Hello,

I'm trying to put up a Chronology of Pelikan. A short version is in this page (sorry it's in italian) a full chronology about fountain pen (in english) is here. I already posted this full chronology but before reposting an update at least I would like to have some doubts cleared.

Searching around for information I got some discrepancies about the birth of some Pelikan models, so I'm not sure about some dates.

The first discrepancy is on the year of birth of the 100N model. From what found on a Lambrou book (I have an italian version, title is just "Fountain pens") this should be the 1938, and this is also reported in the following articles:

* http://www.penbid.com/Auction/showarticle.asp?art_id=12
* http://www.ruettinger-web.de/e-pelikan-modell-100n.html

but in the following articles I found the date of 1937:

* http://www.thepenguinpen.com/history/history.html
* http://www.penexchange.de/english/klassiker/oma.shtml
* http://www.pentrace.net/penbase/Data_Retur...icle.asp?id=372

The second discrepancy is on the year of birth of the 400 model. On the same book it was stated is 1951, and the same is reported in the following articles:

* http://www.penbid.com/Auction/showarticle.asp?art_id=12
* http://www.ruettinger-web.de/e-pelikan-modell-400.html

but in the following articles I found the date of 1950:

* http://www.thepenguinpen.com/history/history.html
* http://www.penexchange.de/english/klassiker/oma.shtml

The third discrepancy is about the end of 400 and the rise of 400N, Lambrou reports the end of 1955, and this year is reported also by the following articles:

* http://www.thepenguinpen.com/history/history.html
* http://www.ruettinger-web.de/e-pelikan-modell-400.html

but in the following references I found 1956:

* http://www.penexchange.de/english/klassiker/oma.shtml (end of 400)

The fourth discrepancy is about end of 400N and the rise of 400NN, Lambrou reports the 1957, and this is also reported by the following articles:

* http://www.penbid.com/Auction/showarticle.asp?art_id=12
* http://www.ruettinger-web.de/e-pelikan-modell-400.html
* http://www.penexchange.de/english/klassiker/oma.shtml

but in the following references I found 1956:

* http://www.thepenguinpen.com/history/history.html

Hoping someone could give a clear answer...

Simone

Simone,

here's what Dittmer and Lehman report in Pelikan Schreibgeräte 1929-2004, p. 147:

100N Chronology

03/25/1937 100N fountain pen for export (03/15/1938 - launch in the German market)
05/16/1938 First deliveries of Pd nibs
03/03/1939 Introduction of the desk pens 100Na (with a removable extension) and 100Nf (with a fixed extension)
10/11/1939 Introduction of a fountain pen with a chromium/nickel steel nib, first called 100St, later renamed 100CN
10/29/1942 The piston head with a cork is replaced by an elastic sythetic material
ca. 1949 The grip section with edge is replaced by a smooth grip section
07/04/1949 The 100N is again produced with a gold nib
04/22/1952 The 100N is no longer available with a CN nib
01/16/1953 The 100N nib unit is now replaceable with the aid of a special key
11/27/1953 New piston with a colorless seal
01/20/1954 The 100N is officially discontinued

According to the same source (p. 150, 153, 154) here are the production dates of the 400/400N/400NN:

400
black/green and red brown/tortoise 25/5/1950 - 1956
black/black 28/7/1950 - 1956
black/gray 5/1950 - 1956
green/green & light tortoise 1954-1956

400N
black/green, brown/tortoise, & black/gray 12/1955-1956
green/green (only one known specimen) unknown

400NN
black/green, brown/tortoise, & black/black 23/4/1956-28/7/1965
black/gray 1957-27/12/1961
light tortoise 1957-7/1960
green/green unknown

I hope this helps clarify the issue.

Ciao,

Riccardo

Many thanks for the info, I'll try to find this book, it seems very useful

Ciao
Simone

The book is not merely useful, it is essential.