Riga 3: |
Riga 3: |
| [[Osmia]] was founded in 1919 by Hermann Böhler and has been for long one of the leading German fountain pens manufacturers, and it was for a short period a [[Parker]] subsidiary for european production. Since 1935 the [[Osmia]] essentially became a division of [[Faber-Castell]], who started an acquisiton, completed in 1951. | | [[Osmia]] was founded in 1919 by Hermann Böhler and has been for long one of the leading German fountain pens manufacturers, and it was for a short period a [[Parker]] subsidiary for european production. Since 1935 the [[Osmia]] essentially became a division of [[Faber-Castell]], who started an acquisiton, completed in 1951. |
| | | |
− | But because the prestige of the brand, acquired by [[Osmia]] thanks to the absolute quality of his pens, the trademark was maintained for a long time after the complete acquisition by [[Faber-Castell]]. It disappeared only in the early '60s, when the crisis derived from the success of the ballpoint pen pushed [[Faber-Castell]] to produce cheaper models.{{Infobox_Brand|Osmia}} | + | But because the prestige of the brand, acquired by [[Osmia]] thanks to the absolute quality of his pens, the trademark was maintained for a long time after the complete acquisition by [[Faber-Castell]]. It disappeared only in the early '60s, when the crisis derived from the success of the ballpoint pen pushed [[Faber-Castell]] to produce cheaper models.{{BrandData|Founder=Hermann Böhler|Place=Dossenheim|Date=1919|Country=DE|Fullname=Böhler und Cie}}{{Infobox_Brand|Osmia}} |
| ==History== | | ==History== |
| | | |
Riga 16: |
Riga 16: |
| [[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"''. | | [[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"''. |
| | | |
− | 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 retained the original logo on the cap. Around [[1930]], [[Parker]] withdrew because the [[Duofold]] sales 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, sources are unclear) 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. | + | 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 retained the original logo on the cap. Around [[1930]], [[Parker]] withdrew because the [[Duofold]] sales did not have a great success because of a price too high for the German market, and a too rigid nib. The company went into liquidation and in 1932 the trademark and ownership structure was taken over by the ''"Osmia Füllhalter-Fabrik G. m. b. H."'',<ref>as can be seen in [[:File:1932-Papierhandler-Osmia-Liquidation.jpg|this news]].</ref>., 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. |
| | | |
| 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. |
Riga 47: |
Riga 47: |
| <references/> | | <references/> |
| | | |
− | [[Category:Translated Pages]]
| + | {{CategorizeBrand|Germania}} |