British Pens

British-Made Pens

You cannot go wrong with British-made pens. Yet, some brands are better suited for different tasks or budgets, requiring a closer look at the best British-made pens.

Discover the Top British Pen Brands

England was once the center of the pen industry. During the 19th century, about 75% of the world relied on pens manufactured in Birmingham and London. The city of Birmingham alone had over 100 pen factories in the mid-1800s.

Some of the earliest pen manufacturers include Thomas De La Rue, Conway Stewart, John Mitchell, and Joseph Gillott. However, by the end of the 1800s, only a dozen or so pen companies remained in Birmingham and fewer in London.

Several British pen companies remain from the early era of the pen industry. However, new designers and companies have also emerged, including David Oscarson. Here is a closer look at some of the best brands for British-made pens.

Conway Stewart

Conway Stewart was a British manufacturing company known for its fountain pens and ballpoint pens. Frank Jarvis and Thomas Garner founded the company in London in 1905.

The founders had previously worked for De La Rue, which was the largest pen manufacturer in England at the time. Conway Stewart grew rapidly in the first half of the 20th century but struggled in the second half.

The company was acquired by a holding company before disappearing from the public. However, the brand was recently revived. Bespoke British Pens produces new fountain pens bearing the “Conway Stewart” brand name.

David Oscarson

David Oscarson is a respected penmaker based in England. Each pen is carefully handcrafted by a small team of three master craftsmen and a single apprentice.

While David Oscarson makes pens in England, he resides in Missouri. He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and previously worked as a sculptor. He started making luxury fountain pens in 2000.

David Oscarson's pens are unique for incorporating intricate, labor-intensive designs. Oscarson personally designs each set of pens and works closely with his small team in England.

Diamine

Diamine is one of the oldest remaining British pen companies. TW Webster Company Limited was established in 1864. The company introduced Diamine as a trademarked type of ink.

Diamine opened a factory in Liverpool in 1925. The factory was state of the art for its time and allowed the company to create innovative new products, including its specialty ink.

The Liverpool factory is now closed but the company continues to make its pens and inks in England. Monaco Red is one of the company’s most popular inks and was made specifically for the Prince of Monaco and his family.

Dunhill

Dunhill is a luxury fountain pen brand. The company was started in 1893 and produced the first “Dunhill” pen in 1929. Dunhill made more than just pens and inks. The company also made a pocket cigarette lighter. However, the pens were the company’s best-selling products.

The Dunhill Torpedo was an exceptionally popular choice. As with most Dunhill pens, the Torpedo featured an 18-carat gold nib. In 1977 Dunhill acquired Montblanc. The company remains operated as a family business but is wholly owned by a Swiss holding company.

Eversharp and Parker

Eversharp and Parker are American brands with connections to England. The Parker Pen Company was founded in Wisconsin in 1888 but relocated to England nearly 100 years later. During the height of its success, Parker acquired several other companies, including Eversharp.

Eversharp was founded in 1913 and is based in Chicago, Illinois. The Wahl Adding Machine Company acquired Eversharp in 1916 and continued to release products under the Eversharp brand name.

The Wahl-Eversharp corporation was acquired by the Parker Pen Company 1957. The Parker Pen Company would not last either. About seven years after relocating to England, another company acquired Parker. Newell Brands currently owns Parker and the Eversharp brand.

Conclusion

England was previously home to hundreds of pen companies. The country has strong ties to the history of the pen industry and continues to produce high-quality products. Some of the best British pens include options from Conway Stewart, David Oscarson, Diamine, Dunhill, Eversharp, and more.

If you want to shop for the best British-made pens, take a look at the current selection on Truphae.

 

 

British Pen Brands in the UK

We are thrilled to provide you with these British made pen brands from England and the UK: