…and then there were five ;) Pelikan Graphos pen stand

January 30

The latest addition to my slowly growing flock was indeed a Pelikan, but not a fountain pen.

I found this vintage Pelikan Graphos pen stand online. After a short negotiation with the seller and subsequent payment it was on its way to its new home.

It joins the already existing Günther Wagner/Pelikan pen stands from between the 1930s to 1950s which now number five.

The design is a bit different from the others: the trumpet-shaped part that holds the pen does not have the four internal lengthwise ribs, but the opening is a bit smaller instead. You can absolutely use it with Pelikan fountain pens of that era (and the modern ones too up to M400 size) though.

This brings me one step closer to acquiring all of the variants. I am currently missing two, a gold-black version (silver-black is shown in the picture above) and red (to go with the 101N/101Nf).

Then there are the ones with intact retail packaging, and the gift set box that a stand was included with… but I do not put much hope in acquiring those, well, not anytime soon, at least… 😅

So, the hunt continues

Might have to do a “state of the collection” post at some time which would be a good opportunity to go into more detail on each.

January 30

mana, don't those internal strengthening "buttresses" (or ribs) mark your pen, when inserted?

Secondly, <what> is the function on your desk of that fossillized half-lemon, pray tell? 😁

January 30

15 hours ago, Christopher Godfrey said:

mana, don't those internal strengthening "buttresses" (or ribs) mark your pen, when inserted?

Secondly, <what> is the function on your desk of that fossillized half-lemon, pray tell? 😁

The "ribs" (or whatever they should be called) are quite round and there is a little loose space between them and the pen. I think the idea is to afford easy insertion and retraction, and like with the caps, the "seal" is provided by an inner cap lip that the end of the section rests against. That also works towards preventing scuffing or marks from repeated use, with the ribs providing the required guiding function with minimal contact with the pen.

The Graphos is a bit different, tubular design, being a drafting pen first and foremost (well, solely). Also, as it is more a proper drafting tool the need for preventing scuff marks is different than for a personal writing instrument of much higher value.

Oh, those dried limes? They are just part of a visually interesting collection of knickknacks and curios, also, they can provide a dual function of acting as interesting subjects for still life drawings, etc. Something I picked from my parents/childhood/art school, it is useful to have such things around.

Among them are also lichen covered stone plate (flat piece of stone), various glass objects including an antique glass insulator, a genuine Bohemian crystal ball (about 5" in diameter), and antique glass bottles and vessels (over 100 years old). Ah, there is also a preserved skull of a ferret (or was it a small badger?) that I received as a gift from a childhood friend of mine whose mother was a taxidermist (it holds a piece of an ancient Finnish ritual stone inside its jaws), a dried rabbit's foot (sourced locally and organically, left behind by a fox), a leg of a crow that I picked up in Czechia a long time ago, and a dried apple that has a specific symbol carved to it (no, not a pentagram) that I received from a member of a certain band that deals with occult and mystical themes (among others) after their gig here in Helsinki. There is also a score of large bird feathers... and a number of other things of such nature that have struck my fancy over the years.

January 30

29 minutes ago, mana said:

The "ribs" (or whatever they should be called) are quite round and there is a little loose space between them and the pen. I think the idea is to afford easy insertion and retraction, and like with the caps, the "seal" is provided by an inner cap lip that the end of the section rests against. That also works towards preventing scuffing or marks from repeated use, with the ribs providing the required guiding function with minimal contact with the pen.

The Graphos is a bit different, tubular design, being a drafting pen first and foremost (well, solely). Also, as it is more a proper drafting tool the need for preventing scuff marks is different than for a personal writing instrument of much higher value.

Oh, those dried limes? They are just part of a visually interesting collection of knickknacks and curios, also, they can provide a dual function of acting as interesting subjects for still life drawings, etc. Something I picked from my parents/childhood/art school, it is useful to have such things around.

Among them are also lichen covered stone plate, various glass objects including an antique glass, insulator, a genuine Bohemian crystal ball (about 5" in diameter), and antique glass bottles and vessels (over 100 years old). Ah, there is also a preserved skull of a ferret (or was it a small badger?) that I received as a gift from a childhood friend of mine whose mother was a taxidermist (it holds a piece of an ancient Finnish ritual stone inside its jaws), a dried rabbit's foot (sourced locally, left behind by a fox), a leg of a crow that I picked up from Czechia long time ago, and a dried apple that has a specific symbol carved to it (no, not a pentagram) that I received from a member of a certain band that deals with occult and mystical themes (among others) after their gig here in Helsinki. There is also a score of large bird feathers... and a number of other things of such nature that have struck my fancy over the years.

🤣 Sounds great. All of it.

January 31

6 hours ago, mana said:

The "ribs" (or whatever they should be called) are quite round and there is a little loose space between them and the pen. I think the idea is to afford easy insertion and retraction, and like with the caps, the "seal" is provided by an inner cap lip that the end of the section rests against. That also works towards preventing scuffing or marks from repeated use, with the ribs providing the required guiding function with minimal contact with the pen.

Thank you for posting your Graphos pen stand, @mana😄. Is there a difference in ease of use when inserting or removing pens with or without ribs?

January 31

6 hours ago, tacitus said:

Thank you for posting your Graphos pen stand, @mana😄. Is there a difference in ease of use when inserting or removing pens with or without ribs?

Thank you for asking The inside diameter is smaller and as a result the fit is more snug and I feel that the 100N or 400-series pens do not go all the way in, sitting about 1 cm higher in that one when compared to others.

Also, I feel that if i forced the pen in it would get stuck. With the others it is a friction free affair, as in, I can put a pen in without even looking at it (if I know where the pen stand is) and pull it out without the stand moving. So the fit in them is rather loose to facilitate ease of use.