Indian Fountain Pens

INDIAN HANDMADE FOUNTAIN PEN

by Sripal Jain January 17, 2021

It’s the season of Indian fountain pens and what better time to have an exciting launch in this sphere. Witness the unveiling of India’s first Raden fountain pen by Lotus in partnership with Makoba India. We are proud to say we have been able to bring out the best in an Indian handmade fountain pen with this launch.

It wasn’t easy!! Definately not easy.

Planning for the Lotus exclusive Makoba model started in March 2020. We met for the second time in as many months and we knew we could do some magic together. In our very first interaction with Mr. Arun Singhi of Lotus Pens, we had this gut feeling. It was at one of the Pen expos we had taken part in. Our stall was decorated with all the best Internationa pens from Leonardo, Montegrappa, and Pilots and at the end of the row was Mr. Arunji with his wares. Our love for Indian pens started with Ranga in 2018 and in 2020 it turned into a passion when we met Mr. Arun Singhi. Over the two days of the expo, we found a lot of synergies between us. We were like kids in a toy store getting excited every time we visited their table. We were intrigued with the models and the bandwidth of the craftmanship Arunji could work on.

Getting back to our workstations, me and Donesh started wondering if Arunji would be interested in partnering with us and creating an exclusive model for us to promote. I guess the precursor to this though was the launch of Ranga Varnin, an exclusive Makoba model. We did receive an overwhelming response to the Ranga Varnin and thought we could do the same with Lotus and probably with a much deeper impact.

Above is what was the end result of a thought that started in March 2020 and saw the day of light, today 15/01/2021. The Covid pandemic did hinder our project timelines and a project which could have been 5-6 months ended up taking almost 9months to finish. Large shells were imported and painstakingly cut to smaller pieces and then inlaid onto the Japanese ebonite material. Before getting to the final approved piece, We had used up almost material worth five pens to get this perfection in finish and symmetry. The end result is the Raden collection, truly an Indian handmade fountain pen.

As the journey began to create this exclusive piece, two models evolved from the original discussion.

One took shape in the form of Rays and the other was a Sparkle.

THE RADEN COLLECTION

This collection has been limited to 20 pieces in each design. In other words, it is also India’s first Limited edition fountain Pen. Currently, the pens have been fixed with a Jowo nib with nib options of Fine, Medium and Broad. We can also provide, an additional Bock nib section and nib options of Fine, Medium and Broad in steel and 18KT solid gold nib at an additional cost. To know more about the nib change and cost do call us at 98840 01991 or email at sripal@makoba.com.

From the close-up image, one can notice the perfect liner pattern created with tiny shell pieces. We thought an apt name for this fountain pen would be Rays.

Closeup of the Raden Sparkle fountain pen

Unlike the linear pattern set in the Rays, the other collection to do was much tougher and time-consuming. The tiny pieces of shell were inlaid onto the pen by creating matching grooves. Why Sparkle? because it was a burst of colors and uneven pattern

The Raden Rays Indian Handmade Fountain Pen

The Lotus Raden Rays Indian Handmade fountain pen

The Impact!!

Slowly as the product was taking shape, so were many other ideas around it. We knew we have come very close to creating an art piece mastered by the Japanese right here in India.

But is this it? Is the product just enough. What about the packaging and the branding. What about the literature that goes along with the pen. How can we make it better? HOW CAN WE CREATE A DEEPER IMPACT!!

We did not stop just with the product. We wanted to push ourselves up the wall and come up with a packaging design, unseen in the Indian pen industry. We experimented with Paper boxes, Acrylic boxes and Metal boxes as well. Nothing inspired as a simple wooden box did. We took inspiration from the wooden boxes as provided by Namiki, Nakaya, and Sailors. Finally, it was decided to create our packaging for the exclusive Raden pen in a wooden box. Next, we sure did not want to blindly replicate these designs. We wanted to create something new of our own, that’s when the with a sliding lid came up. Up next were the contents that could go into the box other than the pen. We created the Warranty card and also a literature on how this product came up.

Wooden box for the Raden Rays fountain pen

Wooden box for the Raden Sparkle fountain pen — Wooden box for the Raden Rays fountain pen

Our anxiety, our apprehensions, came to an end when all the elements of this project finally came together in the perfect shape and quality as visioned by us.

All the credits for this marvelous collection go to Mr. Arun Singhi and his team of craftsmen who understood the intricacy and have been able to deliver to match international standards.

Shop for your First Indian Raden fountain pen. Click here

RATE THIS POST

January 17, 2021 0 comment

Indian Fountain Pens

Ranga Fountain Pens from India

by Sripal Jain June 21, 2020

Mr Pandurangan the master pen turner from India

Mr Kandan at the pen making machinemachine — Mr Kandan polishing an acrylic pen

You all read about my journey about Indian handmade fountain pens in the previous two posts. Here you will read about the end of the itch and start of a great partnership. But first, let’s know a little background about my new found love, RANGA FOUNTAIN PENS FROM INDIA

Around 1970, at the age of 15 M.S Pandurangan started making handmade fountain pens at a tiny hamlet Thiruvallur about 45 km from Chennai. The name “Ranga” is derived from MS Pandurangan. M P Kandan, the heir to the legacy of brand Ranga, under the able guidance of M S Pandurangan, has managed to give the traditional Indian handmade fountain pen a modern touch. Indian handmade fountain pens were always plagued with leaking issues and scratchy nibs. Unlike its predecessors, Ranga handmade fountain pens from India are fitted with German Jowo or bock nibs which come in various nib sizes, including the titanium flex nibs. Most of the traditional Indian handmade pens were eyedropper models i.e filling ink directly into the barrel. But Ranga, changed the concept to convertor or cartridge mechanism thereby bringing the brand on to the world stage because of ease of use and no issues of leakages. Ranga has been the center point of transition from the old to the new and yet retaining the old world charm of handmade fountain pens.

My visit to Ranga factory in Mid November 2019 was an eye-opener. Expecting to see a modern manufacturing unit, I was amazed at the setup. It was more of humble cottage industry where the prestigious Ranga fountain pens are hand made. The ground floor of the two-floor building housed some machinery and the raw material. The first floor and the second floor were their humble residence where the Ranga family handcrafts these beautiful pens. Makoba is proud to associate with the Ranga family and privileged showcase a wide collection of Ranga fountain pens at its stores in Chennai, Delhi, and Ahmedabad. To find your perfect Indian handmade fountain pen check out the collection. To experience Ranga pens you are most welcome to visit one of our shops. Ranga Indian handmade fountain pens are the link between the traditional pen making and the current convenience and perfection that matches some of the best world-renowned brands. They are the cross over from the traditional to the modern with the latest nibs and converters that are heart and soul of any good fountain pen. In Ranga, I knew my passion for Indian fountain pens will be found and will grow. Ranga is the start of the journey in the Indian fountain pens. There is a long way ahead and many more milestones to achieve and many more stars to discover.

You may also share your experience of your Ranga pen or your visit to the factory here. Be my guest.

If you enjoyed reading this article or found it useful do like and share the page.

Mr M S Pandurangan at the table rolling the ebonite rods in to pens, his all time passion.

Mr Kandan the second generation pen maker, turning pens.

Shop for Ranga Handmade fountain pens here

RATE THIS POST

June 21, 2020 0 comment

Indian Fountain Pens

INSTRUMENTS THAT GUIDE YOUR WRITING & YOUR THOUGHTS – GUIDER PENS

by Sripal Jain June 20, 2020

When competition is healthy, it leads to expansion of the markets.

Wondering what I am talking about. Almost 14 years after starting the Ratnam pens, K V Ratnam inspired Mr. G Subbarao to start making pens and thus was born Guider Pens in Rajahmundry. Currently, managed by his son Mr. Lakshamana Rao, Guider Pen works is situated well within the city busy area.

My visit to Rajahmundry had 3 agendas. One Meeting my maternal uncles two to visit Ratnam Pens and Guider Pens. I really doubt if Mr. Lamkshmana Rao would remember me because the trip has done somewhere in 2011-2012. Lakshmana Rao was kind enough to make some pens on the spot for my pleasure and experience. Right from picking up the right ebonite rod, he let me move about freely in the display area and the manufacturing unit albeit with precaution. I don’t remember if I tried my hand at the lathe machine, but trust me the experience I had at these two historic places in Rajahmundry is etched deeply within me. Here too I had picked quite a few ebonites and acrylic fountain pens. I vaguely remember forcing Mr. Lakshamanan to make clipless caps for his dip pens. At Makoba we showcased them as desk pens and were able to sell most of these within few weeks.

Ratnam and Guider were the start of the Indian handmade fountain pen industry. They were the early torch bearers who still make the various eye dropper fountain pens.

Though a little bit of expertise is required in using an eyedropper model fountain pen. But trust me an ink leak stain from one of these pens leaves an impression in your subconscious mind. An impression that will last for your lifetime and sometimes life-changing. Makoba Pen store started in 2009 predominantly as a stationery store. In our early days selling a 2000 or a 5000 rupee pen was an achievement. And my trip to Rajahmundry, completely changed my perspective of Indian fountain pens. Yes, I agree the earlier models were bulky and leaked and need good guidance in filling ink and using it. They are still fitted with fine nibs. Probably that’s their legacy. But being relevant to the current world trends, the Indian fountain pen had to go a long way to compete with international brands.

After the trip, I got back to selling the famous Ratnam pens and Guider pens and learnt the nuisance of the trade. Most of the pens sold off quickly as finding a Ratnam or a Guider pen in an organised pen store was a rare opportunity. But as fate had decided, my learning curve of Indian Fountain pen was like a roller coaster ride. Selling them was fun and easy as there was lots of history behind the brands. Little did i know that just after a week of selling them, a pen connoisseur hurriedly walks in to the store and bham keeps the pen on the table, and draws my attention to the blue ink patch on his shirt. Lucky for him his jacket covered it. Luck for me it was a washable ink. But whats interesting is the presence of another pen connoisseur who had just made a purchase of the final Guider pen. He came to my rescue. He not only pacified the client and showed him the reason behind the leak and jokingly told him welcome to the club but he also taught me a valuable lesson on how to handle Indian handmade fountain pens.

As a business man, I thought this is the end of dealing in Handmade Indian pens. Who would want to invite trouble or cause trouble to other pen connoisseurs. But trust me, there’s always been an itch. Why Indian fountain pens cannot be like fountain pens from Sheaffer or Cross or Waterman. Very user friendly and convenient. This itch was finally settled in 2018 when we made a fresh start with Indian fountain pens. To know more about the next step of the journey, stay tuned in and read my next blog.

Untill then have a fantastic day and a day filled with fountain pens.

RATE THIS POST

June 20, 2020 0 comment

Indian Fountain Pens

SWADESHI FOUNTAIN PEN – RATNAMSONS

by Sripal Jain June 19, 2020

History of Indian handmade fountain pen started somewhere in 1921 when Mahathma Gandhiji advised then K V Ratnam a family of goldsmiths to make something swadeshi that reached the masses. Upon pondering for many more years, K V Ratnam and family started making India’s first completely handmade fountain pen in the current city of Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh in the year 1932.

I have personally been to their unit – The Ratnam Ball Pen works in 2012-13 and had an opportunity to interact with Mr K V Ramana Murthy. The place is a bit rundown and glows with the old world grandeur. The structure is easily a century old with thick walls and roof covered with earthen tiles. When you enter the premises, you can see the wall decorated with letter from Mahathma Gandhiji written with the Ratnam handmade ebonite fountain pen. One will also find photos of many high profile politicians decorating the walls visiting the Ratnam Pen works in Rajhamundry. It feels nostalgic to be in that place in front of those rusty counters gleaming with the hand turned Ratnam fountain pens. Behind the counter sits the heir to this legacy Mr K V Raman Murthy. I also remember meeting one Mr Shiva. I don’t exactly remember the persons role but his number is saved in my phone. I vaguely remember seeing their lathe machine in the neighboring room. There were heaps of ebonite rods all around and the smell of burning sulfur was intoxicating. Oh I forgot to mention, the burning sulfur smell reaches you as soon as you approach the street, telling you your closer to the place where history witnessed making of India’s first ebonite fountain pens. I also remember seeing two Ratnam pen manufacturing units opposite to each other, mostly managed by the two brothers independently. First hand, I did experience the world’s smallest fountain pen. On my return journey, I picked up about a dozen of these hand turned Ratnam pens and became part of history by getting Makoba in their billing records.

Do share below your comments and experiences of using a Ratnam fountain pen. If you own one and would like to share a photo and describe it, it would be wonderful.

If by reading the article you were able to visualize the place and being momentarily present there do like and share this article.