Jeph
May 12th, 2014, 01:50 PM
Last Friday I finally had my “Make a Wish Nib” appointment and factory tour at Pelikan in Peine (outside of Hannover) Germany. That was honestly the trip of a lifetime. I am still too overwhelmed by the entire experience to write that post but it will come soon. This is only the last part of an already spectacular day. Detlev Köhn, the Pelikan Fine writing Engineer, and I had lots of time playing with pens. Along the way we tested a large selection of M800 demonstrators and talked about how each wrote. Yes, exactly like they offered back in 2008 but these all had black caps. I had fallen in love with one of the EF M800 nibs while we were playing. I convinced him that I REALLY wanted it. He called the boss and after a short discussion they agreed to sell me the pen. But there was one problem. They had the new style black caps that have not been released to the public yet. They would not make an exception. A couple of phone calls later and Herr Köhn excused himself while I browsed the store. It ended up he had them make me a cap. I can’t be sure if “make” meant manufacture or assemble but either way he returned with a grin and a fresh clear M800 cap. I have heard this pen called “etched” but the words are actually painted on. Some of the demonstrators did have some of the paint markings chipping off. I was allowed to take my pick of any of the dozen demonstrators and then put the M800 EF nib that I had already tested in it.
So after a completely wonderful experience I also walked away with not only my custom M600 nib and a awesome tour but this M800 demonstrator that I never thought would be within my reach with a thoroughly test driven EF nib that puts down a juicy überwunderschön weich das es mir eine Gänsehaut macht (mangled German for so super-duper wonderfully smooth that it gives you goose bumps) .4 mm line with a huge sweet spot.
I will be honest. It was an emotional experience.
So after a completely wonderful experience I also walked away with not only my custom M600 nib and a awesome tour but this M800 demonstrator that I never thought would be within my reach with a thoroughly test driven EF nib that puts down a juicy überwunderschön weich das es mir eine Gänsehaut macht (mangled German for so super-duper wonderfully smooth that it gives you goose bumps) .4 mm line with a huge sweet spot.
I will be honest. It was an emotional experience.