Faber-Castell

Now in the 8th Generation of Fabers

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Established in 1761, Kaspar Faber, a cabinet maker. The company started with production of high-quality wooden pencils and pencil cases. It is now part of an international group headed by Count Anton Wolfgang Graf von Faber-Castell -- the 8th generation of Fabers.

His son, Lothar, took over the company and is credited with bringing the company forward. He produced the first hexagonal pencil and created them with the brand: A.W. Faber - one of the first branded writing instruments. Lothar traveled the world and set up a sales company in New York in 1849. He next opened a store in London and Paris. Lothar von Faber was the 4th generation of the Faber family.  He took over the company in 1930 and established industry standards for pencil length, diameter and lead hardness - standards that are still used today.  

During the period 1849–1855 global expansion took place with the company opening functions in  New York (1849), London (1851), and Paris (1855). 

Lothar's granddaughter married Count Alexander za Castel-Rudenhausen. Lothar stipulated that company must contain the name Faber so the present day company is called Faber-Castell.

in 1900 the company issued the Castell 9000, the iconic green-coated pencil which was very successful and remains a flagship product.

Faber-Castell started production of fountain pens in 1935 with the acquisition of Osmia, a former Parker holding company. Omsia had already produced some very well established pens. In 1949 Faber-Castell was the first German manufacturer to include ball point pens in its product lines.

In 1994 the Newell Corporation (Newell Brands) acquired Faber-Castell Corporation, which was the company's US subsidiary. The German parent company (A.W. Faber-Castell re-acquired worldwide rights ti the Faber-Castell trademark.  It is a complicated company struture.  I understand the global company, Faber-Castell AG is owned by the FRaber-Castell family.