− | The ''JiF'' (more precisely the ''"Jif - Société Anonyme"'') was founded by Jules Isidore Fagard in [[1926]]<ref>the date is listed on the [https://www.waterman.com/en/content/9-the-heritage page] on the history of the current [[Waterman]] site.</ref> and is often referred to as a semi-independent subsidiary of [[Waterman]] in France, but Fagard's relationship with [[Waterman]], of which he was a representative, can be dated to at least [[1921]], as evidenced by [[:File:1921-12-Waterman-5x-EtAl.jpg|this advertisement]]. In fa, at least from what emerges from the advertisements published on ''L'Illustration'', it seems that it was an independent company, able to carry out its own production at least as far as mechanical pencils are concerned, which, even when combined with pens [[Waterman]], were explicitly called with the name ''Jif''. | + | The ''JiF'' (more precisely the ''"Jif - Société Anonyme"'') was founded by Jules Isidore Fagard in [[1926]]<ref>the date is listed on the [https://www.waterman.com/en/content/9-the-heritage page] on the history of the current [[Waterman]] site, and in the ''Archives commerciales de la France'' the company is reported as having been founded on December 13, 1926.</ref> and is often referred to as a semi-independent subsidiary of [[Waterman]] in France, but Fagard's relationship with [[Waterman]], of which he was a representative, is earlier and dates back to [[1915]] (the year we will consider as the beginning of the activities), when he, on January 7, founded ''"Fagard et Leuba"'' at 22 rue Saint Augustin in Paris, a representative of [[Waterman]] and of ''“Walker & C.”'' (a London firm that manufactured flip books). <ref>the historical references in this article are taken from the [https://forum.fountainpen.it/viewtopic.php?t=33876 monograph]] on the brand made by {{Author|Esme}}, posted on the forum and available for download there, at the first of the external references.</ref> |