Billed by Detroit Pen Show organizers as an “in-depth seminar about luxury Pelikan Pens,” this Thomas R Baley presentation yesterday was certainly that. [1-3]
In the exhibit hall over the course of three days, it seemed there was no such thing as a casual conversation about fountain pens with him at his seller tables doing business as “The Pen Man.” As an authorized dealer for Pelikan, that line not only dominated, but reflected both a range and depth that suggested as much an opportunity for education as temptation for product purchase. [4]
His formal October 31 talk delivered in a dedicated break-out room, then, provided a chance to appreciate these fine writing instruments in structured historical, technical, and marketing contexts.
Acknowledging the company as having been established a century prior, he initially focused on the invention of a fountain pen filling mechanism by Theodor Kovács — who was never ultimately able to commercialize that piston mechanism. “Pelikan acquired him,” Mr Baley said “for his 1923 patent,” which allowed Pelikan in 1929 to move beyond established producer of chemical dyes and inks, to fountain pens. [5-7]
Today, referencing the green-striped Souverän as foundational range, Pelikans can be had from among five variations. The largest, M1000 model, is just over 5¾ inches closed, at a weight of 1.14 ounces (without ink); M300 is the smallest, at little more than 4¼ inches and 0.37 ounces. [8]
Having set that stage, Mr Baley advanced to differentiate limited versus special edition pens, beginning with an unassuming pen that he pulled from his pocket. He’d acquired it decades earlier as a piece that had been produced in limited number — but not, as other issues of the same run had been matched somewhat later, after-the-fact, with sequentially numbered papers. [9,10]
That made his pen worth considerably less than the others. Ironically, it may in fact be more rare.
More generally, unique issues not only serve the community of collectors, but also provide a means by which Pelikan can and does set itself apart among competitors. So-called “Rolled Gold Doublé L” caps were elaborated upon as an example of technology that provided durability significantly greater than gold-plating. [11]
Discussion of “demonstrator” models provided some of the most broadly accessible content for an audience varying widely, from simply curious to scrupulous. [12-14]
In the case of this presentation, however, Tom Baley did more than simply pull back the curtain on a Wizard: He pealed back the many layers of a Pelikan M800-class that seems intent (as if having a life of its own) on both appearing to tell a bit more of its own story viz competitor offerings, while at the same time effectively stirring the need for further inquiry and discussion.
Ostensibly an anniversary release that originally appeared a dozen or so years back, it was said to come in two variations — differing only in trim, standard gold-plated (M800) and palladium (M805). [15]
Without fanfare, however, a debated number of these were released with “etched descriptors of the various parts filled in with white paint,” pointing out “key features such as the spindle nut, twist stopper, and piston” — referring to eight attributes in all. Most were annoted in English, a rare number in Spanish. At least one German-language peice is said to exist. Versions were released in China, too, with markings in the native tongue, with both simplified and traditional Chinese variations.
The differences don’t end there.
Mechanically, while some of these demonstrators feature a cutout “in the brass connector of the piston assembly to allow for better visualization of the spindle within the connector, making it a true demonstrator,” other sibling writing implements do not.
Some fifty minutes into his advertised one-hour presentation, Mr Baley logged-off the computer that had projected carefully selected material onto a screen as visual support for his sequence of easily discussed content.
He then asked for room lights to be brought up and took a chair out near the audience.
Opening a case of hand-selected Pelikan specialties, he invited anyone interested in spending a bit more time here to draw closer, pass amongst themselves some of the fountain pens he was was willing to pull out for them.
The first was one of what is believed to have been only twenty-five mislabeled M800 Demonstrator, with the word “Empuñadura” engraved on its piston knob. It wasn’t a pen anyone would have seen on the show floor — likely any show floor. And with that, he happily took a backseat to his own subjects.
Whatever plan anyone may have had to follow, they gave no indication that it was worth missing what they were now about to touch.
References
- Detroit Pen Show (home page).
- “Seminar Schedule” (October 31, 2021) Detroit Pen Show.
- The Pen Man (Facebook Page).
- “Collections” Pelikan.
- “Pelikan Fountain Pen Guide” Franz-Joseph Geidel (February 13, 2013) Gentleman’s Gazette.
- “Heritage & Tradition” Pelikan.
- “1929-1950 – The piston filling mechanism” Pelikan.
- “Souverän Black-Green” Pelikan.
- “Special Edition Spotlight” Joshua E Danley (November 16, 2014) The Pelikan’s Perch.
- “Transparent Green M800 – The Collector’s Edition” Joshua E Danley (December 23, 2015) The Pelikan’s Perch.
- “What The Doublé L? An Exploration Of Rolled Gold” Joshua E Danley (May 2, 2021) The Pelikan’s Perch.
- “Before It Was Cool To Be Clear: The Origins of Pelikan’s Demonstrators” Joshua E Danley (September 8, 2020) The Pelikan’s Perch.
- “Demonstrator Pens Comparison” Penultimate Dave (My 8, 2019) YouTube.
- “How It’s Made – Pelikan Souveran Writing Instruments” Appelboom Pennen (September 20, 2019) YouTube.
- “The M800 Demonstrator: Then And Now” Joshua E Danley (April 16, 2020) The Pelikan’s Perch.
