Jeph
February 4th, 2015, 01:43 PM
A long while ago I snagged a nice looking Pelikan 100. The hard rubber was in great shape, as was the trim and the nib but a name on the cap put it into my price range. The F nib was an absolute joy. Unfortunately, as is common, the piston unit threads were crystallized and cracked. But they were still functional. Until I took it apart one time too many (to take a measurement for another FPGeeks member) and I over tightened it during re-installation due to inattention and the threads shattered. I put it is a box (but not The Box) and considered it a learning experience and spare parts for some future acquisition.
The thing about the pen was that it wrote so wonderfully. I put the date as mid 1933 transitional, so it is one of my oldest pens. And I liked that the 100 has a longer section than the later Pelikans. Also, the cap posts on the piston housing instead of on the piston knob like on the 100N. (Ask my mother’s carpet how good of a design that is!) Plus, the 100’s had a nib similarly sized to a modern M600 and that extra length gives the nib a nice, soft feel. And, while it is not a wet noodle, it does have some nice flex. So a super pen that I destroyed.
Over a year passed, and I had toyed with the idea of one of Rick Propas’ replacement Pelikan barrels. Over the course of a lengthy e-mail exchange I learned that he had some specialty light and dark yellow barrels made that were not on the website. Then, he added that for a nominal fee he would do the barrel swap for me retaining the rest of my parts. That was an offer too good to refuse. So I procrastinated for no good reason and then finally sent the pen off to Rick.
It arrived back today and I could not be happier. Not only has the barrel been replaced, but the fit is perfect. Plus the pen was cleaned, tuned and I even got a new cork seal!
Now I just need to select the proper christening ink for it!
161771617816179
PS. Some notes as to how I dated the pen, more to have a back-up record somewhere, obtained from various sources. Further input welcome.
Size = Pelikan 100
Pelikan 100 = 1929- March 31, 1944 (EOP)
Black Cap + Green Marble Bind = June 1931 to EOP
Later version 4 chicks = 1932 - 1938
Twin cap rings = after Nov 1930
Conical Cap top = after June 1931
Celluloid barrel and hard rubber section = after June 1931
The section is tapered = after mid 1933
Transparent Green barrel = after 1934
14K nib with round hole and “14” style imprint 1930 - 1937
Middle feed fin trimmed = 1929-1937
The nib unit collar (”bush”) is 12mm long = after June 1931
Cap has 4 air vents = between end of 1930 and Mid 1933
No nib size stamped on feed = before 30 Aug 1935
No nib size stamped onto piston cone = export or before 09 Sep 1936
Cork seal = before 29 Oct 1942
So best guess is a transitional 1933 model with the 4 hole cap but green barrel.
A Frankenpen is also always a possibility.
PPS I hate when I leave cleaning debris on a pen before a picture but I am too lazy to fix it.
The thing about the pen was that it wrote so wonderfully. I put the date as mid 1933 transitional, so it is one of my oldest pens. And I liked that the 100 has a longer section than the later Pelikans. Also, the cap posts on the piston housing instead of on the piston knob like on the 100N. (Ask my mother’s carpet how good of a design that is!) Plus, the 100’s had a nib similarly sized to a modern M600 and that extra length gives the nib a nice, soft feel. And, while it is not a wet noodle, it does have some nice flex. So a super pen that I destroyed.
Over a year passed, and I had toyed with the idea of one of Rick Propas’ replacement Pelikan barrels. Over the course of a lengthy e-mail exchange I learned that he had some specialty light and dark yellow barrels made that were not on the website. Then, he added that for a nominal fee he would do the barrel swap for me retaining the rest of my parts. That was an offer too good to refuse. So I procrastinated for no good reason and then finally sent the pen off to Rick.
It arrived back today and I could not be happier. Not only has the barrel been replaced, but the fit is perfect. Plus the pen was cleaned, tuned and I even got a new cork seal!
Now I just need to select the proper christening ink for it!
161771617816179
PS. Some notes as to how I dated the pen, more to have a back-up record somewhere, obtained from various sources. Further input welcome.
Size = Pelikan 100
Pelikan 100 = 1929- March 31, 1944 (EOP)
Black Cap + Green Marble Bind = June 1931 to EOP
Later version 4 chicks = 1932 - 1938
Twin cap rings = after Nov 1930
Conical Cap top = after June 1931
Celluloid barrel and hard rubber section = after June 1931
The section is tapered = after mid 1933
Transparent Green barrel = after 1934
14K nib with round hole and “14” style imprint 1930 - 1937
Middle feed fin trimmed = 1929-1937
The nib unit collar (”bush”) is 12mm long = after June 1931
Cap has 4 air vents = between end of 1930 and Mid 1933
No nib size stamped on feed = before 30 Aug 1935
No nib size stamped onto piston cone = export or before 09 Sep 1936
Cork seal = before 29 Oct 1942
So best guess is a transitional 1933 model with the 4 hole cap but green barrel.
A Frankenpen is also always a possibility.
PPS I hate when I leave cleaning debris on a pen before a picture but I am too lazy to fix it.