Hamburg writing instrument manufactory for handcrafted fountain pens, ballpoint pens and pencils in limited editions.
ELBWOOD - The Hanseatic Penmaker
HamburgNew on Amplifa
About ELBWOOD
ELBWOOD is a small writing instrument manufactory in Hamburg that produces high-quality fountain pens, ballpoint pens and everlasting pencils in limited annual editions. Every writing instrument is made from solid material on hand-guided, analogue precision machines – deliberately without computer-controlled manufacturing – and is individually tuned. The range includes the Core Collection 'THE NINE' (POCKETMASTER, SHORTCAP, LONGCAP), special editions, precious pieces in solid gold, silver, enamel and gemstones, as well as up to five bespoke one-off commissions per year. Materials used include ebonite, rare woods such as ebony, bog oak or thuja burl, as well as nickel silver, brass, copper, silver 935 and gold; partly with partners in sand casting, enamel work and hand engraving. The nib units in 18K gold (JoWo) are tested and finely adjusted before delivery. Customers are collectors, enthusiasts and the international specialist trade; a catalogue of works documents all pieces with reference numbers.
- Site
- Hamburg
- Processes
- Turning/machining of writing instruments on hand-guided analogue precision machines (hand-operated, Sand casting (archaic sand casting process in Delft sand, at partners, incl. Studio Nonne 11 /, Hand engraving (by renowned hand engraver Florian Güllert), Gilding (gilding with 999 gold), Rhodium plating of nibs (rhodium coating, partly by the nib manufacturer), Enamel work (in cooperation with craft artists, e.g. Nora Kovats), Manufacture and fine adjustment/testing of nib units before delivery, One-off/bespoke construction of writing instruments (up to 400 work steps, incl.
- Materials
- Ebonite (custom ebonite from Schönberger Ebonite Manufaktur), Silver 935 (solid), Nickel silver, Brass, Copper, Stainless steel 316, Gold 18K/750 (yellow gold, rose gold, bicolor), 14-carat gold (flex nib)
- Industries
- Luxury writing instruments / craft artistry, Collector market
- 01
Material selection (ebonite, woods, precious metals)
- 02
Sand casting at partners for bespoke materials
- 03
Turning/machining on hand-guided analogue precision machines
- 04
Surface treatments (hand engraving, gilding, enamel) with craft artists
- 05
Assembly of the nib unit
- 06
Nib testing and fine adjustment
- 07
Delivery with reference number and catalogue of works
Atelier Workshop
Hamburg
DEAtelier workshop / manufactory
- Part weight / size
- Writing instruments (small parts)
- Lot size
- One-off pieces and limited editions (1 piece)
- Materials
- Ebonite, silver 935, gold, nickel silver, brass, copper, stainless steel 316, Mokume Gane, woods
- Hand-guided analogue precision machines
- Hand-operated mechanical lathe (year of manufacture 1967, ex Rotterdam hospital)
Writing Instruments
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turning/machining of writing instruments on hand-guided analogue precision machines (hand-operatedMachining | – | – | – | 1 piece – 1 piece | Ebonite, Silver, Brass, Gold, Copper, Nickel silver, Stainless steel 316, Mokume Gane, Woods (wenge, oak, ebony, Honduras rosewood,, Silver-gold sand-casting alloy (sextant/gaucho knife steel) |
| Sand casting (archaic sand casting process in Delft sand, at partners, incl. Studio Nonne 11 /Casting | – | – | – | – | Silver, Metals (melted-in sextants, gaucho knives) |
| Hand engraving (by renowned hand engraver Florian Güllert)Surface | – | – | – | – | Silver, Metal |
| Gilding (gilding with 999 gold)Surface | – | – | – | – | Gold |
| Rhodium plating of nibs (rhodium coating, partly by the nib manufacturer)Surface | – | – | – | – | 18K gold nib, 14-carat gold nib |
| Enamel work (in cooperation with craft artists, e.g. Nora Kovats)Surface | – | – | – | – | Enamel, Silver, Gold |
| Manufacture and fine adjustment/testing of nib units before deliveryAssembly | – | – | – | – | 18K gold nib, 14K gold nib, Steel nib, Stainless steel nib |
| One-off/bespoke construction of writing instruments (up to 400 work steps, incl.Engineering | – | – | – | 1 piece – 1 piece | Silver 935, Gold 333/999, Woods, Ebonite, Metals |
| Masterclass: guidance on making one's own writing instrument in the atelier workshopEngineering | – | – | – | – | Ebonite, Woods, Metals |
2 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-guided analogue precision machines (workshop equipment) | – | – | – | – | Hamburg |
| Hand-operated mechanical lathe (turning machine) | German manufacturer (unnamed, still in production today) | 1 | – | 1967 (Bauj | Hamburg |
Additional services
Reference customers
History
- 2018
Presentation of the pocket fountain pen in MERCEDES ME MAGAZINE (issue 01-2018); visit of the Hamburg Consular Women's Club to the workshop on 8 November 2018.
- 2018/19
Feature in ERSTKLASSIG magazine about the cooperation with Papeterie Heinrich Künnemann Nachf. in Berlin.
- 2021
Catalogue of works documented from 2021; blog post 'Was machen die da?' (18.10.2021).
- 2022
Participation in the II. Biennale of Applied Art at the Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte (14 September to 20 November 2022).
- 2026
Introduction of unique reference numbers within the annual editions; Core Collection 'THE NINE'; special edition 'The Penmaker's Atelier' with custom ebonite from the Schönberger Ebonite Manufaktur.