Pen World V32.3

The Journal of Writing Culture

the new Herzstück: “from the heart” of Pelikan it’s a twister! the Retro

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Tornado PaperSkater: not your parents’ pen brand

PW Readers’ Choice Awards: 25 years of your opinion APRIL 2019 $6.95US $7.95CAN

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Volume 32, Number 3 ON OUR COVER: Pelikan Herzstück 1929 Limited Edition fountain pen.

Pelikan “differential” 37 the From the heart of Germany came a filling system that changed the pen world. Pelikan celebrates its 90th anniversary.

candidates 27 primary It’s time to pick your favorite pens of 2018 in the annual PW Readers’ Choice Awards.

John Corwin experience 30 the Meet a doctor with a legible signature—and a second career—thanks to flex nibs.

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totally Retro 42 like, The Retro 51 Tornado rollerball is an icon of style and performance.

on paper 46 skating Don Takemura gives Itoya pens new life and a new name: PaperSkater.

50 pokettopen The history of Japanese pocket pens is compendious. Let’s get started.

man behind the hands 54 the Artist Boris Artzybasheff brought life to the Parker 51 by capturing it in the hands of users.

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the PW vault Pelikan, circa 2001

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in memoriam Frédéric Faggionato shop Dromgoole’s Fine Writing

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Playing Favorites

BY NICKY PESSAROFF

One of the questions I’m most often asked is, what’s your favorite pen? y standard answer is that editors don’t have favorites, and that’s absolutely true. I’m loathe even to discuss what pens are in my personal collection, let alone what my all-time favorite writing instrument is. For one thing, we do old school journalism at Pen World. Whereas the blogosphere in fact depends on the personality and opinions of the individual to create compelling material, a magazine depends on a certain level of objectivity; otherwise you, the reader, can’t trust us.

But that’s just my excuse. The frank fact is that I’m constitutionally incapable of deciding my favorite anything. The question cripples my brain, especially if it’s a subject matter about which I deeply care. In a world of Top 10 lists of everything, I remain a null set.

I suppose that the next time I see psychiatrist Dr. John Corwin at a pen show, I could ask him whether this indecision on my part speaks to a deep psychological issue; but for one thing, I’m not sure I want to know the answer, and for another, I’d just find myself distracted by his collection of flex nib fountain pens for sale. You can learn more about this “flexible psychiatrist” in this issue.

Then keep reading, and you’ll undoubtedly find some of your favorite things, as long as you’re not expecting raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens. But nominatons for Pen World’s 25th annual Readers’ Choice Awards are here—chosen by PW subscribers, presented to the brands that produced your favorite writing instruments in 2018 I don’t envy you, gentle reader, for the job we give you each year. Our part is relatively easy: going through the prior year’s issues and placing pens in the correct corresponding categories (although even that can be tricky in some cases). The official judges have the much harder task of whittling that list down to a top five. And you, the reader, are tasked with the most difficult job, of choosing your absolute favorite pens from the past year in the 12 RCA categories.

Germany’s Pelikan was one of your favorite things last year—the Statue of Zeus limited edition fountain pen won “Pen of the Year” in the 2018 Pen World Readers’ Choice Awards. In this April issue, Pelikan’s new Herzstück fountain pen graces our cover. The German name translates roughly to “from the core” or “from the heart,” and the Herzstück certainly gets to the core of what Pelikan does best—from its classic body style to its differential piston filler.

Another favorite from last year’s RCAs was Japan’s Sailor Pens—distributed in North America by Itoya of America’s Don Takemura— which won two awards. In this issue, Takemura officially introduces us to PaperSkater, the renamed and rejuvenated Itoya line of writing instruments. And whereas Sailor speaks to decades of tradition, the new PaperSkater challenges the very definition of “writing instrument.”

In 2018, the ever-popular Retro 51 brand won your votes for “Best Non-Fountain Pen” for its Rescue Cats and Dogs series. In this issue, we celebrate the iconic Tornado rollerball, which has set a standard in style with substance for over 20 years. Never one to rest on its laurels, Retro has now redesigned its Tornado fountain pens, from grip to nib.

You’ll find many more of your favorites and soon-to-be favorites within these pages, from pen shops to Japanese pocket pens. You’ll also find that yearly task we ask of you: taking the time to choose your favorites for the 2019 PW Readers’ Choice Awards.

Thankfully, I can’t vote, but you can and should. After all, this magazine is for you. Here’s hoping that PW is your favorite publication. editor@penworld.com

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The Pelikan Phenomenon

BY REINHARD KARGL

The German writing instrument company remains extremely collectible by staying true to its roots.

From left—Pelikan’s 90th anniversary Herzstück limited edition fountain pen, Pelikan “four chick” cap-top engraving and iconic Pelikan clip, and piston-filler and ink window.

P

elikan is one of the world’s largest, most historic, most consistent, and most collectible brands not only when it comes to fountain pens, but for all manner of writing implements, stationery, and artist supplies. While Pelikan just celebrated its 180th anniversary, the reality is that the German brand’s background is highly complex. This extends even to the name itself: is it “Pelikan,” “Pelican,” or perhaps even “Pélican”? Actually, at least until the 1950s, it could have been all of these—depending on whether you were in the German, English, or French-speaking world.

“Pelikan has a rich history behind it, and the fountain pens were quite innovative at the time of their introduction,” explains Pelikan collector and blogger Joshua Danley (thepelikansperch.com). “The pens cover a wide spectrum of interest, and Pelikan’s vintage offerings in particular are second to none. The models have held up well over time and continue to be work horses many decades later. They transcend the sum of their parts in a way that is hard to describe. You just have to use one to know what it’s all about.”

Danley says his “flock is now north of 200 birds.”

One reason for Pelikan’s meandering story is that the company has made and sold hundreds of products, including inks for drawing, printing, and writing; and artists’ paints, glue, pencils, brushes, erasers, and papers. Any kind of office, writing, or artist supplies— Pelikan probably had it in its repertoire at one time or another.

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Top—Herzstück’s 18 karat gold nib with 90th anniversary engraving; ink window engraved with the differential piston filler’s original patent number and grip ring with engraved edition number. Above—presentation box with limited edition Herzstück Royal Blue ink.

The earliest beginnings go back to German chemist Carl Hornemann, who began to manufacture inks and paints on a rural farming estate near Hanover in Lower Saxony in 1838, decades before a German state even existed. Another Chemist, Günther Wagner, joined the business in 1863 and quickly became a leading figure and arguably the most prominent name in Pelikan lore. Even the bird logo goes back to Wagner, who adopted it from his own family crest. (The logo exists in various versions, and collectors use the backgrounds and the number of stylized chicks in the bird’s nest to distinguish among time periods).

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In addition to a new factory in Hannover-Hainholz, the company soon built another one in the Austrian Empire’s city of Eger (Észak-Magyarország in today’s Hungary, this factory was later relocated to Vienna). It was followed by a branch in Paris, a warehouse in Munich (1909), an office in New York (1911), additional facilities across Europe and South America, and further contracts with partners and licensees for certain products and parts. While doing so, Pelikan not only endured the collapse of the German and Hapsburg Empires following World War I, the redrawing of continental maps in the Treaty of Versailles, the resulting Weimar Republic, postwar economic crisis and hyperinflation, and finally—only 10 years after Pelikan introduced its first fountain pen—World War II. As a result, many records of the far-flung business became victims of the vicissitudes of time.

In terms of design philosophy, Pelikan fountain pens were never wildly experimental with the exception of its phenomenal school pens, in particular the Pelikano. (Introduced in 1960 and still offered today, this pen became so important for the survival of fountain pens in Europe that we will tell the Pelikano story in detail in an upcoming edition of Pen World.)

School pens excluded, Pelikan’s overall design philosophy can be illustrated by comparing one of its most collectible pens, the Pelikan 140, with the Parker 51. Each was a top seller during the 1950s and ’60s, both targeted similar markets, but that’s where the similarities end. Side by side with the 140, the 51 looks dashingly futuristic, even though it predates the 140 by a decade (1941 vs. 1952). The streamlined appearance and colors of Parker’s “World’s Most Wanted Pen” remind of aviation, aerodynamics, the jet age. It’s as if its arrow wants to point into the future.

Above—the striped tortoiseshell brown 400NN fountain pen was most likely produced in 1956, and the cap likely comes from an earlier 400N series fountain pen. Right—the green-striped Pelikan 140 was produced from 1955 to 1963 and is shown with a Parker 51 for comparison. Images courtesy of Reinhard Kargl.

The Pelikan 140 is a conservative design, retaining the aura of pre-war elegance. Weimar Republic chic, perhaps? Pelikan held on to materials like celluloid and resins when others had long switched to injection-molded plastic. Parker’s innovative hooded nib and feed reduced ink evaporation (while cleverly concealing a less costly and unsightly nib). By contrast, the 140’s gold nib is finely engraved and gracefully curved. Nib and feed can be unscrewed and swapped easily.

Even after 70 years, both pens are great everyday writers, but they could hardly be more different. While the 51 requires some tinkering with its filling systems, the 140 perfected Pelikan’s patented piston mechanism.

Pelikan first introduced the “differential piston filler” to the world in 1929, and Danley deems it the “gold standard among piston fillers.” Pelikan introduced this revolutionary pen after purchasing a patent from the original inventor, Theodor Kovács. Two differing thread leads inside the pen allow the shaft to turn faster than the grip. This system can hold a high volume of ink, fills more easily, and produces no ink blots. And, there is no sac that can become brittle.

This year’s Pelikan Herzstück 1929 Limited Edition is based on the original. “It is the most important new anniversary pen from Pelikan,” says Randall Spicer, vice president of sales at Chartpak Luxury Brands Group, Pelikan’s U.S. distributor. The original patent number (“Pat. DE457462”) is prominently engraved on the pen. Corresponding to the last digits, only 462 individually-numbered pens will be made. The old four-chick logo (used from 1929 to 1937) adorns the 18 karat gold nib, and black resin and gold accents complete the appearance.

With its premium lines, Pelikan remains intentionally classic, timeless, and conservative— elegant but never stodgy. Danley puts it this way: “These pens are not at all ‘blingy’ or intrusive and can be at home in the board room as much as the park for some journaling. All of the above would be for naught if it took too long to get down to the business of dashing off a quick thought. Pelikan excels here as well.”

Twist caps can be removed quickly but are seated securely when carried. Ink flow is generous.

Nibs have a low tendency to dry out. Clips are curved just right to be both graceful and functional, and Pelikan pens feel well balanced. Many designs include an integrated ink window, and the piston filling system allows for generous quantities of ink. The threaded nib sections make maintenance and cleaning generally easy. And should the piston ever require a tiny bit of silicon grease, the lubricant can be applied without removal or special tools.

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Left—Pelikan M600 Violet-White presentation box, K600 Violet-White twist-action ballpoint, and M600 Violet-White fountain pen.

Right—M101N Gray-Blue fountain pen unposted and posted, and close-up of the gray-blue swirls of cellulose-acetate and end cap featuring the Pelikan logo.

Part of Pelikan’s appeal is the continuation of model lines. For example, although updated and refined, the Souverän line looks almost exactly like the vintage 400 models. Both vintage (which Danley defines as anything before 1970) and modern versions have their fans. But when it comes to the writing experience, Danley says that while today’s Pelikan nibs are solid performers, their vintage nibs are softer and more flexible, thereby elevating the writing experience and imparting the text with a unique character.

Collectors of vintage Pelikans may hunt for doublebroad, triple-broad, oblique-medium, oblique-broad through triple-broad, italic, and broad-italic, and many special purpose nibs, which came in different degrees of flexibility. The line once included specialty nibs for writing musical notes, super-elastic extra-fine and extra-extra-fine nibs for stenographers, and many others.

Current production models feature heavier and larger bodies, are easy to acquire, simple to use and maintain, and sport nibs that are a sight to behold, especially the large bicolor gold nibs. The lower priced Classic line has steel nibs (which may be gold plated), whereas wonderfully crafted, large 14 karat and 18 karat gold nibs (with partial or full rhodium plating, as in the Stresemann series) can be found on the more expensive Souverän and Toledo lines, as well as on other premium and special editions.

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Top to bottom, left to right—Edelstein Ink of the Year 50 ml glass bottles: Star Ruby (2019), Olivine (2018), Smoky Quartz (2017), Aquamarine (2016), Amethyst (2015), and Garnet (2014).

Currently, Pelikan offers standard production nibs in extra-fine, fine, medium, and broad. However, for those who are willing to wait—and to pay premium prices—Pelikan offers its Make-a-Wish Nib program. Once a month, Pelikan opens its factory doors to customers for a personalized tour, culminating in the creation of a bespoke nib. The program has proven so popular that all dates for 2019 are already booked.

Let’s take a brief look at some more of Pelikan’s latest releases and current special offerings. This May, Pelikan launches a new special edition of its venerable M600, the Violet-White. For lovers of the vintage look (without having to fuss with real vintage), a new model is being added to the M101N series: gray-blue will join the existing lineup of tortoiseshell-brown, tortoiseshell-red, bright red, and “lizard.”

Maki-e is an ancient East Asian artisan lacquer technique with a 6,000-year tradition. This has led to some of the most unique and outstanding Pelikan pens, with each being a piece of art taking several months to make. Naturally, these pens are

made in small, limited numbers. In this series, Pelikan will announce another maki-e ornamented pen later in 2019. In the meantime, 2018’s Pelikan Maki-e Peacock has been nominated for a “Pen of the Year” PW RCA (p. 27).

Pelikan is, of course, also one of the world’s most prominent ink makers, and its classic 4001 formulation—in production for over 100 years—is a standard by which other inks are measured.

The premium Edelstein (“precious stone”) line of ink will get Star Ruby as its annual addition, a shimmering red-pink hue, making a total of 15 Edelstein colors available.

Of course, the Pelikan story doesn’t end here. With a brand so diverse and steeped in history, still flying strong after over 180 years, this bird won’t become an endangered species any time soon.

Visit pelikan.com.

Read more of Contributing Editor Reinhard Kargl’s work at reinhardkargl.com.

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imho

Nana’s Clown Pen

BY BRUCE JAEGER

When I was growing up on Long Island in the 1950s, my maternal grandmother, “Nana,” lived in our downstairs bedroom. She had lost her sight due to diabetes and used a cane and a walker to maneuver in her world. Because I was always around, she relied on me to help her with many of her tasks, including helping her to read and sign simple notes, papers, and checks.

Nana had a device for lining up her signature that consisted of two metal horizontal bars attached at both ends by two vertical bars. I would place this device at the signature line and guide her hand into position.

I remember the fountain pen she used to do this task; it was made of resin with a gold nib and a screw cap. But what I remember the most about this writing instrument was its color, or should I say, colors. They were so bright and had a mixture of yellow and orange, reminding me of the bright colors of a clown’s suit.

That fountain pen would stay with me for years, unused and more than likely untouched, until a fateful decision meant I would lose it forever.

While setting up an office space in my son’s old bedroom, I came across a small box with some cheap old pens and Nana’s beautiful “Clown Pen.” I gave the box to my wife along with some other items to sell on eBay. Almost instantly, there was keen interest in the box of pens being sold as a single lot. Many bids started to post, inluding requests to “buy now.”

One interested bidder pleaded with us to let the bidding go forward as there was a rare Chilton Clown fountain pen pen in the lot! It was Nana’s pen. As the time wound down, the bidding became furious; it sold for many hundreds of dollars, which came as a complete shock to me. I had no second thoughts at that time.

About 10 years later I somehow became interested in collecting fountain pens. Imagine how I felt now about that regrettable day when that pen left my hands for the last

time. It is still one of the deepest mistakes I have endured, especially because I am now a collector, and more importantly, because of its attachment to a fond memory.

As we grow older and reflect on our lives, nostalgia becomes more significant. If only I kept that pen as a reminder of the deep connection I had to my grandmother and the lessons I learned from her as her helping hand. The thought of that pen brings back so many fond memories of my time spent with her. Arriving home from school, I would hear her listening to her “talking books” phonograph records from the Institute for the Blind. I would talk with her for hours. We were companions even though we were separated by generations. It was always easier to talk with her than anyone else in my family.

I am sure that there are Chilton Clown pens out there that I could spend my money on, especially now that I am a collector. But it wouldn’t be the same. Not at all.

Bruce Jaeger is a PW subscriber and fountain pen collector.

He lives in Carlsbad, California.

Share your pen experience, insight or memory with PW readers in approximately 500 words and mail to Pen World Editor, P.O. Box 2276, Cypress, TX 77410, or email to editor@penworld.com. Authors whose essays are published receive $100.

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