Dating a prewar Pelikan 100 to c. 1931-33
It’s been an honor and a pleasure to restore this very early prewar 100.
I have to say that I’m much more partial to the green marble binde than the all black BUT I’m in love with all of the little old details. Dating 100s is a lot of fun, like a detective game. Much gratitude to Dominic Rothemel’s comprehensive pelikan-collectibles.com website. It’s a lovely rabbit hole!
The four-chick logo is a quick binary indicator for pre/post-1938. Also acrylic vs. cellulose acetate barrel and piston knob (knurled ebonite vs smooth celluloid). Also celluloid vs. ebonite cap.
But there’s still a lot of years and clues to knock out. She’s old, but exactly how old?
Second major clue for the vintage of this old bird is the four breather holes in the cap. The first generation (‘29-31) had two holes. The four holes only lasted from ‘31-33.
Third was the grip section. First generation was Bakelite and the window was very dark, or just is now due to aging. The legendary Osman Sumer showed me his at the DC Pen Show. That window is DARK. Anyway, this section is symmetrical and made of ebonite unlike later tapered versions. Rothemel states the transition from Bakelite to ebonite was June 1931.
Last and I forgot was the cap top. Originally it was cylindrical with parallel lines from bottom to top until curving to finial dome. In mid 1931 they changed to the tapered cap top and it stayed that way to the end.
So there you have it. Just a little bit of love and now she’s not in bad shape for about 95 years old!