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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Ancora}}[[Immagine:Logo-Ancora.svg|center|300px|Ancora Logo]]

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}}
==History==

The [[Ancora]] date of foundation is not known with certainty and there are conflicting versions.<ref>in addition to its foundation date, another point that has long remained uncertain regarding the company's origins is the surname of its founder as well documents in which the surname ''Zannini,'' with two ''n's,'' as well as the simple Zanini have been found; various hypotheses have been put forward, but the answer was provided directly by Zanini's nephew, who [https://www.penciclopedia.it/681/errata-corrige-leta-di-giuseppe-zanini/#comment-19646 tells] how this change was obtained by the court, and made because of homonymy with a well-known gangster of the time.</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 was 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. According to reports from the founder's grandson, in fact, Zanini together with his wife Ester Marzari ran an emporium in Schio (Vicenza) where they sold everything including stationery, and it is likely that the starting year listed in said invoice refers to this.

[[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, and in [https://www.penciclopedia.it/681/errata-corrige-leta-di-giuseppe-zanini/#comment-19646 his intervention] Zanini's nephew indicates that Zanini moved to Bologna during World War I, meeting, and perhaps collaborating, with Armando Simoni.</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 the mid-1930s Zanini moved to Arona and with the collaboration of his children (Alfredo, Maria, Adele, Giuseppe, Franco, Antonio) began construction of a new factory; the headquarters were moved to Arona in [[1938]]. In the early 1940s with the death of the founder (which occurred on 7/7/1940), the sons continued the activities and in about 1950 Alfredo took over the management, acquiring the brand and continuing the activities until [[1975]], when the company closed.

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

Unfortunately [[Ancora]] models history is highly clouded, because there are no catalogs or model listings.  The [[Ancora]] initial production consisted of relatively conventional pens with the classic [[safety]] filler. They were made in [[BCHR|chased hard rubber]], but some luxury model were produced with gold filled [[overlay]]s; these were usually made in 18k gold plated metal, some full gold models have been found, but apparently silver was never used. Typically, these [[overlay]]s are marked with the [[Ancora]] name in uppercase letters at the bottom of the cap, but some have the company logo, an anchor, in blue over white enamel on the top of the cap. The same decoration can be found also on the hard rubber models.

Since the '20s the ''[[Ancora]]'' branded [[safety|safeties]] were joined by the sub-brand ''[[Rapid]]'', that remained in production until about the '40s. This sub-brand was associated only with pens made with precious metal [[overlay]], that were marked with the name ''Rapid'' and the letters "G.Z." within a diamond on the cap. The nib was still marked ''Ancora'' or ''Warranted'' with an engraving of an anchor and the initials "G.Z." Whitin this line, especially in the '30s, have been designed some [[overlay]] with the most refined and elegant decorations of that time.

Around 1930 [[Ancora]] produced the [[Ancora Flat-top|first celluloid models]], clearly inspired by the [[Parker]] [[Duofold]], with hard rubber black ends, a ball clip and [[button filler]]. These models were produced in two sizes, using marbled, black or single colored celluloid. They were soon followed by other models with slightly tapered end, produced in a colorful celluloid; now these early celluloid model are very rare and highly sought by collectors.

[[Image:Ancora-Flattop-Rossa-Open.jpg|thumb|A [[Duofold]]-like [[Ancora]] ]]

In the first years of '30s [[Ancora]] introduced a new top model, the [[Ancora Duplex|Duplex]] a more streamlined [[lever filler]] pen, produced in four different sizes: lady, medium, senior and oversize. The [[Duplex]] had a wheel clip (like the one used on the first [[Doric]] models), with three cap rings on the bottom of the cap, one on the top and other two rings on the barrel: one just under the cap and at the other at the end. All finishes were gold plated, and the nib was 14k gold. There are also alternate versions, with [[button filler]], a ball clip, with a single ring on the bottom of the cap and different celluloid patterns and colors produced in just three sizes, but all have the anchor logo and the words [[Ancora Duplex|Duplex]] marked on the body of the pen.

[[Image:Ancora-Dama-RingedGray-Open.jpg|thumb|A [[Da-Ma]].]]

In the late '30s two new models, called [[Da-Ma]] and [[Maxima]] were produced. They were high quality pens made in many beautiful colors, using also a laminated transparent celluloid similar to the one used on the [[Vacumatic]]. The pens were equipped with an innovative [[siringa rovesciata|plunger vacuum filling]] system, with a gold plated roller clip and three cap rings. The difference between the two model was that [[Maxima]] was rounded when the [[Da-Ma]] was faceted, like a [[Doric]] (or an [[Omas Extra]]). The [[Da-Ma]], was also produced in a [[lever filler]] version, and in four sizes, when the [[Maxima]] only had two sizes, it also had a two-tone nib featuring the logo of the anchor.

Launched by a large advertising campaign, the [[Da-Ma]] model was a good selling success, but the filling system, as it was innovative, proved to be very fragile from a mechanical point of view. Many pens went back to the factory, where the filling system was changed to a [[button filler]], losing the transparency of the pen body.

During the same period [[Ancora]] produced other models in celluloid, with the more common [[lever filler|lever]] or [[button filler]]. Sold at a lowest price relative to [[Da-Ma]], they still were high quality pens, equipped with three cap rings and a different clip with a three folded lion foot shaped end. There is no a known name for these models, which were produced with gold or chrome finishes; the latter (produced from the late '30s to the early 40s) were associated with steel nibs, made of an alloy called ''[[Zanio]]''

After the war the [[Ancora Lusso|Lusso]] model was introduced. It was a torpedo shaped pen, and also the clip reminded the same shape and had the anchor logo on it inside an enameled oval. The [[Ancora Lusso|Lusso]] was produced in four sizes, and made with transparent ringed celluloid in many different colors. The cap was decorated with tree ring, but some models were made with a gold plated or laminated cap, decorated with a top celluloid inlaid. There also produced some alternate [[lever filler]] model in a variety of marbled, veined or rolled colors.

Alongside the [[Ancora Lusso|Lusso]] models were also introduced some lower prices [[lever filler]] models, always celluloid made, produced in many different marbled, veined or ringed colors, with a straight clip and a single ring on the cap. Were also produced some more traditional models, always in celluloid, equipped with [[lever filler]], [[piston filler]] or [[button filler]] loading system.

In the late '40s [[Ancora]], trying to follow the [[Parker 51]] success, introduced an [[hooded nib]] pen, called [[Calamus]]. It was a [[piston filler]] pen with the same shape and finishes of the [[Ancora Lusso|Lusso]],  produced in four different sizes in full metal or with metal cap and plastic body with four different colors: black, gray, burgundy and blue. There were two version of the pen, with a partially covered nib and an gold filled overlaid section, and  with fully covered nib. The cap was still made in gold-plated metal with a celluloid inlay in the top, while the body was engraved with the name of the model. The first [[Calamus]] models were produced having an enameled logo on the clip. During all the '50s [[Ancora]] continued also to produce traditional celluloid models.

There are also two [[Ancora]] sub-brands; the first one is the ''[[Rapid]]'', a name which was used only for [[safety]] models produced with precious metal [[overlay]]s. The second one is the ''[[Goliarda]]'' a name that the the company used for the production dedicated to the student market; these are generally inexpensive pens, but still elegant and quite good on construction, produced from back to the '20s. They were always marked ''Goliarda'', the first [[safety]] model were only marked ''Goliarda - Marchio Depositato'' with no reference to [[Ancora]], later models used the anchor logo.

During '50s and '60s, the company, like almost all fountain pen manufacturers, underwent a steady decline as it was hardly hit by the crisis due to the introduction of the ballpoint pen. [[Ancora]] continued to produce some [[piston filler]] plastic models, however its fountain pens never reached the success of its best years, and in 1975 the company ceased operations.

== 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/20211016184950/https://www.ancora1919.com/it/history-and-production/] History section (deleted, and without the documents initially present) of the official site.
* [https://www.penciclopedia.it/681/errata-corrige-leta-di-giuseppe-zanini/#comment-19646] A statement by Giuseppe Zanini's grandson who also clarifies the reason for the two surnames.
== Notes ==
<references/>

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