Battle Of The Full-Sizers...

[Rose Nibs]

Spectacular piece of writing and a very informative comparison of some excellent pens. You kept us in suspense to the end but there was no trick. I guess the moral of the story is that the prize goes to the pen that does everything well and has no real flaws. I am about to find out whether a modern Aurora 88 stacks up against my vintage beauties from Czechoslovakia.

[leod]

I enjoyed this review, you bring up some excellent and negative aspects on every pen.

 

my daily carry is MB146, OS Burkina and M800. Interestingly enough, I have plans to to buy the other pens in your list only in different color except for the 88 which is of course colorless. that negative film look is a nice touch!

 

The mostly used is also the 146 due to perfect balance for me overall. Here are also my other observations:

 

MB146 - the cap wobbles if posted so I put a clear tape on the barrel to solve it. the furniture tarnishes faster than the other 2.

 

M800 - the gold ring near the nib should go away, it might rust eventually similar to my other pens with trim on the same spot. I can feel the bind on the barrel, there's a slight bump there but you cant see it. the cap threads are really sharp and the feed/nib alignment is not straight.

 

OS Burkina - the roller clip does not do anything when you try to put the pen in the pocket and harder to clip. the exposed inside parts are unfinished like inner cap, threads in blind cap.

Edited July 19, 2012 by leod

[mongrelnomad]

Spectacular piece of writing and a very informative comparison of some excellent pens. You kept us in suspense to the end but there was no trick. I guess the moral of the story is that the prize goes to the pen that does everything well and has no real flaws. I am about to find out whether a modern Aurora 88 stacks up against my vintage beauties from Czechoslovakia.

 

I don't think that's an appropriate summation. What I meant by "quiet" was not that the 146 is without personality, but rather it's a bit like a siren, cooing seductively just for you. It whispers in your ear until you are besotted.

 

 

I enjoyed this review, you bring up some excellent and negative aspects on every pen.

 

my daily carry is MB146, OS Burkina and M800. Interestingly enough, I have plans to to buy the other pens in your list only in different color except for the 88 which is of course colorless. that negative film look is a nice touch!

 

The mostly used is also the 146 due to perfect balance for me overall. Here are also my other observations:

 

MB146 - the cap wobbles if posted so I put a clear tape on the barrel to solve it. the furniture tarnishes faster than the other 2.

 

M800 - the gold ring near the nib should go away, it might rust eventually similar to my other pens with trim on the same spot. I can feel the bind on the barrel, there's a slight bump there but you cant see it. the cap threads are really sharp and the feed/nib alignment is not straight.

 

OS Burkina - the roller clip does not do anything when you try to put the pen in the pocket and harder to clip. the exposed inside parts are unfinished like inner cap, threads in blind cap.

 

Thanks for your input Leod.

 

I haven't noticed a similar problem with my 146. All my Omas' cip-wheels function differently. Some are stubborn and don't move, others rotate freely around the centre. Perhaps you have a particularly unhappy one?

 

Would you care to offer your rankings of your three pens?

 

(I didn't recognise you without the Burkina in your pic!)

[ballboy]

This is just what I needed to read after having just cleaned out my 146 Burgundy & Solitaire; I was wondering if I really needed them. Now I now why I'm keeping them.

[yotiao]

Excellent write-up and wonderful pictures, thank you!

 

One question on the Nakaya Decapod though, because I am planning to get one, is it normal that the multiple threads mean that the facets do not always line up when the cap is returned? Normal?

[jakelogan]

Thoroughly enjoyed the review and pictures. Thanks for putting time into the review, it really shows. Love the tone when describing pens, was definitely a page-scroller to the end

 

[mongrelnomad]

This is just what I needed to read after having just cleaned out my 146 Burgundy & Solitaire; I was wondering if I really needed them. Now I now why I'm keeping them.

 

 

 

Excellent write-up and wonderful pictures, thank you!

 

One question on the Nakaya Decapod though, because I am planning to get one, is it normal that the multiple threads mean that the facets do not always line up when the cap is returned? Normal?

 

Thank you!

 

Yeah, the multiple threads is normal - many manufacturers use two or more; Nakaya if I'm not mistaken uses four. You don't notice on most pens as they're round, but if you have a demonstrator (where the nib won't always line up) or something with an irregular finish (like the Omas), you'll notice. If you're OCD about this, you might want to look at the other, non-faceted, Nakayas...

 

Thoroughly enjoyed the review and pictures. Thanks for putting time into the review, it really shows. Love the tone when describing pens, was definitely a page-scroller to the end

 

 

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

Edited July 20, 2012 by mongrelnomad

[mongrelnomad]

Excellent write-up and wonderful pictures, thank you!

 

One question on the Nakaya Decapod though, because I am planning to get one, is it normal that the multiple threads mean that the facets do not always line up when the cap is returned? Normal?

 

Yotiao - nice pic by the way. I too have a TC-1. It is an engineering marvel and hands-down the best point-and-shoot camera of the film age (yes, even better than the GR-1). :thumbup:

[leod]

I haven't noticed a similar problem with my 146. All my Omas' cip-wheels function differently. Some are stubborn and don't move, others rotate freely around the centre. Perhaps you have a particularly unhappy one?

 

Would you care to offer your rankings of your three pens?

 

(I didn't recognise you without the Burkina in your pic!)

 

I would probably put a review of these 3 pens separately as i don't want to hack this wonderful thread.

 

I have to change my avatar since the Burkina went for service

[Pennie]

I seem to have missed your opinions onthe pelikans in your intangibles-section. Why leave them out there? Otherwise fine review, i know how much time it costs, properly reviewing, but you undertook a fine job, whether or not you agree with your opinions. I do not own any of these, i have a gorgeous italix parsons essential, which somewhat resembles the sailors and MB. I tried once in a shop a M800, which was actually a fine experience, but the price made me hesitate... I didn't buy it. But they look beautiful, especiallly the red and blue specimens. I wish you happy writing !

[mongrelnomad]

I seem to have missed your opinions onthe pelikans in your intangibles-section. Why leave them out there? I tried once in a shop a M800, which was actually a fine experience, but the price made me hesitate... I didn't buy it. But they look beautiful, especiallly the red and blue specimens. I wish you happy writing !

 

An interesting oversight, and perhaps an eloquent yet unintended demonstration of how boring I find these pens. I'll try to fondle them today and see if there's anything I care to add.

 

You know my opinion already, but for the price of an M800 I'd search out a new 146 or the Pilot (the blue one). I feel that they, not the Pelikans, are the bargains of the test...

 

I've been transcribing for the past few weeks (~30,000 words from notebook to computer), and I'm only days away from picking up my pens again. I've been trying to work out which to slip into the 6-pen Franklin-Christof case, and combined with which inks...

 

I probably shouldn't be so excited, but

Edited July 21, 2012 by mongrelnomad

[mongrelnomad]

Taking on board Pennie's criticism, I've now added a paragraph on the Pelikans to "Intangibles" section. It's reproduced here to save those already familiar with the test fishing around in the body of the text:

 

- Pelikan M800 and M600: It is incredible how these two pens are aesthetically identical. It is as if the designers began with the M600 and simply told the computer to scale it up to 1.15 x. There aren't even any model numbers anywhere visible, so I often find myself unsure which Pelikan I'm holding when I pick one up in isolation. Both of these are the most recent models, with the powdered gold Pelikan logo. It looks cheap and nasty and I wish they'd go back to the gold-on-black. The green bindes are very obviously a separate piece and meet with the piston knob with a pronounced depression leading into the double gold bands. The binde itself is semi-transluscent and a wonderful way of checking the ink level, but there is a visible seam where the two sides of the rolled sheet meet.

 

I personally believe it is a shame that Pelikan is so conservative with their models and materials, because considering their wonderful back-catalogue (100, 100N, 140, 400NN etc), they could pillage their history and create something a bit more inspired than their present "same sausage, different length" Souverain series. Their Originals of Their Time special editions were wonderful, but the only retro-inspired pen they presently make (the M101N which I also own) is crippled by nasty plastics, minimal depth of materials and an overtly and obviously cost-conscious execution. Perhaps one day they'll make a pen which exhibits these pens' obvious quality with their vintage models' panache.

 

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w432/penlovermn/R0010664.jpg

 

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w432/penlovermn/R0010660.jpg

 

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w432/penlovermn/R0010663.jpg

 

 

EDIT: Apparently I can no longer edit the test itself, so consider this an addendum...

Edited July 21, 2012 by mongrelnomad

[Montblanc owner and lover]

very nice and complete work,i'm happy the MB146 is in the top so i know i've make a good choice(as if I was not sure of it...)

[Pennie]

Taking on board Pennie's criticism, I've now added a paragraph on the Pelikans to "Intangibles" section. It's reproduced here to save those already familiar with the test fishing around in the body of the text:

 

- Pelikan M800 and M600: It is incredible how these two pens are aesthetically identical. It is as if the designers began with the M600 and simply told the computer to scale it up to 1.15 x. There aren't even any model numbers anywhere visible, so I often find myself unsure which Pelikan I'm holding when I pick one up in isolation. Both of these are the most recent models, with the powdered gold Pelikan logo. It looks cheap and nasty and I wish they'd go back to the gold-on-black. The green bindes are very obviously a separate piece and meet with the piston knob with a pronounced depression leading into the double gold bands. The binde itself is semi-transluscent and a wonderful way of checking the ink level, but there is a visible seam where the two sides of the rolled sheet meet.

 

I personally believe it is a shame that Pelikan is so conservative with their models and materials, because considering their wonderful back-catalogue (100, 100N, 140, 400NN etc), they could pillage their history and create something a bit more inspired than their present "same sausage, different length" Souverain series. Their Originals of Their Time special editions were wonderful, but the only retro-inspired pen they presently make (the M101N which I also own) is crippled by nasty plastics, minimal depth of materials and an overtly and obviously cost-conscious execution. Perhaps one day they'll make a pen which exhibits these pens' obvious quality with their vintage models' panache.

 

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w432/penlovermn/R0010664.jpg

 

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w432/penlovermn/R0010660.jpg

 

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w432/penlovermn/R0010663.jpg

 

 

EDIT: Apparently I can no longer edit the test itself, so consider this an addendum...

 

Mongrelnomad, thanks for your efforts in extending your experiences ! This certainly adds original value to the wealth of plain positive reviews of modern pelikans. I tried too few other brands to affirm your findings, but it's interesting to read a different experience of a well-known and respectable brand but based on honest findings. Keep up your good work. I love these kind of reviews. Pennie..

[kilraughts]

Mongrelnomad.

 

For me a very informative comparison, whilst I only have one of these pens I do aspire to own others in this review. I realise it confirms my aspiration to have a MB 146.

 

Thank you for putting your conclusions in this domain.

 

kilraughts