Help With Tuning A Very Dear Pen

[Autiflip]

*english is not my first language so bear with me*

Hello there,

 

I have recently tried to restore the '50 pelikan 400 with a 14K EF nib from my grandfather and have in my opinion done a pretty good job. The nib however is something I am stuck on. It feels scratchy when held at certain angles and (although pretty rarely) catches on the paper on the upstoke. As you will see on the included pictures, the right tine is slightly bent but the tips of the tines come together ok-ish. I've tried to correct this bend but I couldn't do it since I couldn't separate the nib from the nibunit and the nib is very flexible, so just bending it a tiny bit doesn't have a lasting effect. I like it being an EF so regrinding is not really something I want to do. Does anyone know how I repair this or maybe know someone who can do this (I live in Belgium, so someone who lives in europe would be fantastic). I love this pen to bits and would like to bring this pen to its former glory, so to speak. A massive Thanks in advance!

 

[awa54]

Hi Autiflip,

 

That bend is an easy one to remove if you've got the nib out of the pen, however as long as it's in close contact with the feed you'll have no luck correcting it, since the tine has to first be straightened, then lowered to re-align the tipping. If you've never done nib and feed work before and/or don't have a set of punches and a knock-out block, then I'd suggest sending it to a competent repair person. It's an easy enough repair for somone with teh right tools and experience, but the potential for damage if done incorrectly is great and it sounds like this pen has significant sentimental value to you.

[BlueJ]

Francis Gossens (fountainbel on FPN) is in your country and would be an ideal person to adjust your nib.

[Autiflip]

Francis Gossens (fountainbel on FPN) is in your country and would be an ideal person to adjust your nib.

Thank you very much! I will try and contact him

[Autiflip]

Hi Autiflip,

 

That bend is an easy one to remove if you've got the nib out of the pen, however as long as it's in close contact with the feed you'll have no luck correcting it, since the tine has to first be straightened, then lowered to re-align the tipping. If you've never done nib and feed work before and/or don't have a set of punches and a knock-out block, then I'd suggest sending it to a competent repair person. It's an easy enough repair for somone with teh right tools and experience, but the potential for damage if done incorrectly is great and it sounds like this pen has significant sentimental value to you.

The nib is pretty much glued to the nibunit. Although the nibunit is very easy to remove from the pen, the nib is stuck. I will send it to a person who will hopefully be able to repair it. Thanks for your help!

[awa54]

The nib is pretty much glued to the nibunit. Although the nibunit is very easy to remove from the pen, the nib is stuck. I will send it to a person who will hopefully be able to repair it. Thanks for your help!

 

Ahh, I have never had a chance to closely inspect a Pelikan from that time period, I thought they were still a traditionally mounted nib, with the feed wedging it in to the section, not the more modern thread-in removeable nib units like current Pels use.

 

If it's the screw in nib/feed unit type, then that's probably something a specialist, or at least somone with parts available to them should work on. I've had only limited success re-setting Esterbrook nibs in their unit sleeves, although the Esterbrook units are flimsier than the Pelikan unit in my 20 year old basic piston pen (120? 150?), which has a metal collar holding the nib to the feed, rather than a plastic sleeve like the Esties.

[lurcho]

If for some reason your countryman-nibmeister can't help you perhaps you can ask Oxonian—John Sorowka—from whom many on this board have had very good results. He lives in Oxford in England, hence his moniker.

 

John didn't used to publicise his email address on the forums, but I will send it to you, or someone else might.

 

This is just in case the Begian gentleman is unable to help.

[In_Flanders]

Hello Autiflip

You can also ask Anabelle Hiller in the Netherlands. Her site is www.opuscineris.com
She also works as the nib specialist at Appelboom Pennen in Laren,

Veel succes