Product Description
Type Piston fill fountain pen
Product Name 400 "Old Style"
Manufacturer and Year Pelikan, Germany -- 1952. The cap has an inscription that reads "Pelikan - Trip, Hannover, 19-22.8.1952", so we're pretty confident on that date. We think the pen was probably made up of spare parts (the cap and piston knob from a tortoise 400 and the barrel from a black one) as it was not a known configuration. We don't know the significance of the engraving, perhaps it was to commemorate a visit to the Pelikan factory.
Length 4-7/8"
Filling System Piston filling system. Tested and working well.
Color Black barrel and section, with brown cap and piston knob - an unusual coniguration to be sure. Top of cap is black with the pelican logo. Gold plated trim.The color is really nice.
Nib FINE FLEXIBLE 14k nib. Please see writing sample. (Note: the piston knob is marked EF indicating an extra-fine nib, but the nib itself has KF on it, which is a ball-shaped fine nib. However, the K looks a little wonky, like it was hand engraved apart from the rest of the imprints)
Condition Very nice condition. This is a classic pen style in an unusual color. The barrel has light to some moderate scratching. The brown piston knob has "EF" imprinted on it (for extra-fine). The cap is a deep brown. It has light to moderate scratching. The cap band has brassing and light scratching. The clip has brassing and plating wear around the edges. The thin clip ring is completely brassed. There's a scratch or crack running 3/8" from the cap band. The bird logo on the cap has some small chips near the edge, and the gold derby edge has quite a bit of denting. The imprints are clear.
Crack or scratch below: