Top 10 Fountain pen brands from India
We broach another sensitive topic with this one – the Top 10 Fountain pen brands from India. I call this sensitive because, as users and lovers of fountain pens, we are all extremely passionate about the brands that we love, and any deviation from personal preferences is frowned upon, often vocally so! But then again, that is exactly the purpose of stories like these, so that we, the fraternity, can highlight our preferences and share notes with the community.
Now, some characteristics of the Indian Fountain pen industry. It is extremely fragmented, mostly run by one-man (or woman) entrepreneurs, who seldom move beyond the ubiquitous shape, filling systems, or nib-feed combos. Considering the size of the market, leave alone conscious branding exercises, R&D expenditure is minuscule. While the traditional turners still cling on to ebonite pens, the deluge of resins and acrylic with attractive colours and patterns is fast inundating the landscape. Another point that needs to be highlighted is the outsourcing of actual turning, which has been taken to extreme levels. There are very notable exceptions to everything that I have said above, though.
ASA was one of the early movers into the standardised fountain pen with Jowo (or Schmidt, or Bock, or Kanwrite) nibs and imported converters. It continues to wow users.
Click is a different story, though, as it has its own manufacturing facility, mostly covering the spectrum. It makes the most popular entry-level pen in India and is consciously trying to scale up the pricing ladder.
Endless Stationary, run by first-generation youngsters with enviable backgrounds (and resources to match), is taking the boldest steps in the industry. Their domain covers fountain pens, inks, notebooks, e-commerce, and the Chennai Pen Show. This is the brand to watch out for.
Gama is legacy. Hundred-plus years. Enviable clientele. Ebonite pens that our dads (and grand dads) swore by.
Kanwrite is India’s nib maker par excellence. They also make pens. Plans are afoot to turn the brand into a broad-spectrum antibiotic for connoisseurs feeling under the weather.
Lotus is the Holy Ghost in the triumvirate (guess the other two?) that make the greatest number of eye-candy fountain pens, made mostly with imported materials, but with a classic Indian soul.
Magna Carta has leapfrogged into the US market, and leaving the niche of religious pens for which it was much lauded, is now pursuing newer ideas. Market driven and trend savvy, the brand is worth watching.
Mohi, though it has been in the trade for more than three decades, is just about breaking into the big league. They make reasonably good pens at attractive price points.
Ranga is another southern superstar, that has broken into the mainstream with a vengeance, offering a banquet of pens that are widely sought after, both in India and abroad.
The people behind Vazir have been early movers. TIPS (the India Pen Show) which was a landmark event in its initial year, long before Covid, is their brain child. Their perns too, which keeps coming in new designs and avatars, have a large following.
Fosfor, representing the craftsmanship of Manoj Deshmukh is the surprise entry into the list, bot only because it goes where the others don’t dare to, but also because Forfor is example of everything the Indian fountainpen making can achieve, if only it tries.
Krishna pens, though they are extremely hard to come by, are also highly collectible.
Urushi Studio India was a pioneer of sorts when it started Urushi lacquering in India. An art it is perfecting to the delight of many.
Now the brands that could not include in the top ten, but still demands that I mention them: Beena/V’Sign, Guider, Acriv, Stex, Deccan and PLP.
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