Adding To The Flock

[Merrick]

12 minutes ago, Driften said:

 

For a while I like my m605 Blue better than my m200/m400 series pens, but now I actually like the smaller pens posted better.  I do like my m805s best though for longer writing sessions.

Yeah I am hoping the M800 is more comfortable for me than the M600 or 400NN, which it should be because in general I prefer larger pens. The fact that I do find the 400NN so comfortable tells me that I should find the M200/M400 pens comfortable as well, but if I’m going to get a pen of that size it might as well be another vintage pen. I might get an older M200/M205 at some point to try the steel nibs. 

[Merrick]

I received my early production M800 today. It has a 14c EF nib which Pelikan only offered on the M800 from 1987-1990. It also features a brass button at the top and bottom of the pen, with the top button bearing the Pelikan logo. Based on the image of the logo from The Pelikan’s Perch M800 article, I believe the logo on my pen matches the logo from the 1987-1988 production run. 

 

The seller believed it had never been inked, and it looked that way to me. It came in a Pelikan clamshell case with a fuzzy cloth lining. The piston was a little stiff so I greased it and the threads of the nib collar. I filled it with the only Pelikan ink I have, the 4001 Turquoise, one of my all time favorite inks. 
 

For an EF nib the pen is extraordinarily smooth. I was worried the brass piston would make the pen feel too back weighted but it is wonderfully balanced and the larger diameter grip is extremely comfortable. This pen feels made for long writing sessions. 
 

I was told these 14c nibs were softer and springier than the 18c nails they use today, and while there is a small amount of give on the nib, I would hardly call it springy. It’s much closer to a nail than not. However it does have a feeling of cushioning when I write it, like the suspension on a car, it’s not bounce in that it’s not doing any significant give, I’m not sure what I’d call it. I wonder if a broader line width would feel bouncier than the EF (which writes like a F). For contrast my King of Pen is what I would call bouncy, in that the tines spread and bounce back without applying significant pressure, but don’t spread far enough to be considered a flex nib. The tines on the M800 don’t spread without deliberately applying pressure which I’m not going to do other than a quick test for line variation. 
 

It’s a fantastic pen, even if the nib is less springy than I had hoped for. It does make me curious to try the M1000 to see if that pen is similarly well balanced because I don’t feel like the M800 is at the upper limit of weight or grip diameter for my hand. I know many people prefer the M800 most of all so it may be that I find the M1000 unwieldy but my curiosity is piqued. Regardless of that, I’m very glad to have this pen, it writes beautifully and easily and it looks and feels every inch the premium pen that it is. 
 

 

[carola]

On 10/7/2024 at 10:58 PM, lamarax said:

 

I mean, it's not bad a modern rendition...

 

At the Pelikan Hub Vienna, two people borrowed my pens to take family pictures. 😉

 

There was one guy with the same pen as yours who paired it with my grey marbled 100N. Another borrowed my old 101N Lizard and the 101N Tortoise to pair it with his modern Lizard and the M101N Tortoise.

 

Those were like pictures of grandparents with their grandchildren. 🤣

[Misfit]

@carola Congratulations on the pens your aunt gave you. I’m curious about what your impressions are of the Rings version. I’ve liked the looks of that Pelikan, but haven’t seen it in the local store to hold. 

[RedPie]

2 hours ago, carola said:

Those were like pictures of grandparents with their grandchildren. 🤣

👍

[carola]

7 hours ago, Misfit said:

@carola Congratulations on the pens your aunt gave you. I’m curious about what your impressions are of the Rings version. I’ve liked the looks of that Pelikan, but haven’t seen it in the local store to hold. 

 

Thank you, Misfit.

 

It's a nice little pen, a lot heavier than the normal M20X pens, as it is made of brass instead of resin. That is, the cap is the usual resin cap. It takes a second look to realize that the segment between the section and the first ring, which disappears under the cap, is a dark grey ink window.

The rings seem to be covered with a layer of clear lacquer, but you can feel them when you move your fingers around on the surface.

The shiny chrome rings and clip beautifully match the shiny black lacquer.

I never chased the M215 models, in fact I don't like the looks of the 3 others that much. The Rings always was the only one that made me think, yeah, nice little pen. To do it justice, I think it looks better in person than in the pictures. Plus the added weight creates the impression of a pen a lot more costly than the average M20X.

 

[inkstainedruth]

7 hours ago, carola said:

Those were like pictures of grandparents with their grandchildren. 🤣

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[midnightblues]

I have ordered my first Pelikan today (apart from a Script which probably doesn't count) - an M205 B in Rose Quartz. I've been hanging my nose over the 205s for a while due to the highlighter pen having a BB nib, which turned this fat-nib-loving lady's head.

I then realised you can get BBs from The Writing Desk for £35, which fit any 205s, so when Cult Pens dropped an email into my inbox offering 40% off selected Pelikan I was in like Flynn. Score - the pink one was available in Broad which will be nice to try, and for £100. Go on then. I'd really like to try one of the bigger ones one day, but I need to get my paws on one in person to try. 

[Merrick]

21 minutes ago, midnightblues said:

I have ordered my first Pelikan today (apart from a Script which probably doesn't count) - an M205 B in Rose Quartz. I've been hanging my nose over the 205s for a while due to the highlighter pen having a BB nib, which turned this fat-nib-loving lady's head.

I then realised you can get BBs from The Writing Desk for £35, which fit any 205s, so when Cult Pens dropped an email into my inbox offering 40% off selected Pelikan I was in like Flynn. Score - the pink one was available in Broad which will be nice to try, and for £100. Go on then. I'd really like to try one of the bigger ones one day, but I need to get my paws on one in person to try. 

 

I don't always love the Pelikan demonstrators but I really like the frosted look of that one! That is a temptation...

[carola]

I am still not entirely sure how this happened, but this was in the mail for me today:

Pelikan M101 Originals of their Time 1935 Lapis Blue, mint condition, complete with box and papers.

 

 

(Please forgive me the rather crappy quality of the picture, it's already dark and I am somewhat ill. This was the best I could do, running pretty low on energy.)

[inkstainedruth]

What a beautiful pen!

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Mechanical]

1 hour ago, carola said:

I am still not entirely sure how this happened, but this was in the mail for me today:

Pelikan M101 Originals of their Time 1935 Lapis Blue, mint condition, complete with box and papers.

What a handsome pen!  Once you feel better, let us know how it writes.

[MHBru]

I pre-ordered the blue & cream M800 the other day.  

[RedPie]

A nice set you have there. Hope you feel better soon. @carola

[carola]

Thank you all. Maybe I'll get around to inking it up this weekend. It seems to have a pretty stiff M nib, so I am afraid, the results won't be spectacular. But we will see.

[Black Spot]

That is where my pen went. I am so glad you fount it.

[carola]

1 hour ago, Black Spot said:

That is where my pen went. I am so glad you fount it.

 

Ha! You wish!

 

I took some better pictures now. And inked it up. Here we go:

 

 

[Christopher Godfrey]

<... It seems to have a pretty stiff M nib...>

 

Someone is going to be looking for a vintage nib to put into that new Lapis model (very nice, too, Carola!  Mine is #1358)

[carola]

3 minutes ago, Christopher Godfrey said:

<... It seems to have a pretty stiff M nib...>

 

Someone is going to be looking for a vintage nib to put into that new Lapis model (very nice, too, Carola!)

 

Thank you. And you know what? That´s not a bad idea at all! I am envisioning a vintage flexy B nib right now... mmhmm... Shouldn´t be much of a problem to get one either.

[lamarax]

1 hour ago, carola said:

Thank you. And you know what? That´s not a bad idea at all! I am envisioning a vintage flexy B nib right now... mmhmm... Shouldn´t be much of a problem to get one either.

 

I'm afraid they're not interchangeable. At least not in what it concerns the integral nib unit (see towards the bottom of the linked page).