|
Pelikan Pens business was founded in Germany in the 1830s and entered the pen business in 1929. Most collectible pens include early pens (circa 1929-1940, especially the unusual reptile pattern plastic pens of the 1930s), metal overlaid pens, plus a few recent limited editions. The company continues in business manufacturing pens, inks, artist’s colors, etc.
The first location was in Gross-Munzel, Germany but the firm soon moved to nearby Hanover. Carl’s father sold painting utensils in old Hanover and was the "drawing master" to the children of the royal court. Carl's original plan was to replace the expensive paints imported from France and England with his own of better quality.
Pelikan Pens - In 1863 chemist Gunther Wagner became an employee and in 1871 purchased the firm, renaming it after himself. The Wagner family crest was the Roman catholic symbol of a Pelikan feeding her chicks and, in 1878, the company registered this as its trademark. Fritz Beindorff brought the firm to world prominence. He started as a commercial traveler for Pelikan in 1881, and was with the firm for 60 years. Gunther Wagner wanted to keep the business in the family and his daughter married Fritz in 1888. In 1895 Wagner sold the business to his son in law. The business continued to grow and expand both its production facilities and its product lines (to eventually include over 100 ink formulas, paints, artists colors, blotting and carbon papers, typewriter ribbons, etc.).
World War One was a disaster for the company. It lost its entire export trade and found business much reduced. In 1921 the firm reorganized into a partnership of Fritz Beindorff and his three sons, Kurt, Fritz, Jr., and Gunther. Searching for new products to complement the ink business, the company began to experiment with manufacturing fountain pens. In 1925 the firm purchased patents from Theodor Kovacs, then hired Kovacs and Carola Bako to perfect the first piston filing system. In 1929 the first Pelikan pen, the model 100 (with heart shaped nib breather hole) was introduced.
The company persevered in the fountain pen business during the Great Depression. It introduced both upscale models (very small production runs but with greater profit margins) and an economy pen called Rappen. About this same time Pelikan introduced its Graphos technical pens for use with waterproof “India” inks (some models had dozens of interchangeable nibs for drawing different width and shadowed lines). 1934 saw the company introduce a large, high quality mechanical pencil and also open a division for manufacturing its own nibs and metal pen trim elements. This same year the company introduced what is probably its most famous pen model, the 111T, the “Toledo” which has a Toledo Spanish style barrel sleeve with the pelican as the centerpiece of the design and also a special engraved clip. These pens were not actually made in Toledo, Spain but rather were made in the Pelikan factory but in the Toledo style.
In 1938 the firm redesigned the line into the slightly larger and more streamlined pattern with models carrying a new designation such as Model 100N. This same year the logo was amended from "4 chick" to the "two chick". The economy Rappen was replaced with another economy pen called the Ibis.
In 1939 as the war began Pelikan curtailed production of pens and devoted most of its facilities to production of paints, coatings and other chemicals for the military.
Virtually no pens were made in the period 1944-1946 but the firm’s facilities were generally undamaged and pen production resumed in 1947. In 1951 the pens were redesigned and the shape of the clip made to resemble a pelican’s beak. New models were also introduced including the 400 (black cap/black or green stripe barrel or brown cap/tortoiseshell striped barrel), and the full or partially metal covered 550, 600 and 700 (14K natural gold covered cap and barrel). 1953 saw the introduction of the inexpensive but attractive 140 models (black caps/black, red, gray, green or blue barrels). 1957 saw the introduction of the “NN” models with somewhat shorter barrels and more ‘pointed’ turning knobs than before.
In 1959, new “P1” models styled somewhat like the American pens with hooded nibs were introduced. This piston filler with "thermic" molded feed and ink viewing window was more expensive than the 400 and suffered from ball-point competition. Pelikan bounced back with the Pelikano. Again in 1965 these new models were redesigned and made more upscale. Sales declined and by 1978 the company was in financial trouble and reorganized. 1982 was a bad year; Pelikan bombed in the "dry photocopier" business...carbon paper sales dived, and debts rose. In 1983 Condorpart AG, Switzerland acquired the company. With an infusion of capital and a renewed thrust to concentrate on inks and writing instruments the company turned around relatively quickly.
In the late 1980s the company began a series of larger models and limited edition pens. Its pens are thought to have superior writing qualities but there are now perhaps too many models with relatively poor sales figures. Recently, the ownership of the company was transferred to Malaysian interests.
Most Collected Pens...Most Pelikan pens made before 1960 are considered collectible, but especially the various 100 models, the metal covered pens, any of the “Toledo” models, any of the “N” or “NN” models. The unusual colors of the 140, the earlier 400s and the 500, 600, and 700 models.
Rare Pens...All of the first 1929 models (with the heart-shaped breather hole in the nib) are rare. Also very scarce is the 100 with a ring top rather than a clip, the 100 with solid yellow 14K gold barrel sleeve and the 100 Toledo (111T).The 100s with matching caps and barrels in jade green marbled, red marbled, blue marbled plastic, the 100 with black hard rubber cap and red plastic barrel sleeve and the pens with Snake, Lizard, and Reptile pattern plastics are all hard to find.
Another very hard to find pens is the 110 with white gold filled cap and barrel; moreover, any vintage Pelikan in sterling silver is extremely rare, even though most were covered by independent jewelers rather than made in the factory. Original (pre-1960) 400 demonstrators in clear plastic are scarce as are any desk pens when accompanied by the original base. Also very scarce are the convertible desk pens with interchangeable taper/blind cap and desk base in the form of a demitasse cup. Among the recent limited editions, the Blue Ocean seems to be the most difficult to find.
Since many Pelikan pens are very similar in overall form, it is essential to have a good guidebook or and experienced collector to verify that barrel color, blind cap style, cap style and trim, clip style and top cap style are correct.
Finding treasure in a neglected desk drawer...In all eras some colors are considered rare and it is recommend that you consult a good guidebook or an expert in you see pens with unusual colors. Many prewar Pelikan pens were carried home as war souvenirs and some of these can be quite valuable.
For Further Information...Special thanks to Jack Leone, Martin Lehmann, Howard Levy, and Paul Gloeggler for information and advice on Pelikan. Thanks to Jack Leone and Joe Engel for the images which illustrate this history.
For more information about Pelikan pens, I suggest Pelikan Schreibgerate, 1929-1997 by Jurgen Dittmer and Martin Lehmann. The text is in German and English, but all the captions are in German. The book has extensive tables of the colors and patterns in which various models were manufactured.
Good Hunting! Written by L. Michael Fultz, Editorial Director, Penbid.com ©2000 by Penbid.com, Inc.
We look forward to seeing you on our Pen Auction soon!
|
