Vintage Pen Makers: I - P
Please read the introduction at Vintage Pen Makers: A - H for information and caveats in using this page.
Isetan: Tokyo-based department store. Moderate quality 1930s eyedroppers.
Ishibashi: (Ishibashi Mannenhitsu Seisakushho, Tokyo) Maker of "Polka" brand pens.
Iwai: (Tokyo) Interesting pens marked 'My Hope.' Late 1950s - early 1960s.
Jewel: (Aoshima Fountain Pen Co., Tokyo) Eyedroppers in 1950s.
Kewpie: Brand name for inexpensive celluloid pens in 1950s. Maybe related to the maker of the famed mayonnaise.
Kintetsu: Upper middle tier pens in the mid-1950s. Usually gold nibs.
K.N. Company: Sold pens under name of 'National.' Mid-1930s. Mostly typical eyedropper fillers.
Konparu: Made celluloid pens in the 1950s. Kumiai:
(Yamagata K.H.R.) Larger urushi-clad ebonite eyedroppers in late 1930s.
Mostly steel nibs. Gold nibs, when found, are excellent. Lance: Typical black eyedroppers. 1950s. Gold nibs.
Lot: (Lot Bungu Seisakusho) Small Tokyo maker in early 1950s. Lovely: (S.K. Fountain Pen Works, Tokyo) Small manufacturer in 1950s. Appear to be decent quality.
Marshall: (Marshall Pen Mfy., Tokyo) Maker of low quality eyedroppers in early 1950s and cheap squeeze fillers in to the early 1960s. Marukin: Premium pen maker of custom pens in the 1930s.
Maruzen:
Large book store headquartered in Tokyo. Marketed quality pens and ink
under names Albion, Athena, Orion, and Romeo. Makes Athena ink. Today,
in addition to a full line of modern pens, they sell special limited
editions made for their exclusive sale.
Master: (Master Mannenhitsu K.K., Tokyo) Big second tier manufacturer in the 1950s. Some very good pens. Large variety of designs.
Matsuda: Decent celluloid pens in the 1930s.
Matsuzakaya: Large department store in Tokyo. Purchased quality pens from jobbers. Platinum and SSS made pens for them in the 1930s.
Meizen: (Uchiyama Co.) Maker of ebonite and hira maki-e decorated pens in early 1950s.
Mitaka: Lower quality pens in the 1950s.
Moris: (Kanazawa Mannenhitsu-ten) Typical 1950s eyedroppers. Morisman: Typical late1930s-early 1940s eyedroppers. Steel nibs.
Morison: Big second tier manufacturer in the 1950s. Made full range of pens, including good-quality larger models. Look for pens with gold nibs.
Navy: Supposedly based in Yokosuka (Where else?). In business from late 1930s to 1960s. Mid-range pens. Look for models with gold nibs.
Newdow: Maker of eyedropper fillers in 1930s.
Newman: (Tatsuwa Mfg. Co. Ltd.) Maker of mechanical pencils (sharp pencil) in 1950s and 1960s. Look for their silver pens. Good quality.
Nine: (Komura Pen Mfg. Co., Osaka) Jobber in 1930s who made and sold complete line of simple ebonite to high-end makie in the 1930s.
Northstar: Premium maker in the 1930s. Look for their red hard rubber pens.
Oda: Low quality eyedroppers in the 1950s. Probably a jobber.
Omega: Low cost pens in the late 1950s to early 1960s.
Patrol: Trade name for Tokyo pen maker. 1950s.
Platon: (Nakayama Taiyodo, Osaka) "Star of David" logo with P inside. Began making hard rubber pens in the 1920s. Decent quality maker focusing on quality celluloid in the 1950s and later plastic. Also made maki-e decorated models. Ceased operation in 1953.
Plum: (Kogyo K.K., Tokyo) Interesting designs in early 1950s.
Popura: (Popura Shugyo K.K., Tokyo) Low to low-middle range maker, mostly in the 1950s and early 1960s. May have begun operation in 1930s as a higher quality jobber. Early pens are collectable.
RYOJUSEN
霊鷲山