The story begins in 1901....

when the Franklin family began manufacturing ceramics in Marietta, GA. For 91 years fine and basic ceramic products were manufactured domestically and imported from Europe by The Franklin Co. Operations were headquartered at 889 Franklin Road, in Marietta, into the 1990s. Recent decades have evolved the company into producers of fine accessories. The tradition and love of designing, manufacturing and importing quality products has remained through the decades. In the year 2001, five generations later, the brand Franklin-Christoph was presented with the IPO fountain pen. Franklin-Christoph goes into this new millennium with the same values and dedication to quality as the generations before. The passion for designing elegant, functional products is evident within every piece, guaranteed for life.
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The Old English F first appeared on a piece of ceramic china in the 1950s.
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Many Franklin cousins, brothers, and wives contributed greatly to the company over the century plus history, including but not limited to L.W. Franklin, J.G. Franklin, and T.D. Franklin.
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Note: The direct family line goes to Thomas Franklin, who lived and died in Ecton Northamptonshire, England, (1598-1685). He fathered Josiah Franklin who came to America about 1652. Josiah fathered John Franklin I, who moved to North Carolina in the early 1700s, and the line to present is descended from there through, John Franklin II, S.L. Franklin, W.E. Franklin, W.J. Franklin, and finally to J.W. Franklin, where the company history begins. An interesting note is that Josiah Franklin's other son, and brother of John I, was Benjamin Franklin, American Diplomat, Philosopher and Inventor.