Pelikan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not to be confused with Pelican.

For other uses, see Pelikan (disambiguation).

Pelikan Logo

Pelikan is a German manufacturer of fine fountain pens and other writing, office and art equipment, credited with the invention of the differential-piston filling method. Their "true" history began with the model "100" and the modified 100N (both fountain pens), which sparked the genesis of the company's distinctive styling.

The modern-day flagship line is known as the "Souverän", consisting of the M100, M200, M300, M400, M600, M800 and the M1000. Pens with vermeil embellishments, called Toledo, are manufactured in the sizes of (new-style) M600 and M800, and they're respectively referred to as M700 and M900. Pelikan is notable for still manufacturing many of their pens using celluloid, instead of the more modern plastics used by most other major pen makers.

Pelikan is also a manufacturer of Limited Edition pieces, their first being the acclaimed "Blue Ocean" Demonstrator in 1993 leading to the 2005 "Caelum". Pelikan makes also entry-level fountain pens and fountain pens for school pupils, for example "Pelikano" and "Future". In recent years Pelikan also ventured into some "Special Edition" pens, where an unlimited number of a given pen is manufactured but only within a limited period - usually a year. All the pens in this series are named after a city.

Pelikan's fountain pen ink is called Pelikan 4001. Pelikan also makes Pelikan Fount India, a deep black Indian ink which, unlike most Indian inks, can be used in fountain pens. It is very water-resistant. Additionally, the company makes Pelikan Drawing Ink A, which is not suitable for fountain pens. It should be used with a dip pen.