Indian pen manufacture (was: Pelikan M1000 - How many drops...)

In ups.com,
wrote:

...The tip is often referred to as
Iridium. But it is an alloy of several metals. Nowadays, they even
call it Rhodium. Each manufacturer will have his own formula. The tip
is welded on.
...In the
stainless steel nibs the steel itself seems to be quite hard; so they
can fold the steel and jamm it like a rivet. Then they grind it to a
round or oval point...

The stainless steel nibs are inexpensive. They are even made of scrap
steel strips after re-rolling them to desired thickness. However,
consumers apparently love the golden look! So the nibs go through
enormous polishing routines and "flash gold plating" that is a few
decimal microns!!!..

To provide some relative idea of costs, the stainsteel nib, as such,
about costs about $ 0.01; the flash gold plated one costs about $
0.10. The one with the Rhodium tip and flash gold plating costs about
$ 0.25 for the maker, ex-factory. These costs are for a large size
nib, such as what you would find in Shaeffer or Parker big size
pen.The rest are distribution costs and retailer margin. These are
figures from Indian nib makers.

Hi Prasanna --

That's quite a rundown. What manufacturers did you get your information
from? I live in the U.S., and Indian fountain pens (e.g. Airmail/ Wality)
are just beginning to peep into the marketplace here via online retailers.
What would you say are the more prestigious brands, and which pens are good
quality, but underrated?

Brian
--