A list of Indian fountain pen manufacturers

India has a rich tradition of fountain pen manufacturing, with several well-known brands that have been in business for decades. Some of the most popular Indian fountain pen brands include:

Camlin: Camlin is one of the oldest and most popular fountain pen brands in India. They offer a range of pens in different colors, designs, and materials. Camlin Elegante, Trinity, Camlin 47 are some noted models.

Lotus - Lotus pens are one of the best Indian fountain pen. Based out of Mumbai, they make world class fountain pens in different colors and patterns. Popular pens are like Lotus Shikhar, Everest

Ranga - Ranga Pens has been making fountain pens since 1970, when the company was started by M.S. Pandurangan. Ranga was founded in Thiruvallur, in southern India, near the east coast, close to the city of Chennai. Ranga Model 8, Samurai are some popular models

Vazir - A relatively new fountain pen brand founded in 2020. They have a variety of India made fountain pens at a relatively competitive price. Vazir 1.0, Vazir Black

ASA - Another fountain pen brand from South India. They have a wide range of  premium fountain pen models that are affordable. Popular models are ASA Nauka, ASA Maya, ASA Durga

Kanwrite - Kanpur Writers Probably the only fountain pen brand from North India, located in the city of Kanpur. Mostly famous for their nibs and feeds, they do offer affordable fountain pens also. Popular pens include Kanwrite Desire and Kanwrite Heritage

Click - Click India, another popular Indian fountain pen brand that makes affordable fountain pens like Click Aristocrat and Click Falcon

Airmail Wality - Mumbai based pen manufacturing company offers a number of eyedropper filled fountain pen models. Airmail 71JT and Airmail 69JT are the most popular models

Ratnam sons - Another old fountain pen makers from South India. This brand has been endorsed by Mahatma Gandhi.

Deccan - Hyderabad based pen manufacturers. Deccan Masterpiece and Deccan Advocate are the popular models.

Other notable Indian fountain pens worth mentioning are Gama fountain pens, Mohi Pens, Beena, Guider  All in all India has a diverse fountain pen manufacturing catering to needs of all fountain pen lovers.

Review - Camlin Scarlet Red fountain pen ink

Overview 

Presenting the Indian made ink: Camlin Scarlet Red. This ink looks like a cross between red and pink inks.  The ink is water and dye based and is very thin, so it shows some degree of shading with medium and broad nibs. The flow of the ink is good but the colour of the ink varies with different nib widths and so does the flow. This ink works best with a Medium nib or broad nib pen. The multiple passes on the ink give a nice dark reddish pink color.

The drying time of the ink is a bit longer; it takes around 30 seconds to dry completely on a normal 75 gsm copy paper. Ink feathers on both 75 and 100gsm papers, but the bleed through is not prominent on 100gsm paper(almost nill). The ink is non waterproof and withers easily with water. Other costlier inks are definitely better but it would be unfair to compare this ink with any of those. Being cheapest this ink does its work very well.

The price of the ink is Rs 15 or (around 25 cents ) for 60ml bottle.

Likes

• Nice color
• Nice flow
• Very very cheap
• Produces shading(to some extent)
• Good flow

 Dislikes

• Feathering
• Very thin
• No sheen, kind of dull ink
•  Longer drying time(but it all depends on the conditions the ink is being used.)

Conclusion 
All in all I would say that this ink is solely for academic purpose. It can be used for some minor work and not long writings on normal paper, I would say it will bleed through and feather. I would suggest this ink be used with a high gsm paper only and preferably with camlin fountain pens.

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