Hi, I'm trying to decide whether to purchase a pelikan in a translucent or an opaque barrel and I was wondering if anybody had some experience or comments to share. I really like the idea of seeing whats going on inside my pen, but I worry that once the pen is inked and put into daily use the ink will end up everywhere the transluency will end up just making the pen look messy and unnatractive.

Thanks for your help,

Greg

Here is a picture of my old m200 demonstrator. It was about 2 years old in this picture, and though you can see some ink in unwelcome places, it really does look great!



Hope this helps. I love the demonstrator series of m200s, and I'm hoping to acquire an amber one in the not too distant future.

I have a clear (colorless), translucent, Pelikan M200 demonstrator with a fine point gold (not plated) nib. I bought it on closeout from Levenger.

It's comfortable to hold and write with. The ink capacity is reassuring. The nib is smooth, which would be true of a steel Pelikan nib too. The pen always starts quickly, and the nib doesn't dry out very quickly.

The inside of the cap can collect ink spots and splatters, which are easy to clean out. Levenger Raven Black ink can collect in, dry up in and adhere to the cap-and-barrel threads, where it is difficult but not impossible to get out gently. Just don't put Levenger Raven Black or Cobalt Blue in the pen (other Levenger ink colors behave well in it -- Cocoa currently).

It has felt good on all the kinds of paper I've used it on, with different brands and colors of ink, and the ink flow is neither too wet nor too dry.

I took it to work every day for several months, using it as my primary pen there, and discovered the two design features I don't like: the cap loosens far too easily, and the nib/feed assembly can loosen too.

Any movement while in the soft-sided briefcase, or just a morning or afternoon of teacherly movement of my body while the pen is in my shirt pocket, loosens the cap. This never caused any stain disasters or complete dry-outs, but the pen did rotate itself completely out of the cap-and-barrel threads a few times.

Also, that daily commuting, body-carrying and use gradually loosens the nib/feed assembly, so I had to re-tighten it gently into its threaded seat a few times.

I reassigned the M200 to home duty, where its parts stay together nicely and it feels great in use. I suppose it would do equally well if it always lived and work at a desk in the workplace.

Enjoy!

I have the Anthracite M200, and it is very nice both inked and clean. I once tried Omas Violet in it, and it was a mess to clean. After that I read that violet, red and yellow inks are prone to staining. Now I only use more conventional colors.

This pen is in my rotation in this very moment, loaded with black Quink. I am using this gorgeous stub nib I bought from Pendemonium. Nice pen, excellent nib.

I also have the gray m200 demonstrator and it's wonderful. I have an EF nib and a 0.6 mm stub from Richard. No problems with uncapping or threads loosening when I have properly tightened them - initially I was a bit tentative, but read something Richard Binder posted somewhere on the subject and tighten them down more now without any problems. Great pen, highly recommended. Got mine from Dennis at Parkville with both nibs - saved a bit that way (usual disclaimer).

I have a translucent amber M250. Wonderful pen! Don't worry about it looking messy with ink in it. It won't.

Same as Apollo, I also have an Amber 250. Great pen that I've kept filled with blue ink (presently loaded with Noodler's Luxury Blue). No issues at all. Just a cool looking pen that also happens to be a **wonderful** writer.

Just the opposite here, I have an amber and I'm looking for a blue (but definitely keeping the amber!). It's a little small, but a great writer, and no ink where it shouldn't be, but that's because it's on home desk duty and don't carry it around. I have a Namiki VP for that. Got mine from Worldlux.com for a good price and fast delivery. Much satisfaction with the pen and no regrets.

tiny ink splatters inside the cap and near the feed and even inside the barrel (when the ink is running low) looks quite cute and artsy to me.

I have the 200 demos in red (w/matching BP), blue, green and amber. Actually I have two reds, EF and F, they are both workday pens along with the BP. You really can't see the ink easily in them like some of the other colors unless you hold it up to a bright light. The BP actually shows its metal refill better! Of course, they are a real favorite of mine to write with. The reds do show the effect of daily use with minor scuffing, etc.

Hi,

I keep a few translucent Pelikans around, and M425 and an M200. They are a bit nice to look at once they have ink inside of them. I rather like them.

Some Pelikans need adjustments on the nib, but if you buy from someone like Richard Binder (Or me for the matter) We test and adjust the nibs to provide the optimum writing quality.

Dillon