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Pelikan 400 And 140. Feeders Comparison


Antolin

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I have often read that the difference between Pelikan 400 feeders and 140 ones is their length. Even, I think that I have heard that some people say that the 140 nib collars are a bit narrower also.

I assumed that until I found the following feeder-nib unit mounted on a model 400. First I thought it was a Frankenpen but I disassembled the unit and began to make comparisons. You may see it between a model 400 nib unit and a model 140 one. It is also surprising that they all have different protrusions.

 

http://s15.postimg.org/t07bu7iyj/w_IMG_3468t.jpg

 

I also asked about it to some forum mates like Ondina, Pomperopero and Javierba (thanks friends). Apart from those morphological differences, everybody agreed to consider that the two feeders on the left correspond to 400 ones and the two on the right to 140 ones.

As something didn’t fit, considering all the opinions and comparing with more feeders, I kept racking my brain until I arrived to the following conclusions:

  1. Apart from their common major characteristics, as they are four fins on the backside and one ink channel on the front, several morphological differences can be found between Pelikan 400/140 feeders apart from size. It could be explained because of handmade technology and the three different workshops that Pelikan got prior to 70s, between Germany and Switzerland (as Ondina suggested).
  2. Nib collar diameters seem almost identical in both models, that would explain (and favor) 140 feeders misuses in 400 pens. The opposite it is not possible because of the longer dimension of the 400 feeders.
  3. In fact, model 400 feeders’ length was USUALLY longer than model 140 feeders to fit longer 400 nibs. But here is the most amazing thing (at least for me). Just as Pelikan 400 fountain pens can be used with 140 nib units, shorter than 400 ones, I state that the short third feeder on the left is a native model 400 feeder.

Let’s explain it with the following picture:

 

http://s15.postimg.org/6qy01ecvv/w_1080163t.jpg

 

The key is not wherever the feeder reaches to, but where does the nib should do. Red arrows show where do the nibs have to reach, and as a consequence, where does the other notches are situated (marked with white arrows). Hence, the feeder on the center is from a model 400, though it has the same length of the one on the right (from a 140) because if we set on top a 140 nib, it would lie over a hollow zone.

Therefore, what should be checked about a Pelikan 400 feeder it is not its whole length, but the space up to where the red arrow is. If it is hidden by the nib collar, it is enough to check side notches position (indicated by the white arrows)

 

So, in the last picture, the first four feeders from the left would correspond to model 400 and the two on the right to model 140.

 

http://s15.postimg.org/uta8ij457/w_1080159t.jpg

 

I hope this would help you to identify correctly mounted vintage 400 models of those wonderful Pelikans.

Edited by Antolin
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140 is a medium-small pen, with a shorter narrower nib....so a slightly shorter feed would seem right.

 

So much for plan A...the section seems as long as my M00...not going to dig out my 400n. I thought there might be a difference in section lengths...which on second thought would be dumb engineering for mass production.

In reference to P. T. Barnum; to advise for free is foolish, ........busybodies are ill liked by both factions.

 

 

The cheapest lessons are from those who learned expensive lessons. Ignorance is best for learning expensive lessons.

 

 

 

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That was M400...not M00...which is a very scarce, rare pen. :)

In reference to P. T. Barnum; to advise for free is foolish, ........busybodies are ill liked by both factions.

 

 

The cheapest lessons are from those who learned expensive lessons. Ignorance is best for learning expensive lessons.

 

 

 

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Hi,

Interesting observations indeed.

I've never seen one of those "short overall with long vanes" (no.4 on your photo above).

 

But other than the 400 and 140, there were also another pens using the 4 vanes feed:

- the 120, with a small nib, and,

- the very late production 100N, with the same nib as the 400s.

 

Hum... I'll go check what feeder is installed on the specimen I have.

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120 type one feeds are the same as 140's without the "short" collar, while 100 feeds are much simpler than 400s. So Antolin's findings are interesting indeed. Thanks for sharing.

 

Btw the cylinder at the end of the "short 400" feed is similar to a Milano 400 I had, vs the usual 400 'flair'.. Could be a hint there, but I'm not willing to speculate.

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Very interesting post Antolin. Thank you for taking the time. Great pictures.

PELIKAN - Too many birds in the flock to count. My pen chest has proven to be a most fertile breeding ground.

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THE PELIKAN'S PERCH - A growing reference site for all things Pelikan

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Hi,

Just went through my pens last night and took these 3, form top to bottom:

- 400,

- late 100N,

- 140.

 

As it turns the late 100n also has one of those "long fins/short overall".

When I got the pen I did not notice that difference, maybe due to the larger 100N colar.

That pen is "as found" and, considering its provenience, I do not believe it has been altered.

 

So, maybe that feeder corresponds to a production period and/or production site?

 

Thanks again for your initial post.

 

(sorry about the lousy mobile phone pic)

 

Pedro

 

 

fpn_1417779108__foto1.jpg

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  • 8 months later...

I would be interested in your sources other than observation from what seems to be a rather small sample. Do we know any of this as fact?

 

Are there other, equally valid explanations such as production variation? Time period?

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  • 6 months later...

Hi,

Sorry for the late reply. I was also curious about this issue and ran across this post. I can confirm the findings from own experience.

 

I use two vintage 400s: a 400NN which I can date back to 1959/60, and an original 400 which I can date back to 1951/52, according to my family history and features of these pens. I've also had a few other vintage 400s in my hands.

 

My original 400 has this shorter back-end ink feed (#4), whereas my 400NN has the longer, more "sculpted" back-end feed (#1). All other features match and nib units are interchangeable and perform predictably and likely in both pens.

 

I've also seen some other, later pens of the original 400 model (aka. "transitional original" 400), which had longer feed back-end. I can't say if those were retrofitted, but my fair estimation is that the longer back-end feed is newer, and is probably there since the nib re-design (transition from old "100N style" nib to the newer "logo" nib). I've also never seen a 400N with a shorter back-end feed.

Hope this can help.

Cheers!

Edited by stoen
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