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[[Immagine:Meteore-Logo.svg|center|320px|Logo Météore]]

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Météore - La Plume d'Or}}[[File:Meteore-Logo.svg|center|320px|Logo Météore]]

The [[Météore]] is one of the main historic French brands, its origins can be traced back to approximately 1916 with the founding of the ''Manifacture Parisienne de PPR''. It remained in business until the late 50s when was one of the first historic French fountain pens manufacturers to succumb to the ballpoint pen revolution.

The [[Météore]] is one of the main historic French brands, its origins can be traced back to approximately 1916 with the founding of the ''Manifacture Parisienne de PPR''. It remained in business until the late 50s when was one of the first historic French fountain pens manufacturers to succumb to the ballpoint pen revolution.

The origins of [[Météore]] are uncertain, the company was founded in 1916 as ''Manifacture Parisienne de PPR'' (''Porte Plume Reservoir'') by ''L. Demilly'' (then general manager) and ''L. Degen'' (then managing director), based in Nanterre, then become ''[[La Plume d'Or]]'' in 1921. It is not known whether the company is descended from ''Franco-British Manufacturing Pen'' founded by Charcellay in Paris in 1910.  ''[[La Plume d'Or]]'' was still on the market after the end of World War I, producing two brands: [[Météore]] and [[L. Badois]], and also for third parties. The second brand is linked to the activity of ''Luis Badois'', holder of fountain pen patents both for his own then jointly with the '[[La Plume d'Or]]''.

The origins of [[Météore]] are uncertain, the company was founded in 1916 as ''Manifacture Parisienne de PPR'' (''Porte Plume Reservoir'') by ''L. Demilly'' (then general manager) and ''L. Degen'' (then managing director), based in Nanterre, then become ''[[La Plume d'Or]]'' in 1921. It is not known whether the company is descended from ''Franco-British Manufacturing Pen'' founded by Charcellay in Paris in 1910.  ''[[La Plume d'Or]]'' was still on the market after the end of World War I, producing two brands: [[Météore]] and [[L. Badois]], and also for third parties. The second brand is linked to the activity of ''Luis Badois'', holder of fountain pen patents both for his own then jointly with the '[[La Plume d'Or]]''.

The [[Météore]] first models were black or marbled  hard rubber [[eyedropper]] or [[safety]] pens, similar to those of other French manufacturers of the same era, to which they added later[[lever filler]] models. The first pen clearly associated with the brand was introduced in 1922, was characterized by incision of the [[Météore]] name on the cap, decorated also with a white ring at the top, and had the lever end in the form of a shamrock. The nibs were often marked with the initials (''D & D'') of the founders. In this period were produced [[safety]] or [[lever filler]] ebonite fountain pens in two dimensions for both men and women. Model names of this period are [[Zodiac]] and [[Prompto]].  

The [[Météore]] first models were black or marbled  hard rubber [[eyedropper]] or [[safety]] pens, similar to those of other French manufacturers of the same era, to which they added later[[lever filler]] models. The first pen clearly associated with the brand was introduced in 1922, was characterized by incision of the [[Météore]] name on the cap, decorated also with a white ring at the top, and had the lever end in the form of a shamrock. The nibs were often marked with the initials (D and D) of the founders. In this period were produced [[safety]] or [[lever filler]] ebonite fountain pens in two dimensions for both men and women. Model names of this period are Zodiac and Prompto.

The company switched to [[celluloid]] quite late, a second set of models was launched in 1932, keeping the [[lever filler]] but with a [[washer clip]] and two rings on lower edge of the hood, over the classical one at the top. The pens were black or marbled, but were also produced models in [[BCHR|chased hard rubber]] with [[overlay]] in lacquered metal, gold, silver.

The company switched to [[celluloid]] quite late, a second set of models was launched in 1932, keeping the [[lever filler]] but with a [[washer clip]] and two rings on lower edge of the hood, over the classical one at the top. The pens were black or marbled, but were also produced models in [[BCHR|chased hard rubber]] with [[overlay]] in lacquered metal, gold, silver.

[[Image:1932-09-Meteore-Pullman.jpg|thumb|left|upright|80px|A 1932 [[Météore]] advertising.]]

[[Image:1932-09-Meteore-Pullman.jpg|thumb|left|upright|80px|A 1932 [[Météore]] advertising.]]

In 1932 was produced the most interesting [[Météore]] model, the [[Pullman|Pullman 35]], a [[button filler]] pen built with a peculiar mechanism, in which the body could be made ​​to slide, by pressing the bottom, inside of the cap. This was equipped with a movable top hinge, which opened thus letting out the tip of the pen and nib. The same concept, even if made ​​with a different mechanism, was adopted three years later by [[Aurora]] with the [[Asterope]], and both pens are regarded as the precursors of the [[Pilot]] [[Capless]].

In 1932 was produced the most interesting [[Météore]] model, the [[Pullman|Pullman 35]], a [[button filler]] pen built with a peculiar mechanism, in which the body could be made ​​to slide, by pressing the bottom, inside of the cap.<ref>the same pen was produced, in other countries, even with different brands such as [[Uneman]], however referring to the same patent ({{Cite patent|DE|531249}}) of Leopold Kutter.</ref> This was equipped with a movable top hinge, which opened thus letting out the tip of the pen and nib. The same concept, even if made ​​with a different mechanism, was adopted three years later by [[Aurora]] with the [[Asterope]], and both pens are regarded as the precursors of the [[Pilot]] [[Capless]].

Aside from the novelty represented by the [[Pullman]] model the [[Météore]] continued to produce ordinary pens, and generally was quite conservative, maintaining for long the [[flat top]] style. Only in 1941 slightly [[streamlined|tapered]] lines were adopted but, with the war going on, restrictions led to the use of steel nibs rather than gold. The models of this era were called [[Prior]], [[Selection]], [[Record]] and [[Pullman]]. In 1942,<ref>the date is indicative and is reported in [http://web.archive.org/web/20071012135105/http://stylos-francais.fr/meteore.php] but it is highly doubtful given that appears in advertising dating presumably the previous year (the dates of the advertisements come from ads and deductions related to the texts cited in the back and are not themselves completely reliable).</ref> because of the shortage of gold supply nibs were produced in steel, using a metal alloy called ''[[Vaedium]]''.

Aside from the novelty represented by the [[Pullman]] model the [[Météore]] continued to produce ordinary pens, and generally was quite conservative, maintaining for long the [[flat top]] style. Only in 1941 slightly [[streamlined|tapered]] lines were adopted but, with the war going on, restrictions led to the use of steel nibs rather than gold. The models of this era were called [[Prior]], [[Selection]], [[Météore Record|Record]] and [[Pullman]]. In 1942,<ref>the date is indicative and is reported in this [http://web.archive.org/web/20071012135105/http://stylos-francais.fr/meteore.php old page] but it is highly doubtful given that appears in advertising dating presumably the previous year (the dates of the advertisements come from ads and deductions related to the texts cited in the back and are not themselves completely reliable).</ref> because of the shortage of gold supply nibs were produced in steel, using a metal alloy called ''[[Vaedium]]''.

[[Image:1940-12-Meteore-Models.jpg|thumb|Advertising for new models]]

[[Image:1940-12-Meteore-Models.jpg|thumb|Advertising for new models]]