I Believe I Just Got A Frankenpen

[smodak]

Any idea what pen I just purchased? 120? 140? 120 with a 140 cap? Did any of the 140s have steel nibs?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/191310706071

 

[sevenof9]

it is a 120 as the 140 is normally striped and has a gold nib. 7

[sargetalon]

It is a Pelikan 120 Mark I made circa 1955-65. It should have a gold plated stainless steel nib. Here is a pic of the Mark I and Mark II side by side.

 

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f282/jdanley/120_zps5d3b2707.jpg

[smodak]

Thanks,

Do these still nibs have a little bit of flex or are they really hard?

[Bo Bo Olson]

My 120 is a nice springy regular flex nib with a small American Bump under. It is a school pen; there for the bump, like a Geha school pen. (Most Major brand German '50's nibs with a tad of flex were flattish bottomed...not really a Stub....I do have some with the American bump from the '60s'. With out the bump Pelikans of the '50-65 give that famous Pelikan stubbish line.)

 

(Don't know if mine is version 1 or 2 . The things ya learn here.)

 

It has some spring to the nib, but is not one with some flex, like a semi-flex....a 140, or some of the 400's of that era. Some of the 400's have 'flexi'/maxi-semi-flex....depending on what the buyer wanted at the shop.

 

It is a very good springy regular flex nib. For a long time (4 years) I thought it = to my '90's 400 regular flex, until my '90's Celebries forced me to press that 400's nib a bit more. Then I saw the 400's nib was a bit better.

It is not gold vs steel. My steel Celebry is just as good as the gold nibbed Celebry or the '90's 400.

 

I'm not putting down the 120 at all....it is a very nice springy regular flex nib. It is a good school pen.

 

Many pens today are made with semi-nail nibs instead of true regular flex nibs. So you might think it has more flex than it has.

 

It is like all true Pelikan regular flex nibs when well mashed will give you a 3X line over a light down stroke.

All three of the flexes, regular, semi-flex and 'flexi'/maxi-semi-flex only spread their tines 3 X a light down stroke. I have found that to be a nib tine spread set, with flex variety.

I'll not go into real flexible nibs now.

 

The difference is it takes half as much pressure to spread the tines that 3 X with a semi-flex vs a well mashed regular flex, and 1/4th as much pressure with 'flexi' as a regular flex.

 

You really should not to around just mashing the hell out of the nib to get max all the time...that is sort of a one time deal, to have an idea of the other flexes. You should only try to mash it 3X not more..if that...in doing more or mashing to the "max" of 3 X, too often can spring a nib.

 

Very nice nib...for about two full years it was always in my rotation. I hope you enjoy writing with it.

It or a Geha School pen are as much a must have pen, as a P-51.

Edited September 1, 2014 by Bo Bo Olson

[kidde]

If you are used to vintage flex you won't be happy. If you aren't, you may be really happy. I took Bo Bo Olsen's advice on Pelikan pens from the 50's and won't put it down. While I have some decent pens none offer the same feel for near the price. I'd guarantee someone would swap you the proper cap, but personally I wouldn't worry. Steel 120 nibs can be amazing, and for that price you did very well.

 

Paul