History of the Pelikan Pen
Pelikan has its roots in a company that Carl Hornemann, a chemist, founded in 1832 to manufacture artist's supplies in Hanover, Germany. However, Pelikan's first price list dates from 1838 and that year is when the company considers its formal history began. In 1871, Hornemann sold his company to Guenther Wagner, who was a chemist and the plant manager. The age of the Pelikan pen was at hand.
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Forging Ahead
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It was Fritz Beindorff, Wagner's son-in-law, who evidently spearheaded the progress of the company as a manufacturer of Pelikan fountain pens when he took over the business in 1888. Beindorff also added office products to the production lines. The products came to include more than 170 different types of ink and typewriter ribbons.
Pen Debut
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It was not until 1929 that the Pelikan fountain pen made its debut. The pen featured a new and highly effective ink delivery system that gave it a market advantage. It is believed that a Hungarian engineer perfected and patented the differential piston mechanism that allowed a precise and even flow of ink for use in a fountain pen. Pelikan reportedly acquired the patent in 1927.
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Characteristics
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Among the special characteristics of the premier Pelikan fountain pen were a hard rubber cap, a bakelite shaft, a combed cone mechanism with an arrow to show the direction of rotation, a gold nib, and a sleek, green shaft. A black shaft pen followed the jade green shaft pen. That design suited the more traditional German businessmen of the times.
School Children
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In Germany, schoolchildren learned to write using fountain pens. That exposure contributed significantly to the success of the Pelikan fountain pen. Pelikan manufactured a range of reasonably priced fountain pens for this purpose, including the Model 100 or RAPPEN in 1934, followed by the IBIS, 120, 140, and the PELIKANO in 1960.
Limited Editions
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Since its introduction, the Pelikan pen has been making history, with new models and new features that have given the company worldwide recognition and sales success. The company's Limited Edition pens celebrate landmark events and historical wonders of the world. They include themes such as the "Evolution of Script," "The Pyramids of Giza" and the "Myth of the Moon Goddess" (see Resources).
Logo
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The first Pelikan logo appeared in 1878. Its pelican theme was borrowed from the family crest of Guenther Wagner. The original logo featured a mother pelican and four chick. The design reportedly was inspired because Wagner's wife was expecting their fourth child. The logo was eventually altered to show a mother pelican and one chick.
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