Pelikan Cartridge filler - first models

Timeline - First Cartridge Pens

Pelikan - The advanced conductive ink feeder

A new development of fountain pens was made possible by the patent from Theodor Kovács, that Pelikan took over as the 'Pelikan thermic-regulator'. This Thermic ink feeder is built into the grip section and allows an easy and fast way to change the nib.

After the Pelikano, developed as the first cartridge pen for school use became a market leader, Pelikan produced an adult fountain pen using the cartridge system in 1961.

The pens have been revised over the years. They are distinguished in particular by their nib form.

Pelikan P15 / P25 - September 1958: the piston filler P15 and P25 were introduced to the market, they have a narrow, hidden nib
Pelikan Pxx models with half covered nib - from February 1965: new fountain pen models with plug caps and half covert nibs are offered
Pelikan Pxx / PKxx und Pxxx models - redesigned - from 1969: the models are revised, the nibs are more visible, with with angled edges
(See also plug-in nibs for piston and cartridge pens since 1958)

Pelikan P15 / P25

The outer shape of this fountain pen corresponded to the Pelikano. The screw caps are made of higher quality materials e.g. rolled gold cap and silvexa cap. The fountain pens also had a gold nibs. The sapphire model was not accepted in the market and so Pelikan decided a few months later to produce the two models in black, too.

Model	Production Period	Nib
P15 / P25	1961-1973	Steel, 14 ct gold nib,

Weight	Total Length	Barrel Length	Cap Length	Diameter	Ink Capacity
1) 0.44 oz 2) 0.47 oz	5.12 in	4.80 in	2.40 in	0.43 in	1.0 ml cartridge + reserve
1) 12.5 g 2) 13.4 g	130 mm	122 mm	61 mm	11 mm	1.0 ml cartridge + reserve

Measurements: 1) for chrome nickel and 2) for rolled gold

P15

P15 Sapphire Series Production Color Details

Production: 7/1961-1965Nib: 14 ct gold Leaflet:

Logo:

Series Production

Barrel Color: dark blueCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

Corresponds apart to the color, cap and nib the first Pelikano.

P15 Black Series Production Color Details

Production: 10/1961-1965Nib: 14 ct gold Leaflet:

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Series Production

Barrel Color: blackCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

Corresponds apart to the color, cap and nib the first Pelikano.Corresponds apart to the color, cap and nib the first Pelikano.

P25

P25 Sapphire doublé Series Production Color Details

Production: 7/1961-1965Nib: 14 ct gold Leaflet:

Logo:

Series Production

Barrel Color: dark blueCap Color: goldTrim: gold plated

Corresponds apart to the color, cap and nib the first Pelikano.

P25 Black doublé Series Production Color Details

Production: 10/1961-1965Nib: 14 ct gold Leaflet:

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Series Production

Barrel Color: blackCap Color: goldTrim: gold plated

Corresponds apart to the color, cap and nib the first Pelikano.

P25 Demonstrator doublé Low vol. Production Color

Production: unknownNib: 14 ct gold

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Low vol. Production

Barrel Color: transparentCap Color: goldTrim: gold plated

Pelikan P models with half covered nibs

As with the piston filler the cartridge fountain pen are now equipped with plug caps. They also have a revolving window, which displays the ink level of the cartridge. The decorative ring between the grip section and the ink window is wide. For better differentiation between piston fillers and cartrdige pens, the ends of the barrel have a short metal cap.

Model	Production Period	Nib
P12, P20, P25, P30	1965-1970	Steel, 14 ct gold nib,

Weight	Total Length	Barrel Length	Cap Length	Diameter	Ink Capacity
1) 0.51 oz 2) 0.52 oz 3) 0.66 oz	5.20 in	4.53 in	2.44 in	0.43 in	1.0 ml cartridge + reserve
1) 14.5 g 2) 14.7 g 3) 18.8 g	132 mm	115 mm	62 mm	11 mm	1.0 ml cartridge + reserve

Measurements: 1) P12 and 2) for P30 and 3) for P60

P12 Silvexa dark blue Series Production Color Details

Production: 2/1965-1968Nib: Steel, gold plated Leaflet:

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Series Production

Barrel Color: dark blueCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

Cap made of brushed stainless steel, beams clip without lettering.

P12 Silvexa black Series Production Color Details

Production: 2/1965-1968Nib: Steel, gold plated

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Series Production

Barrel Color: blackCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

Cap made of brushed stainless steel, beams clip without lettering.

P20 Silvexa blue Series Production Color

Production: 2/1965-9/1969Nib: 14 ct gold Leaflet:

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Series Production

Barrel Color: blueCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

P20 Silvexa black Series Production Color

Production: 2/1965-9/1969Nib: 14 ct gold Leaflet:

Logo:

Series Production

Barrel Color: blackCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

P25 Black Series Production Color Details

Production: 5/1966-7/1968Nib: 14 ct gold

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Series Production

Barrel Color: blackCap Color: blackTrim: gold plated

Found in France with a 18 ct ST-Nib (Steno), normally it was deliverd with a 14 ct Nib.
Cap length: 63,5 mm (2.5 in) and overall length 133,5 mm (5.26 in) and weight: 12,4 g (0.44 oz).

P30 Sapphire gold Series Production Color Details

Production: 2/1965-1969Nib: 14 ct gold Leaflet:

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Series Production

Barrel Color: dark blueCap Color: goldTrim: gold plated

Cap gold filled with stripes guilloche

P30 Black gold Series Production Color

Production: 2/1965-7/1970Nib: 14 ct gold Leaflet:

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Series Production

Barrel Color: blackCap Color: goldTrim: gold plated

Pelikan P/PK pens in redesigned style

With the advancement of the nib style many cartridge fountain pens are already adapted to this new nib in the same year. This adaptation was also accompanied with other small changes. Common to all is the now narrow ring between grip section and ink window. In 1973 all models then have the new three-digit designation number.

Model	Production Period	Nib
PK10, P12, P18, P21, P28, P30, P60, P474, P476, P477, P478, P479, P482, P485, P490, P495	1969-1979	Steel, 14 ct gold nib, 18 ct gold nib

Weight	Total Length	Barrel Length	Cap Length	Diameter	Ink Capacity
1) 0.47 oz - 0.69 oz	5.20 in	4.23 in	2.44 in	0.43 in	1.0 ml cartridge + reserve
1) 13.3 g - 19.9 g	132 mm	107.5 mm	62 mm	11 mm	1.0 ml cartridge + reserve

Measurements: 1) P12: 0.53 oz, P28: 0.67 oz, P30: 0.5 oz, P60: 0.70 oz, P474: 0.47 oz, P476: 0.69 oz, P478: 0.60 oz, P479: 0.66 oz

PK10 Black Exportmodel Color

Production: 11/1969Nib: Steel

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Exportmodel

Barrel Color: blackCap Color: blackTrim: silver-colored

PK10 Green Exportmodel Color

Production: 11/1969Nib: Steel

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Exportmodel

Barrel Color: dark greenCap Color: dark greenTrim: silver-colored

PK10 Blue Exportmodel Color

Production: 11/1969Nib: Steel

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Exportmodel

Barrel Color: blueCap Color: blueTrim: silver-colored

PK10 Red Exportmodel Color

Production: 11/1969Nib: Steel

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: redCap Color: redTrim: silver-colored

P12 Silvexa dark blue Series Production Color Details

Production: 1969-1/1972Nib: Steel, gold plated Leaflet:

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Series Production

Barrel Color: dark blueCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

Cap made of nickel silver, beam clip without lettering.

P12 Silvexa yellow Series Production Color

Production: 9/1971-1/1972Nib: Steel

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Series Production

Barrel Color: yellowCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

P15 Matt black Series Production Color Details

Production: 1969-1973Nib: Steel Leaflet:

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Series Production

Barrel Color: blackCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

The first version of this fountain pen had a chrome brushed cap, later the cap was made of nickel silver.

P15 Matt blue Series Production Color Details

Production: 1969Nib: Steel Leaflet:

Logo:

Series Production

Barrel Color: blueCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

The first version of this fountain pen had a chrome brushed cap, later the cap was made of nickel silver.

P18 Silverstar Series Production Color

Production: 1/1972-1/1973Nib: Steel Leaflet:

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Series Production

Barrel Color: chromeCap Color: chromeTrim: silver-colored

P21 Silvexa blue Series Production Color Details

Production: 9/1969-11/1969Nib: 14 ct white gold Leaflet:

Logo:

Series Production

Barrel Color: blueCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

Cap from brushed nickel silver.
At the edge of the cap partly the name: 'Pelikan 20 Silvexa'

P21 Silvexa black Series Production Color Details

Production: 1/1969-1/1973Nib: 14 ct white gold Leaflet:

Logo:

Series Production

Barrel Color: blackCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

Cap from brushed nickel silver.

P28 Silvexa Series Production Color Details

Production: 1/1971-1972Nib: 14 ct gold

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Series Production

Barrel Color: silverCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

Brushed chrome nickel. Examples with straight bar clip also known.

P30 Black gold Series Production Color

Production: 8/1970-1/1973Nib: 18 ct gold Leaflet:

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Series Production

Barrel Color: blackCap Color: goldTrim: gold plated

P30 Transparent Low vol. Production Color Details

Production: unknownNib: Steel

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Low vol. Production

Barrel Color: transparentCap Color: transparentTrim: black (anodised)

According Pelikan there was a demonstrator P30. The clip of this fountain pen and the narrow snap ring to secure the cap shown no similarities with the P30 blue or black. The cap ring bears an imprint: 'Pelikan MK 21 Germany'. There are copies with other imprints.

P60 Doublé stripe guilloche Series Production Color Details

Production: 6/1970-1/1973Nib: 14/18 ct gold Leaflet:

Logo:

Series Production

Barrel Color: goldCap Color: goldTrim: gold plated

In Juni and July 1970 was the pen produced with a 14 ct gold nib, from August 1970 it was equipped with an 18 ct gold nib.

P474 Black chrome Series Production Color

Production: 10/1973-6/1979Nib: Steel Leaflet:

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Series Production

Barrel Color: blackCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

P476 Chrome black Series Production Color

Production: 1/1973-7/1977Nib: Steel Leaflet:

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Series Production

Barrel Color: silverCap Color: blackTrim: silver-colored

P477 Chrome Exportmodel Color

Production: 1973Nib: 14 ct gold

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: silverCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

P478 Silverstar Series Production Color Details

Production: 10/1973-6/1979Nib: Steel Leaflet:

Logo:

Series Production

Barrel Color: chromeCap Color: chromeTrim: silver-colored

The model had changes during the production period, both at the clip and the barrel end.
From around 1975 the straight bar clip was used.

P479 Chrome smooth Exportmodel Color

Production: 1973Nib: Steel

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: silverCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

P482 Chrome brushed Series Production Color Details

Production: 10/1973-6/1979Nib: 14 ct gold Leaflet:

Logo:

Series Production

Barrel Color: silverCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

The model had changes during the production period, both at the clip and the barrel end.

P485 Chrome nickel black Series Production Color

Production: 10/1973-6/1979Nib: 14 ct white gold Leaflet:

Logo:

Series Production

Barrel Color: blackCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

P488 Silvexa Exportmodel Color Details

Production: 1973Nib: 14 ct gold

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: silverCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

From exterior as P478, but with gold nib

P490 Black gold Series Production Color Details

Production: 10/1973-6/1979Nib: 18 ct gold Leaflet:

Logo:

Series Production

Barrel Color: blackCap Color: goldTrim: gold plated

Successor of the P30 black with new 3-digit designation.
The pen shown here has instead of the Pelikan logo the logo of the Hannover Messe (Hanover fair).

P495 Doublé stripe guilloche Series Production Color

Production: 10/1973-6/1975Nib: 18 ct gold Leaflet:

Logo:

Series Production

Barrel Color: goldCap Color: goldTrim: gold plated

P495 Doublé square guilloche Series Production Color Details

Production: 7/1975-6/1979Nib: 18 ct gold

Logo:

Series Production

Barrel Color: goldCap Color: goldTrim: gold plated

The old P495 was manufactured from July 1975 only with square guilloche instead of stripe guilloche.

Pelikan Deskpen

In line with the preference for Deskpens in Italy Pelikan Milan manufactured a Deskpen using the cartridge system about 1973.

Model	Production Period	Nib
Deskpen	ca. 1973	Steel

Weight	Total Length	Barrel Length	Cap Length	Diameter	Ink Capacity
		7.32 in		0.43 in	2 x 0.8 ml (cartridge)
		186 mm		11 mm	2 x 0.8 ml (cartridge)

Deskpen Black-Green Series Production Color Details

Production: ca. 1973Nib: Steel

Logo:

Series Production

Barrel Color: dark greenCap Color: blackTrim: without

Without cap; with matching black grommet

Pelikan M4xx - Japan models

The piston fillers M464, M465, M475, M480, M484, M485, M486, M488, M491, M490 and M495 were sold in the mid 1960s in Japan. All these models can be operated with cartridges or converter. However, the shapes are very similar to the piston fillers which were sold in this period in Europe.
Surprisingly, the model numbers all begin with M (= mechanics), which is usually used for piston filler, while P was used for cartridge fillers. We presume the reason for this type of numbering was that these were fitted with a converter by Pelikan.

Model	Production Period	Nib
M4xx	1960s	Steel, 14 ct gold nib, 18 ct gold nib

Weight	Total Length	Barrel Length	Cap Length	Diameter	Ink Capacity
0.44 oz	5.26 in	4.23 in	2.50 in	0.43 in
12.4 g	133.5 mm	107.5 mm	63.5 mm	11 mm

M464 Red-Silvexa Exportmodel Color

Nib: Steel

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: redCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

M464 Black-Silvexa Exportmodel Color

Nib: Steel

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: blackCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

M465 Red Exportmodel Color

Nib: Steel

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: redCap Color: redTrim: silver-colored

M465 Black Exportmodel Color

Nib: Steel

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: blackCap Color: blackTrim: silver-colored

M475 Red-Silvexa Exportmodel Color

Nib: 14 ct gold

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: redCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

M475 Black-Silvexa Exportmodel Color

Nib: 14 ct gold

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: blackCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

M477-B Steel-Black Exportmodel Color

Nib: 14 ct gold

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: silverCap Color: blackTrim: silver-colored

M477-W Steel Exportmodel Color

Nib: 14 ct gold

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: silverCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

M480 Red Exportmodel Color

Nib: Steel, gold plated

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: redCap Color: redTrim: gold plated

M480 Black Exportmodel Color

Nib: Steel, gold plated

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: blackCap Color: blackTrim: gold plated

M484 Red Exportmodel Color

Nib: 14 ct gold

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: redCap Color: redTrim: gold plated

M484 Black Exportmodel Color

Nib: 14 ct gold

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: blackCap Color: blackTrim: gold plated

M485 Red-Silvexa Exportmodel Color

Nib: 18 ct gold

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: redCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

M485 Black-Silvexa Exportmodel Color

Nib: 18 ct gold

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: blackCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

M486 Red Exportmodel Color

Nib: 14 ct gold

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: redCap Color: redTrim: silver-colored

M486 Black Exportmodel Color Details

Nib: 14 ct gold

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: blackCap Color: blackTrim: silver-colored

Under the same name, there is a piston filler pen.

M488 Silvexa Exportmodel Color

Nib: 14 ct gold

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: silverCap Color: silverTrim: silver-colored

M490 Red-Gold doublé Exportmodel Color

Nib: 18 ct gold

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: rotCap Color: goldTrim: gold plated

M490 Black-Gold doublé Exportmodel Color

Nib: 18 ct gold

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: blackCap Color: goldTrim: gold plated

M491 Red Exportmodel Color

Nib: 18 ct Gold

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: redCap Color: redTrim: gold plated

M491 Black Exportmodel Color

Nib: 18 ct gold

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: blackCap Color: blackTrim: gold plated

M495 Gold doublé Exportmodel Color

Nib: 18 ct gold

Logo:

Exportmodel

Barrel Color: goldCap Color: goldTrim: gold plated

Pelikan - further improvements

After this first model and their improvements, the further progress can be traced to the model P459, these were produced in later years and can be found on the site of other fountain pens for adults.

goto other fountain pens for adults

For a good exchange the forum The Fountain Pen Network - FPN.

Timeline - First Cartridge Pens

Pelikan - The advanced conductive ink feeder

Pelikan P15 / P25

P15

P25

Pelikan P models with half covered nibs

Pelikan P/PK pens in redesigned style

Pelikan Deskpen

Pelikan M4xx - Japan models

Pelikan - further improvements

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