As we know, Rockman was the second earliest fountain pen manufacturer in China which was confirmed by documents.
However, there are a lot of mistakes in Rockman's history, especially Ning Sihong宁思宏's memoir, who was the former shareholder, trustee, manager and director of Rockman after 1946.9. The four kinds of histories about Rockman were mainly based on his memoirs.
I'd like to rebuild Rockman's history here with what I collected.
Notice: William Kwan Rockman(Wm. K. Rockman) = Guan Leming关勒铭. All the name of people but William Kwan Rockman will be Pinyin. I will add a list about the name and their romanization at last.
People's names are in Simplified Chinese. Books', magazines', newspapers' and companies' names are depended on the periods.
Modern Source means the four kinds of histories which are mainly based on Ning Sihong memoirs.
Modern Source about Chen Sisheng陈巳生 is a brief biography written by his home town.
I also bought some documents such as the pedigree of William Kwan Rockman's clan(2005 edition). I am waiting for them.
1. Founders of Rockman
According to the Prospectus of Wm. K. Rockman Inc. which founded in Shanghai in 1928.4, Guan Chongzhang关崇章, Guan Chongchang关崇昌 and Wm. K. Rockman wanted to found Wm. K. Rockman Inc. in 497 Connaught Road Shanghai, China.
Even though they'd like to collect 200,000$ capital, they wrote down that once 150,000$ capital was collected, the company should be founded.And Guan Chongchang should collect capital in North America, Wm. K. Rockman and Guan Weilin关伟林 should work as engineers.
Wm. K. Rockman Inc. was founded with 150,000$ capital in Shanghai.
And the founders in the company policy of Wm. K. Rockman Fountain Pen Factory Ltd. (1946.5.18 correction) were Wm. K. Rockman、Li Lianming李炼明、Hu Zhuanghe胡庄和、Guan Xunpu关勋谱、Guan Shutang关树堂、Li Tailong李泰隆、Guan Chongchang、Guan Chongzhang、Guan Weilin关伟林. Because that if any founders withdrew the company, he would be no longer appeared in the company policy as founder in some company, the list may not be completed.
It was strange that Guan Chongchang = Guan Weilin in fact.
The Prospectus mentioned that Wm. K. Rockman was the inventor of Fountain Brush (patent US1526093 and US1621432).
Wm. K. Rockman's patents
The 1946.5.18 correction, 1946.9.1 edition and 1947.11.1 correction of the company policy emphasized that Guan Chongzhang and Wm. K. Rockman were the original founders of Wm. K. Rockman Company.
An interview with Wm. K. Rockman in 1933, he said "Our company was founded in 7 years ago". In another report about Wm. K. Rockman Inc. in 1937, Wm. K. Rockman came back to China with 150,000$ collected by his father Guan Weilin in 1927.
We can draw a conclusion:
Wm. K. Rockman invented Fountain Brush in the US, he founded Wm. K. Rockman Inc. with his father Guan Chongchang(aka. Guan Weilin) in New York. Later, they wanted to move to Shanghai. Wm. K. Rockman, Guan Chongchang and Guan Chongzhang wrote down the Prospectus. Wm. K. Rockman Inc. finally founded by at least 9 people.
2. Wm. K. Rockman and his father Guan Chongchang
They were from Kaiping, Guangdong.
According to Guan Chongchang's daughter, Guan Zhong'ai, Guan Chongchang was born in 1872.3.16 and died in 1953.10.28.
The interview in 1933 said Wm. K. Rockman came back to China when he was 30. Wm. K. Rockman should be born in about 1897. However, Xu Wancheng许晚成's A brief history of talents in various industries in Shanghai(上海百業人才小史, lit.)which was published in early 1945, mentioned that Guan Chongchang was 71 year old while Wm. K. Rockman was 51 years old. So, Wm. K. Rockman born in about 1892.
An introduction of Wm. K. Rockman Inc. in 1936 said that Guan Chongchang was owner of a restaurant a woolen store in Chinatown, New York.
According to the report about Wm. K. Rockman Inc. in 1937, Wm. K. Rockman made fountain brush in his 18. Later, he had been in a school as part-time student to study engineering for 4 years. After graduation, because he lacked experiences,
Wm. K. Rockman had worked in a famous fountain pen manufacturer for a period.
Other Source said the school named International Collage and the famous fountain pen manufacturer was Waterman.
Wm. K. Rockman was alive in 1947.10, when he still behaved a shareholder named Senji森记.
3. Wm. K. Rockman Inc. 1928.4-1944
3.1 1928.4-1929 Fountain Brush Only
According to the application for change registration information in 1946.7.9, Wm. K. Rockman Inc. was founded in 1928.4.
1928.5.26, Wm. K. Rockman applied for registering patents in China.
1928.5.30, Wm. K. Rockman applied for registering trademarks.
1928.6, Wm. K. Rockman Inc. wanted to join the Advocate Domestic Products Conference.
1928.7.18, Wm. K. Rockman Inc. got its business license.
1928.8.15, trademarks were published.
1928.8.19, patents were turned to review.
1928.10.22, the first ad of Wm. K. Rockman Inc. was published
1928.10.23, Wm. K. Rockman Inc. was introduced by Sun Pao. There were 4 kinds of fountain brushes, 2 for men and 2 for women. And there were ABCD 4 kinds of brushes differentiated by hardness.
1929.2.4, Wm. K. Rockman got the No.2 license of patent in China.
During this period, Wm. K. Rockman Inc. manufactured Fountain Brush only.
They did not sell well.
Modern source said that the paper and ink were different between China and the US, so the fountain brush did not work well.
3.2 1929-about 1934 Fountain Brush and Fountain Pen
In 1929, Wm. K. Rockman Inc. started to produce fountain pen.
Modern source said that, the nibs were made in British and Japan.
1929.11.18, ad on Sun Pao said Wm. K. Rockman Inc. released a kind of fountain brush and 4 kinds of fountain pen with steel nib recently.
1931.2, Wm. K. Rockman Inc. got tax relief in the domestic market and tax free for export.
1931.4.5, Wm. K. Rockman Inc. re-elected the board of members.
The second board of trustees 1931.4.5-1933.?
Trustee |
Stock |
Worth$ |
Guan Weiln |
1200 |
60000 |
Guan Chongzhang |
40 |
2000 |
Wm. K. Rockman |
587 |
29350 |
Hu Jiawei 胡嘉维 |
60 |
3000 |
Guan Xunpu |
50 |
2500 |
Guan Dexun 关德勋 |
400 |
20000 |
Xie Meizhu 谢美祝 |
10 |
500 |
Supervisor |
Stock |
Worth$ |
Hu Zhuanghe |
20 |
1000 |
In Commercial Dictionary of Shanghai, published by The Commercial Press. LTD. Shanghai in 1931, the managements of Wm. K. Rockman Inc. were:
Guan Chongchang - Manager
Wm. K. Rockman - Production Manager
Lu Shengqian陆升千 - Business Manager
Gan Hanhui甘翰辉(aka. Gan Zhuowen甘焯文) - Accounting Manager
Guan Weilin - Advertising Manager
Gan Zhuowen甘卓文(甘焯文 is correct)- Clerical Manager
So, it was normal for Wm. K. Rockman Inc.'s staffs using different name in different posts.
In CREDIT MEN'S BUSINESS DIRECTORY 1933, Guan Chongchang(aka. Kwan Wm.) was the general manager, Wm. K. Rockman(aka. Kwan Rockman) was engineer, Gan Hanhui was business manager.
The interview in 1933 said fountain brush had been incidental production, while Shidai Ribao時代日報's 2nd anniversary magazine in 1934 said that the fountain brush could not be popularized for a while, the manufacture had been stopped. The 2nd anniversary magazine said Wm. K. Rockman was the general manager,wrong. Wm. K. Rockman Inc.'s announcement published in 1934 still said that Guan Chongchang was the general manager.
3.3 1934-1937 Fountain Pen only, before the total Sino-Japan war's Battle of Shanghai
Since 1935, Wm. K. Rockman and his father Guan Chongchang had been confusing in some introductions.
1936.10.31, Wm. K. Rockman Inc. applied for 4th Grade Domestic Good Certificate.
1936.11.13, Wm. K. Rockman Inc. got 4th Grade Domestic Good Certificate.
1936.4.8 Chinese Domestic Good Production and Marketing Association Weekly Report(中華國貨產銷協會每周匯報) Vol.2, No.14 said that Wm. K. Rockman Inc. was the first factory which could produce components by itself (in fountain pen makers). The colourful barrel materials were imported from the US and Germany.
1936.4, Social Economy Mouthly社會經濟月報 mentioned that Wm. K. Rockman Inc. had successfully developed Parker Vacumatic-style vacumatic fountain pen and it would be released soon.
1936.7.15, Chinese Domestic Good Production and Marketing Association Weekly Report Vol.2, No.28 had introduced the recently listed Rockman Vacumatic Fountain Pen.
I did not find any Rockman Pen but Rockman's Vacumatic using Arrow Clip which can be identified that it was made before 1951.
1937.8.13, Battle of Shanghai broke out. Wm. K. Rockman Inc. stopped production temporarily.
3.4 1938-1944 Full of resumption of production-Reorganization of management
1938.10.10 Announce raising price.
1939.6.15 Announce raising price again.
1941.12.7 Pacific War broke out. Japanese occupied concessions.
Modern Source said Rockman had to use domestic nibs and tubes because of the War, and the barrels were made of Japanese materials.
The Factory and Business Dictionary of Shanghai上海工商名錄 published by Sun Pao in 1945 introduced the board of trustees and managements before re-organization in 1944.
Chairman: Hu Zhuanghe
Managing Trustee: Guan Weilin, Guan Chongzhang, Zhang Yibin张怡炳
Trustee: Guan Xunjin关勋锦、Gan Zuobin甘作斌(maybe Gan Hanhui)、Guan Xunyao关勋尧
Supervisor: Guan Xunpu, Hu Jiawei
General Manager: Guan Weilin
Vice Manager: Gan Hanhui
Director: Guan Dexun
In 1944.5.25, Sin Sin Industry announced that it was trusted by Rockman to deal with share affairs.
In 1944.6.22 Rockman announced that it had finished IPO. The full name of Rockman became Wm. K. Rockman Fountain Factory Ltd.關勒銘鋼筆文具厰股份有限公司
Modern Source about Chen Sisheng said Wm. K. Rockman was to sick to manage company then, Guan Weilin met Chen Sisheng through his nephew Guan Kegui关可贵 and ask Chen for help.
According to achieves, Liang Guan梁冠榴, Guo Yudong郭雨东, Xie Shoutian谢寿天, Mei Dajun梅达君, Liu Jingqing刘镜清(aka. Liu Xiao刘晓), Chen Sisheng, Ou Weiguo欧伟国, Lu Xiuyuan陆修渊, Yao Yan姚炎, Chen Miaosheng陈淼生(aka. Chen Duanyi陈端颐), Guan Kegui Joined in 1944.
Trustee |
Liang Guanliu |
Guo Yudong |
Xie Shoutian |
Wm. K. Rockman |
Mei Dajun |
Liu Jingqing |
Chen Sisheng |
Ou Weiguo |
Guan Chongzhang |
Guan Shutang |
Lu Xiuyuan |
Gan Zuobin |
Yao Yan |
Hu Jiawei |
Hu Zhuanghe |
Supervisor |
Guan Chongchang |
Chen Miaosheng |
Guan Kegui |
Trustee |
Liang Guanliu |
Chen Sisheng |
Wen Tiansheng 闻天声 |
Mei Dajun |
Yao Yan |
Ning Sili |
Gan Hanhui |
Xie Shoutian |
Ou Weiguo |
Guo Yudong |
Ning Sihong |
Lu Xiuyuan |
Guan Kegui |
Mao Xiaocen毛啸岑 |
Liu Jingqing |
Alternate Trustee |
Yu Langxi俞朗西 |
Wang Jiadong王家栋 |
Supervisor |
Guan Chongchang |
Chen Miaosheng |
Qiao Qilin钱齐灵 |
Alternate Supervisor |
Guan Xunyao |
Chairman |
Liang Guanliu Trustee |
Yao Yan |
Xie Shoutian |
Lu Baozhong陆宝忠 |
Ning Sili |
Gan Hanhui |
Ou Weiguo |
Guo Yudong |
Mei Dajun |
Xue Zhiying薛志英 |
Lu Xiuyuan |
Mao Xiaocen |
Ning Sihong |
Wen Tiansheng |
Liu Jingqing |
Yu Langxi |
Alternate Trustee |
Fu Jukang符巨康 (aka. Fu Bingyang符炳阳) |
Zhu Ruixuan朱瑞轩 |
Jiang Shilin蒋士林 |
Supervisor |
Guan Chongchang |
Chen Miaosheng |
Qiao Qilin |
Alternate Supervisor |
Guan Kegui |
SC | TC | ALSO | PINYIN | Romanization | English | Notice |
关勒铭 | 關勒銘 | 関勒銘 as brand | Guan Leming | Kwan Rockman / Kuan Le-ming | Wm. K. Rockman | Co-founder of Rockman and the inventor. |
关崇昌 | 關崇昌 | Guan Chongchang | It seems to be the generation name of Guan Weilin. Father of Wm. K. Rockman. Co-founder of Rockman | |||
关崇章 | 關崇章 | Guan Chongzhang | ||||
李炼明 | 李煉明 | Li Lianming | ||||
胡庄和 | 胡莊和 | Hu Zhuanghe | One of Guan Chongchang's son-in-law | |||
关勋谱 | 關勳譜 | 關勋譜, handwritting, 門→门 | Guan Xunpu | |||
关树堂 | 關樹堂 | 関樹堂, handwritting, 門→门 | Guan Shutang | |||
李泰隆 | 李泰隆 | Li Tailong | ||||
关伟林 | 關偉林 | 関偉林 | Guan Weilin | Kwan William | Guan Chongchang | |
胡嘉维 | 胡嘉維 | Hu Jiawei | ||||
关德勋 | 關德勳 | 關德勛 | Guan Dexun | |||
谢美祝 | 謝美祝 | Xie Meizhu | ||||
陆升千 | 陸升千 | Lu Shengqian | ||||
甘翰辉 | 甘翰輝 | Gan Hanhui | Kan Hanwe | The courtesy name of Gan Zhuowen. He had worked in Rockman since 1928. | ||
甘焯文 | 甘焯文 | Gan Zhuowen | The birth name of Gan Hanhui. | |||
张怡炳 | 張怡炳 | Zhang Yibing | ||||
关勋锦 | 關勳錦 | 關勛錦, 関勳錦 | Guan Xunjin | |||
关勋尧 | 關勳堯 | |||||
甘作斌 | 甘作斌 | Gan Zuobin | May be the third name of Gan Hanhui | |||
陈巳生 | 陳巳生 | Chen Sisheng | ||||
关可贵 | 關可貴 | 関可貴 | Guan Kegui | Nephew of Guan Chongchang. | ||
梁冠榴 | 梁冠榴 | Liang Guanliu | Liang Kwan-Lau / Liang Kuan-Liu | |||
郭雨东 | 郭雨東 | Guo Yudong | 郭景芳 Guo Jingfang's courtesy name | |||
谢寿天 | 謝壽天 | Xie Shoutian | Hsieh Shou-tien | Real name is 谢本守 Xie Benshou, art name is 叔申 Shushen | ||
梅达君 | 梅達君 | Mei Dajun | Mei Ta-chün | aka. 梅光庾 Mei Guangyu | ||
刘镜清 | 劉鏡清 | Liu Jingqing | Liu Hsiao | 刘晓 Liu Xiao‘s fake name. Liu Hsiao is a romanization of 刘晓 | ||
欧伟国 | 歐偉國 | Ou Weiguo | Au Wai Kwok David | David Au | ||
陆修渊 | 陸修淵 | Lu Xiuyuan | ||||
姚炎 | 姚炎 | Yao Yan | ||||
陈淼生 | 陳淼生 | Chen Miaosheng | Chen. T. Y (Chen Tuan Yih) | Another name is 陈端颐Chen Duanyi, The romanization belongs to the name 陳端頤. Elder brother of Chen Sisheng. | ||
宁思宏 | 寧思宏 | 甯思宏 | Ning Sihong | |||
虞舜 | 虞舜 | Yu Shun | ||||
关叔东 | 關叔東 | 関叔东, handwritting, 門→门 | Guan Shudong | |||
宁斯理 | 寧斯理 | 甯斯理 | Ning Sili | |||
闻天声 | 聞天聲 | Wen Tiansheng | ||||
毛啸岑 | 毛嘯岑 | Mao Xiaocen | 毛兆荣Mao Zhaorong’s courtesy name | |||
俞朗西 | 俞朗西 | Yu Langxi | ||||
王家栋 | 王家棟 | Wang Jiadong | ||||
钱齐灵 | 錢齊靈 | Qian Qiling | ||||
陆宝忠 | 陸寶忠 | Lu Baozhong | Lu Pau-Chung |
His name is same as a former President of Censorate in Qing Dynasty |
||
薛志英 | 薛志英 | Xue Zhiying | ||||
符巨康 | 符巨康 | Fu Jukang | ||||
朱瑞轩 | 朱瑞軒 | Zhu Ruixuan | ||||
蒋士林 | 蔣士林 | Jiang Shilin | ||||
郑经顺 | 鄭經順 | Zheng Jingshun |
I like your very inforamtive articles about Chinese pens, well written. Do you have any more information about the production of 友联 pens?
回复删除Sorry for that I did not see the comment. 友联 Youlian belonged to Harbin, it was a joint enterprise founded by Rockman and Harbin’s local state-own company(local industry bureau). Ning Sihong advised to found a fountain pen factory in Harbin. 1950.5, the foundation of the joint factory in Harbin was permitted, and the factory began to produce fountain pen in 1950.10. The name of 友联 means 友谊的联合(the combination of friendship) to show the friendship. Its brands including 哈尔滨Harbin, 友联Youlian, 天坛Tiantan/Temple of Heaven(HT),敦煌Dunhuang and so on. It was prefer to manufacture aludur barrel fountain pen in 1970s.
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