Anyone Here Still Using Pelikan Vintage Pens

[peterg]

I got my 100 in the spring and it inked up immediately, much to my surprise.

 

As with German cars it works most efficiently but somehow lacks the character and expressiveness of my old English pens.

 

Just picked it up after two or three months and it wrote smoothly with a bit of expression immediately. I think it would be an excellent pen for every day use but as someone else said it is a little short for my hand (not keen on posting).

[proton007]

Only vintage Pelikans for me, the nibs are fine writers.

 

I got freaked out with a new M400 recently, until I found out that all new pens understate their widths. The F is more like an M, the M like the B.

 

No wonder they're stopping making the OB and OBB nibs, their recent nibs are far too broad.

[Strombomboli]

No wonder they're stopping making the OB and OBB nibs, their recent nibs are far too broad.

 

Not at all! For me, their nibs are just okay, I'd wish they'd be broader, and it annoys me that a B3B nib is only to be had with a M1000--a pen which is not fit for everyday use for people with normal, not giant hands.

[Timshel]

Hi,

Here is a pic comparing sizes of modern Pels. The M400 is the same size of a 400.

(I don´t remember where I downloaded this form, I appologize to the unrefferenced owner of the photo)

 

I didnt realize that the 1000 was such a monster compared to the 400!

[Timshel]

I have a 400NN, and a 140 that I really enjoy using. Pelikans Brown Ink never did it for me until I started using it with a wet 140 M nib.

[lurcho]

Could anyone post writing samples of their vintage Pels?

 

(Sorry if these are available elsewhere on FPN.)

[andyk]

I've got a 140 that I wish I could use-- flexible OB point, yummmm. Alas, it's got a dose of Cracked Nib Collar that I need to have addressed, and other things keep demanding money (food, shelter-- trivia of that sort). I've recently laid in a quantity of semi-vintage from the 1960s and '70s, which I'm using quite a lot. They're creatures of their time, and as nice as anything of that age, but the M20 is not quite as nice in my deeply subjective opinion as the 140.

A few months back Pelikan in Germany fixed the same problem for me on a 50s/60s vintage 400 with a nice BB nib (nice variation for signatures but a bit big for an everyday writer for me) all very quick and free of charge.

 

I also have a 400nn which I enjoy a lot along with a 120 and a 140 which get quite a lot of use, but I have to say I also enjoy using my modern Pelikans as well.

 

Andy

Edited September 12, 2013 by andyk

[Ernst Bitterman]

In response to Ernst whining about his hors de combat 140--

 

A few months back Pelikan in Germany fixed the same problem for me on a 50s/60s vintage 400 with a nice BB nib (nice variation for signatures but a bit big for an everyday writer for me) all very quick and free of charge.

 

I also have a 400nn which I enjoy a lot along with a 120 and a 140 which get quite a lot of use, but I have to say I also enjoy using my modern Pelikans as well.

 

Andy

 

The main problem is I haven't exerted myself to get around the geography problem. A single attempt was handed off to Chartpak, the North American distributors, who said "good heavens, that's far too old-- try one of the Vintage specialists like Richard Binder." I don't say a word against Chartpak, given the way they evidently handle anyone with the slightest non-vintage problem (including, I read on another board, a full replacement in response to the family dog gnawing through the barrel), and Richard was still at the repair game at the time, but the mild rebuffing led me to back-burner the matter. I have... a few other pens I can turn to for solace.

Edited September 13, 2013 by Ernst Bitterman

[MarkTrain]

In response to Ernst whining about his hors de combat 140--

 

 

The main problem is I haven't exerted myself to get around the geography problem. A single attempt was handed off to Chartpak, the North American distributors, who said "good heavens, that's far too old-- try one of the Vintage specialists like Richard Binder." I don't say a word against Chartpak, given the way they evidently handle anyone with the slightest non-vintage problem (including, I read on another board, a full replacement in response to the family dog gnawing through the barrel), and Richard was still at the repair game at the time, but the mild rebuffing led me to back-burner the matter. I have... a few other pens I can turn to for solace.

Hi,

 

You can always buy an M200 nib and use the collar from it. See:http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/pendoctor/22.htm

 

Mark

[AndrewC]

In response to Ernst whining about his hors de combat 140--

 

 

The main problem is I haven't exerted myself to get around the geography problem. A single attempt was handed off to Chartpak, the North American distributors, who said "good heavens, that's far too old-- try one of the Vintage specialists like Richard Binder." I don't say a word against Chartpak, given the way they evidently handle anyone with the slightest non-vintage problem (including, I read on another board, a full replacement in response to the family dog gnawing through the barrel), and Richard was still at the repair game at the time, but the mild rebuffing led me to back-burner the matter. I have... a few other pens I can turn to for solace.

Have you tried contacting Rick Propas? I have no doubt he could set you right. He might have an extra collar he could send you, or you could send the pen. He has done work for me. Top notch.

[Ernst Bitterman]

Hi,

 

You can always buy an M200 nib and use the collar from it. See:http://www.richardspens.com/?page=ref/pendoctor/22.htm

 

Mark

I'm working my way around to this. My main impediment now is I keep spending the trivial amount of money the new point unit costs on other things (like the M30 that arrived yesterday with a BB hanging off its front end... how could I resist?).

[Inkysloth]

The vintage ones are built with better, tougher plastics. Also, they are less shiny than the new ones, which is a good thing.

 

Yes!

 

I find this with modern pen designs generally, they tend toward a very slick & shiny surface - too shiny for me. I don't *like* a pen to reflect as though it were a surgical instrument. There's no warmth to them, and perversely I think it makes them look cheaper.

[proton007]

 

Yes!

 

I find this with modern pen designs generally, they tend toward a very slick & shiny surface - too shiny for me. I don't *like* a pen to reflect as though it were a surgical instrument. There's no warmth to them, and perversely I think it makes them look cheaper.

 

Well, vintage pens have seen some use, and have aged, so its possible they lose some of their sheen. AFAIK, celluloid can be pretty shiny, but the older ones go for a mother-of-pearl kind of look.

 

The newer ones use some newer polymer as the base, and the stripes use some kind of a treated cotton fiber to achieve the shimmer. In that sense its 'shinier' and may maintain this shimmer longer.

[Sowulo]

I recently obtained a very nice Pelikan 400 in very good condition for very good price. I'm so pleased with it. It has fine nib which is more like medium. It writes very smooth as well. It is definitely a must have pen in any collection...

[BMG]

I have a few vintage Pelikans and love them:

 

http://i.imgur.com/1bwJxgh.jpg

 

As pictured above, a 400NN, an IBIS (or 130), a 140, and a M&K '70s era 120. I've also recently purchased a vintage black 400, which may be arriving today.

 

I really enjoy writing with vintage pens, I must say. The nibs are wonderful and the sizes more "human" -- i.e. they are not gigantic -- than many (most?) modern offerings. I also love the look and feel of vintage celluloid.

 

This isn't to say that I don't like modern pens -- I do and have many (though only one Pelikan: a Ductus). It's just that once I began writing with older pens, new ones started losing their appeal.

Edited November 9, 2013 by BMG

[dspeers58]

Lovely little 140 with a KEF nib, just picked it up at the Ohio Pen Show

[sargetalon]

I have a few vintage Pelikans and love them:

 

http://i.imgur.com/1bwJxgh.jpg

 

Beautiful collection of birds!

[Christopher Godfrey]

I wonder if Albinoni is still reading this thread? (Hello? You there, mate?) I seem to think he was complaining of a scratchy nib on his one Pelikan -- Albinoni, you simply need to get hold of some <very fine> sanding material -- we're talking two microns here and you can buy it from Richard Binder in New Hampshire. Yes, I have an advantage here: he hosted a workshop for us recently and showed us how it's done!

 

You need to learn how to evaluate the nib tines (10x magnifier), then to bend them to good adjustment and then to rub/polish them into shape, as you require it. You will find quite a lot of info. on Richard's website.

 

I certainly would not be buying modern Pelikans, when I have beautiful, old ones that I use and love! (100N and 400NN -- thanks to others here, who helped me identify them properly)

Edited November 11, 2013 by Christopher Godfrey

[gentlyom]

Vintage Pelikans are very addictive. I started from just one little Pelikan and ended up with all vintage nib sizes I can get (EF, F, OF, KF, M, OM, B, OB, OBB). They are full of character. :-)

[BMG]

 

Beautiful collection of birds!

 

Many thanks, sargetalon. It's all the more meaningful given your not inconsiderable flock! Between that pic and this post the 400 I mentioned has landed. Here it is:

 

http://img1.iwascoding.com/4/2013/10/24/EB/92E7154F70014BC09F29C02CB73B8E63.jpg

 

Now if I can just find a nice gray 400N...