Third generation

Pelikan 100N (ca.1942)

Green indicates the changes from Pelikan 100N (ca.1942).

Cap top; material: ebonite, shape: conical, inclined cap top edge, logo: new two chicks logo on the top and “ 100N GÜNTER WAGER GERMANY” on the lateral side.

Cap tube; material: celluloid, shape: "Pelikan" logo on the tube, one fluted band, no groove inside the tube.

Clip; shape: gold plated fluted clip.

Nib; material: 14 ct gold, shape: round vent hole, logo:

Pelikan

• 585•

14 KARAT

F

Feed; material: ebonite, shape: flat tail, three lamellae without the recess.

Nib socket; material: ebonite, shape: 13.5 mm.

Grip section and barrel; material: one piece injection molded transparent acrylics, shape; flat top edge, tapered, no brass ring.

Sleeve; material: celluloid.

Filling system; material: injection molded acrylics with black synthetic plastic seal, shape: conical, smooth turning knob.

Dimensions;(a)with sleeve, (b)without sleeve, (c)ink chamber volume

Total Cap Barrel Barrel Barrel Cap Ink Total

length length length width(a) width(b) width capacity(c) weight

122 mm 60 mm 99 mm 11.5 mm 12.5 mm 14.5 mm 1.8 ml 15 g

In 1942, all precious metal models for model 100N (exclusively for the export market) were discontinued (Green book). So, 100Ns and 101N were left for the export markets. For the domestic markets, only wartime 100Ns (CN nib, without cap rings) were produced (Pelikan 100N "wartime model" ca.1942).

On March 19, 1943, Deutscher Reichsanzeiger announced that all production of fountain pens and their spare parts would be illegal as of May 1, 1943. However, exceptionally, Günter Wagner received the instruction that the company was allowed to produce their pens shifting their quota from domestic to foreign destinations. In 1943, the company stopped the production of 100Ns for the domestic market (FountainPen.it).

I don't have any information on how severe damage Günther Wagner factory suffered in WWII. But, Hanover, an important railway and road junction and production center, was a major target for strategic bombing. More than 50% of Hannover, with more than 90% of the buildings in the city center was destroyed in a total of 88 bombing raids starting in May 1940 (The History of Hannover). In 1944, the company completely ceased all the production in Germany (FountainPen.it). So, thereafter all 100Ns on the market were produced outside Germany (Fig.8).

This pen is different from other 3rd generation pens in several points. Interestingly, there is no groove inside the cap tube (Fig.5). I'm not sure if it was manufacturing defect. Cap top logo is different from others. But, the most distinctive feature of the pen is "Pelikan" logo on the cap tube. There are several ads that show similar prewar to wartime model 100N (Fig.6, 7(1)). The pen, with one piece injection molded body and gold nib, seems to be for the export market or foreign production (e.g. Italia) in 1942 or later.

Note;(1) Please take notice of the mark at the lower right corner. It was the Fascist authorization mark for Italian products (click). "Fasci" are arranged in the mark. We can tell that fountain pen production was under control of Partito Nazionale Fascista (PNF) at that time.

Fig.1. The nib of Pelikan 100N.

Fig.2. Pelikan 100 with the cap posted.

Fig.3. Pelikan 100 with the cap closed.

Fig.4. "Pelikan" logo on the cap.

Fig.5. Inside of the cap tube without groove.

Fig.6. Advertising for inks and Pelikan 100N (ca. 1937-) in Germany.

Fig.7. Advertising for inks and Pelikan 100N (ca. 1937-) in Italian. "Grafiche matelli, Milano" is also seen,