Problems With A New Stresemann

[kkg720]

I recently purchased a new m805 Stresemann from MarteModena and I'm having a couple issues that have me thinking I may have received something other than an m805. Firstly, the pen itself seems ridiculously light, even lighter than my Montblanc 146. When I did a bit of research I saw that the m805 is supposed to weigh more than a 146 so that is the first thing that make me worry. On top of that, the rhodium plating on the cap is coming off from some of the letter on the center band (the band that says Pelikan Souveran), and this was happening out of the box. The final issue I noticed is that the pen is very front-heavy, and I have been told on multiple occasions that the m805 should be back-heavy due to the brass piston. I unscrewed the piston knob and it shows a black plastic collar which, from my albeit limited understanding, should be made of brass. When I use the piston, it does glide smoothly but it feels absurdly cheap (not unlink the noodler's pen I have).

 

I'm honestly just worried that I may have spent a lot of money on a fake. I spoke to MarteModena and they are willing to take the pen back and investigate but if the pen I received may be fake I'm not sure I want to have them replace the pen and I would much rather take a refund.

 

If a few of you could possibly share your opinions I would really appreciate it. I have attached a few pictures that may be able to help. And thank you in advance!

 

Here are the images: http://imgur.com/a/xC1X6

[sargetalon]

Sorry that you are having issues. I don't think that you have a fake. Pelikans aren't prone to fakes like other brands and I think that it would be unusual. I have no experience with the vendor but have never heard them spoken poorly of. The pictures that you provide look legitimate. The reason that the piston does not appear as brass is that there is a coating on it. That visually looks correct. It should weigh 0.99 ounces or 28.2 grams. If you have a scale, you could easily confirm that.

 

The only thing that appears askew is the plating on the cap band. There may indeed be a defect there with a loss of plating. That is the issue I would seek to have remedied. I have never seen that occur previously though but I'm sure anything can happen. I hope that you are able to sort this out to your satisfaction.

[Andreas Weber]

The final issue I noticed is that the pen is very front-heavy, and I have been told on multiple occasions that the m805 should be back-heavy due to the brass piston.

Can you locate the center of gravity? In other words, if you try to balance the uncapped, unposted pen e.g. on your finger, where do you have to support it? For my blue-black-silver M805 that point would be about 1.5 times as far from the tip of the nib than from the end of the piston knob (roughly 7.5 vs. 5 cm / 3 vs. 2 inches).

[Lam1]

I'm sorry that you are having trouble with your M805.

 

There's not much to add, after the two contributions above. The plating coming off on the cap band is unacceptable and not normal for Pelikans (I would definitely return the pen).

 

The other odd thing is your mention that of the pen being front heavy - let us know of the results of the test Andreas proposed (alternatively, for the capped pen the center of gravity is roughy halfway between the ends).

 

As for the piston feeling cheap, that is very strange too, since Pelikan is known to have some of the best Pistons around. But, of course, "feeling" is subjective. Can you give us more information on why you feel that way?

 

Good luck sorting this out.

Edited October 22, 2015 by Lam1

[fplover01]

As with all 800s, the piston is contained in a brass outer layer. However the mechanism itself is made of plastic. This is a common misconception with the 800 series. Pelikan pistons are very reliable, I have had only one fail in so many years, when a whole stash of heavy books fell on a M200 during a move. I dont think many other pens would have survived. Other than that there are pistons decades old that work like the first day. They might look "cheap" but their quality is definetely proven over time.

 

Pelikan has decided to coat the brass piston contaiment of the M805 Stresemann black for aesthetic reasons. There has been a definite reply on this from Pelikan germany. the pen should weight about 28gr and u can locate the center of gravity as mentioned above. it is definetely much heavier than the other pelikans of the Souverän series except the M1000. I do not have an 146 handy to compare.

 

The rhodium plating coming off like that, I have never seen this in a high end Pelikan of the 800 series. I have 800s which are 20 years old and everything is in place. It is typical for the gold trim and nib plating of the M200 to fail over time but the higher end series is not affected from this problem. perhaps your pen slipped quality control or got damaged during shipping or handling. I am sure the dealer or Pelikan would replace that.

[gordonhooker]

You have to be pretty sensitive to weights to see a lot of difference between 25.4g (MB 146) and 28g (P M805) - I have been sitting here trying both and they feel much the same. I would be chasing another cap or a replacement. I love my Pelikan Stresemann Souveran 805.... I also have M200, 400, and 600's and the Pelikans grown on me and have become part of my carry pens along with the Lamy 2000.

[lledu]

I understand that you feeling bad after spending so much money just getting a trouble. I also bought my M805 from MarteModena and they sent me a warranty page without dealer stamp. But they immediately send warranty to me when I contact them. Also my M805 is not perfect either, but it is normal. At least their service is good, I think.

 

Anyway, I'm heavily suggesting you to contact Chartpak and Abi will tell you whether it is normal or not.

[Calabria]

I'm really sad to hear and see that. I've never seen the plating flaking off like that on a Pelikan, but I've seen bronzing on the gold rings of a MB.

[stephanos]

For what it's worth, I have had very good experience with MarteModena, having bought from them a few times. From my perspective, they are a reputable dealer.

 

As sargetalon says, Pelikans aren't typically the target of counterfeiters and scoundrels. I had a problem with the nib on my Stresemann, bought from a (different) reputable seller (tines visible misaligned). Whilst most people's experience of new Pelikans continues to be positive, there is enough anecdotal chatter on FPN about quality control to make me think that Pelikan is sometime a little lax on their quality control.

 

You likely just got a bad pen. If it were me, and I still wanted a Stresemann, I would accept MarteModena's offer of a replacement. Please post here once you have a resolution.

[kkg720]

Thank you all for the advice, I've gone ahead and accepted MarteModena's offer of a replacement but there have been a few issues with having DHL come to pickup the package so it may be a while until I see my new Stresemann.

 

The center of gravity on this pen, to answer that question, was just a little past the black grip section which is too far forward to be remotely comfortable for me. The fact that it weighs so much less than my Montblanc 146 still shocks me, but once I get a replacement hopefully that won't be an issue.

 

I'll update once I get my replacement and again thank you all for your help!

[Sergio 46]

That's funny, because recently I bought a Pelikan M805 F bearing the number 957662, from amazon.de, and it appears that it is a copy of a Stresemann, but without the name. Besides, it writes like a B more than a F.

By searching on Google with this number of Pelikan m805 957662, I found a lot of pens sold as Stresemanns and mainly by one seller, Martemodena!

Could they be fakes or second choices that Pelikan didn't want to sell under the name Stresemann?

Any info? thank you.

[sargetalon]

That's funny, because recently I bought a Pelikan M805 F bearing the number 957662, from amazon.de, and it appears that it is a copy of a Stresemann, but without the name. Besides, it writes like a B more than a F.

By searching on Google with this number of Pelikan m805 957662, I found a lot of pens sold as Stresemanns and mainly by one seller, Martemodena!

Could they be fakes or second choices that Pelikan didn't want to sell under the name Stresemann?

Any info? thank you.

 

Why do you think that it is a "copy" of a Stresemann? On what grounds are you basing that assertion? Pelikan nibs do write more broadly so it doesn't surprise me that your F is a broad writer. Paper and ink choices will affect that as well. Pelikans are not commonly faked so this would seem less likely and I would highly doubt there would be "second choices" from Pelikan as that could only serve to damage the brand integrity. You should put up a few photos if you can. I look forward to learning why you feel that you may have a fake.

[Doug1426]

Martemodena is a well respected authorized dealer. I have no affiliation with them other than having bought a number of pens from them with no issues or problems, and woud be very surprised that any AD would engage in the type of subterfuge that has been suggested.

[fplover01]

Photos of the "fake Stresemann"?Why would an authorized deal do that. it doesnt add up really.

[aeba]

 

Why do you think that it is a "copy" of a Stresemann? On what grounds are you basing that assertion? Pelikan nibs do write more broadly so it doesn't surprise me that your F is a broad writer. Paper and ink choices will affect that as well. Pelikans are not commonly faked so this would seem less likely and I would highly doubt there would be "second choices" from Pelikan as that could only serve to damage the brand integrity. You should put up a few photos if you can. I look forward to learning why you feel that you may have a fake.

Also, P.W. Akkerman (aka vulpennen.nl) sells F nibbed anthracite Stresemann m805 with that code.

[Sergio 46]

 

Why do you think that it is a "copy" of a Stresemann? On what grounds are you basing that assertion? Pelikan nibs do write more broadly so it doesn't surprise me that your F is a broad writer. Paper and ink choices will affect that as well. Pelikans are not commonly faked so this would seem less likely and I would highly doubt there would be "second choices" from Pelikan as that could only serve to damage the brand integrity. You should put up a few photos if you can. I look forward to learning why you feel that you may have a fake.

It was just a question, but really I can't understand why a Pelikan m805 that looks exactly like a Stresemanns is sold on amazon.de without the Stresemann mention and roughly 100 euros cheaper than the "official" Stresemann!

And I can't understand as well why Pelikan accepts such a situation!

To make it short, I bought on amazon.de a Pelikan Stresemann for around 300 euros, while the same ,same product number, is sold 480 euros on amazon.fr: I should be happy and I am happy, besides the fact that it does not write like a F, but like a very wet M!

Sorry, gentlemen, to have disturbed you! and , by the way, I have a lot of Pelikans which I appreciate a lot (150, 200, 215, 600)!

[Andreas Weber]

It was just a question, ...

 

Actually, your 2 star review on Amazon.de states as a fact: "My Pelikan, sent in a poor paper tube, than even a Chinese producer would ignore, is a copy of a Stresemann without bearing the name ... I suppose that , if they are not fakes, they are Pelikan's second choices".

I just got the other one of the originally two of those pens Amazon.de had in stock, and while the nib needed a bit of work (misaligned tines) I have no doubt at all it's genuine.

[Sergio 46]

 

Actually, your 2 star review on Amazon.de states as a fact: "My Pelikan, sent in a poor paper tube, than even a Chinese producer would ignore, is a copy of a Stresemann without bearing the name ... I suppose that , if they are not fakes, they are Pelikan's second choices".

I just got the other one of the originally two of those pens Amazon.de had in stock, and while the nib needed a bit of work (misaligned tines) I have no doubt at all it's genuine.

Thank you, Andreas, for that precise statement! My attitude was the result of getting a FP writing like a thick M, getting a pen looking like a Stresemann without bearing the name, and overall, getting a pen of 300 euros sent in a ridiculous paper tube!

[rafapa]

Thank you, Andreas, for that precise statement! My attitude was the result of getting a FP writing like a thick M, getting a pen looking like a Stresemann without bearing the name, and overall, getting a pen of 300 euros sent in a ridiculous paper tube!

Sorry, but where is suposed to have the name? I do not believe it's imprinted on the pen itself.

[Sergio 46]

Sorry, but where is suposed to have the name? I do not believe it's imprinted on the pen itself.

The difference is between a FP sold as Pelikan M805F Stresemann and the same sold as Pelikan M805F! I suppose that, to be able to sell a FP 150 euros more than the average M805, Pelikan is generally happy to add Stresemann to the description! And I suppose that Pelikan has not a different FP M805 F in black/anthracite with grey stripes!