It was 10:30 pm on November 13th 2004 when we touched down on the runway at the Venice airport. Our trip to the Signum factory was now officially underway. At 10:00 a.m. after breakfast we rented a car and started our hour long drive to Bassano del Grappa, Italy, in the province of Vicenza.



Upon arriving in the center of town, we found our hotel, an exquisite hotel with a magnificent view of Montegrappa directly in front and the Alps all around. You could see the snow covered caps in the distance.



It was a beautiful day, approximately 60-65 F. A note was waiting for us at the front desk telling us to enjoy the day and we would be picked up at 9:00 a.m. the next morning and taken to the factory for our tour.


Since it was early in the day and the weather was so beautiful we decided to drive around and headed for the mountain top. What incredible views from up above, this is truly a magical place with magnificent views. The town itself is old world. We spent a glorious day just taking in the area.

We were heading to the top of the mountains to see the view from the top.


On our way we passed through many small village, this is one of them nestled at the foot of the mountain, with nothing around it. Average population 500 people

It was night when we got back to the hotel, but it was worth the drive up into those mountains.

We were staying at the Belvedre Hotel in the center of Bassano del Grappa. The hotel was truly old world, with modern day ambiance. WiFi ready to accommodate the most technological traveler and as charming as it was at the turn of the century. The restaurant within the hotel was a 5 star and a truly wonderful experience.

We pulled up to quite an impressive one story building which houses the Signum factory. The sign on the door reads Essegi. We were ushered into the building where we were honored to meet the rest of the people responsible for the design, production and workmanship of the Signum Brand.

A little Essegi history is due here. The company was founded in 1979. Sergio de Guildolin who was a long timme employee (over 25 years) at Montegrappa. When Montegrappa was sold Sergio, together with his brothers Antonio and Fausto, who were in the jewelry making business and who also had a company that made pens for other brands, decided to produce their own brand of high quality writing instruments and Essegi was born. During the early years the company produced pens for private label, promotions and did production work for other many other Italian companies, in an effort to stay afloat while promoting the Signum brand.. Once confident that they had a recognizable product, they launched an all out effort to capture the North American market. Today, they are taking their place among the best and most well know companies distributed in North America. Their success lies in the fact that their product is made of the highest quality materials, created entirely in house, and hand assembled in their factory.

After a few minutes in the office we took a tour of the factory . . .below!

From the first designs, prototypes and shapes, Fabio de Guidolin is the master of this machine.

The design is worked out on the computer, the computer drives the movements of the machine cutting and shaping the barrels and caps from rods.



Here Fabio makes sure the settings are correct and makes his final adjustments before starting the machine.


Midway through the cycle Fabio checks the settings inside the machine, as well as the rod being used.


A view inside the machine while it is drilling out the barrel and shaping the outside to its desired shape.

Some of the tools used to make the prototype and some rods being made ready to be shaped into barrels.


In the background Paolo de Guidolin is giving a preliminary polish to a barrel that was just produced by the above machine. To the right is Daniela, who is the daughter of Sergio and works as office manager. The entire factory consists of family members and one or two loyal employees.




Claudio looking on as Antonio explains the etching machine to Paolo Xausa, our interpreter and friend.


Fausto de Guidolin, one of the owners overlooks the soaking stages of the metal pens.

After leaving this area the barrels and cap are placed into a machine that gently sand blasts the pieces to a smooth, fine finish.


Most of the finishing work is done in this room where there are several different and sophisticated machines at work.

Paolo now putting the final polish on the barrel and cap before it is passed over for assembly and cloth polish and then into the packaging and off to the customer.


Here, as we all watch a fountain pen is being assembled. Each of the Signum pens are assembled completely by hand, each personally inspected before being put into boxes ready for shipping.

This attention to detail shows in each and every pen received from Essegi.

We spent two days in the factory, watching, talking and taking in all of the different phases of production.

The de Guidolin family, Sergio, Antonio and Fausto took us on a tour of the city center and the amazing bridge with its fantastic views. I will share those images with you now.

Entering the center of town, where we parked and walked onto the bridge through the street below. A street filled with shops, restaurants and grocery stores. Remember Bassano is famous for its Grappa, a liquor made from the residuals of the grape after being processed for wine.


You can see the bridge at the top of the image.


Sergio, Maryann and Steve Zucker, (Empire Writing Instruments) and Antonio



Sergio de Guidolin - Steve Zucker - Antonio de Guidolin and Paolo Xausa


Incredible views from the Bridge



A view across the bridge to the hustle and bustle of the town


This was taken of the side of the bridge where we parked our car.


Another view across the bridge, with the new bridge in the background. The new bridge is used daily getting into and out of the center of town.



Last, but not least of the wonderful pictorial of our trip to Bassano del Grappa and the Essegi pen factory. We salute the workmanship, integrity and conviction of the owners and their families in the making of the Signum line.