Vintage Pen Makers: R - Z
Please read the introduction at Vintage Pen Makers: A - H for information and caveats in using this page.
Rainbow:
Ramie:
(Hayashi Mfg. Co., Tokyo) Lower quality ebonite or plastic squeeze
fillers in 1950s. Carved sterling silver pen(s?) are known to exist.
Reuter:
Likely, a trade name. Maker of hard rubber and silver overlay
eyedroppers in the 1920s and 1930s. Generally, medium to high quality
pens.
Rigen: (Nihon Ball Mannenhitsu K.K., Tokyo) Maker of inexpensive eyedroppers with steel nibs.
River: Generally mid to lower tier plastic pens in the 1950s.
Ryo: Second to lower tier maker in 1950s. Some hiramakie that are worthwhile.
S.S.S.: San Esu. "The Only Perfect Pen in the Orient" Maker of quality pens from the 1920s to post-war era. Later production mostly celluloid eyedroppers with steel nibs.
Sakai: Tokyo-based maker in the 1950s. Known for their decorative pens, including those with urushi.
Sakura: (Hirayama Co., Hirosaki) Trade name for late 1930s - early 1940s eyedroppers.
Sato: (Sato Seisakusho, Tokyo) 1950s pens.
Salon: Small quality maker in 1930s.
Seilon: Maker of lower quality plastic eyedroppers in 1950s.
Seilow: Probably Tokyo-based. Maker in 1950s.
Selan: Late 1950s - early 1960s maker of decorative pens. Usually 14K nibs.
Sentry: 1950s maker. Inexpensive pens.
Sheaffer: Yes!
The Sheaffer Pen Co. In the 1980s models for Japanese and Asian markets
were made by Sailor through agreement with Textron.
Shiseido:
"The Shiseido Pen, Ginza Tokyo" This IS the cosmetics company and they
sold pens in the late 1930s. All very rare and highly collectible.
Skater: Lower quality maker in the 1950s.
Slary: (Toyota Seishunro Shoten, Iwakuni) Maker/seller of inexpensive pens in the 1950s.
Solomon:
Spaceman: Lower to mid-level quality pens in the 1960s.
Spacer:
Trident-type nib pens in 1980s. Sailor sold right to use nib design.
Usually lower quality or same quality as export Tridents made in Taiwan.
Standard:
Star: Quality pens, including maki-e, in mid-1930s.
Swan: Black chased hard rubber pens in the 1920s and 1930s. Company by same name produced celluloid pens in early 1950s.
Taisei: Tokyo-based stationary manufacturer during the late 1930s. Generally eyedroppers with steel nibs.
Takahashi: Nara-based maker of 1950s-style ebonite pens.
Takashimaya: Large department store in Tokyo that sold better quality pens.
Takizawa Pen Co.: Manufacturer of average black eyedroppers in the late 1930s under several brand names.
Tanaka Mfg. Co.: Maker of eyedropper fillers in late 1930s. Probably sold under various model names.
Teikin: Mostly mass-produced promotional pens. High-end were silver plate models. Likely, made for them by Sailor.
Texas: Inexpensive squeeze filler types in the mid-late 1950s.
Towa: (Towa Mannenhitsu Seisakusho, prob. Tokyo) Maker of Alpha pens and others in early 1950s.
Vanco: Made pens and pencils from 1930s through 1960s, including silver overlay. Generally, good quality pens with gold nibs.
Victor: Mid- to lower tier maker producing celluloid pens in the 1950s.
W.F.B.: Specialty pen maker in early 1950s. Most had second smaller pen inside barrel and an etching tool in blind cap.
Well: (Diamond Sangyo K.K., Tokyo) Quality pen maker in the 1920s through early 1950s.Note the shovel-shaped clip on the pen on the left..
Woden: (Woden Fountain Pen Co., Kanagawa) Mid-quality celluloid and ebonite pens in the 1950s.
Work: (Work Mannenhitsu Seisakusho, Tokyo)
World: 1950s-1960s maker of hanko pens. Moderate quality. Interesting.
Yotubisi: Maker of quality maki-e and other decorative types purportedly based in Osaka during the 1950s. Supposedly began business in late 1930s. Look for the four diamond logo on the clip or band. See full page elsewhere on this site.
RYOJUSEN
霊鷲山