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Overview
Here is the overview of vintage Pelikan pens.
"Vintage Pelikan pens" and
their generations
When I started old "Vintage Pelikan Pens" on Google site basis, I listed only model 100 series (100/100N) and their economy pens. Model 100 was the first fountain produced by Günter Wagner, and model 100N was the revision of model 100. Both models have their origins in prewar time (Golden age of fountain pens). Without doubt, model 100 and 100N should be the vintage Pelikan fountain pens.
Upon renewal in April, 2022, however, I changed my mind, and added model 400 series (400/400N/400NN) and their economy pens to my new "Vintage Pelikan Pens" (this site). Indeed model 400 series were introduced after WWII (The Fall of Fountain Pens), but the glass negatives in the Pelikan archive indicate that design study for model 400 had been started in late 1930's (Pelikan Schreibgeräte), and the model has inherited much heritage from model 100 series.
I would say that model 100 series and their economy pens are the first generation of Pelikan fountain pens. Model model 400 series and their economy pens would be the second generation.
Both the first and the second generations have much in common. For example;
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The filling system; almost all the fountain pens in both generations had a piston filler system (the only exception is bulb filler Rappen). In the following generations, new filling system was introduced (e.g. cartridge/converter filler).
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The nibs style; the first and the second generations had traditional open nibs. In the following generation, hooded/semi-hooded nibs dominated, probably reflecting the tastes of the time.
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The numbering system; we can see that model 100 series and model 400 series were numbered after the same concept. All fountain pens except for Rappen had three digit model number. New model was denoted by "N" that was placed after the model number (e.g. 400N). Other alphabet letter(s) were placed after the model number to denote other variation or model (e.g. 100Na, 100Nf). AFAIK, the only exception was model T111. In the following generations, model numbers had one, two three, or four digits. Alphabet(s) were placed before the model number to denote the filling system (and the grade of the fountain pen) (e.g. MK*30, P490, L5. M7000). *K denoted "Kunststoff" ("plastic")(Pelikan-collectibles).
So, both generations taken together are vintage Pelikan fountain pens for me. From a viewpoint of "generations" and flagship/economy model, I rearranged them, as shown in the top page.
Modern Pelikan fountain pens started, in my opinion, from model P1. Although the model was introduced in 1958, the middle of the second generation and sold concurrently with model 400NN, P1 had novel nib/feed system and new model numbering. Moreover, its derived models Pelikano, P25/15 were the Pelikan's first cartridge/converter filler. So, I included model P1/25/15 in the third generation of modern Pelikan pens.
Please note that "generation" and my ”rearrangement" are just my opinion, and are basically for descriptive purpose. There are so many vintage Pelikan fountain pens produced ever. I hope that my website is any help for the better perspective and the better understanding of vintage Pelikan fountain pens.
History of
"vintage Pelikan pens"
In 1832, Carl Hornemann opened a small workshop on the shores of Lake Steinhude in Germany to manufacture paints and accessories for painters, and in 1838 he published his first price list, which was the beginning of Pelikan. April 28 of that year is considered the date of the company's founding. 1863, a chemist named Günter Wagner became the factory manager. He later bought the company and gave it his name. In 1878, he became one of the first manufacturers to use a trademark to guarantee the quality of its products. He chose a pelican from his own family crest, which became one of the first trademarks ever registered. The trademark “Pelikan” is the German form of “pelican”. The Pelikan coat of arms represents a pelican in its nest with its young, symbolizing family ties and reliability. By the turn of the 20th century, Pelikan paints and inks were known throughout the world, and the factory employed more than 3,000 people. The variety of Pelikan inks was astonishing. In addition to everyday writing inks, the company produced special inks for bookkeeping (indelible inks), hotel inks (washable inks), reproduction inks, notebook inks (waterproof inks), perfume inks (for women), gold and silver inks, and many others. At its peak, there were 172 types, colors, and bottles. In 1925, the decision was made to develop a fountain pen, as there were no fountain pens of their own brand despite having so many different types of inks. It was decided from the outset that the fountain pen Pelikan would develop would have to be different and better than existing pens, such as the safety pen, which filled with ink by dropper, and the so-called self-filling pen, which filled with ink in a rubber bag that was low in volume and perishable. To overcome these shortcomings, a special piston-based filling system developed by Hungarian engineer Theodor Kovacs was adopted. He patented it in 1923, proposed it to Montblanc, Sonneken, and Pelikan, and finally signed a contract with Pelikan in 1927. Thus, in 1929, Pelikan introduced the first fountain pen, named the ”Pelikan fountain pen”. While most other pens at the time were all black, the Pelikan fountain pen had a black cap and a jade-colored barrel. An all-black version was introduced the following year (Classic Fountain Pens - Pelikan 100). (to be continued).
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