"Modern Pelikan pens"
and their generations

In the overview of "Vintage Pelikan Pens", I stated my opinion on vintage Pelikan pen  and their generations. Here are my opinion on "Modern Pelikan pen" and their generations (the company name on this website will be consistent with "Pelikan" instead of "Günter Wagner").
 
The modern Pelikan fountain pen was, in my opinion, model P1. Although the model was introduced in 1958, the midst of of the second generation and sold concurrently with model 400NN, model P1 had novel nib/feed system and new  model numbering system. Moreover, its derived model​s Pelikano, P25/15 were Pelikan's first and early cartridge/converter filler pens. So, these models can be regarded as the earliest models of modern Pelikan pens (the third generation).​
 
In Pelikan catalog No.100A/4 (1962), P1 was advertised as "Füllhalter P1", while model 400 series were only "Standard-Füllhalter". Pelikan likely named the model P1 with the meaning that it is the No.1 model of Pelikan fountain pens as the flagship model*.

For the following models, "P" was placed before the model number to denote "Patronen-Füllsystem"(cartridge filler system), while "M" denoted "Mechanik-Kolbenfüllsystem" (mechanical piston filler system)*.

*As model P1 had a piston filler system, we can tell that P1 was given its name in a different way from the subsequent models.

The early modern Pelikan pen (the third generation) shared some common characteristics. For example.

• The filling system; In the third generations, new filling system was introduced (i.e. cartridge/converter filler). The traditional piston filler was also used. 

• The nibs style; the first and the second generations had traditional open nibs. However, in the third generation, hooded/semi-hooded nibs dominated, probably reflecting the tastes of the time.

• The numbering system; In the third generations, alphabet(s) were placed before the model number to denote the filling system (and the grade of the fountain pen) (e.g. MK*30, M30, P490). *K denoted "Kunststoff" ("plastic")(Pelikan-collectibles).

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The latest modern Pelikan pen (the fourth generation) started in 1982 (to be continued).