Are all 100N nib units threaded?
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?
Re: Are all 100N nib units threaded?
Re: Are all 100N nib units threaded?
Thanks once again, Christof.
Re: Are all 100N nib units threaded?
Dry heat can help, but be careful--not hotter than you can touch, but evenly heated.
R.
Re: Are all 100N nib units threaded?
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...
:)
Re: Are all 100N nib units threaded?
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.
Re: Are all 100N nib units threaded?
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.
Re: Are all 100N nib units threaded?
Does this include a 120 someone gave me, possibly from the 50s or 60s? I'd like to lube the piston.
Re: Are all 100N nib units threaded?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Sailor Kenshin
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).
Re: Are all 100N nib units threaded?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mana
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.
Re: Are all 100N nib units threaded?
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.
Re: Are all 100N nib units threaded?
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.
Re: Are all 100N nib units threaded?
I soaked the 100N for more than a week so you should be fine, Sailor.
Re: Are all 100N nib units threaded?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
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.
Good oh, all the more for me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
guyy
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.
Re: Are all 100N nib units threaded?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
guyy
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.
Re: Are all 100N nib units threaded?
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.
Re: Are all 100N nib units threaded?
More on the polystyrene collars in 120, 140 & 400NN. https://thepelikansperch.com/2014/10...s-it-good-for/
Re: Are all 100N nib units threaded?
I got unlucky and got a 100N style nib in a 400 with one of those cursed polystyrene collars. Cracked of course.
Re: Are all 100N nib units threaded?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
guyy
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.
Re: Are all 100N nib units threaded?
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.