Pelikan - 4001 Royal Blue

[Sandy1]

Come on, Sandy, you need to provide more detail in your review.

 

 

 

 

(Joke!)

Yes, of course.

 

My cyclotron is booked 24x7 for the next 3 months, so in early 2011 I may get some time to run samples leading to more detailed Ink Reviews.

 

 

 

(Joke! - its booked for the next 4 months actually.)

[piembi]

OK, you made me fill a pen with Pelikan blue. I have a 250 ml bottle of the later version. I have used Clairefontain and some cheaper notepad. Surprisingly the Pelikan blue looks much better with the cheap paper:

 

http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh474/piembi/Ink%20Samples/Pelikan%20blue/P1070474.jpg

 

http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh474/piembi/Ink%20Samples/Pelikan%20blue/P1070475.jpg

 

I was surprised to see that Pelikan blue coming out of my vintage Pelikan 140 with a nice, wet OB nib is indeed a nice looking colour! I might give it a try.

 

When I had filled the pen and written the first sample I realized that there was another bottle sitting in the cupboard: one of those 50 ml bottles with a pen rest I got with some Pelikan pen off ebay. I gave this ink a try and it was the earlier Pelikan blue - the pale, washed out royal blue of my childhood. So I made another sample. Old (#1) vs. new (#2) Pelikan blue:

 

http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh474/piembi/Ink%20Samples/Pelikan%20blue/P1070477.jpg

 

Finally I made a few comparisons with the usual suspects. I must confess that my favourite blue inks are Virconti blue and Rohrer & Klingner royal blue (I did neglect the Diamine blues for practicability - too many beautiful blues here ).

 

Those are the colours without purple undertones. And to my surprise the modern Pelikan blue turns out to be a nice colour, too

 

http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh474/piembi/Ink%20Samples/Pelikan%20blue/P1070470.jpg

http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh474/piembi/Ink%20Samples/Pelikan%20blue/P1070471.jpg

 

Finally I have to apologize for the poor pictures. The lightning had been bad yesterday morning and using a flashlight does not improve the pictures.

 

Edited for spelling ..

Edited September 13, 2010 by piembi

[Sandy1]

OK, you made me fill a pen with Pelikan blue. I have a 250 ml bottle of the later version. I have used Clairefontain and some cheaper notepad. Surprisingly the Pelikan blue looks much better with the cheap paper:

Image Removed

I was surprised to see that Pelikan blue coming out of my vintage Pelikan 140 with a nice, wet OB nib is indeed a nice looking colour! I might give it a try.

 

When I had filled the pen and written the first sample I realized that there was another bottle sitting in the cupboard: one of those 50 ml bottles with a pen rest I got with some Pelikan pen off ebay. I gave this ink a try and it was the earlier Pelikan blue - the pale, washed out royal blue of my childhood. So I made another sample. Old (#1) vs. new (#2) Pelikan blue:

Image Removed

Finally I made a few comparisons with the usual suspects. I must confess that my favourite blue inks are Virconti blue and Rohrer & Klingner royal blue (I did neglect the Diamine blues for practicability - too many beautiful blues here ).

Those are the colours without purple undertones. And to my surprise the modern Pelikan blue turns out to be a nice colour, too

Image Removed

Finally I have to apologize for the poor pictures. The lightning had been bad yesterday morning and using a flashlight does not improve the pictures.

 

Edited for spelling ..

Hi,

 

Well well well. Another fan of Blue ink!

 

I think that the Pelikan ink in the vintage Pelikan+OB really does give a wonderful Look. I wouldn't even call it 'old school' so much as 'classic'. And erHmm, who said that one doesn't need to run Pelikan inks in Pelikan pens? That is a really nice pairing.

I can see how people may have come to shun the earlier 'washed-out' version. I have an appreciation for pale, transparent inks, but the old Pelikan is definitely washed-out. (I hope the ink isn't decaying.)

 

I see that we share the opinion about the PRB on Clairefontaine. To my way of thinking the PRB native performance envelope doesn't readily include the hard-surfaced papers - even from a rather wet writer.

 

Thanks also for running even more samples of more inks. I tried a sample of the R&K Kb, but it didn't have the 'it' factor, but their Blau permanent did. I still use the Bp quite often as a more convivial Blue. (Ink Link)

 

Do you think there is a difference between the Montblanc Royal Blue before and after the repackaging? I finished my bottle in the old package, and went on to use the repackaged stuff without suspecting there may be a difference. (I'm blonde, but no heckle-ing, OK?)

 

Many thanks for your time and effort - it adds a lot to the Ink Review, and in turn to the fibre of FPN to have as much diversity & as many contributors as possible.

 

Best Regards,

Sandy1

Edited September 14, 2010 by Sandy1

[Sandy1]

COMPARISONS-COMPARISONS-COMPARISONS

Pilot asa-gao :: Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue My link

[777]

Great Review Sandy1! You go into such great detail on these reviews! Thanks!

 

Regards,

777

[Sandy1]

COMPARISONS-COMPARISONS-COMPARISONS

Comparison : Sheaffer Skrip Blue :: Pelikan Royal Blue LINK

Edited September 16, 2010 by Sandy1

[Sandy1]

COMPARISONS-COMPARISONS-COMPARISONS

Comparison : Herbin Eclat de Saphir :: Pelikan Royal Blue Ink Link

Edited September 18, 2010 by Sandy1

[Sandy1]

COMPARISONS-COMPARISONS-COMPARISONS

Pelikan Royal Blue TO Visconti Blue My link

[coach0519]

Sandy,

Great review. I didn't know there was an old and new version. I must have a bottle of the old ink because it really looks pale and washed out. In fact, after a few weeks as my every day ink, I bought Noodlers Bad Belted Kingfisher. This color suits me more because it's darker, easier to read, bolder, and best of all water resistant. The files written with this ink in April, are noticeably dull & pale. Of course they are stored in a damp basement.

[Chevalier]

Wow Sandy, this is really great.

 

I have a problem with Pelikan inks, because I used it in school too. Those inks are stamped "cheap school ink" in my mind and I never use it, although I know that it's nonsense. I always use other inks for a refill (or calligraphy), even if I told myself that I'd use it the next time. Does anybody have the same problem with an ink (maybe an ink changed for the better over time and you know it, but you still have the bad image in your mind)?

[Sandy1]

COMPARISONS-COMPARISONS-COMPARISONS

To Montblanc Royal Blue My link

[saintsimon]

...

 

But once out of elementary school, what inks do the German elementary school use? Dragons' Napalm?

 

Bye,

S1

I don't know about current and local regulations (Germany is a Federal Republic after all, and the states have the authority regarding education), but at my time, until the age of 16, teachers could mandate the writing tools (fountain pens) and colours (erasable blue) we had to use at school. When reaching the age of 16, we students became free to choose our own tools and colours - I started to experiment with Pelikan turquoise, purple and black, and then used a nice Elysée ballpoint. The colour red remained reserved for teacher's gradings and green was the exclusive colour of the headmaster everywhere in Germany where I went to school.

Edited October 26, 2010 by saintsimon

[meiers]

Wow

[piembi]

I have a problem with Pelikan inks, because I used it in school too. Those inks are stamped "cheap school ink" in my mind and I never use it, although I know that it's nonsense.

 

Me!

 

Not because it had been cheap. I was running through many bottles of Quink until I finished university and it's cheap as well. It had been because of the washed out colour of the old Pelikan RB.

 

Since I did the samples I have filled a vintage 400 B nib with the modern Pelikan RB and use it as one of my notetaking pens at the office. I have to confess: this combination is growing on me ....

[GardenCity-NY]

This is the best review I have read on FPN, the OPs dedication is incredible!

 

I 2nd that!

[nicholasyeo]

I like this ink very much because it gives me the feel of the sea blue colours.

It has a very deep hue but doesn't get too complicated and shady... Very

consistent and reliable for constant usage.

[Sandy1]

I like this ink very much because it gives me the feel of the sea blue colours.

It has a very deep hue but doesn't get too complicated and shady... Very

consistent and reliable for constant usage.

Hello,

 

In a very few words, I feel you have portrayed the essentials of PRB.

 

And the very properties of consistency and reliability are essential for constant use over time.

 

Bye,

Sandy1

[Sandy1]

COMPARISONS-COMPARISONS-COMPARISONS

To Montblanc Royal Blue My link

To Private Reserve American Blue My link

[Sandy1]

COMPARISONS-COMPARISONS-COMPARISONS

Comparison to Noodler's Ottoman Azure My link

[Sandy1]

COMPARISONS-COMPARISONS-COMPARISONS

To Diamine Imperial Blue:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/181500-comparison-pelikan-royal-blue-diamine-imperial-blue/page__gopid__1827302#entry1827302