Cleo Skribent

by Jim Mamoulides, December 28, 2005 

That Other German Pen Company

Ask most people to name a German company that makes fine pens and the most common answer will be a company that puts a white snowcap on the top of their pens. There will also be a good number who will name a company that uses a large gawky sea bird as its logo. How many would name a company from Germany's Prignitz region in the northwestern part of Brandenburg?

Cleo Schreibgeräte, (Cleo Writing Instruments in English), is located in the small town of Bad Wilsnack, in the northwestern corner of Brandenburg, the German state that surrounds Berlin. The company employs 80 people in the small town of 3,000 people near the Elbe River in the former German Democratic Republic.

Cleo Schreibgeräte Factory in Bad Wilsnack

Herbert Wurach founded Herbert Wurach Precision Engineering in 1945 as a manufacturer and supplier of metal parts used to manufacture writing instruments and its own ballpoint pen. The company enjoyed success in difficult times and grew to 24 employees by 1956, when it was taken over by the town council of Bad Wilsnack and renamed the People's Own Cleo Bad Wilsnack, Writing Instruments - Toolmakers. The company quickly grew in productivity and capacity, incorporating new automated die-casting technology and increasing staff to 46 workers. By 1965, the company was primarily focused on manufacturing writing instruments, including both ballpoint and fountain pens priced at 5 Marks and up.

Product development began in 1964 for what would become the company's most successful product. The new pen, introduced in 1965, was called the Skribent, an "Inkpen with a tubular nib in 8 different widths," which was marketed to technical draftsmen and designers. The nibs ranged from 0.2mm to 1.2mm in width. The Skribent stylographic pen line was a syringe filler, offered in different versions, including a three piece pen set in a leather pouch and in a boxed set with eight different nibs, which allowed the user to quickly select a pen with the right nib width for the drawing task at hand.

The Skribent was so successful that it made Cleo the leading manufacturer of pens in the socialist world. Cleo continued production of the Skribent through the reunification of Germany. Production finally ended in 1990, at the same time factory managers Wolfgang Weiss and Peter Winter took the company private.

By 1999, Cleo had modernized production equipment and increased factory space and began introducing new models. The company engaged designer Gabriele Schönfelder to design a new line of modern pens, including a new fountain pen. In 2000, Cleo introduced the moderately priced chiffre 2000 line, a sleek brass based fountain pen, rollerball pen, ballpoint pen, and pencil line that features a palladium plate matte or gloss finish with a carbon-titanium grip section.

Enter Skribent

An early Cleo Skribent Logo

Product development began in 1964 for what would become the company's most successful product. The new pen, introduced in 1965, was called the Skribent, an "Inkpen with a tubular nib in 8 different widths," which was marketed to technical draftsmen and designers. The nibs ranged from 0.2mm to 1.2mm in width. The Skribent stylographic pen line was offered in different versions, including a three piece pen set in a leather pouch and in a boxed set with eight different nibs, which allowed the user to quickly select a pen with the right nib width for the drawing task at hand.

Cleo Skribent eight point set c1972

The Skribent was a syringe type filler, a very simple and easy to understand mechanism. With the barrel off, exposing the filler, the nib would be inserted into the inkbottle with the plunger pushed all the way in and filled by pulling out the plunger. Plungers were color coded to nib width and the eight-pen box was color coded with a key so the pens could be quickly selected for use. The box made a neat portable case for the pen set that the user could put away or carry to the job.

The Skribent was so successful that it made Cleo the leading manufacturer of pens in the socialist world, with Skribent pens being used by designers in "Hungary for its Ikarus buses, in Czechoslovakia for high quality automatic tool machines, in Romania for factories," and even being exported as far away as Cuba. The pen helped drive growth in staff to 53 by 1972, producing 50,000 of the eight piece sets. Of those, 20,000 sets were for export. Demand for the Skribent far exceeded supply.

Cleo continued production of the Skribent through the reunification of Germany, still having 45 employees. Production finally ended in 1990, at the same time factory managers Wolfgang Weiss and Peter Winter took the company private.

Cleo Skribent eight pen set c1989

By 1999, Cleo had modernized production equipment and increased factory space and began introducing new models. The company engaged designer Gabriele Schönfelder to design a new line of modern pens, including a new fountain pen. In 2000, Cleo introduced the moderately priced chiffre 2000 line, a sleek brass based fountain pen, rollerball pen, ballpoint pen, and pencil line that features a palladium plate matte or gloss finish with a carbon-titanium grip section.

A New Skribent For A New Era

Cleo's continuing relationship with designer Gabriele Schönfelder led to a rebirth of the company's flagship pen, a new Skribent for the new customers Cleo was seeking. Instead of the technical pen for the drafting community Cleo served in the GDR, the new Skribent would need to be a world-class writing instrument line with the features expected by customers seeking fine writing instruments. A lofty goal for a new era.

Cleo Skribent Primus

The new Skribent was introduced in 2003 with the Primus, meaning in Latin, first model. The new Skribent line is intended to take its place next to the best pens in the world. The design contains all the right ingredients, beginning with a two-tone platinum plated 18 karat gold nib. The selection of a traditional open nib allows Cleo to show off the level of nib work that the company contracts to other pen makers. Cleo has selected Bock as their nib supplier, one of the top nib makers in the world. Although Cleo does not manufacture the nibs, the company does high detailed specialty nib finishing work that appears on top of the line pens from other brands. The nib design for the new Skribent incorporates a two color feather motif that centers on the new Cleo logo that was introduced in 1998, also rendered in gold and platinum. It's unique without being elaborate, and fits with the other details in the design.

Cleo Schreibgeräte employee inspecting custom nib work

The Skribent is loaded with detail. The details, including decorative cap and barrel bands, cap jewels, and a clip that identifies the brand. The unique clip is something of an art piece unto itself, resembling a cantilevered bridge, or perhaps the neck of a violin. The clip carries the eye to the top of the pen, which is capped with a square jewel, cut to echo the shape of the Cleo logo. The cap itself is assembled from four sections that taper from the square cap top to the round lip, with one narrow and one wide cap band. The wide band is engraved "CLEO SKRIBENT" twice around. Each of the four writing instruments uses identical caps.

Cleo Skribent Secundus rollerball pen, ballpoint pen, and pencil

The cap jewel and narrow band are echoed in the barrel. The cap and barrel are a pure black highly polished synthetic resin. The barrel tapers gracefully narrower and narrower to the end and is tipped with a gold plated brass end cap. The overall shape of the barrel without the cap on is very similar to a long taper desk pen, a contrast to the chunky cap with its square top. The Primus has a gold plated brass base metal section that with the gold nib gives the pen a look as if it was dipped to the hilt in gold. The barrel opens revealing that the cap threads make up the top gold trim on the barrel and make the section to barrel fit a secure metal on metal one. The converter is a secure screw in piston type.

Capped, the Primus is 5 3/4 inches long from cap jewel to barrel tip. The cap posts very deeply on the barrel, making the pen also 5 3/4 inches long. The ballpoint pen and pencil were designed to compliment the look of the fountain pen with the cap posted on the barrel. In that position, the section of the fountain pen lines up perfectly with the grip section of the ballpoint pen and pencil, giving the line a harmonious uniform design.

Cleo Skribent Secundus nib detail

Cleo continued the Skribent line by adding the Secundus in 2004, essentially the same as the Primus, but with black synthetic resin sections in place of the gold plated brass ones. In 2005, Cleo introduced the Bordeaux Red Tertius, a wine red version of the Secundus, and the Platinum, a variation of the Secundus with Platinum trim and a reverse color two-tone platinum plated nib.

Primus

Cleo Skribent Primus

The Cleo Skribent Primus was introduced in 2003, and is aptly named, being the first of the new generation of Skribent pens. The Primus is the only one of the four Skribent models with a brass metal based section. This makes the Primus slightly heavier (just over 1 1/2 ounce) than the other Skribent pens (just over 1 1/4 ounce) and places the weight forward toward the point. The cap and barrel are a polished deep black synthetic resin. All trim is gold plated. The matching rollerball pen, ballpoint pen, and pencil all complement the fountain pen by also having full gold plated brass metal based sections.

Identification guide and features:

• Black synthetic resin cap and barrel with gold plated trim
• Two gold plated cap bands, one 1/16 and one 5/16 inch wide stamped "CLEO SKRIBENT" twice around
• Barrel has one 1/32 inch gold plated band and gold plated end cap
• Faceted clear plastic square cap jewel
• Gold plated cap-top mounted clip
• Gold plated brass base metal section
• Two-tone platinum plated solid 18 karat gold nib hallmarked with "CLEO" over "SKRIBENT" over "18K" and single letter nib grade marking
• Nib grades include fine (Model 25000), medium (Model 25001), and broad (Model 25002)
• About 5 3/4 inches long capped and 5 3/4 inches posted
• Uses standard international type cartridges or fills from bottled ink with provided threaded screw-in piston converter
• Lifetime guarantee against factory defects
• Retail price (2005) for the fountain pen is approximately US $300.00, matching capped rollerball pen (Model 25003) is approximately US $265.00, matching twist action ballpoint pen (Model 25004) is approximately US $200.00, and matching twist action propelling 0.7mm pencil (Model 25005) is approximately US $200.00
• Packaged in Bordeaux red octagon shaped paperboard gift box

Secundus

Cleo Skribent Secondus

Following up on the Primus, Cleo introduced a variation of the pen with a more traditional black synthetic resin section. The Cleo Skribent Secundus, introduced in 2004, is otherwise completely identical to the Primus, giving the buyer the option of a more conservative looking pen. The Secundus is a mid weight pen at just over 1 1/4 ounce. The cap and barrel are a polished deep black synthetic resin. All trim is gold plated. The matching rollerball pen, ballpoint pen, and pencil all complement the fountain pen by also having synthetic resin sections, flanked with gold plate trim pieces.

Identification guide and features:

• Black synthetic resin cap and barrel with gold plated trim
• Two gold plated cap bands, one 1/16 and one 5/16 inch wide stamped "CLEO SKRIBENT" twice around
• Barrel has one 1/32 inch gold plated band and gold plated end cap
• Faceted clear plastic square cap jewel
• Gold plated cap-top mounted clip
• Synthetic resin section with gold plated trim ring at nib and barrel ends
• Two-tone platinum plated solid 18 karat gold nib hallmarked with "CLEO" over "SKRIBENT" over "18K" and single letter nib grade marking
• Nib grades include fine (Model 25010), medium (Model 25011), and broad (Model 25012)
• About 5 3/4 inches long capped and 5 3/4 inches posted
• Uses standard international type cartridges or fills from bottled ink with provided threaded screw-in piston converter
• Lifetime guarantee against factory defects
• Retail price (2005) for the fountain pen is approximately US $300.00, matching capped rollerball pen (Model 25013) is approximately US $265.00, matching twist action ballpoint pen (Model 25014) is approximately US $200.00, and matching twist action propelling 0.7mm pencil (Model 25015) is approximately US $200.00
• Packaged in Bordeaux red octagon shaped paperboard gift box

Tertius

Cleo Skribent Tertius

With the success of the Primus and Secundus, Cleo added color to the Skribent line in 2005 with the Bordeaux Red Cleo Skribent Tertius. The Tertius, the third Skribent model, is essentially a wine synthetic resin version of the Secundus, with the same weight and trim. Likewise, the matching Tertius rollerball pen, ballpoint pen, and pencil all complement the fountain pen by also having synthetic resin Bordeaux Red cap, barrel and sections, flanked with gold plate trim pieces.

Identification guide and features:

• Bordeaux Red synthetic resin cap and barrel with gold plated trim
• Two gold plated cap bands, one 1/16 and one 5/16 inch wide stamped "CLEO SKRIBENT" twice around
• Barrel has one 1/32 inch gold plated band and gold plated end cap
• Faceted clear plastic square cap jewel
• Gold plated cap-top mounted clip
• Synthetic resin section with gold plated trim ring at nib and barrel ends
• Two-tone platinum plated solid 18 karat gold nib hallmarked with "CLEO" over "SKRIBENT" over "18K" and single letter nib grade marking
• Nib grades include fine (Model 25020), medium (Model 25021), and broad (Model 25022)
• About 5 3/4 inches long capped and 5 3/4 inches posted
• Uses standard international type cartridges or fills from bottled ink with provided threaded screw-in piston converter
• Lifetime guarantee against factory defects
• Retail price (2005) for the fountain pen is approximately US $300.00, matching capped rollerball pen (Model 25023) is approximately US $265.00, matching twist action ballpoint pen (Model 25024) is approximately US $200.00, and matching twist action propelling 0.7mm pencil (Model 25025) is approximately US $200.00
• Packaged in Bordeaux red octagon shaped paperboard gift box

Platinum

Cleo Skribent Platinum

Completing the four models of the Cleo Skribent line is the Platinum, a full platinum plated trim version of the Secundus. This model complements the current fashion trend calling for black and silver pens. Cleo further emphasizes the platinum theme by reversing the platinum mask on the nib, so that the majority of the nib is platinum colored with the ribbon decoration and the "C" of the Cleo logo standing out in gold. The matching Platinum rollerball pen, ballpoint pen, and pencil all complement the fountain pen by also having black synthetic resin cap, barrel and sections, and wearing platinum plated trim pieces.

Identification guide and features:

• Black synthetic resin cap and barrel with platinum plated trim
• Two platinum plated cap bands, one 1/16 and one 5/16 inch wide stamped "CLEO SKRIBENT" twice around
• Barrel has one 1/32 inch platinum plated band and platinum plated end cap
• Faceted clear plastic square cap jewel
• Platinum plated cap-top mounted clip
• Synthetic resin section with platinum plated trim ring at nib and barrel ends
• Two-tone platinum plated solid 18 karat gold nib hallmarked with "CLEO" over "SKRIBENT" over "18K" and single letter nib grade marking
• Nib grades include fine (Model 25030), medium (Model 25031), and broad (Model 25032)
• About 5 3/4 inches long capped and 5 3/4 inches posted
• Uses standard international type cartridges or fills from bottled ink with provided threaded screw-in piston converter
• Lifetime guarantee against factory defects
• Retail price (2005) for the fountain pen is approximately US $300.00, matching capped rollerball pen (Model 25033) is approximately US $265.00, matching twist action ballpoint pen (Model 25034) is approximately US $200.00, and matching twist action propelling 0.7mm pencil (Model 25035) is approximately US $200.00
• Packaged in Bordeaux red octagon shaped paperboard gift box

Performance

Michael Fitterer of Cleo Schreibgeräte was very generous in sending a complete set of the four Skribent models, including each of the four writing modes, for review. The pens are not widely available in the USA and it is really too bad, as they are very nice indeed and there is nothing like them on the market.

The box from Cleo arrived with a full compliment of material needed for a thorough review: two pen trays full of pens, a sample of the octagon shaped gift box, a complete set of literature, including company history and pen specifications, and a CD with photos. Michael also patiently answered numerous questions both by email and on the phone.

Knowing nothing about Cleo pens, I read through all the information sent, along with the answers to my questions and did some Internet research on the company, the region in Germany, and the designer. Cleo is a company that has grown in sixty years from a parts and specialty manufacturer, to a specialty writing instrument company that catered to the socialist world's need for quality drafting instruments, to a post unification manufacturer of fine writing instruments for the moderate and high end market. Quite a lot of change over the years.

The Cleo Skribent pens have that distinctively German precision, purpose made feel to them, wrapped in a more ornate package than other offerings from Germany in this price range.

Cleo Skribent Primus nib detail

The black synthetic resin cap and barrel have the same look and feel of other German quality pens, with the added eye candy of the ornate clip, cap jewel and cap and barrel bands. The pen has a lot of flash. The synthetic resin is polished up to a glossy level that compliments the trim, setting it in a shiny solid color background setting. We looked the pens over carefully with a loupe. Everything is snug, tight, and in the lines. The fit and finish overall is excellent.

The Cleo Skribent pens are mid-size and mid-weight pens, with plastic synthetic resin caps and barrels. Each fountain pen is 5 3/4 inches long capped and 5 3/4 inches with the cap posted on the end of the barrel. The cap sits on the barrel with friction, and the glossy finish does make posting a thoughtful process to make sure it's secure. The cap is chunkier than the barrel, which has the long taper look of a desk pen. The Primus is slightly, but noticeably heavier than the other models because of the brass based section, and the section pulls the weight of the pen toward the nib, a nice feeling. The other Skribent pens feel as balanced as the Primus, but you don't feel the tug of gravity with them. Long-term writing with these pens is very comfortable, and though I liked the extra weight of the brass section, I liked the feel of the synthetic resin sections better. Each felt equally good writing with or without the cap posted, but I preferred writing unposted, as the extra long barrel (about 1/2 longer than similar size pens) gave the Skribent a desk pen feel.

The unique clip flexes easily for thicker fabrics and holds securely. In the pocket, the jeweled cap and elaborate clip design stand out. This is actual pocket jewelry. Cleo is considering making the cap jewel an actual clear stone, which would further that feeling. I think that would be a step in the right direction, as a plastic faux jewel cheapens the pen in much the same way plastic faux wood trim cheapens the interior of a fine car. There's nothing like the real thing. The pen rides a little high in the pocket. It's a "look at me" design.

Cleo Skribent nibs, left to right - Tertius, Platinum, Primus

Cleo picked a good vendor for their nibs. The Skribent medium writes evenly, moderately wet, and skip free. We were only supplied medium nib pens, but they all behaved the same. The nibs are on the firm side and are smooth without being overly glassy. The feel is between the Sheaffer and Aurora pencil feel and the Pelikan and Cross butter feel. The medium line is narrower than Pelikan, Cross and Parker mediums, but wider than Sheaffer. This would make a good note taker. I wish Cleo offered more nib sizes. I've complained about this with other brands. Three nib sizes will cover most users, but there are potential customers looking for an extra fine, an oblique, or a stub.

Filling the Skribent fountain pen reveals a lot of quality points. The barrel unscrews from the section on metal threads. The fit is clean and secure. The screw in converter is very smooth operating and the screw in feature means it stays in place when operated and will be less prone to leaking.

The other instruments in the line compliment the fountain pen, both in fit and finish, and in operation. The rollerball pen has the same cap and barrel as the fountain pen and uses the huge Schmidt capless refills. The Schmidt refill is a very smooth even writing unit that works well at a wide range of writing angles with no drag at the edges. The ballpoint pen has a distinct snap open / snap close twist mechanism that gives a positive stop and secure feeling operating. It uses Parker style refills. The twist action pencil is a Schmidt twist advance cartridge type, where the entire lead cassette is replaced when empty. Very neat.

Each instrument in the Cleo Skribent line is a good combination of a traditional high quality German manufacture, with excellent fit and finish and perfect operation. Cleo took a daring step away from a purely traditional or look-alike design and created a unique line with distinct decorative touches. The writer was well thought of by the use of a longer tapered barrel, excellent balance, and excellent nib. Cleo should strongly consider upgrading the cap jewel to a real or synthetic stone that would really compliment the clip and enhance the overall appearance of the pen.

Cleo Skribent Primus with Pelikan 800

Cleo also dared to price the pen competitively with other high-end brands. For comparison, the Skribent is priced and sized between a Pelikan 800 and 600 at retail. It's about 1/2 inch longer than the 800 but more slender, like the 600. It has an 18 karat nib like the 800, but the nib is smaller, like the 600.

I think Cleo has put a solid competitor on the market. The design is distinctive and different from most of the mainstream pens on the market today, many of which are based on designs nearly as old as Cleo is as a company. The Skribent steps out of the comfort zone of a traditional looking pen, yet offers many of the same features. It has a longer, slender barrel, giving it a different writing experience than the supersized pens crowding the high end. The price is in the high range, but with room to compete. All they need now is exposure at the retail counter.

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Acknowledgement

Many thanks to Michael Fitterer of Cleo Skribent for supplying the pens and company materials used in this article. Factory and historic photos supplied by Cleo Skribent.

Comments on this article may be sent to the author, Jim Mamoulides
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