Individualized Nibs By Pelikan

[mirosc]

after having announced it for quite some time, today Pelikan has started a new program for nibs: link

 

In short: They produce nibs for M400, 600 and 800 with an extra big tip and then they grind it according to whatever the wishes and needs of their customers are (except flex nibs)

Price: 25,-€ flat

The nibs will have the mark S for "special nib".

 

The drawbacks:

- it is only done in the home factory and only if you are present, because only so they can guarantee satisfaction

- you can't watch how they grind it (they want to keep it a secret - strange IMO), but you can try the nib and get it reground as often as needed until you are satisfied.

 

Quite a nice replacement for the lost OBBs,...

At least for us over here who are willing to visit the factory.

Edited January 13, 2014 by mirosc

[Inkling13]

Very interesting... now for that trip to Germany... I wonder if someone would be able to just buy a stock of these nibs as is, with the guise of "I want it like that..." and sell them to others willing to do a grind?

[mori45]

Sounds interesting--one more reason to visit Hannover!

[Bo Bo Olson]

I've been to Hanover to watch Wladimir Klitchko get knocked out by Corrie Sanders. Before I got into fountain pens.

Now what to I got to do up north, where I can waste hours getting a nib ground for a 600.....hummm.

Do you know how expensive that will be with my wife shopping to kill time!!!!!

No flex...not even semi-flex.....

 

If you want a nib ground to your specks...order a size too big and have it done by a nibmeister. There is enough blob on the nib, as is, so you don't need a special big blob.

Could even order it one or two sizes too big if you don't want a BB which is BB 1/2 on mine. Still lots of nib tipping to get a nice BB stub in more traditional "vintage" width.

 

I was always going to get it ground...never did...until I ground it down a bit my self....still got more to go, it's still a wider B than I wanted, but decided some day....I will get it made a stub or CI like I planned in the start.

 

I guess this is for BBB or BBBB.

€25 is not too expensive....but need to buy a nib too.

 

[mirosc]

...

 

 

I didn't want to convince anyone to do it, just informing about a new marketing idea.

[Pelikan Vera]

Hm very interesting but only 4-5 times 30 mins for 1 Friday per month???

[proton007]

The idea itself has some big logistics issues but still a promising initiative.

 

Thanks for the update mirosc.

[Nibwitz]

Nice initiative from Pelikan. But I'm still waiting for other nib-choices like a 'Extra Flessibile' from Pelikan...That would bring the Pelikan gold nibs back into the running.

[sargetalon]

Hmm. A very interesting idea and I applaud their efforts here. Shame that it's only at the home factory. That's really going to limit the utility of this for many of the brand's users.

[Guy007]

This is what I just got in an email :

 

Make A Wish Nib & Guided tours on site now possible‏

 

This information is worth a special announcement!

A nib especially made according to individual specifications has been a long standing wish of many collectors of high-end writing instruments and fans of Pelikan.

On top of that, they would love to get a peep behind the scenes and to see in person how premium writing instruments are being produced.

We are happy that we can now fulfill this wish! As of February 2014, the production of Pelikan will open its doors every first Friday of each month by taking individual appointments via the Internet! All further details can be found here:

http://www.pelikan.com/nib

We’re looking forward to seeing you in Voehrum (close to Hannover), Germany!

[DrCodfish]

Well, if I was planning a trip to Germany I would certainly put this on the itinerary. The package deal sounds like it would be a really fun and interesting adventure. I am sure I could imagine one or more nibs which I would like to have customized at the factory.

[mirosc]

I am sure I could imagine one or more nibs which I would like to have customized at the factory.

Watch out!

This service is not (!) for existing nibs you already own. It's only for newly bought nibs...

[DrCodfish]

Watch out!

This service is not (!) for existing nibs you already own. It's only for newly bought nibs...

 

Right, I got that, but hey isn't there always another Italic, oblique, or stub nib you'd like to have for a favorite (or favorite to be) pen? That's one of the beauties of Pelikans' easily interchangeable nibs. Can't tell you how many pens I have not bought because they did not have the right (for me) nib.

[mirosc]

you are so right...

[proton007]

Now...I wonder if a translator will be available at the factory? Otherwise how will one explain their nib requirements?

Especially the small changes...

[inkstainedruth]

This is what I just got in an email :

 

Make A Wish Nib & Guided tours on site now possible‏

 

This information is worth a special announcement!

A nib especially made according to individual specifications has been a long standing wish of many collectors of high-end writing instruments and fans of Pelikan.

On top of that, they would love to get a peep behind the scenes and to see in person how premium writing instruments are being produced.

We are happy that we can now fulfill this wish! As of February 2014, the production of Pelikan will open its doors every first Friday of each month by taking individual appointments via the Internet! All further details can be found here:

ahttp://www.pelikan.com/nib

We’re looking forward to seeing you in Voehrum (close to Hannover), Germany!

A similar message was posted on Facebook on the page for DC Supershow.

Does this mean that the nibs will be junk unless and until one can afford the airfare to Germany along with affording a pen?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[proton007]

A similar message was posted on Facebook on the page for DC Supershow.

Does this mean that the nibs will be junk unless and until one can afford the airfare to Germany along with affording a pen?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Did you just call Pelikan nibs "junk"?

[inkstainedruth]

 

Did you just call Pelikan nibs "junk"?

I certainly hope not. I've been wanting an M 400 for a while now. But if the nibs are going to be advertised as "custom ground" (presumably for an added fee) it makes me wonder why they're not like that to begin with....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[mirosc]

I certainly hope not. I've been wanting an M 400 for a while now. But if the nibs are going to be advertised as "custom ground" (presumably for an added fee) it makes me wonder why they're not like that to begin with....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

There are still the regular nibs that can be bought (M B F ...) They are as bad or as good as always, no changes about that. But if you want a custom ground nib, you need to take the new S (Pelikan's foremost aim is to make money and this way they can sell some more nibs...).

 

How this S nib is looking like - no idea so far. My guess: it's just a huge blob of tipping, something like a BBBB, because they need to be able to get every possible tip out of that (including OBB, stubs, italics,...)

How good one can write with an untreated S nib - no idea so far. My guess: not very well, because it's meant to be ground before writing. I even doubt that the S nibs are widely available at shops.

 

So - you still can get a nice, good M400 like you had always wanted :-)

[proton007]

I certainly hope not. I've been wanting an M 400 for a while now. But if the nibs are going to be advertised as "custom ground" (presumably for an added fee) it makes me wonder why they're not like that to begin with....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

I was just kidding

 

Its alright. Their modern nibs are pretty much useless IMO.

 

I'd say their modern nibs are quite customized, even without them trying. No two write alike, some are too wet, others too broad, some have misaligned tines, some have baby's bottom.

 

From that perspective, the 'S' nib isn't going to solve any issues, they should rather focus on the quality of their regular production nibs first. If I wanted a nib custom ground, I can always go to a nibmeister without having to make that trip to Germany.

Edited January 15, 2014 by proton007