This is the second post of what is intended to be a three-part series looking at various aspects of Pelikan’s nibs. The first post was a discussion of the PF and E|N hallmarked nibs. This post will explore how Pelikan’s collars, feeds, and nibs have changed over time and will also discuss compatibility across the various models. I think that these nibs are deserving of this attention because their interchangeability by the user/owner is one of the defining traits across much of Pelikan’s Souverän and Tradition lines which has always been a boon to hobbyists and collectors. Before proceeding I would like to reaffirm that I am simply an enthusiast and the information presented below is what I have gathered from my years of collecting and should in no way be taken as authoritative or exhaustive.
Monthly Archives: September 2014
The ‘PF’ & ‘E|N’ Nibs Explained
M800 nibs. From left to right; Unmarked, PF, PF, E|N hallmarks. Picture courtesy of Pjay of FPN; http://goo.gl/6wQm2q
Do you have a Pelikan nib that has a small, strange inscription that your other nibs are lacking? Have you ever wondered what this mark could indicate? Throughout the years, there has been a lot of discussion over a few of the hallmarks that have graced some of Pelikan’s nibs. These hallmarks can be found in a few different places on a nib, the most common being on the right, just above the collar (M800’s) but there have also been examples reported with the hallmark being covered by the collar (some M600’s). These markings are usually encircled by an oval and the two most common are “PF” and “E|N.” The latter has also been identified as P|N or B|N, likely owing to varying degrees of quality of the impression as well as the microscopic size of the imprint, requiring high magnification to see clearly. While absolute and definitive evidence may be lacking, I do feel that there is a reasonable and well sourced explanation that adequately explains the genesis of these nib markings.
Cork – Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid Of It
I find that there is a level of apprehension surrounding cork seals which is generally unfounded. Cork is a great sealing material and was the only piston seal available on the early model Pelikan piston assemblies (as well as the pistons of several other manufacturers). I can understand wanting to eschew cork for synthetic seals in our high-tech modern society but don’t be too hasty. I have had synthetic seals, after decades of faithful service mind you, fail me on pens such as a first year 400 and an older 120. Like their synthetic counterparts, once a cork seal has failed, it is essentially a lost cause (barring a case of mild shrinkage from an improperly prepared piece of cork). Reviving an old and failing seal is almost alway met with failure. When in that situation, the best practice is to replace the seal.Cork can be found on models 100, 100N, Ibis, and other contemporary variants. It wasn’t until the early 1940’s that Pelikan introduced a black rubber seal. A newer synthetic seal was deployed in the early 1950’s resulting in just about any pen produced after WWII (400/300/140/120/etc) being equipped with one of the newer seals. The 100N’s straddled this line and can be found with cork on older models as well as black rubber and even the more modern seals later into their production.
Announcement: M101N Now in The Aviary
My vision for this site has always been to continue to grow and add additional pages to The Aviary detailing new models as I’m able. While there is no definitive timeline for these updates, I’m happy to announce that the first of those new pages went up this morning. The Aviary now includes a page detailing the M101N, the pen Pelikan initially introduced in 2011 in order to pay homage to those great models of the 1930’s. I hope that you enjoy the information provided on the M101N. At the time of this post, the release of the tortoiseshell red model is imminent and should be in consumers’ hands shortly.
M101N
Decoding the M481
Allow me to start this post by saying that I am not an expert on this topic and have no special insight into the heritage of this model. That said, what follows is the culmination of much careful research. Given the lack of a good knowledge base on this topic, I have had to make inferences and educated deductions where necessary. I present you my thoughts and ask you to draw your own conclusions. The M481 is a little understood model, likely owing to its relative scarcity. Just how many were produced over its run is unclear. The model was initially released by Pelikan in 1983, largely for the export market, and it appears to have enjoyed only a relatively short production run. Released just one year after the re-introduction of the M400, it seems safe to say that it can be considered the predecessor/prototype of the M200.
One of the confounding factors surrounding this model is the fact that the early, pre-1997, M150’s were released with labeling/packaging that stated ‘M150/481.’ In actuality, it appears that the M481 was already being phased out at the time of introduction of the M150 and M200 (1985). It is my understanding that the 481 designation was an early name for the M150 but when the success of the, then newly released, M400 became apparent, Pelikan decided to build a range of pens around that line. In order to avoid signficant confusion, the 481 nomenclature was dropped and we were left with the M150 as we know it today.
A Treatise on the Modern Tortoise: 1980 – 2014
M200, M250, M400 (’90-96), M400 White, M800 (’13), M101N Brown
One of the symbols of the Pelikan brand has long been the green and black pin stripe pattern affectionately nick-named Stresemann. While this may be the iconic design that the company is known for, I would wager that few of their designs have captured the imagination (or the eye) of collectors, users, and the even the uninitiated alike as the Pelikan tortoise finish. The tortoise has been an integral part of their line up and has been produced in many variations over the decades. It would certainly be a daunting challenge to focus on all of the tortoises released over time so to keep this post manageable and engaging, I will present you with a discussion on just the modern tortoises, those produced from 1980 through today. Don’t despair though if you have a soft spot for the tortoises of days gone by as I hope to revisit this topic and feature those tortoises from which our modern designs take their inspiration at some point in the future.
Amongst Pelikan enthusiasts, lamenting the lack of a tortoise variant of one model or another always seems to be a popular topic of conversation. To the collector, it would seem a no brainer; make a tortoise variant and how could it not fly off of the shelves. Unfortunately, it seems that time and time again when Pelikan does make such a beauty, they don’t turn out to be the great sellers we all think that they should be. They linger on shelves and stock ends up getting discounted. Once the limited production run ends, supplies become sparse, prices creep up, and only then do these beauties become the coveted treasures that we know them to be.
I often see a lot of uncertainty and confusion arise when people try to identify tortoise variants that they’ve come across. There are even many collectors out there who haven’t seen all of the variations as some of them have either been so limited in production or otherwise relegated to a particular region of release as to not be widely known. What follows is the best accounting of the various modern releases that I’ve been able to put together and I hope that it serves as a useful reference. I believe that I’ve included every known variation of tortoise from 1980 through 2014 but, of course, the nature of these pens makes them somewhat elusive which is also part of their mystique. There is always the chance that I’ve missed one. Care to guess just how many tortoises have been available over the last 34 years? If you thought the answer was sixteen, then you are indeed an aficionado. If you weren’t even close, read on. Known models include the; M200 Brown, M250 Brown, M400 Brown (’84-’96), M400 Brown (GK Type 1), M400 Brown (GK Type 2), M400 White, M415 Brown, M450 Vermeil, M600 Brown, M600 White, M800 Brown (’88), M800 Brown (’13), M101N Brown, M101N Red.
Review: “Pelikan – The Brand” Book
Pelikan – The Brand
by Dr. Detmar Schäfer
Leuenhagen & Paris, 2013, 167 pages (ISBN 978-923976-91-1)
How the baby bird got into the nest, and how many when
“Pelikan The Brand” is a book that was published in 2o13 in order to document and relate the development of Pelikan’s brand over the decades. It was released in time to commemorate their 175th anniversary. The Pelikan logo is very distinctive and captivating. Collectors have often puzzled over the differences in the number of chicks in the mother pelican’s nest and what the significance of one versus two versus four might mean. While this information has previously been scattered and difficult to find, “Pelikan The Brand” brings it all together in a 167 page hardbound book that is an easy and informative read.
Included in the book are letters from Pelikan’s archives that had previously been unreleased as well as an extensive collection of illustrations from many renowned artists according to Pelikan. These include Kurt Schwitters, El Lissitzky, Wilhelm Wagenfeld, and O.H.W. Hadank. The book instantly opens with a pictorial of how the Pelikan logo developed over time from the Wagner family coat of arms to the trademark that has been in current use since 2oo3. There are details of the company’s history as well as at least 150+ illustrations. The book is beautifully laid out and is a very easy read. It is written in the English language exclusively whereas other publications (i.e. Pelikan Schreibgerate) have been written in both English and German within the same publication.