Every now and then, you come across something that defies explanation. You’ll find something that you know should not exist, yet it does. It can be tempting to dismiss the anomaly as a fake, but then you might miss the chance to unravel a mystery. Such is the case with the Pelikan keyhole nib, an enigma from the far east. Nibs usually have vent or breather holes which were originally intended to allow air into the pen, replacing the ink consumed with writing. These remain a prominent feature today, even though many modern nibs vent elsewhere through the feed. Pelikan’s breather holes are usually round, except for a brief period spanning 1929-30 when they were heart shaped. The only other notable exception is the triangular breather hole of the Primapenna from the 1970s. Keyhole nibs are usually associated with the Waterman brand, so how do we explain a keyhole on a Pelikan script nib from the 1950s? Keep reading to discover the story behind the unique and rare Pelikan keyhole nib.

On the left is a Pelikan heart hole nib from 1929. In the middle is the nib of a Primapenna dating to the 1970s. On the right is a keyhole nib from a Waterman 994

Before we talk about the nib, it might be helpful to understand more about the pen that it was found on. The pen is not a Pelikan but is clearly of Japanese design. It is 5.33 inches (13.5 cm) when capped, with a diameter of 0.47 inches (1.2 cm), and weighs 0.56 ounces (15.9 gm). The pen resembles a Yotsubishi, although it lacks the typical hallmarks of that brand, therefore it was likely crafted by a small Japanese pen maker during the 1950s. Experts contend that there were over 2,500 such small shops producing pens in Japan by the late 1940s. Some would replicate popular models and utilize parts from common sources, so it is not unusual to see similar designs from different makers. The pen appears to be crafted from ebonite and is coated in a red lacquer. The furniture, stamped “R14K” indicating 14 carat rolled gold, includes a finial at each end, a clip, and a wide band at the cap lip. The cap itself screws onto the section and has a single vent hole.

The section can be unscrewed from the barrel in order to fill the pen with ink. It uses an eye dropper filling system with a valve to seal off the ink camber from the feed. This system is known as the inkidome-shiki or the Japanese eyedropper. This type of filling system was widely used throughout Japan, having first been brought to the country by Onoto and then later emulated and simplified. Unscrewing the blind cap at the back of the barrel opens the valve, allowing the ink to flow. That flow could then be regulated by how far the blind cap was unscrewed. Closing the valve was a safety feature that prevented leaks. The rear of the pen is sealed with cork making repairs difficult today. The drawback with this system is that it can be difficult to get the ink flowing again as the feed is quick to dry out, choked off from its supply of ink.

The inkidome-shiki filling system

A fountain pen using the Japanese eyedropper system, ready to write. The Onoto advertisement demonstrates how the concept was likely introduced to Japan

As interesting as the pen is, the nib that comes with it is even more fascinating. The nib and feed are friction fit whereas most of Pelikan’s nib assemblies from this era were secured in the section by a collar. “Pelikan •585• 14Karat” is stamped on three separate lines below the breather hole. The engraving on the nib is similar to the design Pelikan first used around 1940 which would make this nib appear at home on any late model 100 or early 100N. The dimensions of this Japanese oddity are very close to those of a Pelikan. The tine length and shoulder width are nearly identical, the only difference being the total length and the waist which are both longer and slightly narrower on a Pelikan nib. Most striking is the keyhole shaped breather hole sitting at the base of the slit, indicating that it’s not a Pelikan, despite the close resemblance in engravings.

The first three nibs are genuine Pelikan. To the far left is an older style used from 1937-40. The other two were likely made after 1940. Note the different fonts Pelikan used on their nibs. The nib on the far right is the imposter. Observe how it combines the different fonts and layouts used by Pelikan

A close up of the above imprints better shows the blending of styles. The nib on the left was made in Japan. The other two are actual Pelikan nibs made in Germany

A look at the feed fitted to the Japanese pen

Beyond the Pelikan stamp, this nib has additional engravings revealing its origin. There is a circle with the letters “JIS” which stands for “Japanese Industrial Standards.” It was created because of the Industrial Standardization Law of 1949, aiming to make transactions easier, improve quality, and ensure compatibility. The mark was placed on a wide variety of certified products from businesses approved by the Japanese national registration agency until the law was changed in 2005. It can be found on fountain pen nibs made in Japan by brands like Sailor, Platinum, and Pilot. The JIS had a major impact on small pen makers in Japan after the law was enacted, significantly reducing their numbers. The JIS stamp on this nib is proof that it was manufactured in Japan and not in Germany.

Below the JIS stamp is the number “4622,” which is one of the registration numbers of Kabutogi Ginjiro (兜木銀次郎), a renowned Japanese nib meister from the post-World War II era. He was quite prolific in his day and worked for several brands. The nibs he created are highly sought after today. Ginjiro is perhaps best known for his work with Ban-ei, a brand created by Sakai Eisuke, for whom he served as nib meister. Sometimes his nibs are signed “GK” for Ginjiro Kabutogi, noting that Japanese naming conventions put the family name (Kabutogi) ahead of the given name (Ginjiro). Flipping this nib over reveals the stamp “57.7 GK.” at the base, which likely indicates a July 1957 manufacture date along with the nib meister’s initials.

Like pulling a loose thread of a sweater, the mystery unraveled, transporting us to the late 1950s when Japanese nib specialist Kabutogi Ginjiro created a bespoke replica of a Pelikan nib with a twist. The keyhole may have been the first give away, but the nib’s engravings confirmed its Japanese origin and identified its craftsman. This is not the only replica Pelikan keyhole nib that he crafted, but there are not many known examples. While we can only guess at his motivations, I suspect that Ginjiro created these replicas because there was a demand for German pens in Japan, which were costly imports at the time. By making these lookalikes, he may have been meeting the demands of the market or fulfilling the stipulations of a customer. With weaker intellectual property protections back then, Ginjiro likely had little fear of consequences from Pelikan. The Japanese registration marks and keyhole shaped vent show the nib to not be an exact reproduction, but more like a tribute to Pelikan. Even though the Pelikan keyhole nib is not genuine, it is a fascinating piece of fountain pen history that tells the story of how the work of a famous Japanese nib meister collided with a well-established and admired German brand.

*Special thanks to John, Bruno Taut (Crónicas Estilográficas), Jim Mamoulides (Pen Hero), and Stan Klemanowicz for their assistance with my research for this article*

References

• Katherine. “2019 LA Pen Show Haul.” Hand Over That Pen. 26 Feb. 2019. Web. 30 Mar. 2024.
• Lambrou, Andreas and Sunami, Masamichi. “Fountain Pens Of Japan.” Andreas Lambrou Publishers Ltd., 2012.
• Rothemel, Dominic. “Nib units since 1929. Pelikan Collectibles. Web. 30 Mar. 2024.
• Taut, Bruno. “4622.” Pen Chronicles. 2 Aug. 2014. Web. 30 Mar. 2024.
• Taut, Bruno. “Ban-ei.” Pen Chronicles. 21 Nov. 2011 Web. 30 Mar. 2024.
• Taut, Bruno. “Certified Fake.” Pen Chronicles. 2 Oct. 2011. Web. 30 Mar. 2024.
• Taut, Bruno. “JIS.” Pen Chronicles. 2 July 2011. Web. 30 Mar. 2024.
• Taut, Bruno. “More GK.” Pen Chronicles. 14 May 2013. Web. 30 Mar. 2024.
• Taut, Bruno. “On Ban-ei Nibs.” Pen Chronicles. 16 June 2017. Web. 30 Mar. 2024.
• Taut, Bruno. “On Ban-ei Nibs (II). 50, 60 & GK.” Pen Chronicles. 29 June 2021. Web. 30 Mar. 2024.
• Taut, Bruno. “Sealing Systems (1).” Pen Chronicles. 17 June 2013. Web. 30 Mar. 2024.
• Wikipedia contributors. “Japanese Industrial Standards.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 7 Jan. 2024. Web. 30 Mar. 2024.