Possible To Convert R200 Into M250?

[sargetalon]

Hello everyone. I have a hypothetical question. I have the chance to buy a Pelikan R200 rollerball in a somewhat rare color scheme. Is it at all possible to have that barrel taken and turned into a proper Pelikan M250 fountain pen? I've seen custom bindes placed on M800's but wasn't sure if the barrel could be cut down and fitted to an M250. I suspect it's not possible or, even if it were, too difficult/expensive to contemplate but thought I'd ask to ease my troubled mind and put the matter to rest. Thanks for indulging my mad scientist moment.

[daenghafez]

I dont think it is possible without potentially damaging the two pens. There is no ink window from the R200 to begin with. Even if the binde or the whole body is successfully taken out from the R200, it has to be cut short and inserted with an ink window. Just my 2 cents, Joshua..

[Ron Z]

They may start out with common elements, but are different enough that the conversion can't be done. Even if possible, it wouldn't be practical from either the mechanical or cost effectiveness angles. (and since I repair them I do know how the pens are assembled)

[PJohnP]

Possible ? Perhaps with some major reworking of the bodies of an existing M250 and the R200, and the strong potential for having both bodies destroyed in the process. Certainly expensive to accomplish, and you're most likely to end up with an impromptu eyedropper filler as the piston won't translate between the bodies (hint : solvent weld part of the pen together, remove and replace the section with the M250 section to hold the nib assembly, as well as a few other tweaks).

 

If the other colour scheme is so much more attractive to you, you have substantial money to burn, and you are willing to sacrifice the R200 without return, go for it. Otherwise, enjoy a highly unusual M200.

 

 

John P.

 

 

P.S. I have a couple of these R200s myself, so I've been through the calculus of making such changes. They remain rollerballs.

[sargetalon]

That's what I figured. Thanks for talking some sense into me

[JulioPB]

Hi:

 

Maybe not a M250, because it would be an hypothetical piston filler.

 

But you can try if a Pelikan (or another brand) Cartidge/converter section and nib would fit the threads into the rollerball barrell.

 

I have done it in another brand roller balls,

 

If you have success with this please share it,

 

Good luck,

 

Julio

[GTOZack]

Delta has piston filler rollerball, i think, they are quite nice

[Tombstone]

Didn't they just start with a classic that runs on cartridges?

 

I would try this... the nib unit will be the same... ok, it will then be a P250...

[lightspirit]

May be do-able, but would not be a 250. One of the Pelikan P series sections may screw into it, making it a cartridge filler that might also take a converter.

[Phonz]

Wow! This is a very old but interesting post, how about the other way around with 805s...

I mean M805 into a R805! since Pelikan doesn’t make a rollerball for this FP, I was wondering if it would be possible to make this convertion...any ideas?

[Kalessin]

Not really possible, as far as I know, but you could take a K805 and put in a Parker-G2-style refill with gel or hybrid ink to get close to a true rollerball experience. (All modern Pelikans fit the Parker style ballpoint refill.)

 

https://www.cultpens.com/c/q/explore/product-type/refills/parker-type-g2-refills#:g_category=refills&g_subcategory=pen-refills

[Ron Z]

I really should do an exploded view of the Pelikan pens some day.

 

These are not like some of the Parker or Sheaffer pens where you can convert a rollerball into a fountain pen just by adding a section and removing a spring or plug. Because the fountain pens are piston fillers, its quite a different proposition.

 

The R80X and M80X series pens start with the same barrel/section unit. For the rollerball the cone is screwed into the section, a brass sleeve is inserted in the barrel, and a rollerball thread bushing assembled with the grip knob and a spring unit on the back end. The thread bushing and grip knob are held together with a thread locking compound so that they don't come apart when you open up the back end to refill the pen.

 

For the fountain pen the nib unit is screwed into the section, and the piston assembly with the grip knob attached is screwed into the barrel and secured with a thread locking compount.

 

In theory, if you had all the parts, it may be possible if one has a piston assembly, nib and a way to remove the sleeve, to convert the RB barrel into a fountain pen barrel. It really isn't worth it except perhaps in cases like the red 800 pens where the color is no longer made.

 

re the lower end pens - 600 and below, the cone is molded in one piece with the section, and the section is glued onto the barrel. You can't convert the RB to a FP.