.]] that also some American produced fountain pens have been resold with [[Kaweco]] brand.
  
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In [[1911]] iwas published the first official catalog; more than 120  [[Modelli iniziali Kaweco|different models]] were available, purchased to order according to customer requirements. In this year there was the market introduction of the series of the [[Kaweco]] branded [[Modelli iniziali Kaweco|601-607]] [[safety]] models. Other models of that time were [[Perkeo]], [[Swallow]], [[Lilliput]] and [[Kaweco Omega|Omega]]. In the same period (1912) there was also the introduction of the [[Sport|616]] model, a black hard rubber [[safety]] model, small and very short, designed for use by athletes and officials, who is the first version of [[Sport]], the most famous model of the company.
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In [[1911]] iwas published the first official catalog; more than 120  [[Modelli iniziali Kaweco|different models]] were available, purchased to order according to customer requirements. In this year there was the market introduction of the series of the [[Kaweco]] branded [[Modelli iniziali Kaweco|601-607]] [[safety]] models. Other models of that time were [[Perkeo]], [[Kaweco Swallow|Swallow]], [[Lilliput]] and [[Kaweco Omega|Omega]]. In the same period (1912) there was also the introduction of the [[Sport|616]] model, a black hard rubber [[safety]] model, small and very short, designed for use by athletes and officials, who is the first version of [[Sport]], the most famous model of the company.
  
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Erano previsti anche otto diversi modelli di caricamento, anche se i più comuni erano il [[caricamento a contagocce]] ed il [[safety]]. In particolare quest'ultimo era uno dei punti di forza della [[Kaweco]], che può vantarsi, con la [[Waterman]], di essere stata una fra le prime aziende ad aver utilizzato questo sistema, del quale, già nel 1908 (o 1909), aveva realizzato una versione perfezionata, utilizzando una manopola del fondello filettata, così da potervi avvitare il cappuccio per usarlo nelle operazioni di spostamento del gruppo pennino.
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They were also provided eight different filling systems, although the most common were the [[eyedropper filler]] and the [[safety]]. In particular, the latter was one of the strengths of [[Kaweco]], who can claim, with [[Waterman]], to be one of the first companies to use this system, for which in 1908 (or 1909) it had made an improved version, using a threaded knob for the mechanismo, so that you can screw the cap on it, and then use it in to displace the nib group.
  
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[[Image:Kaweco-Warranty-10Jahre.jpg|thumb|left|Una garanzia [[Kaweco]].]]
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[[Image:Kaweco-Warranty-10Jahre.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Kaweco]] warranty]]
  
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Un'altra caratteristica distintiva della [[Modelli iniziali Kaweco|produzione dei primi anni del secolo]] era la varietà delle forme, con cappucci conici e cilindrici, con chiusura ad incastro o a vite, corpi squadrati o tondi, e delle finiture, realizzate con coperture in metallo placcato, argento ed oro variamente lavorate, inserti di madreperla, decorazioni a smalto ed il raro e sofisticato ''[[tula]]''.
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Another distinctive feature of the [[Modelli iniziali Kaweco|first years of the century production]] was the variety of forms, with cylindrical and tapered caps, with interlocking or screw cap closures, square or round bodies, and of the finishes, with gold rolled metal or variously worked silver and gold [[overlay]]s, mother of pearl inserts, enamel decorations and the rare and sophisticated ''[[tula]]''.
  
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Fra il 1913 ed il 1914 l'azienda acquistò la [[A. Morton & Co.]], che era reputata essere la più antica fabbrica di pennini in oro del mondo. Vennero fatti trasferire da New York a Heidelberg macchinari, operai ed ingegneri per insegnare le tecniche di produzione, pur mantenendo una produzioni di pennini anche a New York. Con l'inizio della prima guerra mondiale la gran parte del personale americano tornò in patria; ma la produzione dei pennini era ormai diventata eccellente e del tutto equivalente a quella effettuata a New York con marchio ''[[A. Morton & Co.|Morton]]''.
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Between 1913 and 1914 the company bought the [[A. Morton & Co.]], who was reputed to be the oldest gold nibs factory in the world. Workers, engineers and machinery were transfered from New York to Heidelberg to teach the techniques of production, while maintaining production of nibs in New York. With the start of World War I most of the American personnel returned home; but in the meantime the production of nibs had become excellent and fully equivalent to the one carried out in New York under the ''[[A. Morton & Co.|Morton]]'' brand.
  
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La [[Kaweco]] raggiunse l'apice delle sue dimensioni agli inizi degli anni '20, quando diventò il primo produttore della Germania, con vendite intorno ai 130000 pezzi l'anno. Nel [[1924]] l'azienda dava impiego a circa 1200 persone, ma già nel 1925 si iniziarono ad avvertire i primi sintomi della crisi, con l'azienda che perdeva terreno rispetto alle rivali [[Soennecken]] e [[Montblanc]]. Inoltre in quello stesso periodo nacquero nei dintorni di Heidelberg una serie di aziende concorrenti come la [[Reform]] e la ''[[KWG]]'', ed altre vennero fondate dai migliori tecnici dell'azienda che se ne andavano per creare delle ditte proprie, come i fratelli Böhler con la [[Osmia]] o come Heinrich Hebborn, che nel 1925 acquisì la filiale di Colonia di cui era direttore per fondare la [[Luxor]].  
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The [[Kaweco]] reached the height of its size in the early '20s, when he became the first manufacturer in Germany, with sales of around 130,000 units a year. In [[1924]] gave the company employed around 1,200 people, but already in 1925 it began to feel the first symptoms of the crisis, losing ground to rivals like [[Soennecken]] and [[Montblanc]]. Also in that same period were born near Heidelberg a number of competitors such as [[Reform]] and the ''[[KWG]]'', and others brand were founded by the best technicians who left [[Kaweco]] to create of their own companies, like the  Böhler brothers with [[Osmia]] or Heinrich Hebborn, who in 1925 acquired the Cologne [[Kaweco]] branch, of which he was director, to create [[Luxor]].  
  
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[[Image:Logo-Kaweco-Old.svg|thumb|Vecchio logo Kaweco|150px|Il logo della [[Kaweco]] prima del fallimento del 1929.]]
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[[Image:Logo-Kaweco-Old.svg|thumb|Old Kaweco logo|150px|The [[Kaweco]] logo before 1929 bankruptcy.]]
  
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La concorrenza iniziò a farsi sempre più agguerrita e le vendite della [[Kaweco]], che restava ancorata alla produzione di penne in ebanite nera con caricamento [[safety]], persero sempre più terreno rispetto agli altri produttori che iniziarono ad introdurre modelli colorati in celluloide e con caricamenti più sofisticati. In particolare le esportazioni, che erano state un punto di forza dell'azienda, crollarono a picco di fronte alla concorrenza dei produttori americani.  
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The competition began to grow increasingly fierce and [[Kaweco]] sales, which remained anchored to the production of black hard rubber [[safety]] pens, lost more and more ground when other producers began to introduce colorful patterns celluloid models with more sophisticated filling systems. In particular exports, which had been a company strong point, abruptly fell in front of competition from the United States manufacturers.  
  
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Nel [[1926]] l'azienda adottò ufficialmente il nome [[Kaweco]] al posto dell'originale ''Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik'', e vennero introdotti nuovi modelli con caricamento a [[pulsante di fondo]], inoltre venne ampliata la serie [[Omega]] introducendo modelli con [[caricamento a levetta]]. Venne anche introdotto il marchio [[Helios]] per delle rientranti di fascia più bassa.<ref>Il marchio compare su due penne raffigurate in un catalogo del 1925 ed in una pagina di quello del 1928.</ref> Il materiale però era sempre l'ebanite nera, che ormai era definitivamente associata con l'idea di arretratezza. Senza una strategia di rilancio la situazione continuò a peggiorare, vi fu prima una riduzione di capitali, ma incalzata dai creditori, l'azienda fece bancarotta ed il 24 maggio del 1929 venne posta in liquidazione forzata.
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In [[1926]], the company officially adopted the name [[Kaweco]] instead of the original ''Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik'', and introduced new  [[button filler]] models, also the [[Omega]] series was expanded introducing new [[lever filler]] models. It was also introduced the [[Helios]] brand for the lower range [[safety]] models.<ref>this trademark appears on two pens depicted in a 1925 catalog and in a page of the 1928 one.</ref> The material, however, was always black hard rubber, which was now permanently associated with the idea of backwardness. Without a strategy for revitalizing production the situation continued to worsen, there was first a reduction of capital, but hounded by creditors, the company went bankrupt, and on 24 May 1929 and was forced into liquidation.
  
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[[Image:Logo-KWG.svg|thumb|Logo KWG|150px|left|Il logo della ''Badische Federhalterfabrik Knust, Woringen & Grube'' prima dell'acquisizione della [[Kaweco]].]]
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[[Image:Logo-KWG.svg|thumb|Logo KWG|150px|left|The ''Badische Federhalterfabrik Knust, Woringen & Grube'' logo, before [[Kaweco]] acquisition.]]
  
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In quel periodo la [[KWG]] era alla ricerca di un marchio che sostituisse il poco attraente [[Arumia]], ed iniziarono i contatti con Max Sauter, il liquidatore della [[Kaweco]]. Dopo mesi di negoziati il 31 settembre [[1929]], la [[KWG]] acquistò il marchio e cambiò nome in ''Kaweco Badische Füllhalterfabrik, Woringen & Grube'', venne anche introdotto  per l'occasione (su suggerimento dello stesso Sauter) anche il nuovo logo della [[Kaweco]], fusione dei loghi delle due azienda. L'accordo prevedeva la cessione del marchio, gli stock di merce e i contratti di vendita, ma non gli edifici, che restarono a disposizione dei debitori; anche riguardo gli impianti produttivi vennero acquisiti pochi macchinari, essendo la gran parte di questi, dedicati alla produzione di penne rientranti, diventati obsoleti.
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At that time the [[KWG]] was looking for a brand that would replace their own unattractive [[Aurumia]], and started contacts with Max Sauter, the [[Kaweco]] liquidator. After months of negotiations September 31 [[1929]], the [[KWG]] bought the brand and changed its name to ''Kaweco Badische Füllhalterfabrik, Woringen & Grube'', for the occasion was also introduced (at the same Sauter suggestion) the new [[Kaweco]] logo, merger of the two company logos. The agreement provided for the sale of the brand, the stocks of goods and sales contracts, but not the buildings that remained available to the debtors. Regarding the production facilities were also acquired a few machines, being the majority of these, dedicated to [[safety]] production, become obsolete.
  
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[[Image:Logo-Kaweco.svg|thumb|Logo Kaweco|150px|right|Il logo della [[Kaweco]] dopo l'acquisizione da parte della ''Badische Federhalterfabrik Knust, Woringen & Grube'']]
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[[Image:Logo-Kaweco.svg|thumb|Logo Kaweco|150px|right|[[Kaweco]] logo  after acquisition from ''Badische Federhalterfabrik Knust, Woringen & Grube'']]
  
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La nuova [[Kaweco]] cercò di dare un taglio netto con il passato, i vecchi modelli vennero tolti dal mercato, quelli presenti nella rete di distribuzione richiamati e sostituiti, o ricomprati e distrutti, e si cercò anche di bloccarne la riparazione. I modelli [[safety]] tradizionali vennero rinnovati con un cappuccio a testa piatta realizzati in ebanite nera (400, 401, 402, 404, 406) o fiammata (500, 501, 502, 504, 506). I modelli [[Arumia]] con caricamento a [[pulsante di fondo]] della serie "U" vennero ripresentati a marchio [[Kaweco]] come [[Meisterklasse|Kaweco Meisterklasse]], negli stessi colori. La linea [[Colleg]] venne mantenuta come [[Colleg-Extra]] e divenne una vera e propria linea di prodotti più economici, rivolta all'uso scolastico. Le nuove penne erano di dimensioni, pregio e costo inferiore, ma questo fu di aiuto all'azienda in un periodo di forte crisi economica.
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The new [[Kaweco]] tried to make a clean break with the past, the old models were removed from the market, those in the distribution network recalled and replaced, or repurchased and destroyed, and they also tried to block the repair. The traditional [[safety]] models were renewed with a flat head cap made of black hard rubber (400, 401, 402, 404, 406) or mottled (500, 501, 502, 504, 506). The [[button filler]] "U" series [[Aurumia]] models were rebranded under [[Kaweco]] as [[Meisterklasse|Kaweco Meisterklasse]], in the same colors. The [[Colleg]] line was maintained as [[Colleg-Extra]] and became a real cheaper products line, aimed for school use. The new pens were of lower size, quality and cost, but this was to help during a period of severe economic crisis.
  
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[[Image:193x-Kaweco-Flattop.jpg|thumb|left|Pubblicità [[Kaweco]] degli anni '30]]
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[[Image:193x-Kaweco-Flattop.jpg|thumb|left|A '30s [[Kaweco]] advertisement]]
  
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All'inizio degli anni '30 vennero realizzati vari cambiamenti dei modelli, la linea [[Colleg-Extra]] diventò la [[Kaweco Special]], e venne prodotta in varie misure e con corpo tondo ed esagonale, sempre con caricamento a [[pulsante di fondo]]. Nel [[1934]] venne introdotto il modello [[Dia]], con [[caricamento a stantuffo]] e sezione trasparente per l'inchiostro, inizialmente nelle misure [[Dia|83]] e [[Dia|85]] e poi nella versione [[Dia|125]], di maggiori dimensioni e con fondello e testa del cappuccio in metallo dorato e cesellato. A questo venne affiancato il modello [[Colleg|Kaweco Colleg]].
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In the early 30's were made various changes of the models, the [[Colleg-Extra]] became the [[Kaweco Special]], and was produced in various sizes and with round and hexagonal body, always  [[button filler]]. In [[1934]] was introduced the [[piston filler]] [[Dia]] model with transparent ink section, initially in sizes [[Dia|83]] and [[Dia|85]] and then in the version [[Dia|125]], larger and with bottom and cap top in rolled gold and chiseled  metal. It then was flanked by [[Colleg|Kaweco Colleg]] model.
  
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Nel [[1935]] venne introdotto il modello [[Sport]], sempre in celluloide con sezione trasparente e [[caricamento a stantuffo]], ma di forma ottagonale ed molto corto, venduto abbinato ad una matita in una confezione in pelle da portare in tasca, un antesignano della soluzione introdotta dalla [[Pilot]] con la sua [[Elite]] di un cappuccio lungo che montato sul fondello della penna la rende di lunghezza normale. Per le sue piccole dimensioni il modello [[Sport]] veniva pubblicizzato per l'uso da parte degli sportivi e per la sua praticità riscosse un notevole successo.
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In [[1935]] was introduced [[Sport]] model, always in celluloid with [[piston filler]] and transparent section, but octagonal and very short, sold combined with a pencil in a leather bag to carry in the pocket, a forerunner of the design introduced by [[Pilot]] with his [[Pilot Elite|Elite]] model, using of a long cap that mounted on the bottom of the pen makes it of normal length. For its small size model [[Sport]] was advertised for use by athletes and for its convenience enjoyed considerable success.
  
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Nel [[1937]] venne introdotto il modello [[Elite]], nelle versioni 183, 185, 187 e 190, e con [[caricamento a stantuffo]], il corpo cesellato con decorazione ''[[guilloché]]''. Infine il modello [[Kaweco Special|Special]] più affusolato. La gran parte della produzione era realizzata prima in ebanite e poi in celluloide nera, solo i modelli da esportazione venivano prodotti in celluloide colorata. Altri modelli di quest'epoca erano la [[Kadett]], la [[Schulkaweco]] e la [[Helios]].
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In [[1937]] was introduced the [[Kaweco Elite|Elite]] model, in versions 183, 185, 187 and 190, with [[piston filler]], and the celluloid body engraved with a decorative ''[[guilloché]]''. Finally the more tapered [[Kaweco Special|Special]] model. Most of the production was made before hard rubber and then black celluloid, only the export models were produced in colored celluloid. Other models of this era were the [[Kadett]], the [[Schulkaweco]] and the [[Helios]].
  
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[[Image:194x-Kaweco-Elite.jpg|thumb|upright|Pubblicità [[Kaweco]] degli anni '40]]
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[[Image:194x-Kaweco-Elite.jpg|thumb|upright|A '40s [[Kaweco]] advertisement]]
  
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La seconda guerra mondiale causò una forte diminuzione delle materie prime e della manodopera disponibile, fino al 1941 l'azienda mantenne buoni livelli di produzione, ma dal 1943 al 1945 essa cessò quasi completamente. Nel dopoguerra la produzione riprese; le linee [[Dia]] ed [[Elite]] vennero riproposte in nuove misure, ma con pennino in cromo-nichel, solo il modello di punta, la [[Carat]], che comparve per la prima volta nel catalogo del 1950 con le misure 283, 285, 287 e 290 aveva un pennino oro bicolore. Sempre nel [[1950]] riprese la produzione del modello [[Sport]], che ottenne un buon successo. Vennero mantenute le linee economiche per studenti [[Colleg]] e [[Kadett]]; tutte le penne erano prodotte con [[caricamento a stantuffo]].
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World War II caused a sharp decrease of the raw materials and manpower available, until 1941 the company maintained good production levels, but from 1943 to 1945 it ceased almost completely. After the war, production resumed; lines [[Dia]] and [[Kaweco Elite|Elite]] were proposed again in the new measures, but with chrome-nickel nib, only the flagship model, the [[Carat]], which appeared for the first time in the 1950 catalog with measures 283, 285, 287 and 290 had a two-tone gold nib. Also in [[1950]] resumed the [[Sport]] model production, who obtained a good success. Economic lines [[Colleg]] and [[Kadett]] were maintained for students; all pens were produced with [[piston filler]].
  
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Nel [[1960]] ''Frederik Grube'' morì lasciando l'azienda in mano ai figli, ma l'avvento della penna a sfera aveva reso sempre meno significativa l'azienda, che comunque continuò a produrre pennini ed articoli da scrittura, adeguandosi alle varie tendenze (con penne in materiali plastici e con l'uso di modelli a [[pennino coperto]] introdotti nel [[1962]]) e concentrandosi molto sul mercato scolastico, come per il modello [[Kaweco VP|VP]] del [[1964]], con [[caricamento a cartuccia]] e [[hooded nib|pennino coperto]].
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In [[1960]] ''Frederik Grube'' died, leaving the company to his sons, but the advent of the ballpoint pen had made it less and less significant, which still continued to produce pens and writing instruments, adapting to various trends (with plastic pens and with the use of [[hooded nib]] introduced in [[1962]]) and focusing heavily on the educational market, as for the [[Kaweco VP|VP]] model of [[1964]], cartridge filler and [[hooded nib]].
  
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La produzione proseguì senza innovazioni significative, riproponendo vecchi modelli, fino all'inizio degli anni '80. Il fallimento definitivo avvenne per bancarotta nel [[1981]], ed il marchio venne acquisito nel 1995 dalla ''H&M Gutberlet Gmbh'' che rilevò l'azienda per rimettere sul mercato, l'anno successivo, una versione moderna del modello più famoso dell'azienda, la [[Sport]].
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The production continued without significant innovations, reinventing old models, until the early 80s. The final failure occurred for bankruptcy in [[1981]], and the brand was acquired in 1995 by the ''H&M Gutberlet Gmbh'' who took over the company to put on the market, the following year, a modern version of the most famous model company, the [[Sport]].
  
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{{CronoMarca|Kaweco}}
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{{BrandChrono|Kaweco}}
  
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==Riferimenti esterni==
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==External references==
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* [http://kaweco-pen.com/en/Historie/kaweco-historie.php Storia] dell'azienda
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* [https://www.kaweco-pen.com/en/history] Current historical section of the site, more and more reduced.
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* [http://kaweco-pen.com/e_page2tab.htm Storia dettagliata] dell'azienda, non più disponibile (materiale venduto su CD)
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150319210809/http://www.kaweco-pen.com/en/Historie/kaweco-historie.php?MyKat=] History section, now removed, on the brand website, now totally useless
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* [http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?s=c45f3e9adbdca24ea62226e4eabdbc10&showtopic=14104 Articolo] sulla storia della [[Kaweco]], prima parte
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* [httphttps://web.archive.org/web/20160331184654/http://www.kaweco-pen.com/e_page2tab.htm] Lost web page on the old website, with detailed history (was sold on CD)
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* [http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?s=ab60822e2091e705b31735ce27f02b3a&showtopic=14106 Articolo] sulla storia della [[Kaweco]], seconda parte
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* [http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?s=c45f3e9adbdca24ea62226e4eabdbc10&showtopic=14104] Article on [[Kaweco]] history, first part
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* [http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?s=c45f3e9adbdca24ea62226e4eabdbc10&showtopic=20363 Discussione] con alcune informazioni sulla produzione di pennini in Germania
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* [http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?s=ab60822e2091e705b31735ce27f02b3a&showtopic=14106] Article on [[Kaweco]] history, second part
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* [http://www.relojes-especiales.com/foros/estilograficas/kaweco-sport-en-kaweco-mi-rewiev-219012/ Recensione] di due Kaweco Sport con storia dell'azienda e materiale preso da qui senza attribuzione.
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* [http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?s=c45f3e9adbdca24ea62226e4eabdbc10&showtopic=20363] Discussion with information about German nibs
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==Note==
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* [http://www.relojes-especiales.com/foros/estilograficas/kaweco-sport-en-kaweco-mi-rewiev-219012/] Review for two Kaweco Sport with some material taken from here without attribution.
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==Notes==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
  
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[[Category:Marche]]
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{{CategorizeBrand|Germania}}
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[[Category:Brands]]
 
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[[Category:Germania]]
 

Versione attuale delle 17:46, 4 mag 2023

Kaweco Logo

The Kaweco is one of the oldest companies in Germany, one of the first (preceded only by Soennecken) to enter the writing instruments market. In the first decades of the 1900 Kaweco was the leading fountain pens manufacturer of Germany, competing at international level with the American companies. Unable to adapt to market trends, the company suffered a first bankruptcy in 1929, when it was taken over by another fountain pens manufacturer.

While continuing to produce good quality pens in the '30s and in the postwar period, as for many other manufacturers suffered an inexorable decline since the 60s, with the introduction of the ballpoint pen. To date, the brand was acquired by the H & M Gutberlet Gmbh to recreates modern versions of the popular models of the company.

Kaweco
Brand pages
Brand advertising
Brand photos
Instructions sheet
Other documents
Patents

History

The origins of the Kaweco date back to the 1883, when what later became the core of the company was created in Heidelberg under the name Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik, in the back of a carpenter shop. There are few news on this initial period of activity of the company, neither we have precise information on who were the founders and owners (the current site lists these Luce and Ensslen), or details on the initial production that is supposed to be consists of dip pens for England imported nibs. It ir also assumed that the company has been in contact with A. Morton, founder of the eponymous American company, whose pens and gold nibs were sold on by Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik.

A Kaweco safety

The first fountain pens production of the Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik goes back to 1892, with hard rubber eyedropper and safety pens. In 1899 two businessmen, Heinrich Koch and Rudolph Weber acquired the company, which became the Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik Koch, Weber & Compagnie, shifting production to Handschuhsheim, and marketing began to be carried out under the brand name KaWeCo, born from the abbreviation of Koch, Weber & Compagnie, other brands used at the time were Perkeo and Omega. In the same period is believed to have begun the nibs importation from A. Morton & Co. in New York.

At the beginning of the century the company had only a few dozen workers (something like 25 employees in 1903), but the production of black chased hard rubber safety fountain pens was of excellent quality and had a great success. In 1903 were introduced the mechanical pencils KO-MIO, in 1908te company was awarded the first patent for a fountain pen.[1] In 1909 the company founded subsidiaries in Vienna, Paris and Zurich, as well as having numerous sales agencies across Europe and beyond (eg. in Turkey in Istanbul, in Egypt in Cairo and in Russia in St. Petersburg). In this period roughly two-thirds of its production was destined for the foreign market, and it is possible, given the links with A. Morton & Co. that also some American produced fountain pens have been resold with Kaweco brand.

In 1911 iwas published the first official catalog; more than 120 different models were available, purchased to order according to customer requirements. In this year there was the market introduction of the series of the Kaweco branded 601-607 safety models. Other models of that time were Perkeo, Swallow, Lilliput and Omega. In the same period (1912) there was also the introduction of the 616 model, a black hard rubber safety model, small and very short, designed for use by athletes and officials, who is the first version of Sport, the most famous model of the company.

They were also provided eight different filling systems, although the most common were the eyedropper filler and the safety. In particular, the latter was one of the strengths of Kaweco, who can claim, with Waterman, to be one of the first companies to use this system, for which in 1908 (or 1909) it had made an improved version, using a threaded knob for the mechanismo, so that you can screw the cap on it, and then use it in to displace the nib group.

A Kaweco warranty

Another distinctive feature of the first years of the century production was the variety of forms, with cylindrical and tapered caps, with interlocking or screw cap closures, square or round bodies, and of the finishes, with gold rolled metal or variously worked silver and gold overlays, mother of pearl inserts, enamel decorations and the rare and sophisticated tula.

Between 1913 and 1914 the company bought the A. Morton & Co., who was reputed to be the oldest gold nibs factory in the world. Workers, engineers and machinery were transfered from New York to Heidelberg to teach the techniques of production, while maintaining production of nibs in New York. With the start of World War I most of the American personnel returned home; but in the meantime the production of nibs had become excellent and fully equivalent to the one carried out in New York under the Morton brand.

The Kaweco reached the height of its size in the early '20s, when he became the first manufacturer in Germany, with sales of around 130,000 units a year. In 1924 gave the company employed around 1,200 people, but already in 1925 it began to feel the first symptoms of the crisis, losing ground to rivals like Soennecken and Montblanc. Also in that same period were born near Heidelberg a number of competitors such as Reform and the KWG, and others brand were founded by the best technicians who left Kaweco to create of their own companies, like the Böhler brothers with Osmia or Heinrich Hebborn, who in 1925 acquired the Cologne Kaweco branch, of which he was director, to create Luxor.

The Kaweco logo before 1929 bankruptcy.

The competition began to grow increasingly fierce and Kaweco sales, which remained anchored to the production of black hard rubber safety pens, lost more and more ground when other producers began to introduce colorful patterns celluloid models with more sophisticated filling systems. In particular exports, which had been a company strong point, abruptly fell in front of competition from the United States manufacturers.

In 1926, the company officially adopted the name Kaweco instead of the original Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik, and introduced new button filler models, also the Omega series was expanded introducing new lever filler models. It was also introduced the Helios brand for the lower range safety models.[2] The material, however, was always black hard rubber, which was now permanently associated with the idea of backwardness. Without a strategy for revitalizing production the situation continued to worsen, there was first a reduction of capital, but hounded by creditors, the company went bankrupt, and on 24 May 1929 and was forced into liquidation.

The Badische Federhalterfabrik Knust, Woringen & Grube logo, before Kaweco acquisition.

At that time the KWG was looking for a brand that would replace their own unattractive Aurumia, and started contacts with Max Sauter, the Kaweco liquidator. After months of negotiations September 31 1929, the KWG bought the brand and changed its name to Kaweco Badische Füllhalterfabrik, Woringen & Grube, for the occasion was also introduced (at the same Sauter suggestion) the new Kaweco logo, merger of the two company logos. The agreement provided for the sale of the brand, the stocks of goods and sales contracts, but not the buildings that remained available to the debtors. Regarding the production facilities were also acquired a few machines, being the majority of these, dedicated to safety production, become obsolete.

Kaweco logo after acquisition from Badische Federhalterfabrik Knust, Woringen & Grube

The new Kaweco tried to make a clean break with the past, the old models were removed from the market, those in the distribution network recalled and replaced, or repurchased and destroyed, and they also tried to block the repair. The traditional safety models were renewed with a flat head cap made of black hard rubber (400, 401, 402, 404, 406) or mottled (500, 501, 502, 504, 506). The button filler "U" series Aurumia models were rebranded under Kaweco as Kaweco Meisterklasse, in the same colors. The Colleg line was maintained as Colleg-Extra and became a real cheaper products line, aimed for school use. The new pens were of lower size, quality and cost, but this was to help during a period of severe economic crisis.

A '30s Kaweco advertisement

In the early 30's were made various changes of the models, the Colleg-Extra became the Kaweco Special, and was produced in various sizes and with round and hexagonal body, always button filler. In 1934 was introduced the piston filler Dia model with transparent ink section, initially in sizes 83 and 85 and then in the version 125, larger and with bottom and cap top in rolled gold and chiseled metal. It then was flanked by Kaweco Colleg model.

In 1935 was introduced Sport model, always in celluloid with piston filler and transparent section, but octagonal and very short, sold combined with a pencil in a leather bag to carry in the pocket, a forerunner of the design introduced by Pilot with his Elite model, using of a long cap that mounted on the bottom of the pen makes it of normal length. For its small size model Sport was advertised for use by athletes and for its convenience enjoyed considerable success.

In 1937 was introduced the Elite model, in versions 183, 185, 187 and 190, with piston filler, and the celluloid body engraved with a decorative guilloché. Finally the more tapered Special model. Most of the production was made before hard rubber and then black celluloid, only the export models were produced in colored celluloid. Other models of this era were the Kadett, the Schulkaweco and the Helios.

A '40s Kaweco advertisement

World War II caused a sharp decrease of the raw materials and manpower available, until 1941 the company maintained good production levels, but from 1943 to 1945 it ceased almost completely. After the war, production resumed; lines Dia and Elite were proposed again in the new measures, but with chrome-nickel nib, only the flagship model, the Carat, which appeared for the first time in the 1950 catalog with measures 283, 285, 287 and 290 had a two-tone gold nib. Also in 1950 resumed the Sport model production, who obtained a good success. Economic lines Colleg and Kadett were maintained for students; all pens were produced with piston filler.

In 1960 Frederik Grube died, leaving the company to his sons, but the advent of the ballpoint pen had made it less and less significant, which still continued to produce pens and writing instruments, adapting to various trends (with plastic pens and with the use of hooded nib introduced in 1962) and focusing heavily on the educational market, as for the VP model of 1964, cartridge filler and hooded nib.

The production continued without significant innovations, reinventing old models, until the early 80s. The final failure occurred for bankruptcy in 1981, and the brand was acquired in 1995 by the H&M Gutberlet Gmbh who took over the company to put on the market, the following year, a modern version of the most famous model company, the Sport.

Chronology

Year Event
1883 the company is founded by Luce, Ensslen in Heidelberg as Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik
1892 Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik, that will become Kaweco, begins fountain pen production[3]
1899 H. Koch and R. Weber acquire the Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik, that becomes Kaweco
1903 the company introduces the KO-MIO mechanical pencil
1908 the company patents a safety pen with threaded bottom to be turned by screwing the cap (1909?)
1912 the company introduces the Kaweco 616 Sport forerunner (or 1911?)
1914 the company acquire A. Morton & Co., taking their know how and starts its nib production in Heidelberg (1913?)
1921 the company introduces the first lever filler models
1929 original Kaweco bankrupt, KWG acquire the trademark and the Kaweco Badische Füllhalterfabrik is born
1932 the company introduces the Colleg
1932 the company introduces the Kaweco Original
1932 the company introduces the Kaweco Special
1934 the company introduces the Sport marked number 9
1934 the company introduces the Dia
1937 the company introduces the Kaweco Elite
1938 the company restilizes the Sport, with the two versions 609 (safety) and 612 (piston)
1940 the company restilizes again the Sport, with the two versions 9 (safety) and 12 (piston)
1949 the company restilizes again the Sport, with the 112 version
1950 the company introduces the Carat
1953 the company restilizes again the Sport, with the two versions 12 and 11 (lady)
1960 the company restilizes again the Sport, with the version 12G
1962 the company introduces hooded nib models
1964 the company introduces the Kaweco VP
1965 the company restilizes again the Sport, with the two versions 12G and V12 (hooded nib)
1970 the company restilizes again the Sport, with the versions V16 and V16N (hooded nib)
1981 the company fails and ceases production

External references

  • [1] Current historical section of the site, more and more reduced.
  • [2] History section, now removed, on the brand website, now totally useless
  • [httphttps://web.archive.org/web/20160331184654/http://www.kaweco-pen.com/e_page2tab.htm] Lost web page on the old website, with detailed history (was sold on CD)
  • [3] Article on Kaweco history, first part
  • [4] Article on Kaweco history, second part
  • [5] Discussion with information about German nibs
  • [6] Review for two Kaweco Sport with some material taken from here without attribution.

Notes

  1. ↑ patent D.R.G.M. 224101, that's unknown in the database European Patent Office.
  2. ↑ this trademark appears on two pens depicted in a 1925 catalog and in a page of the 1928 one.
  3. ↑ the most part of the Kaweco chronology is obtained form the information that were published by the company itself (no more on-line) and from the new company history published here and now here.
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