Greetings everyone

I have been reading the interactions on the FPN for a month or so and I have decided to join.

I have 54 pens now from ball pens, mechanical pencils, rollerballs and fountain pens. I don't have a favourite brand and have pens from many manufacturers incl. Sheaffer, Mont Blanc, Cross, Waterman, Parker, Sensa, Lamy, Rotring, Louis Feraud, Pelikan.

I am a big Mont Blanc and Pelikan fan and really enjoy the Cross nibs.

I love writing with fountain pens and good quality rollerballs. I have been searching for the "perfect" fountain pen and I have still not found it, although I hope I never will, that way I can keep searching.

My favourite pens (limiting myself to 3 choices - very difficult for me) are probably:

• my early 1980's MB 146 Le Grand FP with a new 18K XF nib (I use Moleskine notebooks with it WOW),
• my MB Voltaire Writers Edition with an 18K M nib (unbelievebly smooth, can't use Moleskine though, ink goes through the paper)
• and my M405 Pelikan with 14K F nib (what a beautiful nib, sharp edge to it with smooth writing experience, leaves a beautiful writing line).

I ordered the new Starwalker Cool Blue and I am waiting for it to arrive, I have the Starwalker Doue FP in broad. Beautiful pen to look at, but the writing experience isn't exceptional and the connection point for the cartridge was designed very poorly and it therefore leaks. I don't know why Mont Blanc just didn't copy the design of the Boheme which has a fantastic connection point construction, my Boheme never leaks at the connection point.

I am excited that there is a virtual network out there of pens lovers, I have met very few collectors in SA.

I would like to blogg with anyone about pens, writing, collecting, paper, inks etc. So you will see me around in the forums.

Chat soon.

Welcome to FPN. Once you get acquainted here, I am sure we would love to see your collection.

You mention the pens you like the most, what about the paper and ink? Be forewarned the bird splat topics and posts can get rather heated here.

Cheers.

Thanks for the Welcome.

I haven't got any photos, but i am happy to take some.

I am used to heated debates in my profession (IT Consulting) so hopefully i can cope with the network "chats".

Paper wise, i use mostly Moleskine notebooks which i find fantastic. I haven't explored paper that much, all i have done so far is try all the notebooks I could find. My next step is to try other paper types, what do you recommend?

Ink wise, I have tried Pelikan, Mont Blanc (don't like it), Sheaffer, Lamy, Rotring, my favourite right now is Sheaffer in Jet Black and Pelikan in Royal Blue.

Getting different inks is quite challenging in South Africa.

Regards.

Collector -- Welcome to FPN

I've enjoyed reading your posts (all two of them!) -- and look forward to any future comments you make surrounding Pelikans and inks.

-Clive

Hi

Here goes post number three.

I must say that Pelikan Fountain pens are amazing (i only have 1 so far, so what do i know), but to my horror i had to get a friend to buy me one in Germany and bring it back to South Africa with him as their are NO distributors in SA. I contacted Pelikan cia email and asked them whether they would consider giving me distribution rights. I know a couple of pen shop owners in SA (in fact i almost bought a pen shop last year - shows how far my obsession.... i mean passion for pens has gone).

To my surprise no response from Pelikan. Oh well!

I guess I can order from Nibs.com or another web shop. I would love to hear from someone who has a M805. I would like to know what the weight and balance is like. The M405 for me is very light, the nib is very different to my other fountain pens, writes beautifully, but is just a little small in diameter. I write mostly with my MB Le Grand FP or my MB Traveler or MB Voltaire which are probably more in line with the size of the M800 series Pelikans. I have a feeling that the M800's might be a better FP than the MB's. I have 13 MB's so I am obviously a fan so i hope I haven't upset any MB fans out there.

Cheers.

Hi, Collector --


P-e-r-s-i-s-t-e-n-c-e may very well land you that SA Pelikan dealership. I wouldn't give up just yet (not with that particular goal!!! ).


Like you, a Pelikan 805 - either the old style or the new - is one of my favorite fountain pen 'families.'. (I'd opt for this one.)

Apparently, the folks who want one better make the decision to do so fairly quickly, based upon the following caveat on nibs.com (see comment located immediately below this image):



Getting back to the M7000 Majesty . . .

After looking at the Pelikan Comparison_Chart, I was initially inclined to agree with a couple of posters on another FPN thread (that it may be too small), since it was 'concluded' that the Majesty's dimensions mirrored those of the M600 Series. However, after reading the following comments, the jury is still out regarding the Majesty's true dimensions.


Wow! *13* MBs!!! Liquidating those ought to be sufficient to place the down payment (minimally) on that new Pelikan dealership you're after.

Best of luck.

-Clive

Hello Capetown........
Another Pelikan fan is always a good thing, Pelikans do rule.
I live in The States and I have to do my buying via the net.

Welcome to FPN and enjoy.............

Have you bought anything via eBay.

I am quite keen to buy, but not sure whether i will end up getting a fake.

I have bought 100s of FPs on eBay and I was never ripped off. But, that was a few years ago and there are a bunch of scam artists plying their trade there now. Depending on what model you are thinking about there are some real good buys still available on eBay. Remember to be suspicious of a seller with a lot of good feedback for buying and not selling. Otherwise feedback is a good barometer if you check it. And don’t hesitate to ask about a seller here, you will get a lot of answers.

There have been a number of questions about sellers already and the search feature may help you.

The M805 will not feel light like the M405, there is a presense using the M805 and yes if you like them, you best hurry up before you have to start looking at second hand markets. The dark blue M805 is already getting difficult to find. I love both of mine, I have the black and the dark blue. As far as weights and dimensions Richard Binder has an excellent chart at www.richardspens.com.

The direct page is http://www.richardspens.com/?page=sales/newp_pel.htm and scroll to almost the bottom.

You might want to talk to a few other Pelikan distributors such as Richard or Ray Adams at http://www.pelikanpens.co.uk/ and see if they could help you with proper contacts and recommendations on how to proceed.

Cheers.

Welcome aboard Collector! Look forward to sharing pen, paper and ink info with you.

Welcome Collector, hope you enjoy FPN!

Welcome to FPN. Many of us really don't collect we just acquire more pens with which to write.