English pen nib manufacturers in the late 19thC were very keen to develop nibs that did not rust or corrode. Ink is a very corrosive material, and having a top quality pen was most important.
Companies such as Joseph Gillots of Birmingham were very proud to have the Royal Warrant, pen makers to Queen Victoria and later King George V. They even won the Grand Prix at the Paris International Exhibition, 1900, and Gold medals at both the 1878 and 1889 International Exhibitions.
Others such as Macniven and Cameron of Edinburgh, Scotland [a company established in 1770] marketed the Owl and Waverley pens and boasted that their pens were recommended by 807 Newspapers. They were Pen Makers to Her Majesty's Government Offices.
Another popular British pen manufacturer was Perry & Co of Birmingham. They made a wide variety of pen nibs, desk accessories, and patented Inkwells.
