I am working on a new version of the Pentel ID Book, and I have a few questions I will be posting on here.
First, I am using some terminology to designate changes too pencils. Right now I am using Generation and Version.
Generation is the gradual design changes (sometimes for production purposes) to a pencil over time, but not being a major design change. The best example I have is for the P200 from my website, where I have broken down the changes into 6 major generations, with a few minor changes in there. P200, the Second Generation… and the third…and the fourth… and so on – Nimrodd's Blog
Version is either major changes an existing product, such as the PD345 switch from non-rubber grip to rubber grip or the AL15 & AL25 changes (3 versions each). The other use of Version I have been using is when Pentel makes a completely different pencil and calls it an old number, such as the P245 and the PD515.
This brings up my question. For this last use of Version, I would like to pick another term, and am open to suggestions. I am thinking “Type” at the moment, but I am not in love with that. Again, this would only be for the pencils that use the same number, but are obviously different pencil models.