Fountain pens are back in fashion: artisan Hungarian manufacturers compete with global companies

Highlights from an exhibition: adjustable weight pens, rear-loading brushes, Hungarian artisan inks. The first Hungarian fountain pen exhibition in recent times signals that traditional writing instruments are still elegant and increasingly used in daily life. Several small Hungarian companies produce handcrafted pens, some with unique technical innovations.

For instance, if a traveler who enjoys pen drawings is captivated by the saffron color at an Indian market, they only need to upload a photo of it to an app on their phone. The machine will then mix the shade based on the photo, and by the time the traveler returns home, they will have their custom ink ready.

Currently, this is just a prototype, but a Hungarian fountain pen manufactory, Etelburg, is actively preparing for the production of their patented ink-mixing machine. At the first Hungarian fountain pen exhibition, the Hungary Pen Show in November, the founders of Etelburg - Gábor Megyeri, the designer, and Péter Megyeri, the manager - were not the only ones dreaming of colorful inks.

Etelburg rollerball and fountain pen pens

Fountain pens have many appealing aspects, and it was innovation that drew Gábor Megyeri to them. As he presents the first Etelburg creation, the r.feather pen - also inspired by his doctoral research - visitors will discover a range of unique features.

The pen’s modular design allows the nib to be swapped not just for another pen nib, but also for a felt-tip nib or even a brush. This concept evolved over time, with Gábor Megyeri building his foundational experience at prestigious manufacturers like Montblanc and Montegrappa.

The article appeared on HVG.hu, authored by Iván Bedő. The translation was prepared by Etelburg. The full article in Hungarian is available to HVG360 subscribers and can be read by clicking here.