Pelikan 400

On the 25th of May, 1950, the model 400 was presented. The first fountain pen in this series had a friction fit nib (until August 1950), followed by screw in nibs as used in the previous models Pelikan 100 and 100N.

From 15th of June, 1951 colored cap crowns were available, so it was easy to know what color of ink was used  (even unusual colors such as purple and white were known).

From 27th of November, 1953, transparent plastic seal instead of black seals were used.

Before 1954 the cap band was without engraving, from 1954 onwards it was engraved with Pelikan 400.

As of December 1954, the nib design with the Pelikan logo was introduced. Previously, the imprint was Pelikan 585.

In 1956, the Pelikan 400 was discontinued and the 400N model was introduced. N is for New.

Model Production Period Nib
400 1950-1956

14 ct gold nib, for export some had 18 ct gold nibs

Weight Total Length Barrel Length Cap Length Diameter Ink Capacity
0.54 oz 4.96 in 4.02 in 2.24 in 0.47 in 2.0 ml
15.3 g 126 mm 102 mm 57 mm 12 mm


400

400 Green-striped Series Production Color
Production: 1950-1956Nib: 14 ct gold Leaflet: DeutschLink opens PDF documentPelikan Hauptpreisliste 80 DeutschLink opens PDF documentPelikan Hauptpreisliste 90 / 1955
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Series Production
Barrel Color: green-stripedCap Color: blackTrim: gold plated
[+] Variation: 400 Bosch
[+] Variation: 400 Colored cap tops
400 Tortoise brown striped Series Production Color
Production: 1950-1956Nib: 14 ct gold Leaflet: DeutschLink opens PDF documentPelikan Hauptpreisliste 80 DeutschLink opens PDF documentPelikan Hauptpreisliste 90 / 1955
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Series Production
Barrel Color: tortoise brown stripedCap Color: dark brownTrim: gold plated
400 Black-striped Series Production Color
Production: 1950-1956Nib: 14 ct gold Leaflet: DeutschLink opens PDF documentPelikan Hauptpreisliste 80 DeutschLink opens PDF documentPelikan Hauptpreisliste 90 / 1955
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Series Production
Barrel Color: black-stripedCap Color: blackTrim: gold plated
400 Grey-striped Series Production Color
Production: 1950-1956Nib: 14 ct gold Leaflet: DeutschLink opens PDF documentPelikan Hauptpreisliste 90 / 1955
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Series Production
Barrel Color: grey-stripedCap Color: blackTrim: gold plated
400 Green / Green-striped Exportmodel Color Details
Production: 1954-1956Nib: 14 ct gold Leaflet: FranzösischLink opens PDF documentFranzösische Pelikan Broschüre
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Exportmodel
Barrel Color: green-stripedCap Color: greenTrim: gold plated
On this model the otherwise black parts (cap, grip section, filling knob) are green (light green-grey).
400 Light tortoise Exportmodel Color
Production: 1954-1956Nib: 14 ct gold Leaflet: FranzösischLink opens PDF documentFranzösische Pelikan Broschüre
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Exportmodel
Barrel Color: light tortoiseCap Color: light tortoiseTrim: gold plated
400 Light tortoise brown Exportmodel Color
Production: 1954-1956Nib: 14 ct gold
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Exportmodel
Barrel Color: light tortoiseCap Color: brownTrim: gold plated
400 Green transparent Low vol. Production Color Details
Production: 1950Nib: 14 ct gold
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Low vol. Production
Barrel Color: green transparentCap Color: green transparentTrim: gold plated

Green transparent version, called demonstrator were e.g. delivered to stationery shops.

[+] Variation: 400 Green transparent (without cap ring)
400 White Prototype Color
 Nib: 14 ct gold
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Prototype
Barrel Color: whiteCap Color: whiteTrim: gold plated
400 White Prototype Color
 Nib: 14 ct gold
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Prototype
Barrel Color: whiteCap Color: whiteTrim: gold plated
400 Black Exportmodel Color Details
Production: ca. 1954Nib: 14 ct gold Leaflet: FranzösischLink opens PDF documentFranzösische Pelikan Broschüre
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Exportmodel
Barrel Color: blackCap Color: blackTrim: gold plated

A black Pelikan 400 is not documented at Pelikan. However, several collectors have appropriate specimens.

Unexceptional Export model Pelikan 400

A very exciting variant of the model Pelikan 400 comes with an 18 carat nib with the inscription Günther Wagner, missing logo on the cap top and a caption at the end of the barrel with unusually large letters.

Partly in these models you can find a friction fit nib, this is an unmistakable sign that these models were made at a very early date, friction fit nibs existed until August 1950.

The model is not known in the Pelikan archive and no further information can be found regarding this fountain pen or the nib.

The pens may be prototypes of the model 400. An alternative thesis is based on the use of 18 carat nibs with French custom hallmarks. The model may be a customer variant of the model 400 for the French market. Accordingly, the fountain pens are shown as an export model until further, reliable information is available.

Exportmodel Brown-striped Exportmodel Color
Production: 1950Nib: 18 ct gold
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Exportmodel
Barrel Color: brown-stripedCap Color: dark brownTrim: gold plated
Exportmodel Black-striped Exportmodel Color
Production: 1950Nib: 18 ct gold
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Exportmodel
Barrel Color: black-stripedCap Color: blackTrim: gold plated
Exportmodel Black-striped Exportmodel Color
Production: 1950Nib: 18 ct gold
Logo: Without Logo Exportmodel
Barrel Color: black-stripedCap Color: blackTrim: gold plated

Pelikan 500

Identical to the Pelikan 400, only with rolled gold cap and filling knob.

Model Production Period Nib
500 - Gold double 1950-1956

14 ct gold nib

Weight Total Length Barrel Length Cap Length Diameter Ink Capacity
0.60 oz 4.96 in 4.02 in 2.17 in 0.47 in 2.0 ml
17.1 g 126 mm 102 mm 55 mm 12 mm


500

500 Tortoise brown-striped - Gold double Series Production Color
Production: 1950-1956Nib: 14 ct gold Leaflet: DeutschLink opens PDF documentPelikan Hauptpreisliste 80 DeutschLink opens PDF documentPelikan Hauptpreisliste 90 / 1955
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Series Production
Barrel Color: brown-stripedCap Color: goldTrim: gold plated
[+] Variation: 500 Plain tort.-striped - Gold double
500 Black-striped - Gold double Series Production Color
Production: 1951-1956Nib: 14 ct gold Leaflet: DeutschLink opens PDF documentNeuheiten zur Pelikan Preisliste 70/8 DeutschLink opens PDF documentPelikan Hauptpreisliste 80 DeutschLink opens PDF documentPelikan Hauptpreisliste 90 / 1955
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Series Production
Barrel Color: black-stripedCap Color: goldTrim: gold plated
500 Light tortoise - Gold double Exportmodel Color
Production: unknownNib: 14 ct gold
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Exportmodel
Barrel Color: light tortoiseCap Color: goldTrim: gold plated
500 Sea green-striped - Gold double Exportmodel Color Details
Production: 1954Nib: 14 ct gold Leaflet: DeutschLink opens PDF documentAdvertisement appr. 1954
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Exportmodel
Barrel Color: sea green-stripedCap Color: goldTrim: gold plated

Sea green, the strips are olive-green and black belted. The cap and the filling knob  is made from gold double.

500 Grey-striped - Gold doublé Series Production Color
Production: unknownNib: 14 ct gold
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Series Production
Barrel Color: grey-stripedCap Color: goldTrim: gold plated
500 Black - Gold double unknown Color
Production: 1952Nib: 14 ct gold
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) unknown
Barrel Color: blackCap Color: goldTrim: gold plated

Pelikan 520

Enire pen is made from rolled gold double.

Model Production Period Nib
520 - Rolled gold double 1955

14 ct gold nib

Weight Total Length Barrel Length Cap Length Diameter Ink Capacity
4.96 in 4.02 in 2.17 in 0.47 in 2.0 ml
126 mm 102 mm 55 mm 12 mm


520

520 Italian Overlay Jewellery Color Details
Production: 1950-1956Nib: 14 ct gold
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Jewellery
Barrel Color: rolled gold doubleCap Color: rolled gold doubleTrim: gold plated

Cap engraving 'Lam.' = laminato (gold plated in Italian)

520 Rolled gold double Low vol. Production Color
Production: 1955Nib: 14 ct gold Leaflet: DeutschLink opens PDF documentPelikan Hauptpreisliste 90 / 1955
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Low vol. Production
Barrel Color: rolled gold doubleCap Color: rolled gold doubleTrim: gold plated

Pelikan 600

Cap and filling knob made of 14 ct gold.

From 20th of June, 1952 Pelikan made the cap imprint: Günther Wagner Germany 14c-585 Pelikan

From 23rd of September, 1952 the cap crown is made of gold, this distinguishes the model 500 from the model 600.

Model Production Period Nib
600 1957-1963

14 ct gold nib

Weight Total Length Barrel Length Cap Length Diameter Ink Capacity
4.96 in 4.02 in 2.17 in 0.47 in 2.0 ml
126 mm 102 mm 55 mm 12 mm


600

600 Tortoise brown-striped - 14 ct gold Series Production Color Details
Production: 1957-1963Nib: 14 ct gold Leaflet: DeutschLink opens PDF documentPelikan Hauptpreisliste 80 DeutschLink opens PDF documentPelikan Hauptpreisliste 90 / 1955
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Series Production
Barrel Color: tortoise-stripedCap Color: goldTrim: 585 gold

Tortoise brown striped. Cap and filling knob made from 14 ct gold.

600 Black-striped - 14 ct gold Series Production Color Details
Production: 1955-1963Nib: 14 ct gold Leaflet: DeutschLink opens PDF documentPelikan Hauptpreisliste 80 DeutschLink opens PDF documentPelikan Hauptpreisliste 90 / 1955
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Series Production
Barrel Color: black-stripedCap Color: goldTrim: 585 gold

Black-Striped. Cap and filling knob made from 14 ct gold.

600 Sea green-striped - 14 ct gold Exportmodel Color Details
Production: unknownNib: 14 ct gold
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Exportmodel
Barrel Color: sea green-stripedCap Color: goldTrim: 585 gold

Sea green, the strips are olive-green and black belted. The cap and the filling knob is made from 14 carat gold.

Pelikan 700

14 ct gold. Hallmark (14C - 585) on the cap, barrel, clip and clip nut.

Model Production Period Nib
700 - 14 ct gold 1951-1955

14 ct gold nib

Weight Total Length Barrel Length Cap Length Diameter Ink Capacity
1.05 oz 4.96 in 4.02 in 2.20 in 0.47 in 2.0 ml
29.9 g 126 mm 102 mm 56 mm 12 mm


700

700 14 ct gold Series Production Color Details
Production: 1951-1955Nib: 14 ct gold Leaflet: DeutschLink opens PDF documentPelikan Hauptpreisliste 80 DeutschLink opens PDF documentPelikan Hauptpreisliste 90 / 1955
Logo: Logo as of 1938 (two chicken) Series Production
Barrel Color: 14 ct goldCap Color: 14 ct goldTrim: 585 gold

14 ct gold. Hallmark (14C - 585) on the cap, barrel, clip and clip ring and clip nut.

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