Platignum started as the Mentmore Manufacturing Company in 1919, at its first premises in Mentmore Terrace, London. The company’s first product was a self-filling fountain pen with a gold plated nib. In 1925, the first replacement nib unit was developed. Mentmore planned to register the name Platinum, but it could have contravened the laws of product description. So a company was registered in the name of the “Platignum Pen Company”, and products carrying the brand name Platignum were introduced.
![](https://pen.dance/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/photo_2020-07-05-19.20.35.jpeg)
In World War II, the British War Office entrusted the Platignum to make special spy pens containing maps and compasses. A deadlier model was also produced for use by secret agents — it contained a poisoned dart able to kill at a distance of ±8m.
![](https://pen.dance/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/photo_2020-07-05-19.20.28.jpeg)
Platignum continues the production after World War II to 1997. It stopped the production in 1997, but then having a relaunch in 2007.
The pen I display here is a Platignum Studio. It has a metal body (made of aluminium) with medium nib made of stainless steel. The nib is engraved with a sign “London 1919” —
![](https://pen.dance/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/photo_2020-07-05-19.20.31.jpeg)
Weight: 29g
Length (capped): 135mm
Length (uncapped): 121mm
Body Material: Aluminium
Nib Material: Stainless steel
![](https://pen.dance/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/photo_2020-07-05-19.20.22.jpeg)