Keep The Original Nib Or Replace With M400/m600

[Albinoni]

I have a Pelikan 400nn green stripe fountain pen in mint condition in which I bought few months ago on eBay which came from Berlin Germany.

 

But I was thinking of removing the original 400nn nib and replacing it with a 14k Gold M600 or M400 nib.

 

The original 400nn nib is still in very good condition.

 

So if you were me what would you do

[Bemo]

I'd keep the original nib, in my experience it has more flex to it than a modern Pelikan nib.

[Rowingbiker]

Hi,

You did not mention what nib is in the pen at present (flex or semi-flex, fine, medium, broad, or oblique), but with a new Pelikan nib it is (now) always the same: firm, no variation in line thickness.

I have a couple of Pelikans from the 50's and they all have wonderful nibs. Keep it!

(or buy a new nib but keep the original one).

Regards,

Rob

[dneal]

The answer depends on why you bought the pen, and what future plans for it that you may have.

 

I buy pens to write with, and would use the original nib. Others collect, and want to preserve them as best they can.

[Scribblesoften]

I have a 400nn as well that was available for a very good price. The nib was a broad which is not what I prefer. I still have the original nib but replaced it with a steel fine nib that would normally be fitted to a 200 series pen. It writes well and now I use it. If you prefer gold, then by all means purchase a gold nib but steel works as well.

[Bo Bo Olson]

The 400nn nib is much better than modern...will have a tad of flex, semi-flex or a bit more 'flexi'/maxi-semi-flex.

 

The nibs are 1/2 a width narrower than modern....so a B=M-B or M= M-F.

 

Want to sell that better nib???

 

Nope, modern is lots worse than vintage with Pelikan nibs, out side the 200 which is as good as the '50's 120 or '90's 400 springy nibs. Or the 1000 but you have to have a real light hand, in it's 18 K and stays bent, where a 14 C nib springs back...if one is not too ham fisted.

Modern Pelikan 400/600 are blobby semi-nails, the 800 a nail that won't fit.

 

I have my 400n's semi-flex B on my modern 605, because the nib is better.

Why don't I have my 'flexi'/maxi-semi-flex 400nn's OF on it?...... ...I have that rare '56 friction fit feed. ...Still a great nib on a great pen....sigh.

 

If you hold the pen like a featherless baby bird, and don't make baby bird paste, your nib will be ok.

 

I usually suggest working up the flex ladder by going semi-flex first, in the ham fisted can use that. So many of us are/were ham fisted when one is new....new to nibs with some flex.

You have to lighten your Hand up to slightly ham fisted if your nib is 'flexi'/maxi-semi-flex.

 

Do Not Try To Do Anything Fancy with the nib....just write, it will do it's fancy by it's self. Trying to make it flex can and will spring it.

Go to Richard Binder's com, read the article on how easy it is to spring a nib by trying to make it do Olympic splits. Your nib will give your writing a nice old fashioned flare.

 

Yes, it's supposed to be flat on the bottom...with no American Bump under. That gives you the stubbish style that everyone likes so well. As a 'noobie' it was a big shock to me....where's the bump....none there on the 140's and 400s of that era, '50-65.

 

Just make sure you hold the pen behind the big knuckle at 45 degrees, or at the start of the web of the thumb at 40 degrees or in the pit of the web of the thumb at 35 degrees.

Holding it before the big knuckle will make it skip.

Edited August 26, 2014 by Bo Bo Olson

[dave-]

dont bother, I have had 3 new pelikan nibs including an m800 and there nothing special and I had to adjust them to get them working well enough for me.