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==History==

==History==

According to A. Lambrou and others [[Ancora]] was founded in 1909 by ''Giuseppe Zanini'',<ref>there is some uncertainty also about the surname of the founder, because there are documents reporting both the ''Zanini'' and the ''Zannini'' names, but no convincing explanation of the appearance of an extra "n".</ref> in Sesto Calende, on the shores of the Lake Maggiore. It is not known from what source Lambrou infers such a date, but the official website of the company although whitout indicating any source,<ref>the company's website is not very reliable, there is a big error in the Zanini birth date, badly transcribed in 1897 when the birth certificate posted on the website shows the correct date of 1879, and after that it talks about a production of pens called... ''Aurora''.</ref> talks about the beginning of his activities in 1919, consistent with what is indicated by many others. There are also [[:Categoria:Ancora_Documents|some invoces]] from 1941 showing the claim ''Casa fondata nel 1902'', but this probably refers to the begininng of Zanini commercial activities, not to [[Ancora]] foundation.

The [[Ancora]] date of foundation is not known with certainty and there are conflicting versions.<ref>in addition to its foundation date, another point that has long remained uncertain regarding the company's origins is the surname of its founder as well documents in which the surname ''Zannini,'' with two ''n's,'' as well as the simple Zanini have been found; various hypotheses have been put forward, but the answer was provided directly by Zanini's nephew, who [https://www.penciclopedia.it/681/errata-corrige-leta-di-giuseppe-zanini/#comment-19646 tells] how this change was obtained by the court, and made because of homonymy with a well-known gangster of the time.</ref> According to A. Lambrou, it was founded in 1909 by ''Giuseppe Zanini'', in Sesto Calende, on the shores of the Lago Maggiore, but it is not known from which source Lambrou infers such a distant date; on the company's official website, although sources are not indicated again, the origin of the company was reported to 1919 in Bologna,<ref>but the company's website was not very reliable, there was a big error in the Zanini birth date, badly transcribed in 1897 when the birth certificate posted on the website (no more present) showed the correct date of 1879, also present in the start of activities registration.</ref> which is consistent with what has been indicated by others.<ref>The main reference is, however, the Letizia Jacopini book in which various documentary evidences are reported.</ref> Finally, [[:Categoria:Ancora_Documents|some invoces]] from 1941 are showing the claim ''Casa fondata nel 1902'', but this almost certainly refers to the begininng of Zanini commercial activities, not to [[Ancora]] foundation. According to reports from the founder's grandson, in fact, Zanini together with his wife Ester Marzari ran an emporium in Schio (Vicenza) where they sold everything including stationery, and it is likely that the starting year listed in said invoice refers to this.  

[[Ancora]] initial history is quite clouded, we know for sure that Zanini began its activities in the field of writing articles in Bologna, where apparently he was in contact with ''Armando Simoni'' (founder of [[OMAS]]) and where there are traces of his activities dating back to [[1918]].<ref>in the Letizia Jacopini book ''La storia della stilografica in Italia 1900-1950'' is published a report of start of activities for the ''Arti Grafiche - Giuseppe Zanini'' dated February 22, 1918.</ref> In [[1920]] he founded with a partner, Clerici, a company named ''Fabbrica e Commercio di Penne Stilografiche e Raffinati Oggetti per Arti Grafiche''.<ref>meaning ''Factory and commerce of fountain pens and fine objects for graphic arts''.</ref> The production of these early years was not yet clearly identified by the trademark [[Ancora]]. The official website of the actual trademark holder reports the purchase of a stationery shop in Bologna and the beginning of the production of fountain pens in 1919.  

[[Ancora]] initial history is quite clouded, we know for sure that Zanini began its activities in the field of writing articles in Bologna, where apparently he was in contact with ''Armando Simoni'' (founder of [[OMAS]]) and where there are traces of his activities dating back to [[1918]].<ref>in the Letizia Jacopini book ''La storia della stilografica in Italia 1900-1950'' is published a report of start of activities for the ''Arti Grafiche - Giuseppe Zanini'' dated February 22, 1918, and in [https://www.penciclopedia.it/681/errata-corrige-leta-di-giuseppe-zanini/#comment-19646 his intervention] Zanini's nephew indicates that Zanini moved to Bologna during World War I, meeting, and perhaps collaborating, with Armando Simoni.</ref> In [[1920]] he founded with a partner, Clerici, a company named ''Fabbrica e Commercio di Penne Stilografiche e Raffinati Oggetti per Arti Grafiche''.<ref>meaning ''Factory and commerce of fountain pens and fine objects for graphic arts''.</ref> The production of these early years was not yet clearly identified by the trademark [[Ancora]]. The official website of the actual trademark holder reports the purchase of a stationery shop in Bologna and the beginning of the production of fountain pens in 1919.  

The collaboration with Clerici continued until [[1924]], when Zanini founded his personal company, with the name ''Fabbrica di penne stilografiche e commercio, stampe in genere e riproduzioni opere d'arte''.<ref>meaning ''Factory for fountain pens, prints and art reprints''.</ref> In [[1925]], the activity thus far hosted in Zanini own house, was moved to Sesto Calende. The [[Ancora]] trademark ({{Marchio|40112}}) was indeed registered only in [[1929]]. In [[1938]] the production was moved to Arona, where new plants were created.<ref>both dates where reported by Letizia Jacopini in his book as result of a search in the Bologna Chamber of Commerce documents.</ref> After the death of the founder, the son Alfredo took over the management, up until [[1975]] when the company was closed.

The collaboration with Clerici continued until [[1924]], when Zanini founded his personal company, with the name ''Fabbrica di penne stilografiche e commercio, stampe in genere e riproduzioni opere d'arte''.<ref>meaning ''Factory for fountain pens, prints and art reprints''.</ref> In [[1925]], the activity thus far hosted in Zanini own house, was moved to Sesto Calende. The [[Ancora]] trademark ({{Marchio|40112}}) was indeed registered only in [[1929]]. In the mid-1930s Zanini moved to Arona and with the collaboration of his children (Alfredo, Maria, Adele, Giuseppe, Franco, Antonio) began construction of a new factory; the headquarters were moved to Arona in [[1938]]. In the early 1940s with the death of the founder (which occurred on 7/7/1940), the sons continued the activities and in about 1950 Alfredo took over the management, acquiring the brand and continuing the activities until [[1975]], when the company closed.

[[File:1951-Ancora-Lusso.jpg|thumb|left|An [[Ancora]] advertisement from '50 for the [[Lusso]] model.]]

[[File:1952-11-Ancora-Lusso.jpg|thumb|left|An [[Ancora]] advertisement from '50 for the [[Lusso]] model.]]

Unfortunately [[Ancora]] models history is highly clouded, because there are no catalogs or model listings.  The [[Ancora]] initial production consisted of relatively conventional pens with the classic [[safety]] filler. They were made in [[BCHR|chased hard rubber]], but some luxury model were produced with gold filled [[overlay]]s; these were usually made in 18k gold plated metal, some full gold models have been found, but apparently silver was never used. Typically, these [[overlay]]s are marked with the [[Ancora]] name in uppercase letters at the bottom of the cap, but some have the company logo, an anchor, in blue over white enamel on the top of the cap. The same decoration can be found also on the hard rubber models.

Unfortunately [[Ancora]] models history is highly clouded, because there are no catalogs or model listings.  The [[Ancora]] initial production consisted of relatively conventional pens with the classic [[safety]] filler. They were made in [[BCHR|chased hard rubber]], but some luxury model were produced with gold filled [[overlay]]s; these were usually made in 18k gold plated metal, some full gold models have been found, but apparently silver was never used. Typically, these [[overlay]]s are marked with the [[Ancora]] name in uppercase letters at the bottom of the cap, but some have the company logo, an anchor, in blue over white enamel on the top of the cap. The same decoration can be found also on the hard rubber models.

During '50s and '60s, the company, like almost all fountain pen manufacturers, underwent a steady decline as it was hardly hit by the crisis due to the introduction of the ballpoint pen. [[Ancora]] continued to produce some [[piston filler]] plastic models, however its fountain pens never reached the success of its best years, and in 1975 the company ceased operations.

During '50s and '60s, the company, like almost all fountain pen manufacturers, underwent a steady decline as it was hardly hit by the crisis due to the introduction of the ballpoint pen. [[Ancora]] continued to produce some [[piston filler]] plastic models, however its fountain pens never reached the success of its best years, and in 1975 the company ceased operations.

{{BrandChrono|Ancora}}

{{BrandChrono|Ancora}}  

== External references ==

== External references ==

* [http://xoomer.alice.it/leiacopi/ancora.htm] An old page by Letizia Jacopini

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071228211800/http://xoomer.alice.it/leiacopi/ancora.htm] An old page by Letizia Jacopini

* [http://www.ancora1919.com/it/history/] Section of the official site, contains some mistakes

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20211016184950/https://www.ancora1919.com/it/history-and-production/] History section (deleted, and without the documents initially present) of the official site.

== Notes ==

== Notes ==

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{{CategorizeBrand|Italia}}

{{CategorizeBrand|Italia}}