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The [[Kaweco]] is one of the oldest companies in Germany, one of the first (preceded only by [[Soennecken]]) to enter the writing instruments market. In the first decades of the 1900 [[Kaweco]] was the leading fountain pens manufacturer of Germany, competing at international level with the American companies. Unable to adapt to market trends, the company suffered a first bankruptcy in 1929, when it was taken over by another fountain pens manufacturer.

The [[Kaweco]] is one of the oldest companies in Germany, one of the first (preceded only by [[Soennecken]]) to enter the writing instruments market. In the first decades of the 1900 [[Kaweco]] was the leading fountain pens manufacturer of Germany, competing at international level with the American companies. Unable to adapt to market trends, the company suffered a first bankruptcy in 1929, when it was taken over by another fountain pens manufacturer.

While continuing to produce good quality pens in the '30s and in the postwar period, as for many other manufacturers suffered an inexorable decline since the 60s, with the introduction of the ballpoint pen. To date, the brand was acquired by the ''H & M Gutberlet Gmbh'' to recreates modern versions of the popular models of the company.{{Infobox_Brand|Kaweco}}

While continuing to produce good quality pens in the '30s and in the postwar period, as for many other manufacturers suffered an inexorable decline since the 60s, with the introduction of the ballpoint pen. To date, the brand was acquired by the ''H & M Gutberlet Gmbh'' to recreates modern versions of the popular models of the company.{{Infobox_Brand|Kaweco}}{{BrandData|Founder=Luce, Ensslen|Date=1883|Place=Heidelberg|Country=DE|Fullname=Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik}}

== History ==

== History ==

The first fountain pens production of the ''Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik'' goes back to 1892, with hard rubber [[eyedropper]] and [[safety]]  pens. In [[1899]] two businessmen, ''Heinrich Koch'' and ''Rudolph Weber'' acquired the company, which became the ''Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik Koch, Weber & Compagnie'', shifting production to Handschuhsheim, and marketing began to be carried out under the brand name ''KaWeCo'', born from the abbreviation of ''Koch, Weber & Compagnie'', other brands used at the time were [[Perkeo]] and [[Kaweco Omega|Omega]]. In the same period is believed to have begun the nibs importation from [[A. Morton & Co.]] in New York.

The first fountain pens production of the ''Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik'' goes back to 1892, with hard rubber [[eyedropper]] and [[safety]]  pens. In [[1899]] two businessmen, ''Heinrich Koch'' and ''Rudolph Weber'' acquired the company, which became the ''Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik Koch, Weber & Compagnie'', shifting production to Handschuhsheim, and marketing began to be carried out under the brand name ''KaWeCo'', born from the abbreviation of ''Koch, Weber & Compagnie'', other brands used at the time were [[Perkeo]] and [[Kaweco Omega|Omega]]. In the same period is believed to have begun the nibs importation from [[A. Morton & Co.]] in New York.

At the beginning of the century the company had only a few dozen workers (something like 25 employees in 1903), but the production of black chased  hard rubber [[safety]] fountain pens was of excellent quality and had a great success. In 1903 were introduced the mechanical pencils ''KO-MIO'', in [[1908]]te company was awarded the first patent for a fountain pen.<ref>patent D.R.G.M. 224101, that's unknown in the database European Patent Office.</ref> In [[1909]] the company founded subsidiaries in Vienna, Paris and Zurich, as well as having numerous sales agencies across Europe and beyond (eg. in Turkey in Istanbul, in Egypt in Cairo and in Russia in St. Petersburg). In this period roughly two-thirds of its production was destined for the foreign market, and it is possible, given the links with [[A. Morton & Co.]] that also some American produced fountain pens have been resold with [[Kaweco]] brand.

At the beginning of the century the company had only a few dozen workers (something like 25 employees in 1903), but the production of black chased  hard rubber [[safety]] fountain pens was of excellent quality and had a great success. In 1903 were introduced the mechanical pencils ''[[KO-MIO]]'', in [[1908]]te company was awarded the first patent for a fountain pen.<ref>patent D.R.G.M. 224101, that's unknown in the database European Patent Office.</ref> In [[1909]] the company founded subsidiaries in Vienna, Paris and Zurich, as well as having numerous sales agencies across Europe and beyond (eg. in Turkey in Istanbul, in Egypt in Cairo and in Russia in St. Petersburg). In this period roughly two-thirds of its production was destined for the foreign market, and it is possible, given the links with [[A. Morton & Co.]] that also some American produced fountain pens have been resold with [[Kaweco]] brand.

In [[1911]] iwas published the first official catalog; more than 120  [[Modelli iniziali Kaweco|different models]] were available, purchased to order according to customer requirements. In this year there was the market introduction of the series of the [[Kaweco]] branded [[Modelli iniziali Kaweco|601-607]] [[safety]] models. Other models of that time were [[Perkeo]], [[Swallow]], [[Lilliput]] and [[Kaweco Omega|Omega]]. In the same period (1912) there was also the introduction of the [[Sport|616]] model, a black hard rubber [[safety]] model, small and very short, designed for use by athletes and officials, who is the first version of [[Sport]], the most famous model of the company.

In [[1911]] iwas published the first official catalog; more than 120  [[Modelli iniziali Kaweco|different models]] were available, purchased to order according to customer requirements. In this year there was the market introduction of the series of the [[Kaweco]] branded [[Modelli iniziali Kaweco|601-607]] [[safety]] models. Other models of that time were [[Perkeo]], [[Swallow]], [[Lilliput]] and [[Kaweco Omega|Omega]]. In the same period (1912) there was also the introduction of the [[Sport|616]] model, a black hard rubber [[safety]] model, small and very short, designed for use by athletes and officials, who is the first version of [[Sport]], the most famous model of the company.

The [[Kaweco]] reached the height of its size in the early '20s, when he became the first manufacturer in Germany, with sales of around 130,000 units a year. In [[1924]] gave the company employed around 1,200 people, but already in 1925 it began to feel the first symptoms of the crisis, losing ground to rivals like [[Soennecken]] and [[Montblanc]]. Also in that same period were born near Heidelberg a number of competitors such as [[Reform]] and the ''[[KWG]]'', and others brand were founded by the best technicians who left [[Kaweco]] to create of their own companies, like the  Böhler brothers with [[Osmia]] or Heinrich Hebborn, who in 1925 acquired the Cologne [[Kaweco]] branch, of which he was director, to create [[Luxor]].  

The [[Kaweco]] reached the height of its size in the early '20s, when he became the first manufacturer in Germany, with sales of around 130,000 units a year. In [[1924]] gave the company employed around 1,200 people, but already in 1925 it began to feel the first symptoms of the crisis, losing ground to rivals like [[Soennecken]] and [[Montblanc]]. Also in that same period were born near Heidelberg a number of competitors such as [[Reform]] and the ''[[KWG]]'', and others brand were founded by the best technicians who left [[Kaweco]] to create of their own companies, like the  Böhler brothers with [[Osmia]] or Heinrich Hebborn, who in 1925 acquired the Cologne [[Kaweco]] branch, of which he was director, to create [[Luxor]].  

[[Image:Logo-Kaweco-Old.svg|thumb|Vecchio logo Kaweco|150px|Il logo della [[Kaweco]] prima del fallimento del 1929.]]

[[Image:Logo-Kaweco-Old.svg|thumb|Old Kaweco logo|150px|The [[Kaweco]] logo before 1929 bankruptcy.]]

La concorrenza iniziò a farsi sempre più agguerrita e le vendite della [[Kaweco]], che restava ancorata alla produzione di penne in ebanite nera con caricamento [[safety]], persero sempre più terreno rispetto agli altri produttori che iniziarono ad introdurre modelli colorati in celluloide e con caricamenti più sofisticati. In particolare le esportazioni, che erano state un punto di forza dell'azienda, crollarono a picco di fronte alla concorrenza dei produttori americani.  

The competition began to grow increasingly fierce and [[Kaweco]] sales, which remained anchored to the production of black hard rubber [[safety]] pens, lost more and more ground when other producers began to introduce colorful patterns celluloid models with more sophisticated filling systems. In particular exports, which had been a company strong point, abruptly fell in front of competition from the United States manufacturers.  

Nel [[1926]] l'azienda adottò ufficialmente il nome [[Kaweco]] al posto dell'originale ''Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik'', e vennero introdotti nuovi modelli con caricamento a [[pulsante di fondo]], inoltre venne ampliata la serie [[Omega]] introducendo modelli con [[caricamento a levetta]]. Venne anche introdotto il marchio [[Helios]] per delle rientranti di fascia più bassa.<ref>Il marchio compare su due penne raffigurate in un catalogo del 1925 ed in una pagina di quello del 1928.</ref> Il materiale però era sempre l'ebanite nera, che ormai era definitivamente associata con l'idea di arretratezza. Senza una strategia di rilancio la situazione continuò a peggiorare, vi fu prima una riduzione di capitali, ma incalzata dai creditori, l'azienda fece bancarotta ed il 24 maggio del 1929 venne posta in liquidazione forzata.

In [[1926]], the company officially adopted the name [[Kaweco]] instead of the original ''Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik'', and introduced new  [[button filler]] models, also the [[Omega]] series was expanded introducing new [[lever filler]] models. It was also introduced the [[Helios]] brand for the lower range [[safety]] models.<ref>this trademark appears on two pens depicted in a 1925 catalog and in a page of the 1928 one.</ref> The material, however, was always black hard rubber, which was now permanently associated with the idea of backwardness. Without a strategy for revitalizing production the situation continued to worsen, there was first a reduction of capital, but hounded by creditors, the company went bankrupt, and on 24 May 1929 and was forced into liquidation.

[[Image:Logo-KWG.svg|thumb|Logo KWG|150px|left|Il logo della ''Badische Federhalterfabrik Knust, Woringen & Grube'' prima dell'acquisizione della [[Kaweco]].]]

[[Image:Logo-KWG.svg|thumb|Logo KWG|150px|left|The ''Badische Federhalterfabrik Knust, Woringen & Grube'' logo, before [[Kaweco]] acquisition.]]

In quel periodo la [[KWG]] era alla ricerca di un marchio che sostituisse il poco attraente [[Arumia]], ed iniziarono i contatti con Max Sauter, il liquidatore della [[Kaweco]]. Dopo mesi di negoziati il 31 settembre [[1929]], la [[KWG]] acquistò il marchio e cambiò nome in ''Kaweco Badische Füllhalterfabrik, Woringen & Grube'', venne anche introdotto  per l'occasione (su suggerimento dello stesso Sauter) anche il nuovo logo della [[Kaweco]], fusione dei loghi delle due azienda. L'accordo prevedeva la cessione del marchio, gli stock di merce e i contratti di vendita, ma non gli edifici, che restarono a disposizione dei debitori; anche riguardo gli impianti produttivi vennero acquisiti pochi macchinari, essendo la gran parte di questi, dedicati alla produzione di penne rientranti, diventati obsoleti.

At that time the [[KWG]] was looking for a brand that would replace their own unattractive [[Arumia]], and started contacts with Max Sauter, the [[Kaweco]] liquidator. After months of negotiations September 31 [[1929]], the [[KWG]] bought the brand and changed its name to ''Kaweco Badische Füllhalterfabrik, Woringen & Grube'', for the occasion was also introduced (at the same Sauter suggestion) the new [[Kaweco]] logo, merger of the two company logos. The agreement provided for the sale of the brand, the stocks of goods and sales contracts, but not the buildings that remained available to the debtors. Regarding the production facilities were also acquired a few machines, being the majority of these, dedicated to [[safety]] production, become obsolete.

[[Image:Logo-Kaweco.svg|thumb|Logo Kaweco|150px|right|Il logo della [[Kaweco]] dopo l'acquisizione da parte della ''Badische Federhalterfabrik Knust, Woringen & Grube'']]

[[Image:Logo-Kaweco.svg|thumb|Logo Kaweco|150px|right|[[Kaweco]] logo  after acquisition from ''Badische Federhalterfabrik Knust, Woringen & Grube'']]

La nuova [[Kaweco]] cercò di dare un taglio netto con il passato, i vecchi modelli vennero tolti dal mercato, quelli presenti nella rete di distribuzione richiamati e sostituiti, o ricomprati e distrutti, e si cercò anche di bloccarne la riparazione. I modelli [[safety]] tradizionali vennero rinnovati con un cappuccio a testa piatta realizzati in ebanite nera (400, 401, 402, 404, 406) o fiammata (500, 501, 502, 504, 506). I modelli [[Arumia]] con caricamento a [[pulsante di fondo]] della serie "U" vennero ripresentati a marchio [[Kaweco]] come [[Meisterklasse|Kaweco Meisterklasse]], negli stessi colori. La linea [[Colleg]] venne mantenuta come [[Colleg-Extra]] e divenne una vera e propria linea di prodotti più economici, rivolta all'uso scolastico. Le nuove penne erano di dimensioni, pregio e costo inferiore, ma questo fu di aiuto all'azienda in un periodo di forte crisi economica.

The new [[Kaweco]] tried to make a clean break with the past, the old models were removed from the market, those in the distribution network recalled and replaced, or repurchased and destroyed, and they also tried to block the repair. The traditional [[safety]] models were renewed with a flat head cap made of black hard rubber (400, 401, 402, 404, 406) or mottled (500, 501, 502, 504, 506). The [[button filler]] "U" series [[Arumia]] models were rebranded under [[Kaweco]] as [[Meisterklasse|Kaweco Meisterklasse]], in the same colors. The [[Colleg]] line was maintained as [[Colleg-Extra]] and became a real cheaper products line, aimed for school use. The new pens were of lower size, quality and cost, but this was to help during a period of severe economic crisis.

[[Image:193x-Kaweco-Flattop.jpg|thumb|left|Pubblicità [[Kaweco]] degli anni '30]]

[[Image:193x-Kaweco-Flattop.jpg|thumb|left|A '30s [[Kaweco]] advertisement]]

All'inizio degli anni '30 vennero realizzati vari cambiamenti dei modelli, la linea [[Colleg-Extra]] diventò la [[Kaweco Special]], e venne prodotta in varie misure e con corpo tondo ed esagonale, sempre con caricamento a [[pulsante di fondo]]. Nel [[1934]] venne introdotto il modello [[Dia]], con [[caricamento a stantuffo]] e sezione trasparente per l'inchiostro, inizialmente nelle misure [[Dia|83]] e [[Dia|85]] e poi nella versione [[Dia|125]], di maggiori dimensioni e con fondello e testa del cappuccio in metallo dorato e cesellato. A questo venne affiancato il modello [[Colleg|Kaweco Colleg]].

In the early 30's were made various changes of the models, the [[Colleg-Extra]] became the [[Kaweco Special]], and was produced in various sizes and with round and hexagonal body, always  [[button filler]]. In [[1934]] was introduced the [[piston filler]] [[Dia]] model with transparent ink section, initially in sizes [[Dia|83]] and [[Dia|85]] and then in the version [[Dia|125]], larger and with bottom and cap top in rolled gold and chiseled  metal. It then was flanked by [[Colleg|Kaweco Colleg]] model.

Nel [[1935]] venne introdotto il modello [[Sport]], sempre in celluloide con sezione trasparente e [[caricamento a stantuffo]], ma di forma ottagonale ed molto corto, venduto abbinato ad una matita in una confezione in pelle da portare in tasca, un antesignano della soluzione introdotta dalla [[Pilot]] con la sua [[Elite]] di un cappuccio lungo che montato sul fondello della penna la rende di lunghezza normale. Per le sue piccole dimensioni il modello [[Sport]] veniva pubblicizzato per l'uso da parte degli sportivi e per la sua praticità riscosse un notevole successo.

In [[1935]] was introduced [[Sport]] model, always in celluloid with [[piston filler]] and transparent section, but octagonal and very short, sold combined with a pencil in a leather bag to carry in the pocket, a forerunner of the design introduced by [[Pilot]] with his [[Pilot Elite|Elite]] model, using of a long cap that mounted on the bottom of the pen makes it of normal length. For its small size model [[Sport]] was advertised for use by athletes and for its convenience enjoyed considerable success.

Nel [[1937]] venne introdotto il modello [[Elite]], nelle versioni 183, 185, 187 e 190, e con [[caricamento a stantuffo]], il corpo cesellato con decorazione ''[[guilloché]]''. Infine il modello [[Kaweco Special|Special]] più affusolato. La gran parte della produzione era realizzata prima in ebanite e poi in celluloide nera, solo i modelli da esportazione venivano prodotti in celluloide colorata. Altri modelli di quest'epoca erano la [[Kadett]], la [[Schulkaweco]] e la [[Helios]].

In [[1937]] was introduced the [[Kaweco Elite|Elite]] model, in versions 183, 185, 187 and 190, with [[piston filler]], and the celluloid body engraved with a decorative ''[[guilloché]]''. Finally the more tapered [[Kaweco Special|Special]] model. Most of the production was made before hard rubber and then black celluloid, only the export models were produced in colored celluloid. Other models of this era were the [[Kadett]], the [[Schulkaweco]] and the [[Helios]].

[[Image:194x-Kaweco-Elite.jpg|thumb|upright|Pubblicità [[Kaweco]] degli anni '40]]

[[Image:194x-Kaweco-Elite.jpg|thumb|upright|A '40s [[Kaweco]] advertisement]]

La seconda guerra mondiale causò una forte diminuzione delle materie prime e della manodopera disponibile, fino al 1941 l'azienda mantenne buoni livelli di produzione, ma dal 1943 al 1945 essa cessò quasi completamente. Nel dopoguerra la produzione riprese; le linee [[Dia]] ed [[Elite]] vennero riproposte in nuove misure, ma con pennino in cromo-nichel, solo il modello di punta, la [[Carat]], che comparve per la prima volta nel catalogo del 1950 con le misure 283, 285, 287 e 290 aveva un pennino oro bicolore. Sempre nel [[1950]] riprese la produzione del modello [[Sport]], che ottenne un buon successo. Vennero mantenute le linee economiche per studenti [[Colleg]] e [[Kadett]]; tutte le penne erano prodotte con [[caricamento a stantuffo]].

World War II caused a sharp decrease of the raw materials and manpower available, until 1941 the company maintained good production levels, but from 1943 to 1945 it ceased almost completely. After the war, production resumed; lines [[Dia]] and [[Kaweco Elite|Elite]] were proposed again in the new measures, but with chrome-nickel nib, only the flagship model, the [[Carat]], which appeared for the first time in the 1950 catalog with measures 283, 285, 287 and 290 had a two-tone gold nib. Also in [[1950]] resumed the [[Sport]] model production, who obtained a good success. Economic lines [[Colleg]] and [[Kadett]] were maintained for students; all pens were produced with [[piston filler]].

Nel [[1960]] ''Frederik Grube'' morì lasciando l'azienda in mano ai figli, ma l'avvento della penna a sfera aveva reso sempre meno significativa l'azienda, che comunque continuò a produrre pennini ed articoli da scrittura, adeguandosi alle varie tendenze (con penne in materiali plastici e con l'uso di modelli a [[pennino coperto]] introdotti nel [[1962]]) e concentrandosi molto sul mercato scolastico, come per il modello [[Kaweco VP|VP]] del [[1964]], con [[caricamento a cartuccia]] e [[hooded nib|pennino coperto]].

In [[1960]] ''Frederik Grube'' died, leaving the company to his sons, but the advent of the ballpoint pen had made it less and less significant, which still continued to produce pens and writing instruments, adapting to various trends (with plastic pens and with the use of [[hooded nib]] introduced in [[1962]]) and focusing heavily on the educational market, as for the [[Kaweco VP|VP]] model of [[1964]], cartridge filler and [[hooded nib]].

La produzione proseguì senza innovazioni significative, riproponendo vecchi modelli, fino all'inizio degli anni '80. Il fallimento definitivo avvenne per bancarotta nel [[1981]], ed il marchio venne acquisito nel 1995 dalla ''H&M Gutberlet Gmbh'' che rilevò l'azienda per rimettere sul mercato, l'anno successivo, una versione moderna del modello più famoso dell'azienda, la [[Sport]].

The production continued without significant innovations, reinventing old models, until the early 80s. The final failure occurred for bankruptcy in [[1981]], and the brand was acquired in 1995 by the ''H&M Gutberlet Gmbh'' who took over the company to put on the market, the following year, a modern version of the most famous model company, the [[Sport]].

{{CronoMarca|Kaweco}}

{{BrandChrono|Kaweco}}

==Riferimenti esterni==

==External references==

* [http://kaweco-pen.com/en/Historie/kaweco-historie.php Storia] dell'azienda

* [http://kaweco-pen.com/en/Historie/kaweco-historie.php] Company history

* [http://kaweco-pen.com/e_page2tab.htm Storia dettagliata] dell'azienda, non più disponibile (materiale venduto su CD)

* [http://kaweco-pen.com/e_page2tab.htm] Lost web site, with detailed history (was sold on CD)

* [http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?s=c45f3e9adbdca24ea62226e4eabdbc10&showtopic=14104 Articolo] sulla storia della [[Kaweco]], prima parte

* [http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?s=c45f3e9adbdca24ea62226e4eabdbc10&showtopic=14104] Article on [[Kaweco]] history, first part

* [http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?s=ab60822e2091e705b31735ce27f02b3a&showtopic=14106 Articolo] sulla storia della [[Kaweco]], seconda parte

* [http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?s=ab60822e2091e705b31735ce27f02b3a&showtopic=14106] Article on [[Kaweco]] history, second part

* [http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?s=c45f3e9adbdca24ea62226e4eabdbc10&showtopic=20363 Discussione] con alcune informazioni sulla produzione di pennini in Germania

* [http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?s=c45f3e9adbdca24ea62226e4eabdbc10&showtopic=20363] Discussion with information about German nibs

* [http://www.relojes-especiales.com/foros/estilograficas/kaweco-sport-en-kaweco-mi-rewiev-219012/ Recensione] di due Kaweco Sport con storia dell'azienda e materiale preso da qui senza attribuzione.

* [http://www.relojes-especiales.com/foros/estilograficas/kaweco-sport-en-kaweco-mi-rewiev-219012/] Review for two Kaweco Sport with some material taken from here without attribution.

==Note==

==Notes==

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{{CategorizeBrand|Germania}}

[[Category:Germania]]