A Preliminary List Of Recent Pens By Wm K Rockman / Guanleming, Part 1

[Seele]

My fellow correspondents might be aware of my interest in the American/Chinese pen manufacturer Wm K Rockman, later trading as Guanleming, and I did a couple of articles here trying to unravel its early history. However, as information relating to what happened afterwards was not forthcoming I had no choice but to abandon the project altogether. However, I am still looking into the products made by the firm, and as before, information on the early products is sketchy at best, so I have compiled a list of models made during the last few decades. This list is in no way exhaustive, and those made over the few post-war decades cannot be included. Please look at the following notes before proceeding.

1. While the firm keeps its Chinese name, it carried on trading as Wm K Rockman until some time in the 1960s, then it adopted the pinyin romanization of its Chinese name Guanleming; at least during the last years of operation, the premises was also the base of the brand Hongbao (Ruby).

2. At least two logos were used earlier, both in a circle. The earlier was the original with WmKR in a circle, and then one with the Chinese work 關 in it. Later on when Simplified Chinese began to get popular, the simplified form 关 was used instead. Some of the newer ones show a rather odd blend of traditional 關勒銘 and simplified 关勒铭 forms.

3. For years the brand has been based in Hero's Changsu works, sharing it with the Jin Rong brand. Some models share parts with Jin Rong models such as nibs, sections, etc, and some vendors called some Jin Rong models as Guanlemings. Here I do not include those not marked as Guanleming on the pens. A lot of them were branded as by Hero Shanghai, I do not know if they were built at Shanghai or Changsu.

4. Regarding nibs. Unless otherwise stated the pen in each entry is fitted with a regular gilt-finish steel nib with breather hole. Gold nibs are marked as such after the model name for easy reference.

5. Unless otherwise stated, trim parts such as rings and clips are gold finished.


THE LIST

99
The cap and end of barrel taper in a way similar to Cross with gold finials accented with narrow black band. Back of section has gold ring which closes against a black-accented gold ring at the front of the barrel. Black section ended with another black-accented gold ring. Dual-tone nib with no breather hole. Pressbar fill, but possibly is a converter.

Known variants: semi-matt black, and textured gold similar to corn pattern.

99 "Sakura"
Black lacquer with white pattern finish overall on cap and barrel, end of barrel has gold ring looking as if it's a piston filler. Gold tone with breather hole nib marked with new logo and "GLM", or dual-tone without breather hole marked with new logo and "GUANLEMING". Two different types of feed, with and without external fins. C/C fill.

100 (14K)
An unusually styled pen which tapers gently to both ends when capped, gold finials at both ends. Black finish covered in round "Longevity" symbols. Open end of cap marked with pen name in Chinese. Matt gold section marked "Guanleming 14K", nib without breather hole marked with new logo and "GUANLEMING, 14K, 580". Gold pressbar sheath, possibly C/C.

 

102 (14K)
A steel-bodied pen of regular pattern, black finial at the ends of cap topped with a gold disc, smooth barrel end. Towards the top of the clip is an integral oval medallion marked "GLM", at the opening end of the cap is a wide gold band with two and three lines of markings, including model number. Black section with gold trims at each end, gold nib marked with new round logo, and "Guanleming" in simplified Chinese, and "14K" below. C/C fill.

 

103
A pen bearing some resemblance to the Sonnet, no gold trim throughout. "Guanleming" on the clip, Chinese markings at opening end of cap. Matt silver section wth a few rings towards its back, polished steel nib without breather hole, marked with new logo and "GUANLEMING, IRIDIUM POINT CHINA", C/C fill.

Known variants: polished steel, satin steel, and black lacquer finishes.

103?
A pen with straight styling, straight gold clip, gold finials on both ends, and gold rings on back of black section and its front end. Dagger nib with no breather hole with new logo only. Pressbar bulb fill.

Known variants: steel, black lacquer, dark blue, and dark blue with silver dots.

108 (14K)
Styling is somewhat similar to the previous entry, matt gold section, regular style nib marked "700", the the Jin Rong logo, then "JIN RONG", but still sold as Guanleming. Black finish with gold squiggles, C/C fill.

200
A largely straight pen with dome finials at the ends of cap and barrel, gold clip has a small sphere at the end, and at the top the new round logo. Matt black cylindrical section with five slots cut into it on opposite ends. Additional gold assembly at the end, tapered in two stages, holds the small nib, pressbar bulb fill.

Known variants: chased engraving pattern, in gold or silver tones.

201
Similar to the previous entry, but cap and barrel finished in satin silver with regularly placed stars.

201-1
Similar to the previous entry, but cap and barrel finished in brown lacquer with marble pattern.

227
A simple hooded nib pen, black section, pressbar bulb filler, and metal cap and barrel. Open end of barrel has a silver stripe around it with markings, end of barrel has black plug.

Known variants: in black, blue-grey, and pink-grey colours.

300
When capped it is torpedo-shaped, with gold dome caps at the ends of cap and barrel. Near the end of the barrel is a gold ring as if piston filler, and from it the barrel tapers towards the end. Black finish, hooded nib with a raised ring just past the ink filling hole. Near the open end of the cap is marked "GLM 300".

301-1
Of generally cylindrical shape, it has a black smaller plug at the end of the barrel for posting. New round logo on top of the clip, black ring at the end of the section. Gold section resembling the "Michelin Man", dagger hand with no breather hole and sides grabbing the feed. Cap and barrel with straight line and arcs of circle decoration. Pressbar bulb fill. Open end of cap marked "GLM 301-1".

Known variants: finish in matt gold, matt silver with gold decoration, black lacquer with gold decoration.

302
A roughly torpedo-shaped when capped, with gold dome at the top of the cap, and a gold ring at the opening end of the cap marked "GUANLEMING 302". rounded and unadorned barrel end. Section resembles that of the 103 but all gold finish, with dagger nib without breather hole, pressbar filler.

Known variants: black or dark blue finish.

303
Top of the cap tapers somewhat like Cross, a wide band at the open end of the barrel with several lines of English markings. End plug at the end of the barrel. Section with significant step downs, with dual-tone nib without breather hole marked with new round logo and "GUANLEMING".

Known variants: black with silver trim, steel with gold trim, matt steel with silver trim.

304
Black lacquer finish like the "99 Sakura", gold domes at ends of cap and barrel. Unusually shaped curvy clip marked "GLM", opening end of cap with a gold ring and a silver ring, marked on latter "GUANLEMING 304". Gold section resembling that in the 303, dual-tone nib without breather hole.

391
Colourful pen, black plug at end of barrel and small finial at top of cap. Black plastics section, nib marked with Hero logo and "CHINA", feed without external fins.

Known variants: Lacquer finishes to resemble green granite, marble in black-and-white, black-and-orange, black-and-green, black-and-grey etc.

402
A more modern-looking pen, no gold trim; metallic grey finish, new-style hooded nib with silver section. Opening end of cap marked in Chinese, pressbar bulb filler with "GLM" on pressbar.

403
Generally cylindrical in shape, no gold trim; brushed metal finish. Polished clip with long hole at its top, open end of barrel has polished ring with markings. Polish metal finials at ends of cap and barrel. Polished silver section with stell nib without breather hole marked with new round logo, "IRIDIUM POINT CHINA". Feed without external fins, polishd steel pressbar sheath, C/C fill.

405
Similar to previous entry, matt black finish, plain open end of barrel, regular style nib, C/C fill.

519
No gold trim; the cap finial is rather large, and the end of barrel also has finial. Open end of cap has an inclined black band, on the clip side marked in Chinese Guanleming, oddly with traditional "Guan" but simplified "ming". on the other side marked "519" and "Supersmooth" in Chinese. Black section, polished step-down to house a nib which slightly resembles that of the Parker Vector, marked "IRIDIUM". C/C fill.

Known variants: barrel in polished steel or black, cap always in polished steel.


Part 2 is here.

Edited June 8, 2016 by Seele

[bobje]

Impressive documentation! Thank you for sharing this.