Montegrappa Elmo 01 Black Fountain pen

A century of Bauhaus and work of an early technological pioneer are the subjects of an Italian-made pen sure to please fans of every day carry. Montegrappa is best known for designing pens beyond the fantasies – and budgets – of the average handwriting enthusiast, but the Italian company’s latest release sees a return to its more modest roots and the vision of its original co-founder, Heinrich ‘Elmo’ Helm.

The factory that today produces the world’s most indulgent pens was, from 1912 to 1928, leading the charge to democratise writing. Back then, portable pens were an emerging technology fraught with problems and still seeking wide acceptance as tools of knowledge and networking. Helm was the company’s first technical director – a figure with an industriousness and optimism reminiscent of today’s tech entrepreneurs. His know-how and charisma inspired the fledgling company to name its first products after him, and Elmo pens would go on to be mainstays of Italian offices and schools for decades to come.

The Montegrappa Elmo 01 is a compact, all-round pen that recalls the international style popularized by Bauhaus throughout the 1920s. During that era, Helm would steer his company away from the archetypes of dipping pens and design new solutions that catered for contemporary lifestyles. Portability, reliability and efficiency were his mantra. Handmade from resin and stainless steel, it brings robust, all-round performance, honest simplicity and a century of know-how to prestige stationery.

The Elmo 01 fountain pen has a stainless steel nib and uses a cartrdige/converter filling mechanism.

Italy's first pen producer, Montegrappa, began manufacturing pens in 1912 in its factory in Bassano del Grappa in Italy. Utilizing natural celluloid and precious metals,Montegrappa combines traditional methods such as die-casting with more recent innovations as low-relief engraving to form their precious art objects. Whether Montegrappa use colors reminiscent of the master painters or ornamentation suggestive of Baroque palaces, the Italian heritage and romance is infused into each product.