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[[Image:Logo-Columbus.svg|center|500px|Logo Columbus]]

[[Image:Logo-Columbus.svg|center|500px|Logo Columbus]]

[[Columbus]] was founded in [[1918]] and was one of the first manufacturers of fountain pens born in Italy. The [[Columbus]] pens, like many other similar productions in Italy, were imitations of the models produced by the most famous American companies; however, they were of good quality, and of excellent stylistic realization, which makes the company one of the most significant on the Italian scene.{{Infobox_Brand|Columbus}}{{BrandData|Founder=Eugenio Verga, Alfredo Verga|Date=1918|Place=Milano|Country=IT|Fullname=Alfredo Verga dei Fratelli Verga Snc}}

 

== History ==  

[[Columbus]] was founded in [[1918]] and was between the firsts Italian fountain pens manufacturers. The [[Columbus]] pens, like many other similar productions in Italy, were imitations of the more famous American brand models, however they had good quality and excellent style, and for these reason the company is considered to be between the most significant brands of the Italian market.{{Infobox_Brand|Columbus}}{{BrandData|Founder=Eugenio Verga, Alfredo Verga|Date=1918|Place=Milano|Country=IT|Fullname=Alfredo Verga dei Fratelli Verga Snc}}

== History ==

On May 19, [[1918]] the Eugenio and Alfredo Verga brothers founded in Milan the ''Alfredo Verga dei Fratelli Verga Snc'',<ref>meaning ''Alfredo Verga Society of the Verga Brothers''.</ref>, with headquarters in Corso di Porta Romana n.80. ''Alfredo Verga'' already worked as a trader for [[Conway Stewart]], while ''Eugenio Verga'' was a salesman for the ''[[Uhlmann's Eterno]]''. The purpose of the new company was to enter the market with production and sales of fountain pens, nibs, ink and stationery. Eugenio chose the name of their products, [[Columbus]], while Alfredo gave the company his name; the same year the first fountain pen, called ''Columbus Safety Pen nr. 1'', was produced.

On May 19, [[1918]] the Eugenio and Alfredo Verga brothers founded in Milan the ''Alfredo Verga dei Fratelli Verga Snc'',<ref>meaning ''Alfredo Verga Society of the Verga Brothers''.</ref>, with headquarters in Corso di Porta Romana n.80. ''Alfredo Verga'' already worked as a trader for [[Conway Stewart]], while ''Eugenio Verga'' was a salesman for the ''[[Uhlmann's Eterno]]''. The purpose of the new company was to enter the market with production and sales of fountain pens, nibs, ink and stationery. Eugenio chose the name of their products, [[Columbus]], while Alfredo gave the company his name; the same year the first fountain pen, called ''Columbus Safety Pen nr. 1'', was produced.

Also in [[1929]] the [[Columbus Extra]] line was introduced, using the new filling system. Since then the name ''Columbus Extra'' was used to indicate the high-end production, so under this name were produced a wide variety of different models. Typically all models were further identified by a numerical or literal code. This line, with the same name and the same model numbers, remained in production for about a decade, while undergoing many stylistic and technical changes. Therefore is very difficult to classify with the same name a production that can be highly differentiated.  

Also in [[1929]] the [[Columbus Extra]] line was introduced, using the new filling system. Since then the name ''Columbus Extra'' was used to indicate the high-end production, so under this name were produced a wide variety of different models. Typically all models were further identified by a numerical or literal code. This line, with the same name and the same model numbers, remained in production for about a decade, while undergoing many stylistic and technical changes. Therefore is very difficult to classify with the same name a production that can be highly differentiated.  

The pens of the first [[Columbus Extra]] line were ''[[Flat top]]s'', clear imitation of the [[Parker]] [[Duofold]]; they were produced in four versions numbered [[Columbus Extra 98|98]], [[Columbus Extra 96|96]], [[Columbus Extra 94|94]] and [[Columbus Extra 80|80]], the first three respectively corresponding to large, medium and small size, and the forth to a lady version (same size of the small, but with cap ring instead of clip). In [[1931]] the [[Columbus Extra]] underwent a restyling following the trend of [[streamlined]] shapes, and the cap was decorated with a different cap band. The pens of this period, however, although it were obvious imitations, were of good quality and very elegant. The [[Columbus Extra 98|98]] model remains one of the best pens made at that time.  

The pens of the first [[Columbus Extra]] line were ''[[Flat top]]s'', clear imitation of the [[Parker]] [[Duofold]]; they were produced in four versions numbered [[Columbus Extra N. 98|98]], [[Columbus Extra N. 96|96]], [[Columbus Extra N. 94|94]] and [[Columbus Extra N. 80|80]], the first three respectively corresponding to large, medium and small size, and the forth to a lady version (same size of the small, but with cap ring instead of clip). In [[1931]] the [[Columbus Extra]] underwent a restyling following the trend of [[streamlined]] shapes, and the cap was decorated with a different cap band. The pens of this period, however, although it were obvious imitations, were of good quality and very elegant. The [[Columbus Extra 98|98]] model remains one of the best pens made at that time.  

[[Image:1936-11-Columbus-Extra.jpg|thumb|An [[Columbus Extra|Extra]] model from 1936]]

[[Image:1936-11-Columbus-Extra.jpg|thumb|An [[Columbus Extra|Extra]] model from 1936]]

In [[1942]], during a bombing, the factory in Milan on Via Lamarmora was almost completely destroyed,<ref>this is also why there are strong uncertainties on many dates, because all the archives were lost in that occasion.</ref>, and the production was moved to Lesa, on the shores of Maggiore Lake, with considerable logistical difficulties since the plants were in four different sheds, quite distant from each other. In this period the company merely continued a limited production of existing models without any change or innovation and only in [[1946]], when the company was able to return to Milan, the production was resumed at full capacity.

In [[1942]], during a bombing, the factory in Milan on Via Lamarmora was almost completely destroyed,<ref>this is also why there are strong uncertainties on many dates, because all the archives were lost in that occasion.</ref>, and the production was moved to Lesa, on the shores of Maggiore Lake, with considerable logistical difficulties since the plants were in four different sheds, quite distant from each other. In this period the company merely continued a limited production of existing models without any change or innovation and only in [[1946]], when the company was able to return to Milan, the production was resumed at full capacity.

[[File:Columbus-134-Red-Open.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Columbus 13x|Columbus 134]]]]

[[File:Columbus-Extra-134-Red-Open.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Columbus 13x|Columbus 134]]]]

In the middle of '40s [[Columbus]] introduces the [[Columbus 13x|134]] model, a big [[lever filler]] pen that was a clear imitation of the [[Eversharp]] [[Skyline]]. The same model was also produced in the [[Columbus 13x|132]] medium size version and in the [[Columbus 13x|130]] small version, for ladies. Again in the '40s a [[piston filler]] model, the [[Columbus 40|40]], was also produced and the [[Columbus 55|55]] had a restyling, becoming a whole line of pens.

In the middle of '40s [[Columbus]] introduces the [[Columbus 13x|134]] model, a big [[lever filler]] pen that was a clear imitation of the [[Eversharp]] [[Skyline]]. The same model was also produced in the [[Columbus 13x|132]] medium size version and in the [[Columbus 13x|130]] small version, for ladies. Again in the '40s a [[piston filler]] model, the [[Columbus 40|40]], was also produced and the [[Columbus 55|55]] had a restyling, becoming a whole line of pens.