Pelikan Graphos Calligraphy Set

[zxc]

My friend came across something called a "Pelikan Graphos Calligraphy Set" with 12 nibs in a white box. He has yet to pass on the link but he said they seemed quite reasonable price whise and in good condition.

 

I did a search on FPN, and returned nothing which is very strange to me

 

I was wondering if any of you could shed more light onto this product, it's purpose (Calligraphy?) and if it's any good.

 

Thanks as always

 

Edit: Link

 

 

 

 

http://www.andys-pens.ukhome.net/pe00701.jpg

Edited May 30, 2005 by zxc

[KCat]

can't tell you too much about it other than they are considered fairly good sets. I think finding one with all the nibs intact is a bit of a challenge.

[zxc]

Full set.

 

To get a Waterman Flex or this :'( Decisions Decisions.

 

*Looks aroud room for stuff to pawn*

[Gerry]

I was gonna offer my first born.

 

Then I realized that I already did some time ago, and they paid me to take him back...

 

Sigh.

 

Gerry

[southpaw]

I was gonna offer my first born.

 

Then I realized that I already did some time ago, and they paid me to take him back...

 

What's the problem? Now you can do it all over again and double your $!

[Ann Finley]

I had one of these sets. The nibs look the same, but the clip on the pen you show looks different than what I had. They do have a good reputation, but I didn't like mine and gave it away probably between 15 and 20 years ago. Can't remember just what it was I didn't like. You may very well like it, especially if you're working on projects that require a lot of nib sizes and you need to use India ink for some reason.

 

If you just want a calligraphy pen to write with, you may be happier with something else. Now that Noodler's has the waterproof ink without shellac, it gives us a lot more options without having to use a pen like the Graphos in order to use waterproof ink. I guess it just depends on what your uses for the pen are.

 

Best regards,

Ann

[Rique]

Is this a calligraphy set?! I had one of those, some 25 years ago, and I used it for drawing engineering blueprints. As far as I know, these pens were meant for technical drawing, not calligraphy. They were replaced later by stylographic pens (mine were Rotring). Eventually, they went the way of the dinossaurs, killed off by the AutoCAD...

[Gerry]

You're probably correct, considering the number of finer points that appear in the set. Regardless, they would also have been used for lettering so the distinction would be blurred a little. I know we'd use some Speedball dip pen nibs for both applications.

 

Doesn't that bring back fond memories - working on pen and ink drawings? Not! <_<

 

Gerry

[einv]

i love the graphos pens, they are hard rubber with plastic caps, to fill you need to use that syringe device and fill up the barrel with ink. the writing with the larger t nibs is phenomenal, very consistent broad lines. there is nothing like these pens, by comparison the hunt broad dip nibs are worthless.

[Ruaidhri]

Picked up a set of these some time back when overcome by a fit of calligraphy. Snap !

An interesting was to while away the time

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/ruaidhri/PelikanSet.jpg

[Phthalo]

It's not specifically for calligraphy, but was designed for drafting and technical drawing as noted. My mother is a geological drafter, and has loads of her old drawing equipment from the 50's and 60's, she has an old Graphos set with more than 50 nibs.

 

I myself have a full 12-nib Graphos set, but it is the older predecessor to the one shown here. Comes in a tiny leather box with blue velvet inlay. The holder is bakelite. I think it's from 1960's.

 

It's just an interesting item in my collection, I never use it. Drawing ink is a bit of a handful to work with, very messy IMO. There are much nicer and easier sets out there for calligraphy work.

[Aristarco]

It was a technical drawing tool immensely popular here in México. Secondary and High Schools made it mandatory for technical drawing workshop (almost all of them offer that subject) until the Rotring Rapidograph overtook the scene. I used mine only a couple of times and it was HORRIBLE to handle. I mean, extremely difficult. Even using a beveled square, you had the risk of the ink to sip under it and when moving it, your drawing was ruined. Also, to make a perfect line with the most common of nibs (the A type) required to find, by trial and error, the precise angle that was almost perpendicular to the paper but I think about less than a degree worked better. If not, the line started beautiful and became dotted after a few centimeters.

Here in México it disappeared around 1990, and its peak of fame, at least among students, was in the late 1970's - early 1980's. When the rapidograph came to scene, teachers refused to accept drawings inked with them. "Pelikan Graphos ONLY or you FAIL, you little punk!" Oh, those times... I am very fond of my Graphos and I keep it in top condition. Too bad the nibs corroded badly and the are unusable now. Nice set that one you have!

[sandy wp]

I recently found this set and box.
Tempted to ink it up.

[txomsy]

Nice one. Yeah, do try and please, let us know.

[stoen]

On 3/22/2012 at 5:16 PM, Aristarco said:

I used mine only a couple of times and it was HORRIBLE to handle. I mean, extremely difficult. Even using a beveled square, you had the risk of the ink to sip under it and when moving it, your drawing was ruined. Also, to make a perfect line with the most common of nibs (the A type) required to find, by trial and error, the precise angle that was almost perpendicular to the paper but I think about less than a degree worked better. If not, the line started beautiful and became dotted after a few centimeters.

Hi,

In my experience it really required hands of a master engineer.

😊

I guess you've pointed at a straight and rather comprehensive list of reasons why Rotring Rapidograph eventually took over, even though an order of magnitude more costy.

😊

 

Nevertheless, it used to be the high-end drafting tool in Europe for decades. This drawing ink container, reminding of a miniaturized oxygen bottle looks classy too.