Fratelli Cavaliere
| Fratelli Cavaliere |
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Although not strictly a fountain pens manufacturer, the Fratelli Cavaliere has a significant role in the Italian fountain pen history, as it is at the apex in the overlay processing that are found in pens distributed by many other brands. Therefore, even in the absence of a production marked explicitly Fratelli Cavaliere is quite common to find pens bearing the company logo: a horseshoe intersected by a stylus, with the words "Fabbrica penne oro e fermagli",[1] but also, less known, the Linda Darnes punch (wife of founder Giuseppe Cavaliere) shown in the picture.
The company was based in Milan, in Via Cesare da Sesto 12 and was active from the 20s to 50s. It is not known a founding date but Letizia Jacopini indicates the mid-20s, and the full name of "Prima Fabbrica Nazionale Penne Oro e Matite". Its overlays can be found on pens of the most famous brands like Montblanc, Kaweco, Astoria, Waterman, Columbus, and other less known as Omega, Europe, Aurea. The company catalogs reported hundreds of motifs and decorations available.
In addition to overlay products for other brands it is believed that the company direct production is linked to various brand names, including Universal, Ideal and Anglo-Amer. But it's best known for the production of the beautiful overlaya made on behalf of Waterman, among the finest of that period, for which the company officially became the producer in the years around 1931/32.[2]