#merzandkrell

This is a Pelikan 120 in Black c. 1973-1977.  This 5 1/8 inch long pen is a piston filler, operated by twisting the knob that makes up the end of the barrel.  Ink fills the barrel itself and the ink level can be checked through the clear window in the top of the barrel.  The version of the 120 was made by Merz and Krell for Pelikan and black was a new color for the 120.  This later 120 came with a green barrel and clear ink view window, a green barrel and a striped ink view window, and all black with a clear ink view window.  The pen features the Pelikan beak shaped clip and a tapered cap edge band stamped PELIKAN 120 GERMANY.  The trim is gold plated.  The side of the cap is stamped Pelikan 120.  The gold plated stainless steel nib is stamped PELIKAN over the Pelikan logo over a letter indicating nib grade.  This pen has the fine nib.  They sold for $10.00 in 1976. 

This is a Regent piston filling fountain pen in gray c. 1950s.  This 5 1/4 inch long pen operates by removing the blind cap on the end of the barrel and twisting the piston knob.  Ink fills the barrel itself and the ink level can be checked through the clear window in the top of the barrel.  The mechanism appears to be similar to those made by Merz and Krell.  The pen has gold plated trim that shows a lot of wear.  There are no brand markings on the cap or barrel.  The gold plated stainless steel nib is stamped Regent over 4R over GOLDPLATED. 

This is a Merz & Krell piston fill pen in blue etched celluloid from the 1950s. It is similar to celluloid used by Conklin in the 1930s, though Conklin did not use this blue.  The large ink view window in the barrel shows a black and clear spiral pattern. The piston knob is accessed by removing the black end cap. The Number 2 stainless steel semi flex nib originally was lightly gold plated, but the plating is polished off and now shows bright stainless steel. There are no makers marks on the 4 13/16 inch long pen other than nib maker Degussa's half eclipsed sun stamping on the nib.  

This is a Merz & Krell piston fill pen in black celluloid from the 1950s. The blind cap is removed to show the piston knob.  The large ink view window in the barrel shows the spiral pattern especially well.  The nib is a lightly gold plated Number 2 stainless steel semi flex made by Degussa, whose half eclipsed sun logo stamping is on the nib. There are no other makers marks on the 4 13/16 inch long pen.  Degussa was the Deutsche Gold und Silber Scheideanstalt, German Gold and Silver Extracting Company and was in the nib business starting in the 1930s after purchasing Osmia’s nib manufacturing.  Some Degussa nibs have the name stamped as well.  Apparantly the name Degussa came about as telegraph shorthand for the company's rather long name.

This is a Merz & Krell piston fill pen in blue cell/brickwork celluloid from the 1950s, an unusual celluloid pattern. It has a large ink view window in the barrel with a black and clear spiral pattern with enough clarity to see through the window, giving a criss cross effect. The piston knob is accessed by removing the black end cap. The nib is a lightly gold plated Number 2 stainless steel semi flex and some of the plating is still intact. There are no makers marks on the 4 13/16 inch long pen other than a half eclipsed sun stamping on the nib.

This is a Merz & Krell piston fill pen in green etched celluloid from the 1950s. It is similar to celluloid used by Conklin in the 1930s. It has a large ink view window in the barrel with a black and clear spiral pattern. The piston knob is accessed by removing the black end cap. The nib is a lightly gold plated Number 2 stainless steel semi flex. There are no makers marks on the 4 13/16 inch long pen other than a half eclipsed sun stamping on the nib. This model is shown in a Merz & Krell Senator / Melbi instruction sheet. Merz & Krell manufactured under contract some Pelikan 120 and 400 models for export. The German company is now know by the Senator name.