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==History==

==History==

[[Osmia]] was founded in [[1919]] by ''Hermann Böhler'' under the name of ''Böhler und Cie'', in Dossenheim, near Heidelberg. Böhler, as many others of his colleagues who made a similar choice, left [[Kaweco]] to create a new company with his brother Georg, leveraging the expertise gained in this field inside [[Kaweco]] during the years in which that company acquired [[A. Morton & Co.]] to realize a production of gold nibs.  

[[Osmia]] was founded in [[1919]] by ''Hermann Böhler'' under the name of ''Böhler und Cie'', in Dossenheim, near Heidelberg. Böhler, as many others of his colleagues who made a similar choice, left [[Kaweco]] to create a new company with his brother Georg, leveraging the expertise gained in this field inside [[Kaweco]], during the years in which that company acquired [[A. Morton & Co.]] to realize a production of gold nibs.  

The initial [[Osmia]] production consisted primarily of mechanical pencils and hard rubber [[safety]] pens. The [[Osmia]] logo was a diamond placed inside a circle. It has been reported<ref>In a [http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?s=c45f3e9adbdca24ea62226e4eabdbc10&showtopic=15065 FPN post] with an interview to Gregor Miltner, an [[Osmia]] from its birth, also become chairman in its later years.</ref> that the first version of the logo consisted in a convex Greek cross, given the similarity with its own logo [[Osmia]] was brought to court by [[Montblanc]], that required a very high compensation and the complete destruction of the entire production. That would have destroyed the company, but the case was resolved with an agreement and Böhler had to change the symbol transforming the cross in a diamond.  

La produzione iniziale della [[Osmia]] era costituita principalmente da matite meccaniche e stilografiche in ebanite con caricamento [[safety]]. Il marchio della [[Osmia]] era costituito da un rombo collocato all'interno di un cerchio. La prima versione del marchio era costituita da una croce greca convessa, ma è stato riportato<ref>[http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?s=c45f3e9adbdca24ea62226e4eabdbc10&showtopic=15065 Un messaggio di FPN] con il riassunto di una intervista a Gregor Miltner, impiegato nell'azienda dalla nascita, ed anche presidente negli ultimi anni.</ref> che data la somiglianza con il proprio marchio la [[Montblanc]] intentò causa richiedendo un risarcimento elevatissimo e la distruzione completa di tutta la produzione. La cosa avrebbe distrutto l'azienda, ma la causa si risolse con un accordo e Böhler dovette modificare il simbolo trasformando la croce in un rombo.  

[[Image:Osmia-Instruction2.jpg|thumb|left| [[Osmia|Osmia Faber-Castell]] instruction sheet]]

[[Image:Osmia-Instruction2.jpg|thumb|left| [[Osmia|Osmia Faber-Castell]] instruction sheet]]

The company name, [[Osmia]], derived from a special metal alloy, called ''Osmiumalloy'' for which the Böhler brothers obtained the use thanks to a patent of the Heraeus company in Hanau,<ref>[http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?s=c45f3e9adbdca24ea62226e4eabdbc10&showtopic=20363 A FPN message] with more details about the topic of [[Osmia]] nibs.</ref> The ''Osmiumalloy'' was used widely for the tips of the [[Osmia]] nibs, and the alloy, though much more expensive, had a much higher quality respect to natural iridium then available in Germany (which contained many impurities that it favoured wear), and allowed the company to provide a lifetime warranty on their pens.

The company name, [[Osmia]], derived from a special metal alloy, called ''Osmiumalloy'' for which the Böhler brothers obtained the use thanks to a patent of the Heraeus company in Hanau,<ref>[http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?s=c45f3e9adbdca24ea62226e4eabdbc10&showtopic=20363 A FPN message] with more details about the topic of [[Osmia]] nibs.</ref> The ''Osmiumalloy'' was used widely for the tips of the [[Osmia]] nibs, and the alloy, though much more expensive, had a much higher quality respect to natural iridium then available in Germany (which contained many impurities that it favoured wear), and allowed the company to provide a lifetime warranty on their pens.

[[Osmia]] had a great initial success, becoming in a short time the second largest producer of pens in the country, so that a plant was specially created to produce pens. In the late '20s however sales had slowed and margins were weak, so the company went into financial troubles. In this period [[Parker]], who was trying to expand its business into Europe, began to take an interest in [[Osmia]] which was acquired (or with whom took an interest, sources are unclear) in [[1928]]. In this period the company produced the [[Duofold]] for the European market, characterized by the imprint ''Parker - Osmia A. G. Heidelberg''.

La [[Osmia]] ebbe un grosso successo iniziale, diventando in breve il secondo produttore di penne del paese, tanto che venne creata appositamente una fabbrica di pennini. Verso la fine degli anni '20 però le vendite avevano subito un rallentamento ed i margini erano scarsi, per cui l'azienda si ritrovò in difficoltà finanziarie. E' in questo periodo che la [[Parker]], che stava cercando di espandersi in Europa, iniziò ad interessarsi alla [[Osmia]] che acquisì (o con la quale assunse una compartecipazione, le fonti non sono chiare) nel [[1928]]. In questo periodo l'azienda produsse le [[Duofold]] per il mercato europeo, riconoscibili per la stampigliatura ''Parker - Osmia A. G. Heidelberg''.

During the same period the company continued to produce under the [[Osmia]] brand, with [[mottled]] hard rubber [[safety]] pens, [[lever filler]] pens and mechanical pencils, which remained the original logo on the cap. Around [[1930]], [[Parker]] withdrew because the sales of [[Duofold]] did not have a great success because of a price too high for the German market, and a too rigid nib. The activity went on (or was given) to [[Osmia|Osmia Gmbh]], again under the direction of the Böhler brothers. It was launched a new line, the [[Osmia Supra]], similar to the [[Duofold]], with an improved [[button filler]], and a brass enameled logo on top of the cap.  

Nello stesso periodo continuò la produzione a marchio [[Osmia]], con penne [[rientranti]] in ebanite rosso/nera, penne a levetta e matite meccaniche, per le quali restava anche il logo originale sul cappuccio. Intorno al [[1930]] la [[Parker]] si ritirò dato che le vendite della [[Duofold]] non avevano avuto un grande successo a causa del prezzo troppo elevato per il mercato tedesco e del pennino troppo rigido. L'attività proseguì (o venne ceduta,di nuovo le fonti non sono chiare) alla ''Osmia Gmbh'', sotto la direzione dei fratelli Böhler. Venne lanciata una nuova linea, la [[Osmia Supra]], simile alle [[Duofold]], con un caricamento a [[pulsante di fondo]] perfezionato, ed il logo in ottone smaltato sulla cima del cappuccio.  

In [[1932]], facing financial difficulties for the return of investment to the [[Parker]], the nib factory was sold to [[Degussa]]. In [[1933]] the pen style was amended to follow the [[streamlined]] trend also used by [[Duofold]] of the same time. Were also launched other models: the [[Luxus]] line, a torpedo-shaped [[piston filler]], and the the [[Osmia Progress]], with a filling system similar to the [[Vacumatic]] one. Despite the financial troubles due to end of the cooperation with [[Parker]], [[Osmia]] got a good selling success.

In [[1932]], facing financial difficulties for the return of investment to the [[Parker]], the nib factory was sold to [[Degussa]]. In [[1933]] the pen style was amended to follow the [[streamlined]] trend also used by [[Duofold]] of the same time. Were also launched other models: the [[Luxus]] line, a torpedo-shaped [[piston filler]], and the the [[Osmia Progress]], with a filling system similar to the [[Vacumatic]] one. Despite the financial troubles due to end of the cooperation with [[Parker]], [[Osmia]] got a good selling success.

In the late '30s, because of World War II, like all other German manufacturers the company suffered major difficulties, but despite the production was reduced for the call to arms of most of the employees, it remained active. After the war, not having the facilities suffered significant damage, production was resumed at full speed from [[1946]], proposing the same models of before, but with only with a [[piston filler]] and with the explicit endorsement (in addition to the [[Osmia]] brand and logo) of ''A. W. Faber-Castell''.

In the late '30s, because of World War II, like all other German manufacturers the company suffered major difficulties, but despite the production was reduced for the call to arms of most of the employees, it remained active. After the war, not having the facilities suffered significant damage, production was resumed at full speed from [[1946]], proposing the same models of before, but with only with a [[piston filler]] and with the explicit endorsement (in addition to the [[Osmia]] brand and logo) of ''A. W. Faber-Castell''.

In the '50s [[Osmia]] introduced a series of new models like the [[Supra 880]], in three sizes (2, 3 and 4) in black, with a band on the cap and an ink level indicator, the [[Supra 666]] in four sizes (1, 2, 3 and 4), in black, gray and pearl and red and pearl colors, with rings ont the cap and gold and steel nibs, the [[Osmia 744]] in black plastic, designed to make carbon copies, and the [[Osmia 52]] for the student market.

Negli anni '50 la [[Osmia]] introdusse una serie di nuovi modelli, come la [[Supra 880]], in tre misure (2, 3 e 4) di colore nero con vera sul cappuccio e indicatore del livello di inchiostro, la [[Supra 666]] in quattro misure (1, 2, 3 e 4), di colori nero, grigio perla e rosso perla, con vere sul cappuccio e pennini in oro e acciaio, la [[Osmia 74D]] in plastica nera intagliata, progettata per eseguire copie carbone e la [[Osmia 52]], per il mercato studentesco.

Starting from [[1955]] were introduced two more streamlined models: the most prestigious, which were intended to compete with the [[Montblanc]] [[Montblanc 14x|146]] and [[Montblanc 14x|149]], were  [[Osmia 44x|446]] and [[Osmia 44x|448]], with three ring and the logo engraved on the cap, bicolored gold nib and a straight clip. To these followed the mid-range models [[Osmia 88x|882]], [[Osmia 88x|883]] and [[Osmia 88x|884]], in black or green stripes, a band on the cap and a beak clip.  

Starting from [[1955]] were introduced two more streamlined models: the most prestigious, which were intended to compete with the [[Montblanc]] [[Montblanc 14x|146]] and [[Montblanc 14x|149]], were  [[Osmia 44x|446]] and [[Osmia 44x|448]], with three ring and the logo engraved on the cap, bicolored gold nib and a straight clip. To these followed the mid-range models [[Osmia 88x|882]], [[Osmia 88x|883]] and [[Osmia 88x|884]], in black or green stripes, a band on the cap and a beak clip.