Macniven and Cameron

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Macniven and Cameron Ltd.
Formerly
  • Macniven (1770–1845)
  • Macniven and Cameron Ltd. (1845–1972) [1]
  • Waverley Cameron Ltd. (1972–)
Company type Private
Industry Metallurgy
Stationery
Founded1770 in Balerno
FounderNisbet MacNiven [1]
Defunctmid. 1990s
FateThe name "Cameron" added after brothers John and Donald Cameron
Headquarters
Edinburgh [n 1]
,
UK
Area served
Worldwide
Products Dip and fountain pens
BrandsWaverley

Macniven and Cameron Ltd., later known as Waverley Cameron Ltd., [2] was a printing and stationery company based in Edinburgh, Scotland. [1] [3]

Contents

Macniven and Cameron was the leading Scotish manufacturer of dip and fountain pens. [3]

History

In 1770, Nisbet MacNiven established a paper-making business at Balerno, outside Edinburgh. The firm soon diversified into stationery and moved to premises on Blair Street in Edinburgh's Old Town.

In the 1840s, brothers John and Donald Cameron became involved, and the firm became Macniven and Cameron.

Macniven and Cameron advertisement, ca. 1902 Macniven cameron ad 1902.png
Macniven and Cameron advertisement, ca. 1902

The "Waverley" nib was invented by Duncan Cameron, another brother, and was unusual in having an upturned point, making the ink flow more smoothly on the paper. The "Waverley" was named after the Waverley novels of Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832), which were still hugely popular at the time. The new nib was initially manufactured by Gillott and others, until the company bought a factory in Bordesley, Birmingham, in 1900. It then manufactured its own nibs, fountain pens and printed stationery, until 1964, when the factory closed. [1]

Macniven and Cameron also made pens called the "Pickwick", "Owl", "Phaeton", "Nile", "Hindoo" and "Commercial". The company filed several patents in relation to its fountain pens. [4] [5]

(Put the mouse on the image to see the model number):

Advertising

Some of the company's best known dip pens such as the "Pickwick", the "Owl", and the "Waverley", were sold under the advertising doggerel:

They come as a boon and a blessing to men,
the Pickwick, the Owl and the Waverley Pen.

Notes

  1. ↑ The company had also factories and locations in London, Birmingham (1900–1964), and Glasgow.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "MacNiven and Cameron". Grace's Guide.
  2. ↑ "Waverley Cameron". Edinburgh City of Print. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  3. 1 2 Macniven & Cameron on Goodwriterpens.com
  4. ↑ "Improvements in fountain and other reservoir pens: Patent no. GB 151844 (A)". espacenet. 1919.
  5. ↑ "Improvements in fountain and reservoir pens: Patent no. GB428727 (A)". espacenet. 1935.
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