Lamy is the leading producer of fountain pens in Europe. The company is German-owned and its presence is particularly strong there. Josef Lamy, who was a sales representative for The Parker Pen Company in Germany, founded the business in 1930 by purchasing the Orthos pen manufacturer. Lamy was a pioneer in the use of moulded synthetic plastics to make their product. Lamy is currently run by Josef Lamy's son, Manfred Lamy. Lamy's are known for their great quality at an amazingly affordable price.