Pilot Pen history

In 1925 Namiki Manufacturing introduced lacquer pen bodies.

In 1926 it established overseas offices in Malaysia, Singapore, Boston, London and Shanghai.

In 1927 legendary English retailer Alfred H. Dunhill, best known for his tobacco pipes, smoking supplies and luxury goods, began to carry Namiki pens at the Paris store he had opened three years earlier.

In 1930, a contract was signed with Alfred Dunhill, Ltd., which gave rise to the Dunhill-Namiki fountain pen.

Born Ronald Schurowitz in 1938, Shaw grew up in Miami, Florida, the son of a uniform company driver and salesman.

In 1926 it established overseas offices in Malaysia, Singapore, Boston, London and Shanghai. It was again renamed in 1950 as the Pilot Ink Company, Ltd.

In 1954 a branch was opened in Brazil.

After the war Pilot Pen rebuilt its business, resumed producing decorative lacquer pens, and in 1961 added a mass-market line with the production of ballpoint pens.

Luxor was founded in 1963 in India.

Pilot Pen launches Capless, world’s first retractable fountain pen (In 1964, wins Most Recommended Product Award at International Gift Fair held in Paris)

After working at Pilot stores throughout high school and college since 1969, Jimmy Haslam joins Pilot Corporation, and then in December marries Dee Bagwell Haslam who later becomes a partner in the business.

Established in the United States in 1972, Pilot is the fastest-growing writing instrument company in the country.

After working at Pilot stores throughout high school and college since 1973, Bill Haslam joins Pilot Corporation and its board of directors following his graduation from Emory University.

Then, in 1975, the parent company hired the national sales manager of rival Bic Pen Co., Ronald Shaw, to become the United States national sales manager.

In 1982 Shaw was asked to sponsor a Challenger Series tennis tournament to be held in New Haven, Connecticut.

The following year, 1986, nibs and body colours were added, giving users a wider variety of choices.

After partnering with Louis Dreyfus in 1992 and expanding rapidly in the travel center business, Pilot acquires Dreyfus ownership.

It was also distributing the Namiki line of limited editions pens, introduced to the United States market in 1994, four years after their debut in Japan.

Pilot Pen added manufacturing capabilities in June 1995 when it opened a $5 million, 90,000-square-foot plant in Jacksonville, Florida, which also included packaging and distribution operations.

CEO Jimmy Haslam has embraced technology and moved Pilot Flying J in new directions, leading the company's growth from 1.1 billion fuel gallons sold in 1996 to more than 7 billion sold annually today.

Pilot’s commitment to sustainability and upcycling dates back to 1997, when the Pilot Corporation began selling environmentally friendly pens made using recycled materials.

There were eight types of nib at the time of its launch, to which three more were added six years later in 1998, plus three more for the current 11 types.

Mitch Steenrod, who joined the company in 2001, is promoted to Senior VicePresident, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Risk Officer.

Will Haslam, who started working with the company in 2003, is named Director of Giving Back.

In 2004, the current 14 types (CUSTOM743) and 15 types (CUSTOM742) became the largest lineups in CUSTOM Series.

Whitney Haslam Johnson, who joined the company in 2005, is named Chief Experience Officer.

He was slated to succeed Shaw as president and CEO in May 2007.

Completing its investment started in fall 2010, BDT Capital Partners buys into Pilot Flying J as an investment partner.

Establishes Pilot Pen Sverige AB in Sweden (name changed to Pilot Nordic AB in 2011)

Opened in 2015, the museum displays over 100 hand-crafted lacquered items and Maki-e fountain pens made throughout Pilot’s century-long history, as well as historical documents and posters.