General Pen Story

In the long history of English pen-making, the name Onoto is recognised as a marque of distinction, renowned for its innovation and quality. And with good reason!

Established in 1905 by the De La Rue Company in London, Onoto became one of the most sought-after fountain pens around the world, thanks to a global marketing strategy that left its competitors floundering. Massive budgets were set aside by De La Rue to promote the brand and within a few years there were Onoto distributors in Tokyo, Bombay, Johannesburg, New York and Trinidad, and throughout Europe.

Mystery still surrounds the naming of the brand, but it is likely that it was named after Mr Ono Tokusaburo, a Japanese watchmaker who had registered a patent in 1885 for a stylographic pen, some features of which had been incorporated in pens made by De La Rue at the turn of the century. Another story claims that the name ‘Onoto’ was selected by De La Rue because it could be easily pronounced in any language.

I've created a page of images that can be used for Wallpaper. Please let me know if there are any particular pens you might like to see one created for and if I have it or can get one I'll do it.

Mark Bacas' Pen Wallpaper

Comments and suggestions are always welcome,

- Mark

For North American pen afficianados, Noodler's has fast become a favourite ink. The range of colours, the fraudproof/waterproof qualities in some lines and the 100% American production process have all appealed.

In Europe, however, we have not had easy access to Noodler's without paying for transatlantic shipping. This was frustrating, but what I didn't realise was that Nathan Tardif, the creator of Noodler's, was getting equally frustrated that UK retailers did not want to stock his ink.

We talked, and we got on. It seemed the most natural thing in the world for me to agree to sell Nathan's ink in the UK and EU, despite never having run a retail business before.

My latest acquisition from Stan. I quite often buy a pen and just put them away. Espically if they are mint and unused. Perhaps in the hopes that it will be worth more someday and that I could sell it. However, I might have a hard time doing that with this pen.

The case is pretty cool too.

- Mark

I received this pen as a thank you from Stan. What an incredible gift and pen. He received this pen from a friend that got it from a dentist. Evidently the pen has ideograms related to teeth.

Anyone know a little Chinese?

Very cool and thanks again Stan,

- Mark

Well I guess I have a fetish or something for these Japanese "short/long" pens. Must be something about the way they look, feel, fit in the pocket, etc.

Anyone else own some of these?

- Mark

I was looking at my Sheaffer Triumph nib the other day and was thinking it looked similar to another pen's nib. It dawned on my that it's probably the Murex nibs that it looks similar to. At least to me. What do you think? Of course the "flaps" and feed on the triumph nib make it look a little different.

Pilot Murex and Sheaffer Nibs