Montegrappa

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Montegrappa is the oldest Italian manufacturer of fine writing instruments, founded as "Manifattura pennini d'oro e penne stilografiche" ("Maker of gold nibs and fountain pens") in 1912. Their products are still manufactured in their original factory by the shores of the river Brenta, in one of the most charming parts of Bassano del Grappa - near Vicenza, in the North-East of Italy.

During the First World War Bassano was a centre of military operations. Among the many soldiers who used the company's pens (Elmo at that time) for their correspondence were two celebrated 20th century writers, Ernest Hemingway and John Dos Passos, who had both volunteered for service as ambulance drivers.

In the 1930s the company enjoyed its most magnificent phase. It was a period when the fountain pen became widespread and the products of the house of Bassano met the taste of the public with their sober design, the variety of their colours and materials (among the first to use celluloid and galalith), the perfect operation of their technical solutions, and the originality and precision of their manufacturing techniques.

Since 2000 the Montegrappa company is part of the luxury goods Richemont group, based in Switzerland. As part of the conglomerate, Montegrappa ceased manufacturing its own pens. All Montegrappa products are now produced by Montblanc, at their facilities.

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• Montegrappa