Pelikan Changing to Non-translucent Binde

[Karmachanic]

I choose acceptance.  And direct illumination.

[Haptograpsus]

23 hours ago, Harold said:

Was anyone asking for that; seriously, anyone? I'm going to be cynical here and say that this is just a post hoc rationalisation to lend plausible deniability for the real reason why they changed it. In reality, they probably couldn't get the old material anymore, or they wanted to cut costs because either the fountain pen material was more expensive, or it was simply more expensive to keep making a special variant just for the fountain pens.

 

 

I can only agree with that. One more point comes to mind. Some decision-maker had to decide something so that it wouldn't be obvious that he was actually superfluous. I feel sorry about this guy...

[Nethermark]

So in 1929, Pelikan introduced one of the most innovative and succesful fountain pens, with a piston filler unit - new innovation - a transparent ink window - also first in the market - and a very good nib. They sacrificed the good nib a long time ago and replaced it with the blob. The transparent ink window seems to be gone too. What's next: no piston fillers?

 

I'll stick to the before 1970 Pelikans

[Harold]

1 hour ago, Nethermark said:

What's next: no piston fillers?

My guess is they will do away with dual tone nibs before that.

[Olya]

On 6/9/2022 at 12:24 PM, Harold said:

Was anyone asking for that; seriously, anyone? I'm going to be cynical here and say that this is just a post hoc rationalisation to lend plausible deniability for the real reason why they changed it. In reality, they probably couldn't get the old material anymore, or they wanted to cut costs because either the fountain pen material was more expensive, or it was simply more expensive to keep making a special variant just for the fountain pens.

I think if they couldn't get the material any more, they'd say so.

To me, that would make most sense, a change in a product occurs, a change, which affects a product's appearance as it's been for 100 years (since inception!).

Saying the change is happening, because the material is no longer available saves a company from public wrath, as it's a change out of their hands.

 

What is more likely, is that they changed from translucent to opaque, because it's cheaper or in some other way better for the bottom line.

 

I very seriously doubt anyone at all was asking for opaque binde, though it is possible some people did, but my guess is they are a tiny minority.

 

All I can say for myself is, I was ready to get an m400 and an m600, my first gold Pelikans, and now it won't happen. I will not buy any Pelikan binde (stripe) pen, which is opaque. I hope they go back to translucent, then a purchase on my end will be in the cards again.

 

Seems like I will stick with the m200/m205. Should they do away with the ink window there as well, well.. That would be that then, between Pelikan and me.

 

This change is very big, it literally affects a product's usability, a function I very much rely on is gone.

It rarely happens that I write off a whole line or even brand, but changes like this are just too big, fundamental even.

[langere]

I agree completely.  The reason why Pelikan initially put in the transparency in the  binde was because you could discern the ink level.  It was an important innovation for the time and gave Pelikan an advantage over other pen brands that did not have this feature.  While today there are many pens that show ink levels, by Pelikan eliminating that feature, it is limiting the market for its pens (see @Olya above). 

 

Not a smart move, it seems to me.

 

Erick

[Strega]

4 hours ago, Nethermark said:

What's next: no piston fillers?

 

To be honest, if you don’t have an easy ink view, it’s kind of questionable in my mind whether a “blind piston” or a clear converter is better.  (ie: more ink vs being able to see exactly what you have.)

[Karmachanic]

 

 

Changing conditions.

 

Pelikan could continue to source the transparent binde material at three times the cost, and double the price of the pen. Is that preferable?

 

Apparently "direct illumination" will allow one to see the ink level.

 

I fear changing conditions will soon leave us with much more pressing concerns in the not too distant future.

[Strega]

Or possibly they could be more clever and/or “think outside the box” a bit.  If they can’t currently come up with a way to do stripes, maybe more models with more conventional windows or non-stripey semi transparent plastics would be in order.  I already went and grabbed pre-change stripey models, so I’m just hoping they have something to interest me in the future.

 

(And yeah, fountain pens are surely not the world’s most pressing problem, but I like to distract myself with them. 😀)

[Harold]

2 hours ago, Karmachanic said:

I fear changing conditions will soon leave us with much more pressing concerns in the not too distant future.

Exactly, that's why I can't be bothered to get worked up about something like a fountain pen anymore as I've become older. However, it does still mean that if Pelikan wants my money(they are a business after all), this is not the correct approach; especially because there are many pens out there that are equally as good and much cheaper in 2022.

 

I always wanted a Pelikan from a young age because I've written with fountain pens since we were handed them in primary school, and my parents and grandparents made sure I had a good pen to use after that. My grandfather proudly owned a Pelikan M800 with a 3B nib and he would let me write with it. By the time I was old enough that he wanted to gift me one, Pelikan had changed over to the differently shaped tipping and the harder gold alloy, and he was of the opinion that the nibs were no longer worth the money, so he bought me a Pilot instead(and Japanese pens were not easy to come by back then). By the time I could afford such things, Pelikan had discontinued the 3B, but I've still contemplated buying one over the last decade. Now with the change in binde material, I don't know why I would even entertain the thought anymore.

 

It has to be said that when I wrote to Pelikan about finding a practical way to reintroduce 3B nibs, I did eventually get a satisfactory response from someone who relayed my singular piece of feedback directly to the people who would make such a decision, which is more than can be said for many other medium-to-large companies. It seems the staff at Pelikan doing the work do care about the product.

[Manatsu]

I made a pre-order of the M805 Stresemann when they were being reissued, and received the opaque version without this change being annouced yet (late February). In fact, I had to contact Pelikan's customer service to confirm if this is a faulty production sample, to no avail. Then I contacted the dealership I bought from, who were equally as surprised as I was seeing the opaque stripes. The Stresemann is still beautiful, but the way Pelikan handled that and how even my dealer had to find out through "being questioned", left a bad taste in my mouth. 

The new M605 Tortoise Black is yet again another very aesthetically appealing offering, but I don't know if I want to buy new pelikans ever again.

[Olya]

3 hours ago, Strega said:

Or possibly they could be more clever and/or “think outside the box” a bit.  If they can’t currently come up with a way to do stripes, maybe more models with more conventional windows or non-stripey semi transparent plastics would be in order.  I already went and grabbed pre-change stripey models, so I’m just hoping they have something to interest me in the future.

 

(And yeah, fountain pens are surely not the world’s most pressing problem, but I like to distract myself with them. 😀)

Exactly this.

 

If the cost has become too high or whatever and the only way to keep Pelikans at the same price as they have been these past years, then they could incorporate an ink window differently. Have the Binde end sooner, so there's a window like in the m20x.

 

I have also always loved the vintage black stripe, not sure it that's binde or clever moulding of the plastic...

 

Things have always been going on in the world and some of these have affected my life greatly, doesn't negate issues in my hobbies or my buying habits (whether they are necessary or not).

[Haptograpsus]

In the meantime, there are unofficial suggestions on how to determine the ink level even without transparent strips.

With a scale...😜

But at least that works...

[Ayami_109]

I purchased an M400 Tortoise White in March this year. The retailer didn't have stock so my pen was on backorder with Pelikan. Then news of the opaque bindes came out and I became concerned. An enquiry with the retailer as to whether I'd receive a pen with an opaque or transparent pen was a dead end. However, I'm glad to report that after three months of waiting, I have finally received my pen and the binde is transparent!!

 

I've attached a photo to show the transparency. 

[Haptograpsus]

18 hours ago, Ayami_109 said:

 

I've attached a photo to show the transparency. 

 

 

 

Sometimes you just get lucky in life. Have fun with your new pen...

Helmut

[Ayami_109]

16 hours ago, Haptograpsus said:

 

 

Sometimes you just get lucky in life. Have fun with your new pen...

Helmut

Thankyou, the White Tortise is something I wanted to get for a number of years. I'm glad it was re-released. Even though previous versions (to my knowledge) are the M600, I'm happy with the smaller M400 of the re-release and most of all, the tortoise material. 

That said, would I buy another striped Pelikan? I'm not so sure. But for those who are on the fence due to this announcement, be heartened that some pens with transparent bindes are still made by Pelikan...you might just get lucky!

[Haptograpsus]

23 hours ago, Ayami_109 said:

That said, would I buy another striped Pelikan?

 

In the German Pelikan board, the indignation about the lost transparency is limited. 

 

But when Pelikan brings out new interesting fountain pens, which are actually superfluous for me because I already have more than enough, then my financial conscience gets a new ally, namely the dark cloud that stands for the opaque stripes. How the battle will turn out then remains to be seen.

[A Smug Dill]

2 hours ago, Haptograpsus said:

But when Pelikan brings out new interesting fountain pens, which are actually superfluous for me because I already have more than enough, then my financial conscience gets a new ally, namely the dark cloud that stands for the opaque stripes. How the battle will turn out then remains to be seen.

 

I certainly hope this drives Pelikan to bring out beautiful, interesting barrel designs that ‘make’ people succumb to FOMO in spite of their misgivings. Pelikan does not need to consult prospective (repeat?) customers, or allow them to have a say, before making a business decision whether to switch to non-translucent binde material; but it ought to have a good idea of what will be compelling to purchasers in the future all the same. It's not about either participation or ‘respect’; Pelikan just needs to produce good enough products — irrespective of whoever's ideas and/or strong feelings about tradition and heritage — to compete with both other products in the market, and inertia that results in an individual hobbyist not buying any new pens at all.

[TSherbs]

I'd love to at least try an M800 someday. The nibs look fantastic. But no way would I spend that kind of money and not be able to see how much ink is in the barrel. Deal-breaker for me. 

[Bo Bo Olson]

4 hours ago, TSherbs said:

Deal-breaker for me. 

Like lever pens, just fill every morning....make sure you stick it the ink jar and not the coffee cup.

Some folks cheat and do it at night while still awake.

 

Took me a decade of hunting very, lightly because of the price...for a used 800 with a nib I wanted. I chase old used pens....vintage, semi-vintage in they are more affordable and IMO have better nibs.

 

Some German sellers refuse to mail outside of Germany. Someone asked me to trans-mail a W.Germany 800 to Spain. I got to play with it for three days. I liked the nib....but having grown up with standard & medium-large pens only, ...  then any large pen, 146/800/Townsend were too large for me. In a decade my comfort zone grew. I still prefer a 146 over a 800 for balance.

 

 

The post '97 800's nib is a nail...fat and blobby....because of the double ball nib.

It can be butter smooth...it can also have baby bottom from over polishing.

Baby bottom was not a problem with the tear drop nib, in they didn't over polish it...because there are very many who want butter smooth at all costs.

I prefer the level under that (good and smooth), which was I think the then normal factory smoothing. When I smooth a nib that is where I stop, in I do use slick paper and don't care for the butter smooth's sliding on such good papers. The lack of feel.

 

I am prejudiced against the double ball fat modern Pelikan nib.

 

My W.Germany 600 OBB  (400 sized fancy pen) is a half a width narrower than my 1005 OBB.

I also like the clean line a semi-vintage tear drop tipping gives vs the woollly line or lack of a clean line of the double ball nibs.

 

My W.Germany (& Germany to '97?)  800 tear drop tipped nib is a bit thinner than the then normal 400/600, in once the 800 had it's very own thinner width size.

And the W.Germany nibs be that 800, 600, 200 (don't have a W. Germany 400) are a slight tad more springy regular flex (called soft by those influenced by Japanese pens) than the Germany regular flex nibs from '90-91-97. One does have to have both on hand to feel the tad of difference.

 

Any fat nail nib will give you what a 800 has to offer.....

 

If I bought new pens, I'd have just one, that I bought in 1972...a $22 P-75.

My 6 or so  200's were new, the rest of my new pens were on sale, Pelikan 605,  Cross Townsend and MB Virginia Woolf. The other 83 or so were used and therefore affordable.

 

My '50-65 and '82-97 Pelikans are as good as new for use and in very good shape.