In 1932 the Olsen Pen Company in Copenhagen opened a factory for producing Parker pens under license. Due to the import restrictions of the Danish Government the demand for Parker pens could not be covered. In addition to produce Parker pens it was only logical to produce pens under their own name. These pens were sold under the PENOL label and it seems, that some models outsold the Parker line. With all the many Penol models that went through my hands in the last few years - thanks to Danish collector friend - I could prove only one aspect as ensured: there are no two similar models, even if they have the same imprints, which is in fact one of the nicest features of the Penol brand. They all have the model name or number engraved in the barrel. But they differ all - there are clips with or without the PENOL engraving, PENOL nibs, Warranted nibs, even Parker Duofold nibs were used. But even if two similar models meet in every aspects of their parts, they surely will differ in the overall length, sometimes just a few millimeters, sometimes more. At least, they should have the same diameter of cap or barrel. No wonder, of course. These pens were made by hand on lathes. And the occupation of Denmark and the following war years brought about shortages of parts and so pens were simply assembled from what was there (Collectors know this to extend from the war-time Montblancs). The following table reflects my present point of knowledge which is far from being complete. Unnecessary to mention, I would be very thankful for corrections and additions. Det Baumann, swisspen  send an email

Duofold Look-A-Likes model year colors No. 00 1935 - 1937 coral red, black, olive green, lapis blue, jade green, pearl & black, brown & gold marbled No. 1 1935 - 1941 coral red, black, olive green, lapis blue, jade green, pearl & black, brown & gold marbled No. 2 1935 - 1941 coral red, black, olive green, lapis blue, jade green, pearl & black, brown & gold marbled No. 3 1935 - 1941 coral red, black, olive green, lapis blue, jade green, pearl & black, brown & gold marbled No. 5 1935 - 1941 coral red, black, olive green, lapis blue, jade green, pearl & black, brown & gold marbled No. 6 (Ladies Pen) 1935 - 1937 coral red, black, olive green, lapis blue, jade green, pearl & black, brown & gold marbled

Straight models with stepped top model year colors No. 0 (Baby) 1935 - 1941 coral red, black, gold & black laminated, burgundy marbled, red & black, green & black No. 7 (Standard) 1935 - 1941 coral red, black, gold & black laminiert, burgundy marbled No. 8 (Oversize) 1935 - 1941 coral red, black, gold & black laminiert, burgundy marbled, grey & black

Penol No. 3K (Kanter) 10sided variation of the model No. 3, stepped top, after 1937 straight top; came as Aëro Filler (see below) or as simple button filler.   model year colors No. 3K, stepped top 1935 - 1936 coral red, black, grey marbled, green marbled, burgundy marbled No. 3K, straight top 1937 - 1942 coral red, black, grey marbled, green marbled, burgundy marbled

Penol de Luxe series Streamlined button filler; cap with 3 rings; ridged teardrop clip; 2stepped metal tassie (like the Parker Depression "Thriftime" pens of the 30s); nib gold or two-colored with platinum mask with PENOL logo and engraving "Penol de Luxe".   model year colors O. (long) 1936 - 1941 coral red, black, grey marbled, green marbled (after 1940), burgundy marbled, lapis blue, brown & gold diagonal laminated O. (short) 1936 - 1941 coral red, black, grey marbled, green marbled (after 1940), burgundy marbled, lapis blue, brown & gold diagonal laminated A.O. (lady) 1936 - 1941 coral red, black, grey marbled, green marbled (after 1940), burgundy marbled, lapis blue, brown & gold diagonal laminated B.O. (standard) 1936 - 1941 coral red, black, grey marbled, green marbled (after 1940), burgundy marbled, lapis blue, brown & gold diagonal laminated C.O. (oversize) 1936 - 1941 coral red, black, grey marbled, green marbled (after 1940), burgundy marbled, lapis blue, brown & gold diagonal laminated

1937 - 1942 Aëro Filler filling system: Penol patent of a button filler system with ink sack and ink view window in the barrel; the ink sack is attached to the middle transparent part which is screwed to the section and friction fit into the barrel. So ink can be viewed through the ink window in the barrel and the middle part.

 

Penol No. 8K (Kanter) 12sided variation of the model No. 8, clip is held by a goldfilled ring and a black jewel like on the later Ambassador, streamlined, after 1942 no longer as Aëro Filler, but only as normal button filler.   model year colors No. 8K 1938 - 1941 black, grey marbled, burgundy marbled, green & pearl with black veins (see picture, probably a prototyp, this material doesn't show up in any of the lines) new name "de Luxe" after 1942 additionally green marbled

 

Penol No. 4 small rounded pen with lizard finish   model year colors No. 4 1939 - 1940 blue, grey, green or brown lizard finish

 

Penol No. 9 Medium sized pen, streamlined, made of the same material the Parker Vacumatics were made of.   model year colors No. 9 1939 - 1940 brown & pearl laminated, green & pearl laminated, blue & pearl laminated

 

Economy Line "N" chased cap band and chased clip (except No. 3N)   model year specific features, colors No. 0N (ersetzt # 0) 1940 - 1941 black, green marbled, red, ... No. 1N (junior) 1940 - 1941 black, green marbled, red, ... No. 2N 1940 - 1941 black, green marbled, red, ... Super 1940 - 1941 black, green marbled, red, ... No. 3N (standard) 1940 - 1941 3 cap bands (slightly broader middle band), ridged clip hold by a metal ring and a black jewel; colors: black, green marbled, red, ...

 

new Economy line Button fillers   model year specific features, colors Cadet 10 1941 - 1944 very small pen with ridged clip and broad band Master 11 1941 - 1944 very small pen with ridged clip and broad band Junior 12 1941 - 1944 chased clip and cap band from the N-series Super 13 1941 - 1944 2 cap bands and clip from the N-series Special 14 1941 - 1944 built like the Ambassador Special, two-part cap, ridged clip, 2 narrow cap rings, slightly smaller as the Ambassador Special; colors: red, black ... Senior 15 1941 - 1944 ridged PENOL clip (after 1942 also as piston filler)

 

Penol Ambassador line 1st series replaces the de Luxe series, choice of piston or button filler, cap made of one material, piston filler called "Vacuum-Safe", filler cap without jewel   model year colors Junior 1942 - 1943 black, green Paintbrush, grey Paintbrush Special 1942 - 1943 black, green Paintbrush, grey Paintbrush Senior 1942 - 1943 black, green Paintbrush, grey Paintbrush           This senior size piston filler from June 1943 consists of a one-piece cap and a barrel with waved lines chasing and a diagonally striped ink window. Have there been more than one, was it a prototype, a custom made model? Who knows...

 

After 1943 Olsen started to produce their own gold nibs. The nib engraving NGI, which can also be found on Danish Parker nibs, stands for "Nordisk Guldepenne Industri". Here under the supervision of goldsmith Frithjof Bratland, nibs were produced for the Olsen Co. and for Parker.

 

Penol Ambassador line 2nd series replaces the 1st series, piston or button filler, button fillers with additional imprint "SACK-FILLER", two part cap, filler cap without jewel.   model year colors Junior 1944 - 1946 black, green Paintbrush, grey Paintbrush, green striped, grey striped Special 1944 - 1946 black, green Paintbrush, grey Paintbrush, green striped, grey striped Senior 1944 - 1946 black, green Paintbrush, grey Paintbrush, green striped, grey striped

 

new Economy pens model year colors Populær 1942 - 1946 black, ?? Standard 1942 - 1946 black, ??

 

Penol Modern Pen is made of the same material of the Parker English Duofolds from the 40s.   model year colors 1. Serie 1946 black cap and marbled transparent barrel, also in green marbled 2. Serie after 1947 black cap and black barrel

1946: the Penol de Luxe will be renamed "President".
 

Penol Ambassador line 3rd series Replaces the 2nd series, button filler only, two part cap, filler cap with tassie and jewel, after January 1947 one narrow cap band only.   Modell year colors Junior November 46 - mid 47 black, green Paintbrush, grey Paintbrush, green striped, grey striped, green & pearl, black & pearl Special November 46 - mid 47 black, green Paintbrush, grey Paintbrush, green striped, grey striped, green & pearl, black & pearl Senior November 46 - mid 47 black, green Paintbrush, grey Paintbrush, green striped, grey striped, green & pearl, black & pearl

 

Penol Ambassador No. 5 Replaces the Ambassador Special, button filler, filler cap with tassie and jewel, made of the same material of the Parker English Duofolds from the 40s.   Modell year colors Ambassador No. 5 1946 black; blue, green, brown, dark brown, grey, burgundy - each marbled with black

 

Penol Ambassador Scout Replaces the Ambassador Junior, button filler.   Modell year colors Ambassador Scout 1948 black, coral red, ??

Around August 1947 the lines Ambassador, Modern und President were stopped.

To Be Continued...