Ebonite pens
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Collection: Ebonite pens
Our ebonite fountain pens are the heirs to a century-old tradition. Hard rubber was the dominant material in pen production until the 1940s, before being displaced by modern plastics. Today it has returned to prominence in high-level artisan production. Discover also our celluloid pens, another historic material.
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Ebonite fountain pens: the original material of the fountain pen
Hard rubber is produced by vulcanising natural rubber with sulphur at high temperatures. The result is a hard, warm-to-the-touch, slightly flexible material with a characteristic scent that collectors recognise immediately.
Vintage ebonite materials have one distinctive trait: they change colour over time. Black bodies develop brown or greenish hues when exposed to ultraviolet light. This process, called ambering, is considered a mark of quality by collectors.
Ebonite is also the preferred material for feeds and channels in high-quality nibs. Many master pen-makers still use it today because its behaviour with ink is superior to any modern plastic.
