Pelikan Vintage Pen

[ThorE]

Hi,

 

Today I got a Pelikan pen from my Mom, used to belong to my Grandfather, What I've found is that it's probably a 14k nib, some research suggests it might be a M400?

 

My knowledge on Pelikan pens is limited, so any help is welcome.

[Bo Bo Olson]

100 or 100n..................100 from @ 1929 to 38.............100n from '38 to 54.

Gold nibs to summer of '38....if an amber ink window....before..............If green ink window after the war. I have a green window post war, green ink window 100n....mine has a first stage superflex nib.

Semi-flex is the least one expects.......unless the nib is stamped H for hard....or D for extra hard.

[ThorE]

It has an amber ink window I think, It's not been cleaned in around 30 years, so I'm in the process of cleaning it, so it's hard to see for certain, but shining light through the ink window it looks amber/brown.

 

I see there's something stamped at the very base of the nib, but can't tell what it says, on the nib there's a triangle with what looks like a half sun, and 14K written "around" it (following the edge of the triangle), beneath the 14K mark it says 585.

[dnic]

1930/1931 Pelikan 100. Stunning pen!

 

https://www.pelikan-collectibles.com/en/Pelikan/Models/Historic-Pens/100/index.html

Edited December 22, 2017 by dnic

[ThorE]

Thanks, that seems to fit what my Mom says, it was a pen my grandfather bought after getting his license as a lawyer.

 

Thank you very much.

[piscov]

This is a rare and valuable pen!

 

As Dominic says it's from 1930/31 pen.

I look to have a very early bakelite barrel and a rare olive green sleeve.

Collectors spend years looking for one like this and you got it as your first pen!! Congratulations!! Cherish it well.

If you decide to sell it let me know, I'll be interested in adding it to my collection.

[piscov]

Getting back to the barrel. If the color of the ink window in of a purple-brown purple color it is Bakelite. Those barrels are very rare and were used in 1929 and 30. If it´s amber color it's probably celluloid, not so rare as the first one. Put the pen in front of a light and observe the color.

[Azuniga]

Wow, that is a great pen !

 

And, by the way, welcome, you always find answers here...

 

[DrCodfish]

I am a big fan of these early Pelikans, though I don't have one nearly as old as yours. One thing not mentioned but very important is that these pens a fragile. Be sure to clean it very gently, and know that to drop it is to say goodbye to grandpa's pen. But once you have it clean and working, use it (with care) by all means.

[ThorE]

This is a rare and valuable pen!

 

As Dominic says it's from 1930/31 pen.

I look to have a very early bakelite barrel and a rare olive green sleeve.

Collectors spend years looking for one like this and you got it as your first pen!! Congratulations!! Cherish it well.

If you decide to sell it let me know, I'll be interested in adding it to my collection.

 

 

Getting back to the barrel. If the color of the ink window in of a purple-brown purple color it is Bakelite. Those barrels are very rare and were used in 1929 and 30. If it´s amber color it's probably celluloid, not so rare as the first one. Put the pen in front of a light and observe the color.

 

Cool, The barrel is red/amber-ish and not very clear: https://i.imgur.com/qJbGIfZ.jpg, that said, not my first pen, but it's right around the 1 year anniversary for when I got my first pen.

 

The sleeve has a crack in it, and it's been used throughout a lawyer career, it's especially apparent on the cap, the Pelikan logo and writing around the cap is very faint.

 

Also out of curiousity, what is the ballpark value of a pen like that? Not going to part ways with it though, at least not any time soon so an exact on condition valuation isn't necessary

 

 

I am a big fan of these early Pelikans, though I don't have one nearly as old as yours. One thing not mentioned but very important is that these pens a fragile. Be sure to clean it very gently, and know that to drop it is to say goodbye to grandpa's pen. But once you have it clean and working, use it (with care) by all means.

I've been cleaning it with water from the tap for a few hours, slowly working the ink that has been in it for the last 30 years out of it. I hope to ink it up with some Bungubox Sweet Potato Purle later today or tomorrow.

Edited December 22, 2017 by ThorE

[Bo Bo Olson]

In I'm only going to use this once, just to show the Degussa mark, I've not asked permission like I have twice in the past to use their so fine nibs.

But check if the mark is the same.

At the start Pelikan used nibs with a heart shape from MB......It could be either of two things, A....they also bought a few nibs from Degussa which took over the Osmia nib factory in 1932.....and continued to make the grand Osmia nibs for Osmia....and Osmia had also made nibs for others.

B. It's a replacement nib..............if so it's a very good replacement nib.

 

As a 'Noob'....I was so foolish to think only 'in house' nibs were any good. In fact I almost tossed a Degussa** and a Bock nib.....because I was so ignorant. Luckily they were small, so got put in a small box that started a collection of loose nibs.

Osmia named it's self after the Osnimum compound, invented by a Heidelberg Professor....then the best tipping in the world. Degussa which took over Osmia's nib factory in 1932 conditioned to use it.

 

There were other 'out of house' good nib makers.....Rupp 1922-70....Bock 1938-now are two more Heidelberg makers.

 

** I have a few Degussa steel first stage of superflex nibs....what I call Easy Full Flex....the stage harder than Wet Noodle............I have a system that I'll not go into here, that I developed to rate flex in nibs. Those nibs helped me find that system.

I also have an Artus/Degussa nib, that is regular flex.

Osmia nibs with a Diamond....usually with a number size in it are semi-flex. Those that say Supra are maxi-semi-flex.....but were always marked Osmia, not Degussa.

I have asked for permission to use the picture.

 

Purple and red are Not Good for ink windows!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

http://www.penboard.de/pb/4/4763g.jpg

Edited December 22, 2017 by Bo Bo Olson

[ThorE]

I inked it up with Bungubox Sweet Potato Purple to do a writing test, writes so well

 

https://i.imgur.com/5wpMmOc.jpg

[piscov]

Hi ThorE,

 

From that picture, I am convinced you to have indeed a bakelite barrel. This and the sleeve makes the pen very rare and a very early example of a Pelikan 100.

 

As to the value, it is hard to say, because the condition is everything in pen collecting. In your case as per your words, your cap is worn ( not the biggest problem in your pen) and the sleeve is damaged ( this is a major issue in terms of impact in value) and you have a non-original nib ( another major issue). All that impacts heavily on the value

 

 

Hope it helps.

Edited December 22, 2017 by piscov

[Bo Bo Olson]

Again, red and purple inks are Not Good for ink windows.

For old ink windows that you have had a lot of problems getting cleaner.........well it's your pen.

Do clean it well after one load of Purple ink.

 

Did the Degussa nib match the mark on yours?

 

Herlitz nibs (not the Luxor (made by Herlitz) or not on all Luxor nibs) a a pyramid, divided in half with horizontal lines in the right hand side and a H under it.

[ThorE]

The logo matches, but not the placement of it, The logo on mine is larger, and the only things I'm able to discern on the nib is what I wrote in post #3, there is more under 585, but even with magnification, I'm unable to tell what it says

[daenghafez]

Great pen & acquisition. Keep it and care for it. Its heritage.👍

[Matlock]

The logo matches, but not the placement of it, The logo on mine is larger, and the only things I'm able to discern on the nib is what I wrote in post #3, there is more under 585, but even with magnification, I'm unable to tell what it says

 

Bo Bo has provided some very useful info about non Pelikan nibs. Also it was quite common for people to change the nib on their pen, I have a 100 of about the same period with a Conway Stewart nib. Whatever the answer, you have a great pen.

[Bo Bo Olson]

My Degussa nibs (mostly steel...thing out side my Degussa-Aurtus(regular flex) all about one of mine are steel, has the Degussa sign higher and wider. Those steel ones are superflex, in the first stage, what I call Easy Full Flex.

As far as I know Osmia didn't make superflex....just semi-flex with the diamond and maxi-semi-flex with the Supra marked nibs.................after '32 Degussa bought up the Osmia nib factory.

 

So you do have a good nib.

[ThorE]

Thank you all for the feedback and insight into this pen.

[sargetalon]

Very nice pen, congrats!. Its made all the better by the history behind it. Cherish it.