The Pelikan 120 School Pen

[bokchoy]

The Pelikan 120 School Pen

 

Background

 

The Pelikan 120 name actually applies to two different pens. There is a Type I produced from 1955-1965 that served as Pelikan's first school pen. There is also a later Type II produced from 1973-1977 by Merz & Krell, with slight differences. The pen below is a Pelikan 120 Type I.

 

First, the packaging. I bought this pen from a seller in Bulgaria and they included this very vintage-looking original box (inside another box):

 

http://i.imgur.com/hLbRDdfl.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/3fv8eizl.jpg

 

^ "Dip Pelikan Sofiya" - I can only guess that this refers to the Bulgarian capital city, Sofia.

 

http://i.imgur.com/o1Kj5NVl.jpg

 

^ I'm told this says "Automatic Pen" (i.e. fountain pen).

 

 

Appearance, Design and Construction

 

Green is my favourite colour... er, the only colour. This appears to be the classic 1950s German school pen that inspired many others, including the Reform 1745. It's plastic and lightweight without feeling cheap. Build quality is pretty good. As it was intended for school use, I'm sure this is going to be a fine working pen. I've heard people complain about mould lines on the modern, much more upscale Pelikan m200 but I can't see or feel any here.

 

This pen is on the small side (by modern standards) and the rounded ends make it appear chubby. It's sort of cute, but not undignified, if you know what I mean.

 

capped: 125mm (4.92in)

open: 113mm (4.45in)

posted: 143mm (5.63in)

 

I happen to like smaller pens. While I can write comfortably unposted, most people probably have to post for reasonable length. This pen is perfectly balanced either way, something that I appreciate very much.

 

http://i.imgur.com/7rS0jndl.jpg

 

Love the subtle Pelikan beak clip and the big ink window. The screw cap comes off in 3/4 of a turn.

 

http://i.imgur.com/Blx9H1nl.jpg

 

The (somewhat brassed and scratched) cap lip reads "PELIKAN 120" and "GERMANY".

 

 

Filling System

 

A piston-filler! This is actually my first. The piston is functional but rather stiff. It definitely needs greasing later.

 

I am actually rather ambivalent towards filling mechanisms. If it works, I'm happy. I haven't had problems with c/c capacity but was still curious to know how much the Pelikan 120 holds:

 

http://i.imgur.com/Vqryp2hl.jpg

 

The vial suggests maximum capacity is approximately 1.4mL, or about the same as a long cartridge. A typical fill (without expelling air) would be less. This is far from an exact measurement. Interestingly, I have heard lower numbers for the longer Pelikan 120 Type II. Much lower, as in half the capacity.

 

I think the best thing about piston-fillers is that ink doesn't stick to the inner walls. I have converters that need a good flick now and then or the feed will go dry.

 

 

Nib and Performance

 

Finally, this is what I bought the pen for. One of the reasons I sprang (ha) for this pen was the lure of a vintage Pelikan nib. I may be imagining things but I think vintage nibs feel better and have more personality. I have also heard lots of things about Pelikan nibs, ranging from their slightly soft feel to their tendency to run wider than other brands. Well, they were mostly right...

 

http://i.imgur.com/lDhqZigl.jpg

 

Nibs are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get. Look, a Lamy steel nib that is actually extra-fine! Luckily, I'm not upset that the Pelikan is wider than expected.

 

Ink: Cross Blue (rumoured to be repackaged Pelikan Royal Blue, not sure if that's true but the colour looks similar). The Pelikan 120 is my only pen in which this ink doesn't look washed out. In the words of SBREBrown, "It lays down a nice juicy line." The ink flow is decadently wet, but not too wet. This nib is smooth with just a tiny bit of controlled feedback, which is right up my alley. It is also slightly springy and I can get a 2x line with a bit of pressure. I could probably even mash it for a 3x line (as Bo Bo Olsen often repeats in this forum) but that feels rather risky.

 

http://i.imgur.com/mlqqIual.jpg

 

The steel nib is marked EF. Was probably gold plated at one point but no trace of that remains.

 

http://i.imgur.com/9McoJeul.jpg

 

Longitudinal fins under the nib.

 

 

Final Thoughts

 

I had a budget and wanted a piston filler. I considered several TWSBI pens, but I've always wanted to try a Pelikan nib. Then I saw this for around the same price as the TWSBI pens, and it's green... Well, here it is. I prioritize writing performance before nearly anything else. This pen doesn't disappoint. The only reason I wouldn't recommend a Pelikan 120 is if you dislike small pens or hate posting. That and I've heard something about fragile nib collars... not so different from TWSBI really. I decided to take the risk and I think it was worth it.

[sakayume]

Thanks for the review. The nib sounds wonderful, though I was amused to see that even back then the Pelikan nibs were wider than most. I'd thought it a more recent phenomenon due to the blobby tipping of modern Pelikan nibs.

[bokchoy]

The nib sounds wonderful, though I was amused to see that even back then the Pelikan nibs were wider than most. I'd thought it a more recent phenomenon due to the blobby tipping of modern Pelikan nibs.

 

I think it's just luck of the draw haha, whether modern or vintage. Some people have EF Lamy steel nibs that they claim write as wide as a medium Pilot Metropolitan. I thought it would be fitting to include mine in the comparison. My Lamy EF has a very vintage-like tipping profile with no blob, just a thin coating of the stuff.

[Tasmith]

Very nice review. Thanks!

[OCArt]

This was my first serious fountain pen. I bought in the early 1970's, I was in grad school and saved my pennies for a long time to get this. I don't remember the price but I'm guessing it was $25-30 back then. I have also seen the 120 in all black but that may be the earlier model.

[Dickkooty2]

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj157/dick168/Scan%201_zpsrjwwemf6.jpeg

An ad for the M&K 120 from the 70's. Note the positioning beyond school pen. Not a bad deal for $7.50 (plus 50¢ postage)

[kaushla]

Nice review.

I am a Pelikan 120 user. The first one, inherited from a relative, was ruined by my incompetence in pen repair in the 1970s. The present one is fitted with a Pelikan M400 nib ground to a stub, nearly eroding the iridium. It has the longitudinal finned feed. Works well enough.

 

It's interesting that Bulgaria, firmly in the socialist bloc,was a market for Pelikan. Pre-war Pelikans turn up every now and then in Bulgaria. They date from the time when it was part of the Axis. Pelikans and German technology are much appreciated in the Balkans even now.

Best wishes,

Kaushla

[EricTheRed]

Excellent review and photos Bokchoy! Those old 120s are very reliable.

[bokchoy]

Update:

 

One interesting thing about this nib is its tipping shape. I took a peek today. Is it just me or does that flat foot look sharp and pointy? I doubt it's been smoothed and the tipping doesn't look too worn, so... perhaps it's by design?

The line quality is also distinct from my other "round" nibs (i.e. "round" as in not designed for line variation). Not quite stubby, but the lines have subtly squarish instead of circular edges.

http://i.imgur.com/gS2QdGdl.jpg

 

This nib is very smooth for me but I imagine people with higher or lower grip angles might find it scratchy. It's also somewhat less tolerant of sideways roll, not much but noticeable compared to literally rounder nibs like the Pilot Metropolitan's. I've never had a problem with this and only discovered it while deliberately testing the nib. That said, people who unconsciously roll pens may not like it as much...

Edited January 28, 2016 by bokchoy

[Joe in Seattle]

I used 120's in college, both Mark I & Ii. Currently have a 1955 EF. Great reliable writer. Loves Waterman ink.

[OCArt]

One interesting thing about this nib is its tipping shape. I took a peek today. Is it just me or does that flat foot look sharp and pointy? I doubt it's been smoothed and the tipping doesn't look too worn, so... perhaps it's by design?

 

The line quality is also distinct from my other "round" nibs (i.e. "round" as in not designed for line variation). Not quite stubby, but the lines have subtly squarish instead of circular edges.

 

I have three 120's and only one of them has the kind of flat spot on the nib that you describe-- and not quite to the extent of your photo.

[bokchoy]

 

I have three 120's and only one of them has the kind of flat spot on the nib that you describe-- and not quite to the extent of your photo.

 

Ah well, maybe it's worn after all! Though I feel lucky that the flat spot perfectly matches my writing angle.

[4lex]

It is not a small pen. This is regular size.

It is only since fountain pens seized to be primarily writing instruments and people use them to doodle on high quality paper with impractically wet inks that this pen became small compared to the flurry of oversized pens designed for 5 minute scribbling not 2 hours writing.

[bokchoy]

It is not a small pen. This is regular size.

It is only since fountain pens seized to be primarily writing instruments and people use them to doodle on high quality paper with impractically wet inks that this pen became small compared to the flurry of oversized pens designed for 5 minute scribbling not 2 hours writing.

 

I would think light weight and balance are more important for long writing sessions...

 

I have noticed the size increase though. I've read multiple claims that 1) the Pelikan m200 is small and 2) modern pens are bigger since joining this forum. So out of curiosity, I did an experiment a while back. I looked up the m200 measurements and then measured my only 50+ year old pen at the time: a Vacumatic Major, i.e. a standard, full-sized model. The results were kind of amusing:

 

Pelikan m200

Capped: 126 mm

Uncapped: 121 mm

Posted: 149 mm

 

Parker Vacumatic (Major)

Capped: 127 mm

Uncapped: 120 mm

Posted: 149 mm

 

I don't know how the diameters compare but they both look slender. This is a sample size of one but still...

 

The kinds of things I do when I'm bored

[4lex]

 

I would think light weight and balance are more important for long writing sessions...

 

I have noticed the size increase though. I've read multiple claims that 1) the Pelikan m200 is small and 2) modern pens are bigger since joining this forum. So out of curiosity, I did an experiment a while back. I looked up the m200 measurements and then measured my only 50+ year old pen at the time: a Vacumatic Major, i.e. a standard, full-sized model. The results were kind of amusing:

 

Pelikan m200

Capped: 126 mm

Uncapped: 121 mm

Posted: 149 mm

 

Parker Vacumatic (Major)

Capped: 127 mm

Uncapped: 120 mm

Posted: 149 mm

 

I don't know how the diameters compare but they both look slender. This is a sample size of one but still...

 

The kinds of things I do when I'm bored

 

You are right on the importance of weight. And people saying M200 is a small pen....well, that is one of my pet peeves. M200 is a regular size pen, light and perfectly balanced when posted.

It appears smaller than it really is because the pen fits deep into the cap. When capped it appears smaller than Pilot Custom 92, when uncapped it is the same size.

 

I partially blame you tube V-bloggers, especially the one from the states. It appears to me that most of them think that a good pen has to be gaudy, big, have a gold nib and be held as a ballpoint.

[wastelanded]

It is not a small pen. This is regular size.

It is only since fountain pens seized to be primarily writing instruments and people use them to doodle on high quality paper with impractically wet inks that this pen became small compared to the flurry of oversized pens designed for 5 minute scribbling not 2 hours writing.

This. Who wants to, or even can, write for a few hours with a heavy pen the size of a hot dog?

 

Also, I think the pricing is ridiculous for this new 120. One could buy a mint vintage 120 for far less, with a far more interesting nib.

[arcadeflow]

People have different hand sizes, how can you tell which size should be right for everybody?

 

I've been using and buying "regular" size pens and fountain pens all my life and never noticed that my bigger than usual hands would write more comfortably with bigger pens. I would say the Safari is the minimum size I like for comfort nowadays. I've always seen SBREBrown comparing the pen sizes to his hand and never noticed that my hand could be as big or almost as big as his, and I never cared much because I wasn't using my pens for long writing sessions.

 

Last year I started using them more and I noticed that the thin pens I had were tiring my hands. I decided to sell them all and keep my Safaris, AL-stars, a single Prera (for a pocket pen) and buy light Bexley and Franklin-Christoph pens.

 

You can get bigger pens that are still light. The M800 and M1000 are heavy because they have brass parts inside them. They could be made as longer M200 pens and probably add only 2-3g to them.

 

I'm not sure if I could manage to use a M200 posted, but I don't like posting pens, the Prera must be used posted for comfort and I still feel the cap changing the balance. I probably want M800 size with a simpler resin body and steel nib as a writing tool. There is no way the M200 is for everybody, hand sizes vary much.

[Lam1]

Update:

 

One interesting thing about this nib is its tipping shape. I took a peek today. Is it just me or does that flat foot look sharp and pointy? I doubt it's been smoothed and the tipping doesn't look too worn, so... perhaps it's by design?

 

The line quality is also distinct from my other "round" nibs (i.e. "round" as in not designed for line variation). Not quite stubby, but the lines have subtly squarish instead of circular edges.

 

http://i.imgur.com/gS2QdGdl.jpg

 

This nib is very smooth for me but I imagine people with higher or lower grip angles might find it scratchy. It's also somewhat less tolerant of sideways roll, not much but noticeable compared to literally rounder nibs like the Pilot Metropolitan's. I've never had a problem with this and only discovered it while deliberately testing the nib. That said, people who unconsciously roll pens may not like it as much...

 

I have several M400 Medium nibs from the 80s-90s and there is one that is exactly like that. When I write at the correct angle it is the smoothest nib that I've ever seen. The problem is that it is not "my" usual writing angle.

 

This. Who wants to, or even can, write for a few hours with a heavy pen the size of a hot dog?

Also, I think the pricing is ridiculous for this new 120. One could buy a mint vintage 120 for far less, with a far more interesting nib.

I agree on the pricing of the new 120.

But as for the size of the pens, perhaps in the past there were many people whose needs were not addressed and that is the reason most pens were small. I can, and do, write with my M200s and fully enjoy them. But for long writing sections I prefer the M800 or M1000, which are much more comfortable for me. And weight is also a big factor for that comfort: I do not like writing with a MB 146 as much as I do with the M800, for the simple fact that the 146 is too lightweight for me.

[4lex]

Update:

 

One interesting thing about this nib is its tipping shape. I took a peek today. Is it just me or does that flat foot look sharp and pointy? I doubt it's been smoothed and the tipping doesn't look too worn, so... perhaps it's by design?

 

The line quality is also distinct from my other "round" nibs (i.e. "round" as in not designed for line variation). Not quite stubby, but the lines have subtly squarish instead of circular edges.

 

http://i.imgur.com/gS2QdGdl.jpg

 

This nib is very smooth for me but I imagine people with higher or lower grip angles might find it scratchy. It's also somewhat less tolerant of sideways roll, not much but noticeable compared to literally rounder nibs like the Pilot Metropolitan's. I've never had a problem with this and only discovered it while deliberately testing the nib. That said, people who unconsciously roll pens may not like it as much...

 

I agree, tipping is not worn, looks like a normal FP tipping. I would prefer if people who hold pens too high or too vertically (as they are using a ballpoint pen) would learn to write with a FP. (Two most popular FP reviewers on YouTube do that as well, so I am not hopeful.) If not more and more manufacturers will make pens with round "blobby" nibs and I will be forced to switch to rollerballs.

[bokchoy]

I agree, tipping is not worn, looks like a normal FP tipping. I would prefer if people who hold pens too high or too vertically (as they are using a ballpoint pen) would learn to write with a FP. (Two most popular FP reviewers on YouTube do that as well, so I am not hopeful.) If not more and more manufacturers will make pens with round "blobby" nibs and I will be forced to switch to rollerballs.

 

I don't know, this is the first vintage Pelikan (or any Pelikan) that I have handled. Another user has said that their 120s don't look like this, so perhaps the previous owner wore a foot into the tipping. Do you have any images showing what "normal" tipping looks like for vintage Pelikans?

 

The closest I can find is this comparison between nibs from 2003 and 1990. That and a few examples of nibs that needed retipping on Greg Minuskin's website...

Edited February 8, 2016 by bokchoy