Are all 100N nib units threaded?

[guyy]

I have a 100N with a stiff piston. I want to open it up to lubricate the piston. It looks to be a postwar model with a later section, synthetic seals, but also 1937ish 14k nib. I’ve been soaking this thing for a week, and it doesn’t seem to want to budge. I’ve been under the impression that all 100N nib units are threaded. Is that correct?

[christof]

that is correct.

[guyy]

Thanks once again, Christof.

[ralfstc]

Dry heat can help, but be careful--not hotter than you can touch, but evenly heated.

R.

[stoen]

Hello,
in such situations an ultrasonic bath can also be very helpful in loosening the particles of mineralized ink which may have glued the nib assembly (bushing) to the section upon decades of use...
:)

[guyy]

I just got it off this morning. I just let it sit with water in it for some time and kept trying.

I agree that an ultrasonic cleaner would have helped get it off sooner. However, this NYC apartment is rather small and i am reluctant to add to the pile of junk already here. Except for pens, of course.

[mana]

Yeah, water and patience definitely help. Took my sweet time (3-4 weeks) taking a completely clogged 101N apart, soaking the section with careful, gentle tries following one another every few days.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Does this include a 120 someone gave me, possibly from the 50s or 60s? I'd like to lube the piston.

[mana]

Does this include a 120 someone gave me, possibly from the 50s or 60s? I'd like to lube the piston.

Yeah, the nib unit is threaded and screws out on 99.999% of all of the vintage, pre P-series, and later, Pelikan Souveran series and the like (so there are exclusions like the P-series, Pelikanos and lower end modern pens). So, 100, 100N, 120, 140, 300, 400-series pens (including the variants of those such as the 101, 101N, 500 series pens etc.).

There are few very rare exceptions to the above such as the very, very early 400 and, surprisingly enough, the very, very early M400 also. Those had a friction fit nib unit (for some really weird ass reason).

[grainweevil]

There are few very rare exceptions to the above such as the very, very early 400 and, surprisingly enough, the very, very early M400 also. Those had a friction fit nib unit (for some really weird ass reason).

As it happens I bought an old style M400 a month or so ago, and there I was carefully unscrewing the nib unit, only to find, oh, no threads but a friction fit nib instead. So they are out there in the wild, those 0.001%, ready to throw us a loop.

[guyy]

I had a friction fit M400 once, too. I can’t recall where it came from since i generally have zero interest in modern Pelikans.

Were the Merz and Krell 400nn knockoffs friction fit? I may have something mixed up, but something tells me they were.

[Sailor Kenshin]

So...if I let the 120 stand in water up to the nib for a while, it won't harm the pen? I knew virtually nothing about piston fillers when I was given the 120.

A few years ago I did buy a 2xsomething with an italic nib. The nib unit threads right out, very handy. Reminds me of Esterbrooks and Osmiroids.

[guyy]

I soaked the 100N for more than a week so you should be fine, Sailor.

[grainweevil]

I had a friction fit M400 once, too. I can’t recall where it came from since i generally have zero interest in modern Pelikans.
Good oh, all the more for me.


Were the Merz and Krell 400nn knockoffs friction fit? I may have something mixed up, but something tells me they were.
The M&K made their versions under contract to Pelikan so it's not really a knock-off. As I understand it their nib units were all threaded, just not compatible with the standard Pelikan thread. Equally unhelpful for the would-be nib-swapper, but not actually friction fit.

[Sailor Kenshin]

I soaked the 100N for more than a week so you should be fine, Sailor.

Thanks. Well, it's in there. It draws and releases water, and some ink flushes out of the barrel. But the nib won't move yet.

[stoen]

In my experience, Pelikan tried to introduce friction fit nib assemblies only on three occasions: in the 1950 400, in the 1980 M400 and in the 1983 M481, but they reverted to proven screw-in collar design very soon. The Merz and Krell licensed 400NN neither had friction fit nib assemblies nor friction fit piston assemblies. Their parts aren’t interchangeable with original 400NN parts indeed.

As for Pelikan 100N, I have come across few of them with friction fit nibs and feeds directly into the grip in places across Central Europe. However, these were not originals, but wartime repairs of broken grips, when genuine spare parts were scarcely available. However, these can immedately be recognized through poor quality grip material.

Im glad your 100N wasn’t one of those, guyy.

As for 120 and 140, I remember there was a series made with clear plastic collars which were prone to breaking, so one should be very careful and patient while taking them apart.

Hope this bit of info can help.

[mana]

More on the polystyrene collars in 120, 140 & 400NN. https://thepelikansperch.com/2014/10/03/polystyrene-what-is-it-good-for/

[guyy]

I got unlucky and got a 100N style nib in a 400 with one of those cursed polystyrene collars. Cracked of course.

[stoen]

I got unlucky and got a 100N style nib in a 400 with one of those cursed polystyrene collars. Cracked of course.
First few years of Pelikan 400 nibs are indeed exactly the same as 100N, and are completely interchangeable except for feeds and collars which are different. I believe the “fir-tree nibs” came into production as early as 1953.

As for the notorious polypropylene collars, I’glad I’ve never seen one in a 100N, though. I remember having seen someone making the replacement collars for 140 and it works well. I’m sure they can be reached through forums and pen shows.

[guyy]

Custom Pen Parts makes replacement 400 series collars. There may be some other folks making them. Flexible Pen Factory does them in ebonite, but it seems they only sell them with feeds. I think penboard.de may have ebonite ones, too.

[mana]

I got unlucky and got a 100N style nib in a 400 with one of those cursed polystyrene collars. Cracked of course.

Those are great nibs, also, a collar can be replaced.

[mana]

I got unlucky and got a 100N style nib in a 400 with one of those cursed polystyrene collars. Cracked of course.
First few years of Pelikan 400 nibs are indeed exactly the same as 100N, and are completely interchangeable except for feeds and collars which are different. I believe the “fir-tree nibs” came into production as early as 1953.

The change to the logo nibs (aka. xmas/fir tree/chevron nibs) happened in December of 1954. Specs for the nibs stayed the same dimensions wise though.

[guyy]

I got unlucky and got a 100N style nib in a 400 with one of those cursed polystyrene collars. Cracked of course.

Those are great nibs, also, a collar can be replaced.

I know, and i did, with a Custom Pen Parts collar. Still, you don’t expect one of those cracky collars on a 100N type nib.

[stoen]

I got unlucky and got a 100N style nib in a 400 with one of those cursed polystyrene collars. Cracked of course.
First few years of Pelikan 400 nibs are indeed exactly the same as 100N, and are completely interchangeable except for feeds and collars which are different. I believe the “fir-tree nibs” came into production as early as 1953.

The change to the logo nibs (aka. xmas/fir tree/chevron nibs) happened in December of 1954. Specs for the nibs stayed the same dimensions wise though.

My remark might be a bit off topic or perhaps slightly generalizing. Yet, curiously enough, I just succeded in rather effortlessly putting a “fir tree” 400 nib into a 100 feed & collar unit, while waiting for the real thing yet to arrive. It all went “by the book”, and it now behaves and writes perfectly, although I’learned it neither would fit nor behave, and it neither behaves nor fits in most cases. These feed & collar were neither tweaked nor filed. I do see this rather as an exception to the general rule that a 400nib is compatible with pre-war 100N, but not with a pre-war 100. I know this is a non-recommedable practice, I would have never done it without some relevant experience and an “unstrained feel” under my fingers while tryng it. I don’t recommend anyone do it, I just mean to say there might be slightly more to the vintage Pelikan nib unit topic than regularly explained and discussed.

:)

57707