Rappen (piston filler) (ca.1937)

Green indicates the changes from Rappen (ca.1934).

Cap top; material: ebonite, shape: conical, flat cap top edge, logo: "GÜNTER WAGNER GÜNTER WAGNER" on the lateral side.

Cap tube; material: ebonite, shape: 2 vent holes (one hole facing each other), "Rappen" logo with a rearing horse, one gold plated narrow band, ring groove around the inner wall at the level of vent holes.

Clip; shape: gold plated drop clip.

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

Rap-Pen

585

14KARAT

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

Nib socket; material: ebonite. short (12 mm).

Grip section; material: ebonite, shape: inclined top edge, tapered grip section.

Barrel; material: transparent celluloid.

Filling system; material: ebonite with cork seal, shape: conical partially knurled turning knob.

Dimensions;^(a)ink chamber volume

Total Cap Barrel Barrel Cap Ink Total

length length length width width capacity^(a) weight

115 mm 56 mm 92 mm 11 mm 12.5 mm 1.1 ml 12 g

In 1936, model IBIS with a piston filler was introduced as an economy model, and replaced model Rappen for the domestic market (Green book).

The situation was different for the export market. IBIS was also exported to many countries. However, Rappen continued to be sold concurrently with IBIS. Interestingly, for several countries such as Netherlands and Argentina, Rappen with a piston filler (Fig.1 middle) was produced as a transitional measure for switching from Rappen to IBIS (Green book). So, this pen can be called a transitional model. The piston filler Rappen looks more like IBIS (ca.1936) than the bulb filler Rappen (ca.1932).

In 1937, several specifications were changed in model 100 and 100N.

• Millesimal fineness was added to the imprint of the nib to describe the purity of gold.

• The recess of the feed was abolished.

• A notch (Fig.7 arrow) was made in the piston guide to guide the movement of the piston rod instead of a tiny pin (Fig.7 arrowhead)^(1,2).

What about a piston filler Rappen? The feed has no recess in the lamellae. The nib has a new imprint with millesimal fineness (585) (Fig.2). The filling mechanism has a tiny pin in the piston guide (Fig.7 bottom left). These specifications well conform to those of Pelikan 100 and 100N made in 1937, and this pen can be dated this year⁽³⁾. Different from 100, the transparent barrel doesn't have a sleeve (Fig.6)⁽⁴⁾, and the turning knob is tapered and partially knurled (Fig.5). The detailed comparison between model Rappen, IBIS, and 100 will be made in the following post.

Note;⁽¹⁾Please refer to here for the piston filler mechanism.

⁽²⁾As mentioned in before, the structure of the piston filler mechanism helps to date pens.

⁽³⁾So, it is assumed that new "Rappen" imprint with millesimal fineness was introduced as early as 1937, not 1939.

⁽⁴⁾I wonder what the original color of the barrel was.