Vintage M250 Pelikan

[Poetman]

I found a vintage Pelikan M250 for sale. The guys wants $50 for it. Is this a good pen? Is this a good price. I have to drive a nice bit to test it, so I'd like to know beforehand if it's worth it. He says the nib is 18K.

 

I would really appreciate feedback from experienced Pelikan users. My only FP experience is limited to a Waterman Phileas and a Hemisphere.

Edited October 4, 2014 by Poetman

[JulioPB]

Even if the pen has a gold plated steel nib it is a good price,

 

If the nib is gold, it is a bargain,

 

The sole nib could be priced the double.

 

Good luck,

 

Julio MX

[sirtoti]

Well, usually M250 pens came with 14k nibs. At least, mine came with a 14k yellow gold nib. If it's a 18k nib it could probably be an M600 old style (similar size to M400).

In any case, as Julio said, it's a great price even if it's only the nib.

[Poetman]

Is it a good writer though?

[Randal6393]

Pelikans are usually excellent writers. A used Pelikan? Only way to tell is to take it for a test drive. But even used, abused Pelikans can often be restored by a good nibmeister. That need not be expensive.

 

Enjoy,

[Poetman]

Sirtoti,

 

How do you like your M250?

[sargetalon]

The M250 is a great pen. $50 is a steal for one if it's in decent condition. These usually came with 14K nibs originally but people have been known to swap nibs in and out and there were some other variations. Let us known how you make out.

Edited October 5, 2014 by sargetalon

[KBeezie]

I really like my Pelikan M250. It's dated between 1992 and 1996 (The design of the pen is from before '97, but the band says Germany instead of W.-Germany so it's after 1991 or so, the pictures say W.-Germany but that was on the original box, not the cap).

 

Mine has a 14K Gold Medium Nib, it's a very smooth writer, the piston filling mechanism is smooth and solid. It's a bit on the light side, and the cap posts very well onto the piston knob at the end, feels rather balanced when posted.

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/M250/uncapped.jpg

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/M250/nib.jpg

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/M250/cap.jpg

 

With the gold nib and good working condition, I see them priced above $200 easy. The nib alone can cost over 150 to replace if you want it in the original 14K gold, otherwise a steel or gold plated steel nib is much cheaper to replace ($30-50), but should perform just as well.

Edited October 5, 2014 by KBeezie

[mirosc]

It's a great pen. Very comfortable size (for me, unposted) and leightweight. I have both the 14K and the GP steel nib. The steel nib is very springy (almost a bit flexy) and is a good writer; Pelikan changed the nib geometry only after this one came out. The 14K version is a great writer, too - R. Binder used a lot of these for his special grinds (his website shows "out of stock" now for quite a long time).

 

The price makes me wonder though. $50 for a 18K nib? If true - you're in for a great deal. If not - you get a great writer for a decent price anyway.

[KBeezie]

It's a great pen. Very comfortable size (for me, unposted) and leightweight. I have both the 14K and the GP steel nib. The steel nib is very springy (almost a bit flexy) and is a good writer; Pelikan changed the nib geometry only after this one came out. The 14K version is a great writer, too - R. Binder used a lot of these for his special grinds (his website shows "out of stock" now for quite a long time).

 

The price makes me wonder though. $50 for a 18K nib? If true - you're in for a great deal. If not - you get a great writer for a decent price anyway.

Was 18K ever available on the M250? (or M2xx equivalent?)

 

Could it be an M400 nib on an M250 body?

Edited October 5, 2014 by KBeezie

[konis]

Nibs contemporary Pelikan series M4XX and M6XX suitable to Pelikan M2XX

In the Pelikan M250 were three types of gold nibs: 12 K, 14 K, 18 K.

regards

[Matlock]

I have a M250 with 12c HM nib. Great pen.

[KBeezie]

Hrm. Good to Know. Out of curiosity was there much of a feel or personality difference between the typical 12K, 14K and 18K nibs for the M2xx/4xx/6xx ? (The 12K Hard Fine seems to be somewhat popular/desired).

Edited October 5, 2014 by KBeezie

[Poetman]

Correction: it's a 14k nib.

I'm my search for a new FP, others have suggested TWSBI, vintage Parker 51, or SHEAFFER, how does this Pelikan compare?

Thanks!!

[konis]

..................

I'm my search for a new FP, others have suggested TWSBI, vintage Parker 51, or SHEAFFER, how does this Pelikan compare?

Thanks!!

Pelikan.

Long, long nothing.

Parker 51.

Long, long nothing.

And then the rest of the.

regards

[mirosc]

Correction: it's a 14k nib.

I'm my search for a new FP, others have suggested TWSBI, vintage Parker 51, or SHEAFFER, how does this Pelikan compare?

Thanks!!

14K for $50 sounds great.

 

for TWSBI: the nibs are nowhere near this old Pelikan, faaaaar off... but: you can completely disassemble the TWSBI very easily - not so easy with the Pelikan.

for Parker 51: I'd rather not comment on this. I disdain hooded nibs :-)

for Sheaffer: depends on the pen and what you are looking for; the Targa has great nibs and even more interesting bodies, the Snorkel a marvellous contraption as filling system, and so on.

My verdict: You can't beat a piston filler with nice, springy 14K for $50. Go for it.

 

@KBeezie:

I've only handled the GP and the 14K, can't say anything about the 12K or 18K, sorry.

[KBeezie]

I've not used a TWSBI.

 

I have a Parker 51 that has a very smooth 14K Nib, however I'm not the biggest fan of hooded nibs, and the Pelikan feels more balanced and more attractive. Also the piston mechanism is much easier to to clean/flush than the vacumatic in a Parker 51 (which can take quite a bit of time to completely flush every inkling out before switching inks which is important if you're changing to a completely different ink). I also like the screw cap better, and the M250 being a little shorter makes it a tad easier to pocket in a shirt pocket.

 

Also the only Sheaffers I have are a pair of Touchdowns, Craftsman, MiLady Balance, and pair of Snorkels. And I like the Pelikan M250 overall better than those Sheaffers. Also the Sheaffer nibs from like the Craftsman after (ie: after '45 or so) seem to be pretty firm/stiff most of the time, which some people like. Again the piston filling mechanism on the M250 is a bit quicker/consistent and holds more than most touchdowns or Snorkels. (The snorkels while you don't have to wipe the nib after filling, may still require pre-wetting the nib the first time, and they only hold maybe around 0.5-0.6ml of ink like a typical C/C pen).

 

So in general, for $50, especially with a 14K nib, the M250 is a very good deal assuming it's all working and in good shape. And even if you have to get it restored for around $35-40 it's still a good deal assuming no parts are cracked, severely damaged or missing.

Edited October 5, 2014 by KBeezie

[Bo Bo Olson]

Buy.

Never knew Pelikan made a 12 K nib.....knew the old 400 size 600 had an 18 K nib.

Buy it. It is a steal.

Almost a Somgai.....

 

Edited October 6, 2014 by Bo Bo Olson

[sargetalon]

I've seen the 12K nibs mostly out of the Japanese market. Not sure what the back story on them is though.

[whych]

I've seen the 12K nibs mostly out of the Japanese market. Not sure what the back story on them is though.

Most of the 12K nibs are the equivalent of the 14K DX nibs and are marked with HX for the grade. (X = F,M or B ) In other words, they are manifold nibs.

Presumably, using 12k means they can use the same nib pattern to make the nib that they use for the 14K nib. The 14K D nibs were different in that there are 2 holes in the nib and not just one and the nib tynes are shorter to give a more inflexible nib.

Edited October 6, 2014 by whych