Pelikan Nationality Impression

**Ernst Bitterman** · October 17th, 2013, 01:08 PM

I'm looking at something on eBay that is... oddly shaped, in my Pelikan-inexperienced eye. It looks something like a 100 or 100N, but has a cap band more like a 120/140/400, and on that band it is marked W.GERMANY.

I've got a 140 (1950s), an M20 and M30 (1960s) and a P488 (1970s) and not one of them suggests which side of the Curtain they were made on; all impressions, as with my post-2011 M600, just say GERMANY.

So... am I missing something? Was Pelikan inconsistent in declaring it was from west side? I don't have any 1980s examples (a decade of much sabre-rattling), so it might be something like an early M200, but it might also be a strangely accomplished fake. I seek education!

**Jeph** · October 17th, 2013, 01:27 PM

"W. Germany" was officially 1957 to 1989 I think. Looking for substantiation now.

Edit: "West Germany " was an official term from 1949 to 1990.

Edit 2: I can find no evidence of anything other than the modern M100/M150/M200 and I suspect M400 that used "W. Germany" prior to reunification in 1990.
My few samples of postwar Pelikans (Ibis/120/140/P1) all only have "Germany" when the country is included, like what you have seen.

I am now also interested in what the Pelikan experts have to say!

**tandaina** · October 17th, 2013, 01:45 PM

Link? I promise not to steal it.

But just way easier to see.

**jar** · October 17th, 2013, 02:00 PM

Actually, for a long time what was termed West Germany did not recognize East Germany even existed and so continued to use Germany as origin designation of things made in W. Germany. It was only after recognizing East Germany as a nation that they used W. Germany as a origin designation and up until reunification that you see W. Germany.

In the early 70's under Willy Brandt recognition of East Germany as a separate nation gradually became the norm and companies began using W. Germany on products. That lasted up until reunification.

**Ernst Bitterman** · October 17th, 2013, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by tandaina

Link? I promise not to steal it.

But just way easier to see.

Even better, I'll lift some pictures from it so they hang around after the auction ends (which is VERY SOON):

Originally Posted by jar

Actually, for a long time what was termed West Germany did not recognize East Germany even existed and so continued to use Germany as origin designation of things made in W. Germany. It was only after recognizing East Germany as a nation that they used W. Germany as a origin designation and up until reunification that you see W. Germany.

In the early 70's under Willy Brandt recognition of East Germany as a separate nation gradually became the norm and companies began using W. Germany on products. That lasted up until reunification.

...and yet my dad has a '61 Mercedes 220S whose engine bay includes a plate reading "Made in Western Germany"; what's that line about consistency and bugbears?

However, sticking to the point, this does suggest an '80s-production pen.

**jar** · October 17th, 2013, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by Ernst Bitterman

...and yet my dad has a '61 Mercedes 220S whose engine bay includes a plate reading "Made in Western Germany"; what's that line about consistency and bugbears?

However, sticking to the point, this does suggest an '80s-production pen.

I had a '61 220s myself. Monster car. Does his have the trunk mounted AC?

**sargetalon** · October 17th, 2013, 08:15 PM

That looks to be a black M150. Distinguished from an M100 by the gold trim. Smaller than an M200 but nice writers.

**Jeph** · October 18th, 2013, 12:30 AM

Originally Posted by sargetalon

That looks to be a black M150. Distinguished from an M100 by the gold trim. Smaller than an M200 but nice writers.

Yup, that's a pre-1990 M150.
M100
M150
M200
M250

Pelikan Ms.jpg

**Pommel** · October 18th, 2013, 01:14 AM

My Lamy 2000, bought in the late 80's has W. Germany under the clip indeed.

**KrazyIvan** · October 18th, 2013, 09:05 AM

Oh cool. I did not realize the M100 came in a black version. I like my Stormtrooper version:

Pelikan M100 by IvanRomero, on Flickr

**Ernst Bitterman** · October 18th, 2013, 09:13 AM

Thanks to one and all-- it's always nice to have a little light cast upon a blind spot.

Originally Posted by jar

Originally Posted by Ernst Bitterman

...and yet my dad has a '61 Mercedes 220S whose engine bay includes a plate reading "Made in Western Germany"; what's that line about consistency and bugbears?

However, sticking to the point, this does suggest an '80s-production pen.

I had a '61 220s myself. Monster car. Does his have the trunk mounted AC?

No AC, but it's got the original Dunlop tires!

...which is why it's up on jacks. They're not bald (under 25,000 miles on 'em) but they're strangely crispy.