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Thread: My first Pelikan

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    Senior Member Scrawler's Avatar
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    Default My first Pelikan

    I have friend who is in his 90s, who I meet for coffee from time to time. He told me that "if you don't have a Pelikan, you don't have a pen". Pelikans are so rare around here that I had previously only handled two of them. I went to visit a friend a few days ago and I related this to him, and he produced a 6 pen wrap with 7 Pelikans in. He was very insistent that I take his M400 NN, though I do not feel good about taking people's nice things, I did, after refusing it many times, eventually take it. So I have cleaned it up and filled it with Edelstein Jade ink. This pen dates to the early 1950 period. I can tell this from the stripes, the feed and the nib. Before I go any further I want to say that if I were allowed only one pen, it would be this. A number of things surprised me about it. The barrel has transparency, like a Parker Vacumatic, so you can see how much ink is in it. The nib is a springy (rather than flexy) stub. It has quite a bit of feedback, to the point that it actually squeaks from time to time. The feedback means that this pen never feels out of control and difficult to hold back, like some buttery smooth pens I have used. Unposted this is a very nice size in my hand. It seems to hold quite a lot of ink. I will see how long one filling lasts. I like the interchangeability of the nib. Just like Esterbrook, nib changing is just a matter of screwing a new one in. In my opinion, this is a highly practical pen. Engineering design and function appear to be the first consideration, with its appearance and aesthetics being large a result of "form following function". The black cap with gold trim, and green barrel make for a very classic looking pen. The piston apparatus is smooth and easy to operate. It makes the pen very easy to flush and fill. It is much easier to flush than the 1940 Parker Vac that it is currently sharing a pouch with. So far it has had no difficulty starting and tracks my very fast signature with ease.

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    Senior Member tandaina's Avatar
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    Default Re: My first Pelikan

    Welcome to the Pelikan obsession. I adore my birds, every last one of them. They are just plain wonderful pens and the old ones like yours are the best.
    ---
    Current pen rotation: way too many!

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    Senior Member Ernst Bitterman's Avatar
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    Default Re: My first Pelikan

    LONG before I held one, I had a notion of Pelikans of that era as something close to the Platonic fountain pen (a similar notion about the 1940s Sheaffers bearing triumph points suggests that the idea of Platonic ideals doesn't quite hold water). Since I got a 140 in hand, this notion has been gaining ground. That's a rather excellent friend you've got.
    Given to daily lunatic raving, but also capable of more prolonged pen-centricity.

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    Default Re: My first Pelikan

    Quote Originally Posted by Scrawler View Post
    I have friend who is in his 90s, who I meet for coffee from time to time. He told me that "if you don't have a Pelikan, you don't have a pen".
    Please tell him that he is absolutely right!

    Eventhough I like very much my MontBlanc pens ny weakness is Pelikan in all forms.

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    Senior Member dr.grace's Avatar
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    Default Re: My first Pelikan

    Enjoy your pen! I love my 400 NN (as I do my other Pelikans).

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    Senior Member tarheel1's Avatar
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    Default Re: My first Pelikan

    Congrats on your Pelikan. I only have one, M805 IB, but it is a great pen.
    WTB Sheaffer Balance oversized with a flex nib, semi flex, broad, or medium in carmine red or grey striated.
    Wtb Sheaffer Pfm in black or blue with a medium or broad nib.

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    Senior Member Scrawler's Avatar
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    Default Re: My first Pelikan

    I wish I had discovered German pens earlier. I am beginning to think that I may have to sell a couple of my antique Waterman pens and buy another Pelikan, with a finer nib.

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    Senior Member tandaina's Avatar
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    Default Re: My first Pelikan

    Do try some more Pelikans, or at least more *nibs* (they screw out!). The big wide ones, like BB or OBB had such flat iridium they are essentially really smooth italics. Best nib I own, hands down, without equal is a 1940s 14k OBB nib for the 400/400NN. Cannot be beat! *

    *This post refers entirely to antique Pelikan nibs. Modern Pelikan nibs have enormous balls of irridium and I find them unusable and totally without character. Stick to the oldies. They're the best.
    ---
    Current pen rotation: way too many!

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    Senior Member Mags's Avatar
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    Default Re: My first Pelikan

    Congratulations on the lovely gift Scrawler. My first Pelikan was special too. An old Anglican priest convinced me to buy and use Pelikans. I have purchased the 200, 600, 800 and 1000 and want to explore some vintage pens like the 400 NN in the future. Maybe I will find one in DC.
    Mags or Rob Maguire MB 149, 147, 146,144, Mozart, Boehme, Sailor Realo, Aurora Optima, Churchmen Prescriptor and Parson's Essential, Parker 51 1.3 mm stub, Parker Vacumatic 1939 OB Can, TWSBI's (540,580, Mini and Vac 700), Pelikan M 1000/800 Demonstrator 600/200 demoM/200 OBB, Visconti Rembrandts (2), Lamy, Cross, Watermans, Pilots, Sheaffer's, Omas 360 LE 84/360, GvFC, Esterbrooks J and SJ, Bexley Jitterbug, Taccia, Eversharp 1952 flex, Edison Herald, Franklin Christoph Piper.

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    Default Re: My first Pelikan

    My first Pelikan too

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    Default Re: My first Pelikan

    Just from the short while I have handled other peoples, it seem that Pelikan Feeds are superior to all others, keeping up with the fastest strokes, even under extreme pressure.

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    Senior Member Chi Town's Avatar
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    Default Re: My first Pelikan

    My 1st Pelikan is a M600 in Blue, and unfortunatly she is not writing very well right now. I am working to correct this and in the past she was a beautiful writer!
    Mike


    Visconti Last Lira aka Luigi Einaudi # 63 of 975, Stipula Yellow Da Vinci Carbon Fiber T, Stipula Model T, Vintage Fountain Pens, Delta Amerigo Vespucci LE F/P, Pelikan Special Edition Sahara F/P, TWSBI Micarta, Danitrio Mikado,Genkai Nakaya Decapodl Cigar, Watley in Woodgrain!, Marlen Yellow Liberty LE, Santa Fe Style Custom "51" Made by Ralph Prather - president New Mexico Pen Collector's Club

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    Senior Member Scrawler's Avatar
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    Default Re: My first Pelikan

    Quote Originally Posted by Austin_Malone View Post
    Just from the short while I have handled other peoples, it seem that Pelikan Feeds are superior to all others, keeping up with the fastest strokes, even under extreme pressure.
    It seems to be the case with this one. It has no trouble either writing slowly very quickly.

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