I am down to four, two M200s and two M400s. Haven't used them in years. Sentimental associations.
Printable View
I am down to four, two M200s and two M400s. Haven't used them in years. Sentimental associations.
I had an envy drool at the sight of some of the rarer pens that are on my wish list; other pens not so rare but very pretty, that could be on my wish list in I do have better nibs to stick on them***......until I just realized, no one showed a Dolphin Pelikano.:haha:
I will have to count mine, and take pictures....I think I've been saying that for a couple years now.
*** I am not a fan of the modern post '97 nibs, and just found out sometime in the last 5 or so years the 200's nib went down hill too.:deadhorse:
I think all these pens write OK. I lost interest in the look of them.
Just one - an M1000
2 & 1/2. I have a M805 Blue-Black with an Extra-Fine Nib, a M800 Red-Black with a Broad Nib, and a M805 Stressman which has no nib. I plan to install a M800 Italic Broad Nib in it. Both the Extra-Fine and Broad nibs are very smooth and write beautifully.
31.
I knew I had a lot....but had never counted them.:shocked: I have been collecting pens for some 15 years.
Not counting a old MP's (3) &BP's (3) and a modern RB. They were in live auction lots. I didn't chase them. 38 all in all.....So @ 1/3 of my pens are Pelikans.
I really like that Pelikan 450 MP....great balance.
The 455 BP, has all the problems of a 1950's ball point.
The K200 is OK... looks....'60s' style, but is later. Pelikan Perch didn't say when it was first sold....could well be late '85-90 in my NOS FP 200/BP K-200/MP D-200 are the W.Germany era.
But I live in Germany and once they were affordable, on Ebay, or in live auctions. At the time they were mostly 'overpriced' in flea markets so only a few are from that source.
They are still much more affordable on German Ebay than Stateside, if one goes auction only. @ E100+or-.
And I seem to have enough, except for a couple or three....but they are $$$. So unless I sell a lot of pens, they will remain.....drooling thoughts.
My first semi-flex was a 140 OB, and after that I started chasing used Pelikans. And I developed a liking for the nice springy regular flex nibs.
and :noidea: started wide, had narrow to hold space 'only' and now tend to like M nibs.
Two reasons, cheaper and better nibs than the stiffer fatter modern post '97-now gold nibs.
Post war 100n was made until 1954. I have one.
I also have an Auch Pelikan MP 1934-36, and what could have been a matching 100, but it had nib problem sometime, in it has a CN nib and it's only springy regular flex not the semi-flex or superflex CN's that some have.
This lot I won two weeks ago.
https://i.imgur.com/SXx7eYC.jpg
I'm envious BoBo!
I gave away my beautiful old M140 (I think that's what it was) but just I had to replace it so I bought a nice M200. I love it.
I have kept the mechanical pencil that came with my old Pelican, -that's a nice thing.
140's the best of the German medium-small pens that was so popular in the '50-60's, in it has a longer cap than say a Geha 760, Kawico Dia, so is better balanced. The same size as a 400 and as well balanced.
I like the old .... 4-5 years or older 200's nice springy teardrop clean line nib. Use to rave about such a grand nib.....then 4 or so years ago they went over to double ball on it too.:rant:
I only have a few pens, 'lower-end' -nothing exotic or highly desirable, and the M200 is my favourite. I do have big hands though, so the 200 is a little on the small side. I wonder if I should look for a larger Pelican... maybe a 600? What suggestions - (It has to be inexpensive though).
This the 'forefinger up grip' is an automatic light grip. Often one reads it takes up to 6 months of constant effort to develop a light grip with the classic tripod.
With the forefinger up, it takes three minutes.
Someone from over where the guys who can really write came over to the main section of FPN some dozen years ago, and showed us this grip.
I had used a very heavy classic tripod all my life, some 55 years at the time....and writing hurt or was tiresome.
I've been using the forefinger up ever since. No more hand fatigue, no pressure pain, and a Light Hand.
A 600 is a great medium large pen a bit bigger than your 200, medium girth, well balanced posted. I have a modern 605 semi-nail and the 400 sized old 600 deluxe with a nice springy regular flex nib. ...I suggest getting a monotone '50-65 factory stubbed semi-flex nib for it. I used a semi-flex B on it for ages:thumb:. Finally got the BB on the 605 stubbed to a 1.0/B. I had factory swapped in a nice M for the BB in I knew I was going to get it stubbed or made CI, that was a bit latter than planned. :crazy:
I don't use the classic tripod, instead I use the 'forefinger up' method of grasping a pen.
There are three tricks to it. The thumb is flat, and at 08:30 not the deadly kungfu pinch of the tripod. The forefinger is long and only rests at 12:00-12:30 (best) or even 13:00 if you wish.
The crease of the first forefinger joint is your marker. move the thumb to that and the pen rests a bit higher, Slide your thumb back 1/4-1/3 and inch and the pen rests lower.
The idea is to find where 'that pen' is comfortable, just after the first index finger joint, or at the start of the web of the thumb. Sliding the flat thumb a bit back or forwards to the first joint crease will do that.
That's why I put in so many pictures.
A '90's 400 and the blue 605.
https://i.imgur.com/8nQtWl5.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/jLcQ1QX.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Uwsrv1V.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Mh9fmyO.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/OXZIMyy.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/JmyB1nh.jpg
Thanks for the input BoBo, -interesting. BUT for me, the grip must be my natural grip, - because I was taught the correct way from the year dot! ('Can't teach an old dog new tricks!') Three fingertips balancing one-another seems to me the ultimate balanced grip for finest control, though I'm sure others will disagree. Whatever works for you is good by me, BUT see below*
I'm a designer/artist and my grip gives me ultimate control, whether drawing or writing. (*I'm appalled at my grandkids grips - obviously taught by brainless teachers who have no concept of good pen/pencil control). Anyway thanks. I'm lucky, my father was an artist, and he made me hold correctly from year one. I'll be looking out for a 600. (or 800?)
I have just two Pelikans, a M800 from the late 80s, with a 14c M nib that my dad bought me at around that time, and a new white Pelikan Jazz Elegance that I bought on a whim recently. I really want a blue Souveran, probably smaller than the M800, and a blue M120.
I forgot to add, I consider a 600 to be a light and nimble pen...even if I only have one medium large one, it is a pen worth having.
I do like being able to put vintage stubbed semi-flex or the 200's nib on it, in place of the semi-nail it is issued with.
It’s been some time since my last visit to this forum. Meanwhile I gathered quite a few Pelikans, around 15, some of them still in the restoration process. Most have been almost meant to “feed the nearest garbage can”. As Pelikan pens are known to be my hobby among friends, many such pens have been just donated to me, or sold for very modest price. Some also purchased in flea markets. Thanks to a dear and generous friend, a professional pen repairer and restorer I learned few important “tricks of the trade” and tooled-up.
So, I slowly put those pens back to life, with no intention of making them collectible and selling them - I gave some as gifts to friends. That’s a great experience, seeing old pens coming back to life and writing as new.
To put it short, I only have vintage Pelikan pens. The oldest is a black / malachite green 1930/1 Pelikan 100. The newest is a 1973. tortoise Merz & Krell 400NN.
My favorites are a 1936 black/green 100 with OBB nib, a pre-war dark tortoise 101N with ST nib, a red tortoise 101N with a special and rare, very flexible slightly stubbish nib (from my family estate) and a black green 400N, with OF nib.
Here’s the OBB nib 100 and EF nib M&K 400NN
Attachment 74056
Here’s my trusty OF 400N:
Attachment 74058
Here’s the malachite green early 100 with the “windrose” B nib:
Attachment 74061
And two more of them. Please feel free to guess the model and year:
Attachment 74060
And still few more: - a 1932 100 w. M nib
Attachment 74095
- a 1938 100N (or 101N) w. special flex nib
Attachment 74096
Pardon my being slow at adding pictures - cellphone interface has limited functionality. Hope these pictures satisfy the thread suggestions and you find the pens worth being photographed. Please pardon my not being able to take picture of all my Pelikans. They are not in the same place. Yet, all of them are great writers and I use and like them as such. IMHO, in terms of writing responsiveness, nothing compares to vintage Pelikans.
:postpics:
I have 9 in total. An M1000, an M400, five M800's, and two vintage, I think that they are 400 n's, IIRC.
I just have four, but they are some of my most cherished. All M80X's. I only want one more: an M1000 with a fine nib. Then I'll be done.
Attachment 75599
Seven .
Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk
State of the vintage Pelikan fountain pen collection as of 2023-02-28... missing one 100N still, lost somewhere in the US of A...
But yeah, with the very recent addition of the IBIS 130 and a second early production 140 my vintage Pelikan fountain pens seem to have outgrown their coop… the only saving grace are the pens that are up or on top of the others, they are my EDC trio housed in a separate Pelikan hardshell case… so there actually is room for a few more… 🤪
…before I have to get a new case 🤣
https://i.redd.it/j09zjtpwhzka1.jpg
Very nice flock.
…and there is a Gimborn too!