50 Years of Pelikano

Half a century of Pelikano: the fountain pen from the long-established Pelikan company celebrates its 50th anniversary

The Pelikan company will have cause for celebration in 2010: the time-tested Pelikano school and junior fountain pen will be 50 years old! To mark this anniversary, a trendy new design version of the classic will appear in the colours red, blue and green.

The Pelikano can look back on an eventful history: already in the 40ies, the fountain pen became the writing instrument of choice for the masses. Suddenly not only adults but also school children wanted to write with a fountain pen, so that numerous manufacturers offered school fountain pens. These were modifications of the normal fountain pens for adults, but were barely adapted to children's writing. Learning to write was only given consideration in the nib: the fountain pens were equipped with flat or ball-pointed nibs, to make writing easier. As Pelikan gives top priority to the needs of children, back in 1959 the company began an extensive questionnaire campaign among educators to assess school fountain pens, in order to gain well-founded knowledge in relation to these writing instruments and the process of learning to write in general. Analysis of the survey led to the design of the Pelikano - a fountain pen that was specifically geared to the needs of pupils engaged in the process of learning to write. The centre of gravity was located right at the front, so that the Pelikano could not shoot out of children's small hands. The ink pot was replaced by the clean use of ink cartridges. A survey of around 1000 school children showed that they preferred the colour combination blue and silver. The Pelikano introduced in 1960 fulfilled all of these features. Consumers were successfully convinced to purchase the fountain pen through brochure advertising and, for the first time, through television advertising. In 1964 several million pupils were writing with the Pelikano, and the fountain pen became firmly established in schools.

Valuable information from Pelikan's research into the demands made on a fountain pen has been incorporated into the continuous design modifications to the Pelikano models up to the present day. In 1965, Pelikan designed a brand new type of Pelikano: in addition to large grip grooves in the front section to ensure a secure grip, it had a large, flexible and stable nib, making it capable of withstanding the clumsy writing pressure of children learning to write. The nib was easily visible, making writing easier for the pupil. The screw cap was replaced by a sturdy push-on cap. An inspection glass also enabled simple checking of the ink level on cartridge fountain pens. With regard to appearance, technology, shape and safe use, the Pelikano models of 1960 and 1965 had practically achieved perfection. Adaptations to the prevailing taste followed in the subsequent years and up to the present day. In 1969, Pelikan introduced a brand new nib shape: it was still flexible, but had a higher stability under pressure, thanks to the chamfered sides. The nib was also used for all adult fountain pens up until 1979, and was further modified in the following years. The grip profile for the index finger added in 1973 helped to provide even better slip resistance for children. The clip acquired a bar shape, and right-handed and left-handed models were added. The Pelikano remained the top-selling fountain pen for school children. In 1993, Pelikan created the new Pelikano junior. It has the same features as the Pelikano, but is even lighter, with a slightly thicker barrel, and lies perfectly in the hand, making it particularly easy for pupils to carry out preliminary exercises for learning to write. In 2002 the classic Pelikano was radically redesigned, and was given a new grip profile. Even the stainless steel cap acquired a new shape. The translucent colours meant that the ink level could be checked without the need for an inspection glass.

In its anniversary year 2010, the Pelikano will appear in a brand new look: in the trendy colours red, blue and green, and with a grip profile that is complemented by soft components, writing with a fountain pen becomes great fun. The front of the new Pelikano fountain pen is transparent, so that you can easily see the ink level. The stainless steel nib and metal cap are exceptionally robust, and will ensure enjoyable writing for a long time to come. A brand new product in the Pelikano range is the practical Pelikano rollerball, which is also available in the trend colours red, blue and green and ensures attractive, enjoyable and comfortable writing! With the refillable Pelikano rollerball, writing is just as pleasurable as with a fountain pen. Neat correction is naturally also possible: the blue ink can easily be corrected with a Pelikan ink eraser pen.

The new Pelikano fountain pen will be available in shops from February 2010 for 14.90 euros. The matching trendy rollerball will be available for 8.90 euros. Both writing implements are available in left-handed and right-handed versions.