I just received my first Pelikan, a classical green M400. After hearing so much about the Pelikan quality, i decided to compare this bird to my favorite vintage writter, an Azure 1946 Parker Vaccumatic.

So how does a modern classic compare to a vintage classic???

FILLING SYSTEM
I was shocked to discover that the Pelikan piston filler outperforms the plunger system that my Parker has, in fact, the pelikan piston was so smooth i could hardly believe what i was seeing.

SIZE/COMFORT

Another surprise, everyone always complains that the M400 is a tiny pen, however, for a guy used to vintage pens, i found this not to be the case. In fact, the M400 feels the same size and same weight as an average vintage Parker, Eversharp or most any vintage pen. In fact, the m400 is slightly bigger trhan the Vaccumatic both capped and uncapped.

If you want an authentic vintage feel, the M400 is the pen for you. Few people realize in today's super-huge pen world that our grandparents used lightweight medium sized pens instead of the behemuths and battleships that we now-a-days use.

One note, the Vaccumatic--at least to me-- seems sturdier than the Pelikan. It is one superb pen, after 62 years it still looks great and looks like it could stand another couple of decades of use. The Pelikan seems well built, but somehow i don't get the same sturdy feeling. It seems more refined.

NIB

What about the nib, the heart of the pen!!! Well, here sadly the Vaccumatic, like all vintage nibs runs circles around the Pelikan's modern nib. However, the Pelikan nib, fine sized, is still smother than the nibs of all my modern Watermans and Parkers, hands down the best modern nib i have ever tried.

**I like nibs that are wet writters and with little flex if any, suits my handwritting better. The Vacc's nib has little, if any flex at all and lays down smooth wet lines. The Pelikan nib is also a wet writter, but not as much as the Vaccumatic. Although Pelikan says it is a Fine nib, it writes more like a medium.**

RESULTS

While the Vaccumatic will continue to be one of my most treasured writters, i have to say that i was surprised how vintage and classy the Pelikan M400 was, so much so that in just one short day in my hands it has become my favorite modern pen. Even though it is a 2007 pen, it radiates class in a way not seen on the rest of the modern pen market. If i didn't know better, i swear Pelikan has a time machine and the M400 was being sent to the future straight out of the golden age of Fountain Pens.

What a pen, i expect my Pelikan to soon grow into a flock of happy Pelikans, i have caught the bird flu and there's no cure except to buy more!!!

PLEASE SEE THE 2 PICS OF MY PELIKAN AND THE VACC BELLOW!!!

Here is another beauty shot of my Pel

I enjoyed your review. My son bought a Vac at the Raleigh Pen Show, and I just acquired a Pelikan 400.

The Vac is a rare specimen of American quality. It just feels very solid. The nib, however, is also solid ... very well made, but no flex at all.

The M400 (black) ... I think it will show scratches much more easily. Yet the nib writes a juicier line and can be threaded out.

In all, two excellent pens.

Cool review concept. Thanks!

Good review!! Another good comparison point is the huge amount of ink both pens hold!

Good new tack that you brought to the Pelilkan juxtaposing it with the Parker vintage pens. I agree with what you've said. Never seen it this way but it makes sense. I am also not into pens that suffer from design elephantiasis yet I prefer the medium sized light pens by far.

Now find a Pelikan 140 for yourself, you won't regret it! Vintage Pelikan nibs are very, very nice writers and the 140 is a perfect classic size. Smaller than a 400 until you post it, then its about the same size.

I'll have to look for that 140 then. Thanks

Nice review, I have several Pelikans including some 1950s vintage, an M400, a 400NN and a 140, all write smoothly although I hadn't noticed that they were very much better than my more modern Pelikans. I often wonder if the vintage nibs were really that much better or if it is just that they have been 'broken in' from previous use.

Never really thought of comparing them with my Vacs, I was aware that both held a large amount of ink, but never really thought of a side by side comparison, anyway Pelikans and Vacs are pens I enjoy using a great deal and they are distinctive enough to draw comments from people really a pleasure to use.

Andy

Dr. Ozzie, I completely agree with you comparison of the 2. I have both and find your comments right on the money. I have the vintage Tortoise 400NN and that seems more comparable to the Parker Vac. I have the Parker Vac with a Binder cursive italic nib on it and it writes with some line variation.
The old Pelikan has some flex in it in the fine nib and puts out a wet medium variable line when you "flex" it.

If you can find a 400NN in fine nib, I think you might like it even better.

But, hey! That pelikan you have is gorgeous!

Hi Dr. Ozzie,

Great review concept. Like most people on this board (I imagine) I use both vintage and modern pens on a day-to-day basis and it's great to see a little bit of a head-to-head review that ends up liking both pens. Not a surprise, they're both great pens in their own niches.

And the nice thing is - either way you choose, you win! But then again, why choose?

-john